Why I decided to transform
I used to be the smallest guy around, had an unhealthy diet, avoided sports, and always quit when things got hard. My grades were bad and I wasn’t outgoing. I needed a change and was fed up after never achieving anything.
I wanted to be first instead of last and to prove to friends and family that I could change. I had a dream and a goal and was determined to reach it. I didn’t care how many times I fell and failed because I was going to get back up on my feet.
I realized that it was my life; my book. I had to start writing the pages and decided to adopt a proactive lifestyle to eat clean and get fit. I quickly became addicted to pushing myself to the max. From there, I made sure to give 110 percent.
My passion for weightlifting, fitness, and dieting increased greatly. I became stronger physically and mentally. The knowledge I gained about proper nutrition, supplements, and workouts was invaluable. I spent every spare moment reading and studying about bodybuilding and the human body, which helped me understand what I needed to maximize my results.
Before
After
AGE 16 / HEIGHT 5’6″ / BODY FAT 16%
AGE 17 / HEIGHT 5’8″ / BODY FAT 6%
I ignored the naysayers and learned that winners believe to succeed. A winning belief is strong even though it’s filled with failure. Winners find motivation to stand up again, face the same challenges, learn from previous mistakes, and make it happen.
A year and a half later, I’ve gone further than I ever thought possible. My defeatist attitude has been washed away and my whole life changed. My determination and motivation to succeed brought me this far and I’m not stopping.
I’ve done many fitness photo shoots and have more upcoming this year. My hard work spilled onto my family and friends who decided to follow my path. I love helping others achieve goals and give advice to anyone who wants it. Every day is an opportunity to improve physically and mentally. I stay motivated and keep pushing myself with the hope to gain a sponsor and land a cover.
How I accomplished my goals
There’s no fundamental secret. It comes down to sheer determination, hard work, and sweat. Life isn’t going to give it to you on a silver platter. There will never be a perfect storm of opportunity. You have to take what’s yours, start an action plan, and learn about training and nutrition.
I fell in love with the lifestyle. I ate properly, cooked healthy, and was in the gym every day. For the first time ever, I self-generated success and changed my life. I changed my routine every six weeks, woke up at the crack of dawn every day, did cardio, and never stopped giving my best.
I admire people who were there before me and told myself that if they managed to do it, so could I. I trained hard and effective. I gave my body the nutrition it needed and stayed focused on my goals.

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Supplements that helped me through the journey
Diet plan that guided my transformation
Muesli
3 cups
Almond Milk
1 serving
Fruit
1 serving
Oatmeal
3 cups
Almond Milk
1 serving
Optimum Gold Standard 100% Whey
1 serving
Chicken Breast
2 servings
Sweet Potato
1 serving
Green Salad
1 serving
Optimum Gold Standard 100% Whey
1 serving
Almond Milk
1 serving
Mango
1
Beans
2 cups
Whole Wheat Bread
1 slice
Fat-free Yogurt
1 cup
Mixed Nuts
1 cup
Apple
1
Optimum Glutamine 1000 Caps
1 cap
Optimum ZMA
2 caps
Training regimen that kept me on track
I start every workout with a 5-minute cardio warm-up and end every workout with abdominal work and stretching.
