Brian Wiefering
Up Close!
(check back for frequent updates)

Hi all!  Thanks for visiting.  It's been a busy year so
far.  We finished 2004 with a bang.  Heidi and I
celebrated our 8 year anniversary on New Years
Eve.  The kids had a great Christmas.  And I decided
at the end of 2004 (with some inspiration from a
buddy in Australia)  that I was going to enter the
"fitness world" again in 2005!

Well, I never stopped training or stopped eating well
(OK, some doughnuts, ice cream, burgers, pizza,
milkshakes...).  At least I was making sure I was
getting enough of the right foods-just had a bad habit
of eating the bad too.  Anyway, it has been three
years since I last competed, or showed my "mug" in
front of the camera.  So, at the end of 2004, I decided
I was going to do a few shows and hopefully some
fitness shoots.  I wanted to first start with the NPC
Northern Kentucky, hosted and sponsored by Beverly
International.  It would be my first NPC, and non-drug
tested show.  I had gone almost every year to watch
the show since I was a teenager, always wondering
how I would do against some of the "Big Boys".  
Each year I would try and size myself up to the 100+
competitors (as all bodybuilders do), and each year I
knew if I came in top shape I would do OK.  So, I
started my contest diet on January 1st for the March
19th show.

The training and diet went well.  I was under the
guidance of Roger and Sandy Riedenger (owners of
Beverly International).   I was able to keep most of my
strength and come in pretty ripped.  
The day of the show came, and wouldn't you know it,
there happened to be over 250 competitors.  It was
like a national show.  People came in from all over
the U.S.  I believe it has gotten so big since it is a
NPC national qualifier, and has gotten a good
reputation as a "very well run" show.  
There were 30+ guys in my class.  I can honestly say
as the "pump ups" back stage were going on, I
wasn't sure if I'd make top five in my class.  I guess I
lost some confidence due to the time off.  I ended up
winning my class in what was said to be the most
competitive class ever in the shows history.  Then
came the overall.  There were seven classes from
Bantam to Super Heavy.  I was representing the Light
Heavy. In the overall,  I ended up losing by 1 point to
the middleweight, Andre Ewing.  He looked great.  
Good back, legs, symmetry, and conditioning.  And
he was coming off an overall win the week before at
the Cincinnati.   Just knowing I was that close
against Andre with his awesome overall package
was a good feeling.  
I guess you can say that for my first NPC non-drug
tested show, I was pleased.

Oh yeah, three weeks before the show, Muscle and
Fitness called for a Front Cover shoot.  I had done a
cover for them about 3 years earlier.  Actually shot 4
covers with them, but they only used one (picky,
picky, picky).  This cover was different though.  They
were shooting me and only me.  No female on the
side like most of their old covers (those female
fitness models are good for stealing your
spotlight-joke).  I happened to be in pretty good shape
this time too, considering I was a few weeks out of
doing the Northern Kentucky.  A month after the
shoot, they posted the cover on their website.  
Problem is, though, there was another cover next to
mine.  Yep, they were letting the public vote on the
July cover.  But thanks to all my great friends who
spread the word, and another buddy of mine who
posted it on his message boards, I landed the cover!  
It was also great just to be out in California in front of
the Camera again.  That was one of my goals for
2005, and it happened quicker than I expected.

So, now what am I doing?  Well, I got my
Musclemania Pro card about 4 years ago.  I didn't do
to well in my first Pro show, placing 13th out of 15 (at
least I'm honest).  These guys were big, and
representing countries all over the world.   I guess
that's why they call it  MuscleMania
World.  I'd say it's
the largest drug tested show in the world.  So, back
to my plans for this year.  The Musclemania
Superbody is Mid June in Miami, Florida.  Time to test
my progress in the Pro division once again.  I've put
on some quality muscle over the past few years
(judging from pics from the NPC Northern Kentucky
versus pics from my last show in 2001).  I'm hoping
to do much better out this time.   Anyway, it felt good
to be on stage earlier this year, and this is just
another chance to have some fun.

I hope you've enjoyed the site so far.  Continue to
come back for constant updates.

Brian Wiefering


Place of Birth:
 Fort
Thomas, Ky  (five- minutes
outside Cincinnati)

Date of Birth:  5/12/73

Height:  6'

Weight:  Competition-
195-200
Off Season- 205-210

Eyes:  Brown

Hair: Dark Brown

Family:  Married Heidi on
December 31st, 1996.  Four
daughters:  Madalyn 7, Molly
5, Maria 3, Makena 1 .

