27 Years in the Making: IFBB Pro with Unwavering Partners by My Side
No Nonsense Magazine Volume 26 #2
By: Jesse Dale
At a Glance: Jesse Dale
Education: College educated with several nutrition and training certifications
Family: Son, Shiloh, and two beautiful French bulldogs, Kona & Khalifa
Current Residence: From Michigan but live in Indiana, just south of Indianapolis
Years Training: I have been training since I was 12 to avoid being picked on in school
Height: Just under 5'8"
Weight: Off-Season: 205, Contest: 187
Favorite Bodybuilding Meal: 96% ground beef, potatoes cut into fries and broccoli with spices
Favorite Supplements: Creatine Select & UMP. Creatine Select is the real deal, NOTICEABLY more strength over any other creatine I’ve taken. The added beta-alanine is genius to push through those tough extra reps. UMP is high quality and tastes AMAZING! Total gamechanger.
What would you recommend to someone who has never used Beverly supplements before: If you have never used Beverly, start with Creatine Select and Ultimate Muscle Protein. Build from there. Tune into their newsletters! Even as a kid, I read these ALL the time.
Music: I love high-energy Gospel and EDM music
Favorite Book: John Courson’s Application Commentary. This really brought the Bible to life for me.
Hobby or interests outside bodybuilding: I love the cigar & bourbon culture. Great folks, fantastic history, and solid people in these communities.
My bodybuilding journey started 27 years ago, and Beverly's supplements have been fueling me from the start. Essentials like UMP, Creatine Select, Joint Care, and, when needed, Muscle Synergy, Density, Ultra 40 Beef Liver, Mass Aminos, and Glutamine Select have been my dependable partners through the highs and lows.
The journey began when I stepped onto the stage at the NPC Novice Teen Michigan. To my amazement, I claimed 1st place out of 9 teens! That early victory ignited a burning desire to become Mr. Michigan, with an immediate goal of winning the coveted sword at the NPC Ironman Drug-Free Championships. However, my dreams hit a bump in the road when I finished in 17th place in 1999. Disheartened, I took a step back for four years.
Four years later, I returned to compete in a natural show that offered swords. Starting at 225 pounds, I cut down to 165 and won. I continued competing, eventually winning my class at the Ironman in 2004 but missing the overall title. After earning my IFPA Natural Pro card, I finally claimed my class and the overall title at the Ironman in 2010.
Overcoming Setbacks: The Journey Back to Competition
The years rolled on, and while I earned my IFPA Natural Pro card, my competition journey often left me just shy of the top spot, finishing as a runner-up too many times to count. In 2018, I decided to make another run at the Mr. Michigan state title but found myself in 4th place again. Each setback, however, only fueled my determination.
When I was considering making a comeback after a 6-year hiatus, my wife Erika’s, buy-in was non-negotiable. The expense, the travel, the “at-risk” pregnancy, and opening a new business—it was the worst possible time for me to consider competing again. Plus, I am 46 years old! Not precisely at “prime” age.
Yet, when I asked Erika her thoughts, she said, “GO FOR IT.” Besides God, her unwavering support, love, and belief meant everything during my prep. I hired Dylan Bair as my nutrition coach and IFBB Pro Nate Epler as my posing coach.
During my preparation, I faced unimaginable challenges, including the loss of my father. But through it all, I dug deep and pushed through the pain. And it paid off! My hard work culminated in two OVERALLS—bodybuilding and classic physique—at the NPC John Simmons Classic.
Again, I wanted to pull the plug before the NPC Michigan State Championships. Erika was in postpartum recovery, and we were up every two hours dealing with lactation issues and triple-feeding our son Shiloh. But she wouldn’t let me give up. She booked travel, rallied family, drove every minute to Michigan, and stayed up all night with Shiloh so I could sleep and recover leading up to the BIG show.
The competition was FIERCE at the NPC Michigan State Championships. I won the overall titles in both bodybuilding and classic physique. A dream I had since I was 16 had just come true, TWICE! My mom was at my first show when I was 18 and was at this show, cheering me on! So cool!
Masters Nationals and an IFBB Pro Card
I felt accomplished but was exhausted, emotionally drained, and ready to step away from the sport. But Erika insisted I push further and aim for a pro card at the Masters Nationals.
I leaned HARD into my faith, trusting that Jesus would guide me through, no matter how tough things got. And tough they got—during prep, I faced a health crisis, extreme fatigue, and a setback in business, all while navigating being a brand-new dad.
However, I showed up at the Master's Nationals, knowing I had done everything possible and was in the best shape of my life by FAR. There were 16 top-notch athletes in my 45+ class and 38 in the entire division. I went on to win my class (earning my IFBB Pro Card) and then the division overall, beating two other newly crowned Pros. Simply CRAZY!!! Erika and Shiloh were there cheering me on, along with one of my other friends, Katina, who drove all the way to Pittsburg from Michigan!
This journey wasn’t just about bodybuilding for me—it was a testament to the power of faith, love, and perseverance. Erika's belief in me was the difference, even when I doubted myself.
