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Today's blog is an interview an interview with an accomplished and renown figure in the fitness industry, Mr. Alain Gonzalez. Alain is the founder and proprietor of MuscleMonsters.com where he provides extensive information on how to attain a strong, healthy physique, as well as offering online coaching services. He's managed to turn his passion for fitness and helping others into his own brand and business, and inspire guys like me to do the same in the process. In this interview, we discuss some of Alain's professional background, his preferred training and nutrition methods that he uses not only on his clients, but on himself as well, and a little about what it takes to build your own business with whatever it is you're truly passionate about. So without further adue, let's get into it! Craven: Hey Alain, first of all I’d like to thank you for taking the time for this interview. A pretty standard question to start with but for my readers who may not be familiar with you, could you give us a brief history on yourself, what you do, and what you’re currently up to?  Alain: You’re very welcome, brother. Sure. I am a married, father of 4, who’s always had an entrepreneurial mind/spirit. I started a handful of businesses in my early twenties, those all failed, then my luck changed when I got into fitness. Just to give you some perspective, I was about 23-24 years old, weighed about 107 lbs, and took on the identity of the skinny guy who could “eat everything” without gaining weight. My brother took me under his wing, got me in the gym, and I fell in love with the process. Training and nutrition quickly became a huge interest and I pretty much dove into everything I could get my hands on about anything related. Fast forward a bit, I learned a ton, used what I was learning in my own life, started seeing amazing results, and got the idea to start a blog. Initially the blog was intended to be somewhat of a journal where I could share my progress and at the same time inspire other skinny guys who felt doomed to shop in the children’s section for clothing. And I guess it kind of snowballed from there. To answer your question about what I do, I do a lot of things. But I guess the best way to put it is I am an online coach, but not in the traditional sense. We’ll talk a bit more about that later. At the moment I am working on a huge membership program where I’ll be able to coach more guys, simultaneously, without having to clone myself. Craven: That is definitely some exciting stuff! You've stated that your personal mission is to “help over 1 million naturally skinny guys to build muscle and achieve a physique they never thought possible”. That’s awesome. What inspired you to take on such a lifelong mission to continually help others? Alain: I always say “progress yields motivation” and I believe it’s true in any area of your life. When I began selling my Bony to Brawny program, the testimonials came pouring in. Till this day, anytime I get a before and after photo from a client with a story, it completely electrifies me. So to answer your question, helping others essentially inspired me to help others. It’s sort of like losing weight might inspire you to lose more and/or continue on that journey, you know?  Alain's own transformation from "Bony to Brawny" Craven: Helping others is what it's all about, I couldn't agree with you anymore on that. Let's go back to your online coaching. How long have you been an online coach? Alain: I have been putting out content for the last 7 years. But I would say my work as a coach started about 4 years ago. Craven: What type of coaching and training methods do you use with clients? Alain: Although it may vary from client to client or program to program, most of the training I prescribe is higher frequency, percentage based, and consists of some type of non-linear periodization. Now obviously this may differ for a beginner, but that’s pretty much the gist of it. Craven: What is the most rewarding thing for you about coaching guys to help them reach their own personal physique goals? Alain: I think the most rewarding thing for me, personally, is to be the solution to a problem that is, in most cases, improving someone’s quality of life. Craven: Tell me a little about your site MuscleMonsters.com. What can kind of content and information can we expect to find there? Alain: Muscle Monsters is the website I started in 2008 when I had the idea for the “journal”. More recently it has become the hub I use to get my ideas across in the form of articles. 90% of the content is geared toward skinny guys because that’s the guy I can relate to. So if you’re a naturally skinny guy who is interested in very simple, straight to the point training and nutrition advice, that’s the place to go. Craven: Great stuff, man. I can definitely relate to the skinny guy thing. Let's talk a little bit about some nutrition and dieting methods. Are you a proponent of using “Flexible dieting” techniques on yourself and on your clients? Alain: For the most part, yes, absolutely. Craven: What are your thoughts on IIFYM? (If It Fits Your Macros) Alain: The term “if it fits your macros”, in my opinion, is a bit misleading. Especially now with all of the Instagram experts posting pictures of pop tarts and ice-cream, regularly. I think it’s very easy for young, impressionable guys (and girls) to get the wrong idea. On the other hand, if it’s followed the way it’s intended, it’s a game changer. Craven: Well said, Alain. On that flip side of the IIFYM coin, there's "clean eating". What are your thoughts on “clean eating?” Alain: Eh, I don’t know. From my experience, the majority of “clean eaters” have a very unhealthy relationship with food. I think this stems from the level of restrictiveness involved in that type of approach. On the other hand, I do know people who simply “eat clean” but aren’t extremist in their diets, and they get great results without ever tracking a single calorie. I think, however, the former is the most common. Craven: You believe in taking a “science based approach” towards training and nutrition. What exactly does that mean? Alain: It’s simple. The training systems I advocate are ones that have been shown in scientific settings to provide results, period. Craven: I like it. Let's talk about how you implement your knowledge on your own body and physique. What types of training do you currently do? What is your own personal nutrition like? Alain: Right now I am following a program that I put together and called Max Adaptation Strength System or M.A.S.S. It’s a high frequency, moderate volume, D.U.P. split that focuses on strength gains to yield hypertrophy. The program itself is not percentage based, however, the way I am running it currently is based on percentages. My nutrition is, well, flexible. I track macros, fiber, and aim for 3-5 servings of fruits and veggies per day. I track my weight daily and compare averages, weekly, to ensure I’m in a deficit (I am cutting). If I am not, I adjust.  