Employment:  Genetica
DNA Laboratories, Inc.  
Sales Director

College:  Northern Kentucky
University,  Bachelor  of
Science, 1996

Pet:  "DOW" - Standard
White Poodle (Beauty
passed last year) and
Mundo-kitten

Collegiate Sports:  
Cincinnati State, Basketball
93', 94'.

Hobbies:  Coaching
daughters soccer and
basketball, biking with
family, playing basketball.

Weird Hobbies:  Love to
study and learn about
different breeds of dogs.  

Favorite Food:  Busken
Bakery Doughnuts

Favorite Body Part to Train:
 Chest

Favorite BodyBuilder:  
Definitely Arnold
Flower Girls - Madalyn, Molly, and Maria at my
brother Aaron's Wedding-2004
(Congrats Aaron and Adeana!)
Interested in
Brian's Personal
Training Services?

Click Here
6/16/05

Hey all!  Thanks for visiting.  Well, it's been a tough
act in juggling my preparation for the Muscelmania
Superbody Pro division in Miami this month, taking
care of the family, and kicking it up 5 notches at
Genetica (we've got some awesome stuff going on
at the DNA Lab)!  But, hard work usually produces
great results!

As for the training, I'm coming in harder and fuller
than any show I've ever done.  I know a lot can
happen in the next week leading up to a show, but
I believe I've got everything under control.  Beverly
International is awesome in helping me come in
top shape condition, and under their guidance, I
believe I'll be able to even get a little harder in the
next week and maintain the size.  My workouts
have been some of the best leading up to the
show, with tremendous pumps and still feeling
strong. I'll post a few of my training pics below in a
few days.  Wish me luck!

As for the modeling, Muscle and Fitness flew me
to Los Angeles again just last week.  This time it's
for the inside of the mag.  They are doing a special
story on ab exercises, so I got to be the "ab"
model.  I felt this really helped me for my
preparation for Musclemania.  I sometimes slack
on abs, knowing they come in in decent condition
with diet alone.  But this time, because of the ab
photo shoot, I had been training them pretty
intensely-and still am.  They are definitely looking
better than ever.  Look for the ab article in their
August or September issue (on stands in July or
August).

In case you're interested, the Cincinnati Enquirer
did a nice little story on me as well.  Click
here to
read the article.

That's it for now-I'll update you soon.  Shoot me an
e-mail if you get a chance.  
bwief@fuse.net

Brian
Hey all,                                                                                                
6/29/05

Just wanted to give an update on my trip to the
Musclemania Superbody in Miami.  The trip was actually a
blast.  I got to spend time with my wife, my brother and his
wife, and two other great friends of ours.  The show, well,
that's another story.  

I'll start with the show.  I have to be totally honest with myself
and say I came in no where close to my condition as I did
earlier in the year at the NPC Northern Kentucky show.  I
guess you can say I was "burnt" from competing and
training for the Northern,  two Muscle and Fitness shoots,
and one other photo shoot, and then dieting and training for
the Superbody.  Everything from the Northern in March, to
the Superbody last week, was so spread out, that I was
constantly trying to stay "ripped".  I was burnt, probably over
training, at times under eating (my fault for not following the
advice of my mentor, Roger at Beverly) and then on some
days leading up to the show I was overeating trying to make
up for the loss in muscle.  So, with that said, I finished
terrible, finishing 9th out of ten in the Pro division.  My
feelings on my finish???  Yes, as I admitted, I was not near
my best.  But, I have to tell you that even in the condition I
was in, if that show were what I feel a true bodybuilding
show should be about, I would have finished in at least the
top five.  I don't want to discredit the Musclemania
organization in anyway.  I knew the rules fully before
entering the show.  One of the rules is that 25% of your total
score is based on your posing routine.  And after speaking
with some of the judges, I was told that my posing routine is
what "hurt" me.   It's not that I'm a bad poser.  I've actually
been awarded "best poser" in a show before.  It was two
things that I really have a hard time accepting in
bodybuilding today.  The first is the length of the routine.  
The pro's have up to 3 full minutes to pose, and are
expected to use the whole amount.  And to be honest, most
pro's use more than that.  I on the other hand used a more
traditional 60 second routine (actually 73 seconds).  I like
leaving the judges "wanting more".  It obviously didn't work.  
I also am a classic poser.  I think posing, especially in the
pro division, has become more of a dance / theatrical
contest.  People are wearing costumes, pulling people out
of the audience, and dancing as if they are in a club.  I am a
fan of classic poses with graceful transitions from one pose
to the next.  I think bodybuilding is about showing off your
physique.  Not scripting a play and "dancing" to it.
I hope I don't sound like sour grapes.  And I'd be lying if I
said I was "screwed". I new the judging criteria, and really
shouldn't be surprised by the results.  And I'd be lying if I
said I was done with Muslcemania.  I think is a great
forum-actually the best  for the natural bodybuilder to
compete and gain recognition and exposure in the fitness
and bodybuilding industry.  It's done a ton for me in gaining
my exposure, and this weekend was no different ( I actually
shot with one of the top fitness modeling agencies this
weekend--see pics).  Musclmania is #1 in bringing media to
you!  So, I guess if I decide to compete again, I just need to
put a little more action and creativity (or maybe a lot more) in
my routine, and next time train for a Musclemania show, and
only that show.  
Now for the fun time I had.  I'll let the pictures do the talking!

