From Powerlifting to Bodybuilding: The Transformation of a Chiropractor at 50
No Nonsense Magazine Volume 26 #1
By: Matt Haumesser

At a Glance: Matt Haumesser
Age: 50
Occupation: Doctor of Chiropractic
Family: Wife: Brandy Son: Nathan (14 years old) Daughter: Scarlett (12 years old)
Current Residence: Milford, Ohio
Years training: 35 years (since high school wrestling days)
Height: 6'1.5"
Weight: Off-Season: 235-260, Contest: 213-219
Favorite Bodybuilding or Fitness Meal: Sounds strange but I really enjoyed my lunch. I looked forward to my spicy salad and a couple pieces of fruit.
What would you recommend to someone who has never used Beverly supplements before? Start simple. Protein is King. Then add other Beverly Products as you need to. Start with UMP, Mass Amino Acids and Ultra 40 Beef Liver Tablets. (I remember Roger showing me a study done on rats that compared 2 sets of rats exercised – the only difference was that one group got the same beef liver extract as Ultra 40, and one did not. The ones that received the beef liver extract looked like small dogs fit for a horror movie. The non-beef liver extract looked like normal rodents.)
Music: Anything except rap and country. In the gym, it has to be metal music
Most Inspiring Book: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Hobby or interests outside bodybuilding: Coaching wrestling and shooting a gun or bow
Words to live by: My wrestlers have a motto that says… You either win or you learn.
Why return to bodybuilding after 18 years, decide to diet for over a year, get spray-tanned, put the posing briefs back on, oil up, and compete again? This is a question I’m asked many times at my chiropractic office. The answer is rather simple. All I wanted was for my children to know that no matter how old you are, you can obtain your goals if you put your mind to it and work your butt off. I also wanted my patients to understand this concept as well. We live in a society where it’s very easy to blame someone else or to try to be the victim, and I believe that bad things happen when we do. Instead of playing the victim we need to pick ourselves up after a fall and go right back after the things that we want.
So let me rewind . . . In 2006, after my last bodybuilding competition, I shifted gears and committed to powerlifting. During the ensuing 12 years, I turned pro in the 242lb-weight class, with my best competition lifts being a 980 squat, a 630 bench, and a 760 deadlift. Then, I sustained a torn labrum on my right hip while training. My orthopedic doctor said I needed to stop squatting or, at the very least, go lighter. What really stopped me in my tracks was when he said if it got worse, it could affect my chiropractic career. So, I stepped back from the powerlifting platform and pursued a less intense workout routine.
Keto Diet, Setbacks, and a New Goal
In late 2022, I stumbled upon a documentary that piqued my interest while researching dietary concepts for work. This led me to experiment with a strict keto diet in the spring of 2023 to observe its effects on my blood work. After dropping nearly 25 pounds, maintaining my strength, and achieving perfect blood work, I felt comfortable and strong at 235 pounds, down from 260 as my 50th birthday approached. I had a discussion with my wife, Brandy, about how she felt about the idea of me returning to the bodybuilding stage again. Reluctantly, she agreed, and we moved forward.
Throughout 2023, my diet was hard-core keto. I was eating a maximum of 40 net carbs a day. I consumed lots of protein, vegetables, and fiber at every meal. As an assistant wrestling coach for my son’s junior high team, I strained my left pec at one practice. A few weeks later, while performing a simple stiff leg deadlift, my hamstring tore. Why was I injuring myself so much? After speaking to my powerlifting coach, Shane Sweatt, and a few other colleagues, we concluded that my muscles, ligaments, and tendons were too dry from the severe carbohydrate restriction. I stopped the intense keto diet and adopted a more balanced, low-carb style diet to move forward.
On January 1, 2024, I increased my focus and got “serious.” I set my sights on competing on March 30 in the NPC Northern Kentucky Grand Prix. I also signed up for the NPC Kentucky Cup just two weeks later. I entered the master's bodybuilding, open bodybuilding, masters classic bodybuilding, and open classic bodybuilding in both competitions.
Final Preparation and Bodybuilding Competition
At 5 weeks out, I weighed 223 at 4.2% body fat. Now was time to add small amounts of cardio. On March 12 (2.5 weeks out), I weighed 221 at 3.7%. On March 26 (4 days from the Grand Prix), I was 220 at 3.4%. On
the day of the show, I found that there had been some noticeable changes since my last competition. There was no equipment backstage for pumping up. Luckily, Shane Sweatt advised me to bring bands. At the last second, I learned I was required to perform a 30-second free pose to house music during the prejudging. While waiting for the show to begin, I snacked on Beverly Goo (I’ll give you the recipe for it elsewhere in this article). During the pre-judging, I believed I was in the running to win both the masters classes, and I thought I would come in first or second in the open classes. The night show went FAST, and I placed first in Masters Bodybuilding, first in Masters Classic Bodybuilding, and second in both open classes.
