Jim Weir

Jim Weir http://jimweir.tumblr.com/ http://www.facebook.com/jweir2116 =================== Vital statistics: Height: 6'0? Weight: 173lbs Hair: Brown Eyes: Green Waist: 31? Neck: 17? Chest: 42? =================== New AAG Model He was a skinny boy in high school, and is now an impressively ripped, up-and-coming fitness model. Jim Weir who comes from Dekalb, IL, is a college student looking to get his degree in occupational therapy. He enjoys working out and staying fit, and recently competed in his first bodybuilding show. However, he says bodybuilding is not really his passion and he prefers to stay on the leaner muscular side while pursuing opportunities in fitness and commercial modeling. In a comprehensive interview on AllAmericanGuys Jim explains his way and approach to fitness: "I definitely was not always a health buff. I was actually a skinny little boy in junior high. I believe I was a hundred pound skin and bones little shrimp in 7th grade. Also, my first job was at McDonald?s and I gained some unwanted weight after only two weeks of working there. Once I realized I was gaining weight, I ran three miles everyday until it was off. Then I got picked on a lot in high school, so my brother told me that I needed to start lifting for football so I could defend myself when I got picked on. My dad bought some weights and he started helping me lift in our basement. He measured my arms once every two weeks to see the progress! I didn?t take it seriously during my freshman year but then started getting really serious the year after and my strength and size skyrocketed. ================== Jim Weir is an up-and-coming male model from Dekalb, IL. He is currently finishing his Master?s in Clinical Exercise Psychology. The very first photographer who took Jim?s photos suggested that he post some of them on All American Guys and 48-hours later Jim was on his way to becoming an AAG model! All American Guys caught up with Jim to learn more about the model featured in the amazing images from photographer Michael Anthony Downs! AAG: Jim, tell us a few things about you. Anything. JIM: I was born in Orlando, Florida but I only lived there for a couple years, unfortunately, because my father got a job offer in Illinois. So we moved there to a very small farm town called Oregon. It?s where I lived most of my life. I went to school in Oregon until I graduated from high school and then moved to Dekalb, IL (another small town) for college. I am currently a senior here working towards a Master?s in Clinical Exercise Physiology. I plan to go to grad school in the suburbs or possibly the city. I am a pretty chill guy and am up for anything really. I love to go out and have fun of course, try out new things, and just be spontaneous. I am also definitely committed to the world of fitness. It is one of my strongest passions?addictions! AAG: Have you always been a health buff? If so, how did you end up as one? JIM: Hahaha! Nope, I definitely was not always a health buff. I was actually a skinny little boy in junior high. I believe I was a hundred pound skin and bones little shrimp in 7th grade. Also, my first job was at McDonald?s and I gained some unwanted weight after only two weeks of working there. Once I realized I was gaining weight, I ran three miles everyday until it was off. Then I got picked on a lot in high school, so my brother told me that I needed to start lifting for football so I could defend myself when I got picked on. My dad bought some weights and he started helping me lift in our basement. He measured my arms once every two weeks to see the progress! I didn?t take it seriously during my freshman year but then started getting really serious the year after and my strength and size skyrocketed. AAG: Share with us your first time in the gym. How did it feel being surrounded by all the muscle guys and the big weights? JIM: Hmmm?my first time in an actual gym, well, I was nervous. I didn?t know how much other people were lifting. I was self-conscious about my body, but I had a couple close friends that I lifted with who helped me out and made me feel more secure. After that things got rolling and I realized I was stronger than most of the kids in the gym. AAG: Did you have people around you who inspired you to be active and stay fit? What were some of the things that kept you active and in shape? JIM: Yeah, I had my brother who was in great shape and I thought to myself that I want to be his size when I graduate high school. Plus I had football and wrestling at the beginning of high school and then pole vaulting and track the last two years of high school. Also, when I started getting serious about lifting, it became an addiction. I had to go to the gym?I just loved it. AAG: What were your initial goals when you started training? How did you accomplish them? JIM: At the beginning, I just wanted to be bigger and be able to protect myself and also be more secure about my body ? to simply look better. I believe I accomplished that to a certain point. My whole family was surprised and said I surpassed what they thought was possible with my size and especially my strength. More importantly, my brother couldn?t believe how big I was! However, I?m always trying to build a better body, I do think that I have a lot more room for improvement still. AAG: What can you advise someone who has never attempted to live a fit life but has the desire to begin a healthy lifestyle? JIM: I would suggest one of the biggest things is to clean up your diet. Make sure you are eating healthy food because that is so much of how your body looks. You have to eat healthy. Then just start going to the gym three days a week. Try out all the machines to see how they work for a few weeks. Then start getting a program of lifts put together. Do some research on simple ones and complex ones and mix it up. Be very careful with your form and when your body is getting used to it more. Then get to lifting and creating that dream body you have always wanted. But don?t strain yourself by lifting heavy at the beginning. Get your technique perfected first. ON MODELING AAG: How did you hear about All American Guys (AAG)? JIM: It was from my first photographer that took shots of me. He told me to put some of the photos on the site and see what would happen. After only two days I got a call from AAG on the way to my work! AAG: Have