Brian
P.S  I've got tons of more pics coming!
Aaron (brother), Adeana (sister in-law), Friends Sherri and
Dr. John Jackson, and Heidi
7/7/05

You can cry over spilled milk, or you can lick it off the floor
so you don't waste the protein.  I've decided to do the
second.

What got me to such an exciting year this year so far  was
not smiling for camera's and making crappy money doing
it.  It's not finding the best music for some goofy posing
routine.  It's not about having the best color on stage.  
Yes, these things all help, but it's not what has gotten me
to where I am.  It's not about feeling a little tired on leg
day, so you do some useless leg extensions and leg
curls, and maybe a few sets of standing calves, and call it
a day.   It's been about training until you're about to pass
out--maybe you throw up--but you come back for more.  
It's about walking under the squat rack, when you're not
only fearful of not getting the weight up, but your fearful of
fainting because on the last rep of the last set, your
partner had to pick you up.  But for some sick reason you
enjoy it.  You tell yourself it's fun.  It's about watching
Pumping Iron at least once a week for motivation.  It's
about skipping every exercise you like, and only doing the
ones you hate, because you know those are the hardest
and will produce the most results.  Ok, enough with the
soap box.

As you can tell my last competition helped me "refocus".  
I've asked myself one question.  What am I in this for?  Is
it the money--give me a break.  Is it the fame?  Until I have
paparazzi's following me, I wouldn't even put my name
and fame together in the same sentence.  

Problem is though, over the last few years I forgot about
why I was doing "it".  I didn't think training until I saw stars,
or hugged the toilet, was important or necessary any
longer.  I thought it was more important to be a some star
fitness model.  Or to get a contract with a supplement
company.  Or to win the overall in a show where some of
the judges have never touched a weight in their life.  So
what  have I done to help with my refocus?...

I've gone old school again.  I haven't been in the gym
since I've been back from Miami.  Why?  Because I've
been training with a new partner in his basement.  I
haven't done the LifeCycle computer generated leg press
since I've been back.  Why?  Because I only have a squat
rack, smith machine, a rack of dumbbells, and barbells.  
It's "squat until you drop".  It's "dead lift until your dead".   
It's calf raises with my partner Marty on my back holding a
few 45lb plates with Ozzy cranked in the background and
no one to interrupt my workouts.  

I have honestly had some of the best training sessions in
years.  I forgot what it was like to not be able to walk down
the steps without holding on to the railing because
otherwise I'd fall.  I forgot what it was like to be so sore all
over I truly didn't know if I was getting sick, or it was just
deep muscle soreness from good old fashioned, heavy
training.  I can honestly say that up until the past few
weeks, I really wasn't even enjoying to train.  It was
starting to feel like a job.  It seamed as if I wasn't doing it
for me, but for other "people".  Now I train for me, and only
me.  Whatever happens , happens!.

Gotta get some sleep.  Marty and I have some crazy arm
training tomorrow morning.  Marty, if you're reading this, I'll
see ya in your basement at 6:45 am.

Brian

PS  I'll have some "basement training" pictures in a few
days for anyone interested.  Here is a photo that a
photographer just emailed me from the show in Miami.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO
MOST UPDATED PAGE OF
BRIAN UP CLOSE
2005 NPC Northern Kentucky
Spring Break 2005 - Melbourne Florida
Brian, Heidi, Madalyn, Molly, Maria, and
Makena
Spring Break 2005 - Melbourne Florida
Heidi with Makena
This was our 2004 Christmas Card.  Check out Beauty (our hairless dog)
eating chicken on the coffee table!
2005 NPC Northern Kentucky
Makena
on her
1st Birthday

March, 2005
CLICK HERE TO GO TO MOST
UPDATED PAGE OF BRIAN UP CLOSE
Musclemania Superbody Prejudging - Miami Florida,
June 2005
Photo Credit: Norman Johansen
Brian Up Close