Incline Dumbbell Flyes
4 sets of 8-10 repsCable Crossover
4 sets of 8-10 repsIncline Cable Flye
2 sets of 12-16 repsDumbbell Flyes
4 sets of 8-10 repsPush-Up Wide
1 set to failureFlat Bench Cable Flyes
2 sets of 12-16 repsDecline Dumbbell Flyes
4 sets of 8-10 reps
Alternate Hammer Curl
3 sets of 8-10 repsClose-Grip EZ Bar Curl
3 sets of 8-10 repsLying Triceps Press
3 sets of 8-10 repsSeated Dumbbell Curl
3 sets of 8-10 repsBarbell Curl
3 sets of 8-10 repsMachine Preacher Curls
3 sets of 8-10 repsTriceps Pushdown – Rope Attachment
3 sets of 8-10 reps-
Superset
EZ-Bar Skullcrusher
3 sets of 8-10 repsClose-Grip Barbell Bench Press
3 sets of 8-10 repsDips – Triceps Version
3 sets to failureSeated Triceps Press
3 sets of 8-10 reps
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
4 sets of 8-10 repsFront Dumbbell Raise
3 sets of 12-16 repsDumbbell Incline Shoulder Raise
3 sets of 8-10 repsSide Lateral Raise
3 sets of 10-12 repsCable Rear Delt Fly
3 sets of 8-10 repsCable Seated Lateral Raise
3 sets of 10-12 repsDumbbell Shrug
6 sets of 14-16 repsStanding Dumbbell Upright Row
3 sets of 8-10 repsBarbell Shrug
4 sets of 8-10 reps
Barbell Squat
4 sets of 12-16 repsDumbbell Lunges
4 sets of 8-10 repsSmith Machine Squat
4 sets of 8-10 repsLying Leg Curls
3 sets of 8-10 repsSeated Leg Curl
3 sets of 8-10 repsGlute Kickback
3 sets of 8-10 repsStanding Calf Raises
4 sets of 12-16 repsCalf Press On The Leg Press Machine
2 sets of 8-10 reps
Pullups (Wide-grip)
3 sets of 8-10 repsSeated Cable Rows
3 sets of 8-10 repsOne-Arm Dumbbell Row
3 sets of 8-10 repsShotgun Row
3 sets of 8-10 repsWide-Grip Lat Pulldown
3 sets of 8-10 repsLying T-Bar Row
4 sets of 8-10 repsBent Over Barbell Row
3 sets of 8-10 repsBarbell Deadlift
4 sets of 12-16 repsHyperextensions (Back Extensions)
3 sets of 8-10 repsClose-Grip EZ Bar Curl
3 sets of 8-10 repsSeated Dumbbell Curl
2 sets of 8-10 repsAlternate Hammer Curl
2 sets of 12-16 reps
Incline Dumbbell Flyes
3 sets of 8-10 repsBarbell Incline Bench Press – Medium Grip
3 sets of 8-10 repsIncline Cable Chest Press
1 set of 12-16 repsDumbbell Bench Press
3 sets of 8-10 repsBarbell Bench Press – Medium Grip
3 sets of 8-10 repsCable Chest Press
1 set of 12-16 repsDecline Dumbbell Flyes
2 sets of 8-10 repsDecline Barbell Bench Press
3 sets of 8-10 repsSeated Triceps Press
2 sets of 8-10 reps-
Superset
EZ-Bar Skullcrusher
3 sets of 8-10 repsClose-Grip Barbell Bench Press
3 sets of 8-10 repsTriceps Pushdown – Rope Attachment
2 sets to failure
Future Fitness Plans
My only goal is to give 110 percent every day. Getting a sponsor and landing a cover would be a dream come true, but for the moment all I can do is keep my lifestyle up and help people who want to achieve their goals.
What aspect challenged me the most
Every day was a challenge. The workouts were intense, the diet was strict, and I felt exhausted, but I knew it was a much better feeling than throwing in the towel. You remember the journey most.
“Get the mind right and the body will follow.”
Suggestions for aspiring transformers
- Get the mind right and the body will follow.
- When you hit failure, smile because you’re improving.
- Stay motivated, stay focused, and remember that your efforts aren’t wasted.
- The more effort you put in, the more you gain.
- You can only get better!
How Bodybuilding.com helped me reach my goals
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the motivation from BodySpace. Bodybuilding.com kept me motivated and taught me about nutrition, supplements, and workouts.
Bodybuilding.com allowed me to follow the footsteps of others who went down the same journey and achieved their goals and aspirations.
Hector’s Top 5 Gym Tracks
- “Numb/Encore” by Jay-Z (Feat. Linkin Park)
- “Till I Collapse” by Eminem
- “Android P0rn” by Kraddy
- “Can’t Stop Now” by Southpaw Swagger
- “You’re Nobody ‘Till Somebody Loves You” by James Arthur
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