you tried modeling before AAG? If so, where? JIM: I have done a couple shoots with a few photographers and I did a book cover for a romance novel out this spring called While He Was Away. AAG: When did you take your first professional photos? And what did you think of them when they came out? JIM: I took my first photos with Alan Spiers, I believe about a year and a half ago. The photographer said they looked amazing and that brought my spirits up. Then I saw them and thought damn?I like these pics! Hahaha. AAG: Do you want to become a professional male fitness model? If yes, what steps are you taking to get there? JIM: I would love to become a big star model. I?m just blessed with what I have going on right now and I?m definitely along for the ride to see where this goes. And well I?m hoping that my being with AAG will get things rolling and I?ll get my face out there for more big things to com. AAG: Share with us your AAG experience. How was it working with Mike Downs and the crew? JIM: Being in Miami was definitely insane and I loved the experience. It was a whole new culture there. Working with Mike Downs was a very fun time. He has a spunky and chill attitude, which I like! He certainly gets you comfortable to work with. All the destinations of the shoot were diverse and pretty cool. I?m shooting with him again soon and I know it will be a great time all over again. AAG: A year from now, where will Jim Weir the male model be? JIM: I?m hoping to be traveling more for more modeling jobs, that?s for sure! Hahaha. I?ll still be in school so I?ll be in classes. I know that?s certain, but along with school, I?m hoping to make this [modeling] a good job as well. ========================== Jim, a warm welcome to Stunning Men and many thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. Could we start off with talking a little about yourself and your background? You currently live in Dekalb, Illinois, but you were born in Florida, weren?t you? I was born in Orlando, Florida, I moved to Oregon, Illinois where I lived most of my life, went to school there until I graduated high school, then went to Dekalb, Illinois for college. You are majoring in exercise science then you will be doing a masters degree. What are you planning to do? I want to work as a rehab or exercise physiologist in a hospital or clinic. How did you start in fitness? Were you always into being healthy and active? Nah I used to eat whatever I wanted, and drank a lot of pop, but I needed to get in better shape, I used to be a skinny 100lb shrimp. You have a stunning physique. Beside the gym, do you practise any sports? Nothing really besides some backyard football, but I would love to try out more things. What is your best lift at the gym? I would have to say bench, I love my strength on bench. What?s your gym/training routine like? Monday - legs power day Tuesday - Upper body power day Wednesday - off day Thursday - legs hypertrophy Friday - chest and arms hypertrophy Saturday -back and shoulders hypertrophy Sunday - off day I just have a love for it, it?s my addiction, I use a pre workout to get myself even more psyched up for it, but it?s just the love. How do you fit bodybuilding and fitness into your life? Is it a difficult thing to achieve? It?s definitely difficult and takes a toll on your body and mind ... but it?s worth it in the end and it makes me happy, plus a lot of coffee (big laugh). How do you approach a challenge? In lifting it?s usually a 10 second thought process, I look at the weight I usually do and look at the new weight ... play eenie-meenie-miney-mo with my eyes and just say screw it, let?s do it (more laughter), I don?t want to regret not doing something in my life and later thinking ?what if I had tried that? so I?m always down to try something new, you only live once. What do you eat in a normal day? Chicken, turkey, some fish and beef. Brown rice, oatmeal, red and sweet potatoes. A lot of greens like spinach, broccoli and asparagus. Do you allow yourself a cheat day? If so, what is your guilty pleasure? Yeah about 1 - 2 days a week, I love pizza and chocolate (Jim laughs). How did you get into modelling? Is it something you always wanted to do? My aunt told me I should really try it out, and my first photographer thought I could definitely be a model. What do you enjoy the most about modelling? The travelling and new cities I get to experience, the people I meet and the cultures I experience. What advice would you give a new model? They won?t search you out, you have to put yourself out there and market yourself very well. What do you do in your down time? Mainly just chill with my buddies and party, I?m a huge nerd so I do like to play my video games and research and learn new topics in science, and I?m a huge movie guy. Do you have any role models? People who inspire you? Yes my brother, I love him to death and his philosophy in life, he also helped me get my mind incredibly strong, I also wanted to get my body like his, he says that I have surpassed him (big laugh). Also Greg Plitt, I want to possibly be somewhat as successful as him. Tell us about Tyler Durden ... are you a fan of this character? (Jim laughs) He is actually one of my favourite characters, I love his not giving a shit attitude and to just let go and live life, have fun. Now a few quick fun questions if we may? Do you think you are a good date? (More laughter) I would hope so, I?m a gentleman and I?m a fun guy to be around, I hate the awkward silent moments. Are you a brief man or a boxer kinda guy? Boxer briefs ... right in the middle What do you listen to on your iPod? Rock, dubstep, rap, Disturbed, mudvayne, breaking Benjamin, skrillex, Swedish house mafia, Eminem, JayZ, Kanye ... mainly todays hits What kind of movies do you like? Action like the dark knight, intelligent movies that really make you think and pay attention, and comedies. What three words describe you best? (After a laugh and an ?umm well?) ... fun, honest, risk taker. One last question Jim, where do you see yourself and what would you like to be doing in 10 years time? In my career, living close to the city, married, a big time model ... I hope. You certainly have what it takes! Jim, it has been a pleasure to interview you! Thank you for your time and for being a good sport. All the best for the future! Thank you no problem at all, have a great day!