Craven: It sounds like you've got your training programming really nailed down. That's a great example to set for some of the intermediate/advanced trainees who show up to the gym with no direction or program, and wonder why they can't continue to make gains. Craven: You mentioned you have a podcast? What do you usually discuss on your podcast? Do you frequently have guests? Who are some of the more popular names in the industry that you’ve had on your show? Alain: I do. The Muscle Monsters Podcast. On the podcast I discuss various areas of training and nutrition, mainly. For example, I had one episode where I talked about flexible dieting and why most people are misusing it, and in another I interviewed Kyle Hunt about bench press strategies. Because the podcast is still in it’s infancy, I haven’t had many guests, period. However, in terms of popularity, Greg O’Gallagher of Kinobody sticks out to me.  Be sure to check out Alain's Muscle Monster's Podcast for great science based information and conversations. Craven: Greg O'Gallagher has some pretty cool stuff out. Who are some of the big name science based guys in the industry that you look up to? How have they inspired you to do what you’re doing now? Alain: I do admire a lot of the guys I look to for the right information. Guys like:
I wouldn’t say they inspired me to do what I do. I’ve been passionate about what I do before I knew these names existed. But they certainly have changed my views on fitness and nutrition, and have inspired me to expand my knowledge, for sure. Craven: What are some of your future plans for Muscle Monsters? Can we expect any more new sites or other new media platforms? Alain: With the website, I plan on turning it into, what internet entrepreneurs would call “an authority site”. I hope to turn Muscle Monsters into a platform where I can help other fitness writers, the best of the best, to share their knowledge in front of a big audience. As far as any new sites, probably not. I will continue to launch new training and nutrition programs, but as far as content sites, I think I am good on that. The next big step for me, aside from the membership site (which is about 90% done), is a book. Craven: Fantastic. It's all about progress. What kind of media content do you currently have out? Books? Videos? Articles? Which of these media platforms is your favorite to produce/make? Which one(s) do you think your audience is most receptive to and enjoy most? Alain: Right now I’ve got eBooks, videos, articles, and the podcast. I enjoy filming videos and I am now really starting to enjoy doing podcast interviews. Not just because the interviews serve as videos, but because it’s always cool to chat with like-minded guys who have the same common interests. It’s not every day you meet a knowledgeable entrepreneur who’s into, and knows a ton about fitness. Craven: Powerful stuff, man. I'm really digging it. Let's talk a little bit about your other hobbies. Do you like to read? If so, what are your favorite things to read and what are you currently reading? Alain: I love to read. I read daily without fail. Aside from fitness and nutrition literature, I like to read about business and marketing. Right now I am reading The Lean Startup, going through Basic Nutrition Diet Therapy, and listening to Mastery by Robert Greene. Craven: I see you're always "sharpening your saw" by increasing your knowledge, Alain. That's a great way to be, and sets a stellar example to set for young entrepreneurs who really want to build their own businesses. Craven: You’ve managed to reach a great deal of success in the fitness industry. How exactly did you manage to achieve so much? I’m guessing a traditional 9-5 personal training job just wasn’t your thing? Alain: That’s a good question. But truthfully, I really don’t know. I don’t consider myself to be the smartest, most eloquent writer or speaker. I am not some guru marketer or businessman by any stretch of the imagination. So if I had to chalk it up to something, it would be my will to win. And although that may sound cliché or even cheesy, I am truly relentless. I know what I want and I will work tirelessly until I achieve it, period. Craven: Storng words my friend. Once again, you set a great example of what it takes to succeed. How did you manage to turn your passion into a career and generate your own income? Alain: Success leaves footprints. I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be, so I looked at guys who have already been there and done that. Craven: What does it take to be your own boss and run your own business? Alain: It takes a lot. That’s why most people aren’t their own boss. But if I had to say one thing, it would have to be, hands down, self-belief. If you don’t truly believe in yourself and what you’re capable of, your vision, and that it will work, then you’ll fail before you even begin. Craven: What’s the hardest part about having your own businesses? What’s the best part? Alain: It’s not like having a 9-5 where you just have to show up to get paid. You’re responsible for whether or not you get paid and earn enough to pay your employees, bills, mortgage, etc. There are so many great things about running your own business, especially if you’re doing something that you’re absolutely passionate about. But if I had to choose one thing, it would be the amount of time I get to spend with my wife and kids. The freedom to be able to make it to every school play, baseball game, or award ceremony. Craven: That's definitely the dream, brother. How did you learn to run your own business? Alain: Like I mentioned before, success leaves footprints. 99% of the time, someone has already done what you’re trying to do. Look at what they’ve done, don’t copy, but gain an understanding of how it all works. And LOTS of trial and error. Craven: How do you feel about social media marketing? Are you big on twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc? Alain: Not a huge fan of social media from a personal standpoint. The more I walk into restaurants and see couples texting and scrolling through their Facebook feeds rather than engaging with each other, the more turned off I get by it. But as far as marketing is concerned, I think different platforms can be game changers for different businesses if they’re used correctly. Honestly, no, I am not huge on any social media platform, yet. Perhaps once I read Gary Vaynerchuk’s book “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook”, I’ll see more value in it. Craven: Awesome stuff, Alain. That's all I've got for you at this time, but I really want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with me. I hope everyone reading this can relate to your story and fill motivated to not only change and improve their bodies, but take their own personal passions to the next level and generate their own sources of income. Congratulations on all of your success in the industry and best wishes on all of your future en devours. Be sure to check out Alain Gonzalez's work at:
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