Juggling work, weights

Constancio Arnaldo Jr. will have two kinds of exams in May -- the mental and the physical.

"This is, by far, the hardest thing I've ever had to do," the Cal State Long Beach student said about preparing for an amateur body building competition next month. "God has really blessed me."

While juggling 18 units and 15 hours of work this semester, Arnaldo has been preparing to do battle in the lightweight division of the Contra Costa Body Building and Fitness Championship in Hayward, about 25 miles from San Francisco.

Arnaldo, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, plans on becoming a history professor but manages to fit physical training into his schedule.

"I wanted to test myself," he said. "I just feel that the time is right to pursue this one goal."

Arnaldo's typical day consists of a 30-minute treadmill run that burns 300 calories, lifting weights, studying Asian-American history and working.

The most important thing is strict dieting, eating every two hours and drinking 2.5 to 3 gallons of water every day, he said.

"I've lost a lot of weight and strength," he said. "But I'm more lean and I'm more defined. That's what the judges are looking for."

The prize for winning the contest is a first-place trophy, but Arnaldo says the ultimate prize is going through something that tested him physically and mentally and knowing he did not quit.

"Body builders don't get full credit and respect," he said. "Society has so many negative things to say about body builders, but it's a lot of discipline and hard work."

Arnaldo gives credit to friend and personal trainer Bryant "Curl" Pangelinan. "My role is to watch over Junior's training and nutrition," Pangelinan said. "Even though he lives in Long Beach and I'm up north, I try to motivate him as much as possible."

Arnaldo also credits his fraternity brothers, Eric Calima and Robert Rogan.

"Body building is a hobby I picked up," Arnaldo said. "But I've always wanted to teach."

Arnaldo's ultimate goal is to be a history professor. He wants to introduce a more respectable way of teaching because of bad experiences he has had with teachers.

"I like to teach with metaphors," he said. Placing a plant on the table, Arnaldo exposes its roots. "What happens when you cut the roots?" he asks, cutting the plant. "Without its roots, a plant won't be able to grow. That's why I want to teach history. When a person doesn't know their roots, they won't be able to grow as a person."

After graduating this semester, Arnaldo plans to attend UCLA for graduate school.

Though preparing for the contest has changed Arnaldo's routine, family and friends strongly support him. Arnaldo's girlfriend, Catherine Ramirez, said it has been hard to adapt to his new lifestyle but supports him fully.

"At first, I was skeptical if he was really going to get through it or not," she said. "But seeing him accomplish what he has, I'm very proud."

"I think it's great," said Clinton Cabero, Arnaldo's roommate. "Because a lot of people don't realize how hard it is to compete in a tournament like this."

CSULB Asian-American history major Constancio Arnaldo Jr. works out at  5:30 a.m. at Frog's Gym in The Pyramid on Lower Campus in preparation for his first bodybuilding competition at the Contra Costa Invitational in early May.