Process
My process was to win each day; this meant reporting my exact intake and workouts to my coach no matter what. Each day must be OWNED by showing up, even if the execution of the plan is not perfect.
I am currently on day 495 of reporting my metrics DAILY so that’s 495 “wins” my brain is assimilating. I’m a huge fan of the books Power Of Habit by Charles Duhigg and Atomic Habits by James Clear. The goal is not to win the game but to continue playing the game. So many athletes start and stop in their prep and end up being passed by the tortoise who slowly moves forward every darn day relentlessly.
Diet
My base diet started at 215g protein, 200g carbs, and 50g fat and remained relatively constant with minor tweaks, refeeds, and post-show celebration meals along the way. I eat 4-5 times daily and here is a typical day of food:
Breakfast: Potatoes made into home fries in the air fryer, egg white omelet with shredded chicken, spinach, red onions, and fat-free shredded cheese, coffee & cream.
Lunch: Chicken or lean beef (96% lean) burrito using a high fiber wrap, salad with tons of mixed veggies including tomato, cucumber, red onion & spinach. Low-calorie or zero-calorie dressing. G Hughes BBQ sauce and Skinny Girl poppyseed dressing are my favorites.
Dinner: Rice bowl mixed with cauliflower rice or homemade burgers with a low-calorie bun and 96% lean beef.
Snacks: Beverly UMP either by itself or mixed with fruit or mixed with Greek Yogurt. Beverly UMP has been and always will be a CONSTANT in my diet, both in season and off. The taste and quality are unmatched.
Supplements
I use a lot of Ultra 40 Beef Liver and Mass Aminos. Since I travel a lot, maintaining protein quality and quantity can be challenging, so having Ultra 40 and Mass Aminos as convenient options has been an enormous help. For instance, when I need to fill in 10 grams of protein without any fat or carbs, ten Mass Aminos are perfect.
I take Creatine Select before my workouts and Glutamine Select towards the end of my prep when my calories are low. I also include Density as an intra-workout supplement. Recently, I’ve added Quadracarn to help my hormonal levels rebound post-prep.
UMP is my favorite protein supplement! On days when I feel sluggish or low on energy, I take 7-Keto MuscLean. Additionally, I use Tri-synergizer from my wife's company and Beverly's Joint Care. Other than the Tri-Synergizer, which I did not start until 2016, I’ve literally taken these exact same products for all 27 years of my competitive career! Beverly has been the ONE constant through it ALL!
Training
I write my own workouts and have been a programmer for 30+ years, geeking out on the science of periodization, muscle hypertrophy, and recovery. My split is:
Monday: Glutes, hamstrings, back (thickness), rear delts
Typical workout: heavy deadlifts 5 x 5, lying legs curls 4 x 12, seated rows 4 x 7-9, close grip lat pull downs 3 x 12, reverse pec deck 4 x 20
Tuesday: Chest/arms
Bench press 5 x 5, dumbbell incline press 3 x 12, cable crossovers 3 x 15, triceps cable pushdowns 4 x 9, bench dips 4 x 20, barbell curls 4 x 9, preacher curls 3 x 15
Wednesday: Legs
Squats 5 x 5, leg extensions 3 x 12, glute bridges 3 x 15, seated leg curls 3 x 12, calf work
Thursday: Off
Friday: Lats & shoulders
Close grip pulldowns 5 x 5, wide grip lat pull downs 3 x 12, dumbbell pull overs 3 x 20, military press 5 x 5, dumbbell seated side laterals 3 x 12, wide grip upright rows 3 x 20
Saturday: Bonus leg day of deep and higher rep squats, leg press, weighted back extensions, abs and calves
Sunday: Off
NOTE: sets of 5 are heavy as technique allows; dig hard! Sets of 9-12 are “tension” sets, which are smooth and rhythmic, and higher rep sets are slow and controlled, going for the “burn.”
Cardio:
I worked up to an average step count of 18,000 for the last 6 weeks of prep. Posing daily for at least 15 minutes. I rotated walking outside, treadmill incline jogs, and the elliptical for cardio.
Pro Tips
Diet:
Shop the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh meat, vegetables, and nutrient-dense foods are.
Training:
The same tip applies to training as to diet. Start at the perimeter where the squat racks, deadlift platforms, barbells, and dumbbells are. Fancy machines with linear bearings are OK, but only AFTER the hard work on the deep squats and deadlifts are done.
Posing:
SMILE, and have fun up there! This makes a HUGE difference, trust me. The hard work is done. Now, enjoy your stage time, and BE READY! If it's close, they may take you through the poses SEVERAL times like they did for me at the Mr. Michigan. Make sure your conditioning is on point!
In Closing
I aim to make my Pro Debut in 2026, hopefully at 10 lbs heavier! I know it will happen with God’s grace, Erika’s support, my coaches’ guidance, and the reliable Beverly products!
God has also called me back into coaching, and I enjoy helping others succeed. This allows me to share Beverly's products, my knowledge, and the power of faith. Reach me at jesse@resultz1.com.
