Every Wednesday, The Sweaty Guinea Pig will feature a fresh individual who will share his or her thoughts and experiences on fitness and healthy living.

Name: Alex Lo
Age: 22
Location: Baltimore, MD
Occupation: Research Specialist, Bartender

What is your current routine? How many days do you dedicate to exercising every week?
I’ve been following Joe DiFranco’s Westside for Skinny Bastards program, which helps pack on muscle mass. The workout has one day of maximal-effort for each upper and lower body and one day of muscular endurance training. On the side, I try to do one CrossFit metabolic workout per week and take as many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes as I can.

How did you come up with your current routine?
I’ve always been involved in martial arts and have deluded myself into thinking one day I could be an amateur fighter. To get ready for the next level, I needed to focus on functional strength and endurance. Also, I often work late and need efficient workouts when I am pressed for time.

What are your short term (within 6 weeks) and long term (3 months and beyond) goals?
I’d like to see myself gain 5 more pounds, and maybe get more toned for the beach. In the long run, I’d like to start training for martial arts consistently and compete in amateur fight in few years. For personal bragging rights, I’d love to clean-and-jerk 225 lbs. and dead lift 450 lbs. before the end of the year.

What are other types of training that you’d like to try?
I’d like to get into caveman training because it can make you an incredible athlete. Sledge hammering, tire flips, sand bag carries and rope climbs all seem like a lot of fun

What is your favorite post-workout meal?
I always take a serving of Biotest’s Surge after working out. In addition, I drink protein shake, BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) and consume sugar spike to recover. After those, my main meal consists of lean protein, vegetables and brown rice.

What is your ideal “cheat” meal or favorite guilty indulgence?
I drink a fair amount of alcohol on the weekends. I’m trying to cut down the empty calories though. Outside of that, I love chips, ice cream, fried chicken, cookies, cupcakes, pizza, ribs… you name it, I’ll eat it. My rule is just to not buy it so I won’t eat it.

Any advice or words of encouragement for other Sweaty Guinea Pig readers?
Lift heavy and eat clean; that works for everyone. Heavy means doing compound exercises with complex intervals. In the words of TC, the Atomic Dog: “Anything worth doing is worth doing bad ass.” If that’s too much, you can always start with laying off the soda and taking the stairs.

If you’d like to be featured on Sweaty Guinea Pig Discovered, please e-mail me at reggie.soang@gmail.com. I look forward to discover new Guinea Pigs!