SINCE I STARTED, I’VE LOST OVER 20LBS OF FAT, WENT DOWN 3 PANT SIZES, LOWERED MY CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE, STARTED EATING HEALTHIER FOODS AND GAINED BACK THE WEIGHT, BUT IN MUSCLE INSTEAD OF FAT.
BIG BACK GRIPS USER PROFILE INTERVIEW: JOE MORICI
A short time ago Joe Morici went to BigBackGrips.com and ordered a pair of grips and a Big Back tank top. Off it shipped. A few weeks later we see the following post by Joe on our Facebook page:“Gloves? We don’t need no stinkin’ gloves!! I’m using Big Back Grips at my gym now! BOOM! Best investment made! Huge diff from gloves, and just as comfortable, if not more. Much better handling for sure! No more gloves for me.” He included a picture of himself wearing his tank top and holding his Big Back Grip to camera like Con Demetriou on our packaging, in a pose we call, “Talk to the Grip!” But we preferred to talk to Joe and here we are.
Interview Questions
BBG: Joe, first we have to ask: You obviously have been training and training hard for a good long time. How did you come across Big Back Grips? But more importantly, what was going in your workouts and with your gloves that you needed to look for something new to train with?
JOE: When I first got into weightlifting, I started training without lifting gloves and, of course; after awhile, it was taking its toll on my hands. I hate chalk, so I invested in some gloves. They worked rather well, so I stuck with them; but eventually, they would always break down and I would end up buying one pair after another. I was actually planning on buying a new pair, just before I made the decision to go with Big Back Grips.
Initially, I heard about Big Back Grips through friends made on Facebook who also have the same obvious passion about bodybuilding. They kept on mentioning them in their posts and vids. At first, I wasn’t really sure what they were exactly, but after further research on www.BigBackGrips.com and hearing the good testimonials from my Facebook friends as well as at the website, I knew I had to get myself a pair.
BBG: How have your workouts changed with BBGs?
JOE: Unbelievable! The moment I started using them, it was like my hands went on a vacation. It seemed as if most of the pressure my hands were enduring from using gloves was gone! I used to think that pressure I felt was just a normal thing and I had to deal with it. They are so comfortable, they handle great on everything I use them on and I feel more intensity on the muscle group I’m working on, rather than on my hands. They are just amazing!
BBG: Ok, so, tell us a little about yourself: your name, background, where you grew up, where you went to school and for what. What do you do professionally? A mini-bio, if you will.
JOE: My name is Joe Morici. I was born and raised in Lyons, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I attended Morton West High School in Berwyn and then to Triton College in River Grove, both in Illinois. I’m still living in Illinois, but more to the west in a smaller ‘hickerbilly’ town called Polo with my wife and two kids. But regardless, Chicago will always be ‘home’. My ambition was to go into radio broadcasting, producing, and DJing. I DJ’d the clubs back in the day and had a blast doing so, but unfortunately life didn’t take me in that direction to make a career out of it. Now, I’m currently working as a pressman for a printing company.
BBG: What about your bodybuilding history: how long have you been training, what are your main accomplishments, what got you into it, what are you goals long or short term?
JOE: June 2012 is my third full year to dedicating myself into improving my overall way of life. I woke up one morning, took a shower and as I was getting dressed to start my day, I glanced in the mirror and took a real hard look at myself. Long story short, I really didn’t like what was looking back at me. I couldn’t believe how much weight I’d gained. I was already on medication for my cholesterol and blood pressure, and I thought to myself, “I’m only in my 30s and already taking daily meds for my health! I’m way too young for this!” After that, I made it my life to get in shape and change how I viewed myself to me and to others. My biggest accomplishment – no more daily meds! At my next doctor visit, all my vitals are where they should be, and I plan on keeping it that way! Since I started, I’ve lost over 20lbs of fat, went down 3 pant sizes, lowered my cholesterol and blood pressure, started eating healthier foods and gained back the weight, but in muscle instead of fat. My long term goal is to be 185lbs (if not more) AFTER a cut! Short term goal, lowering my body fat; especially targeting my stomach and hopefully getting some abs again. :->
BBG: Tell us about your gym – what kind of place is it?
JOE: I am an avid member of the Dixon Family YMCA in Dixon, IL. I had two gyms to choose from over here and chose the Y because I like the fact that (between the two) there was a pool area, but mainly because their free weight room and their wellness area (machines/cardio area) were in separate rooms. Smaller crowds means more time on the weights you want to be on.
BBG: What is your workout schedule like?
JOE: My work schedule plays a big part on my workout schedule. Being in the industry I work in, I work three day, 12hr shifts. The days I work (and Sundays), are my rest, recover, recoup days. The remaining three days I hit it hard:
Monday: Chest/arms
Tuesday: Shoulders/back
Wednesday: Legs/abs/cardio
BBG: What about your diet?
JOE: I just finished with a bulk phase. During that time, I would always say on Facebook, “EAT LIKE A VIKING!” I would eat big portions of all the good stuff: chicken, pastas, fish, steaks, veggies, potatoes…you know the drill. I just started my cut phase this past week, so now I restricted myself to only eat the three main meals and two light snacks, including the use of protein shakes when needed.
BBG: What are your favorite exercises or body parts to work? What do you consider your best body part? Do have a body part that’s especially challenging to make headway on?
JOE: Of course, like most guys, I love doing chest and arms. Any exercise involving these muscle groups are my favorite. As of right now, I feel my triceps are coming along real good, and shoulders are slowly getting there. Most challenging at this point is my core. I need to really target my stomach these next few months.
BBG: If someone were going to work out with you, what are they in for, what’s your workout style? What would you want from a partner?
JOE: When you come into the gym with me, expect to workout. We aren’t there to talk unless it’s to push each other to our limits. My style is just going into the gym knowing what needs to be done, do it, and give it all you got. I would want a partner to stand there and give me the moral support as I lift, even if it means cursing and screaming at me to make me go harder.
BBG: Is there a workout that really stands out from the rest? A particularly amazing workout where you ended going further than you ever had?
JOE: Just recently, my work schedule was changing from one side of the week to the other. During that period I could not get to the gym. A whole week was “lost”. It really pissed me off not being able to really go all out. Home workouts just weren’t cutting it. That first day back after that long week (which, by the way, was when I was finally able to use my newly received Big Back Grips) was the BEST gym sesh I had in a long time. Now, I’m not sure if it was just because of the extended week of recovery, or it was because of the Grips, or both; but on that day, I surpassed my max on bench – both flat and incline! I was stoked!
BBG: What’s your advice to people just starting out?
JOE: Do Not Feel Intimidated when you’re at the gym! Do Not Worry about how much weight you lift. Do Not let the big guy lifting hundreds of pounds next to you discourage you. Instead, use the energy he is giving off and pull it in. Do Not Think you’ll never get there. Remember, we all started out in the same boat. Get a plan of action, set goals, attack it, and STICK WITH IT! The rewards will come! Guaranteed!
BBG: Finally, can you give us your workout for just one body part: back or legs, shoulders, chest or arms, even abs. Just pick your favorites.
JOE: How about chest day:
- One week – Flat Bench, Incline Bench and Cable flies (at different ranges of height)
- Next week – DB Flies and Press, Decline Bench, and Push ups