Two weeks later, at the NPC Kentucky Cup, I weighed 213lb. This show had a lot of high-quality men and would be more competitive than the last one, but I was ready. As I stood in line to hit the stage, the expeditor (the same expeditor as the Grand Prix) said, “Wow, man, you really improved. You look drier and fuller. You look great.” That was encouraging to hear.
I came prepared with hot coffee, Beverly Goo, and a NO2 product. Prejudging went well. I felt really good about my master's classes. The open bodybuilding competition featured a man who looked amazing. I knew he had it. My open classic class had 14 competitors. They brought us out in waves at first, then as a group. In the group setting, I was the first one called out. They called out 4 more guys. I was convinced we were in the top 5. At first, they put me on the edge, and we ran through all the poses. Then I saw a judge nudge someone next to him and point to me. They moved me to the middle and did it all again. That was a good sign for me. In the final place, I came in first in both my master's classes, second in open bodybuilding, and third in open classic bodybuilding.
I considered my sojourn back into competitive bodybuilding a success, placing first four times, second three times, and third once. After the Kentucky Cup, my wife and I discussed whether to continue to compete at the NPC North Americans. We decided to stop. I had nothing more to prove. I showed my kids what I wanted them to see, and I didn’t want to continue putting additional strain on the family.
Life After the Show: A Bodybuilder's Reflection
I wish to share another unique perspective. I am writing this article weeks after the last show concluded. I think many bodybuilders go through a rough re-entry into normal eating and normal life. My body had changed, and so had my taste buds. All the foods I was missing and craving no longer tasted the same. Oddly enough, I find myself missing the intense sense of structure. I feel a bit lost. It seems strange to miss something so intense, but I do. I hope that as I spend more time between myself and the last show, I can become more “normal.” I don’t think so. Bodybuilders, young and old, actively competing or somewhat retired, are not normal and never will be.
What now? I will continue to lift, learn, and evolve. I will continue to experiment to find the perfect diet for me. I am currently experimenting with the Mentzer/Yates HIT training. I believe we should constantly improve in all facets of life, which is what I intend to do next.


Supplement Regimen
UMP Two scoops twice a day up until the last month or so, then I switched to Muscle Provider
Lean Mass Retention
Mass Amino Acids 8 with breakfast, 5 at lunch, and 8 before bed – switched to Muscle Mass (same dosage) the final month
Ultra 40 Beef Liver 8 with breakfast, 5 at lunch, and 8 before bed
Muscularity 9 in AM and 9 in PM
During Workouts
Glutamine Select I always use 1 scoop during all my weight training workouts
Muscle Mass 12- 15 during weight training
Fat Loss
GH Factor 6 capsules before bed
7-Keto MuscLean 3 with breakfast and 3 with lunch
Quadracarn Began about 2 months out 3-4 tablets in AM, lunch, and before bed
Lean Out 2-4 at breakfast, lunch, and before bed
Fast-Up 1 each morning
Joint Care 3 in the morning and 3 at night
Nutrition
Meal 1: 2 cups black coffee, half a grapefruit, one packet of instant oatmeal, 8oz 96% lean ground beef
Meal 2: Two scoops UMP in water (at six weeks out, I switched to Muscle Provider)
Meal 3: 9-10oz grilled chicken breast, medium apple, half a grapefruit, 6 cups salad with lots of peppers, 2-3 tbsp vinaigrette style dressing
Meal 4: Two scoops UMP in water (at six weeks out, I switched to Muscle Provider)
Meal 5: 10 oz lean beef or chicken, 3-4 cups vegetables steamed (broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, or green beans)
Meal 6: either a protein bar or UMP ice cream made with the Ninja Creami (until the final month)
At six weeks out, I dropped Meal 6 but added a carb meal once a week on Thursday. A medium banana, 1 packet oatmeal, 2-3 cups green beans, 4.5oz sweet potato.
Final Diet Adjustments and Carb Load
I switched my protein sources to 15oz of white cod fish at meals 3 and 5 and cut out anything spicy at two weeks out. I began carbohydrate loading at one week out as follows:
Tuesday
200 grams carbs - additional servings of oatmeal plus another apple and sweet potato
Wednesday
315 grams carbs – oatmeal, sweet potatoes, apples, and banana
Thursday
410 grams carbs – additional servings of oatmeal, sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas (cut out salad to reduce any bloating)
Friday
250 grams carbs – reduced oatmeal to 3 servings, 2 apples, 1 banana, 1 sweet potato
Show day
Breakfast: 1 packet of raisin and walnut oatmeal, 1 medium banana, 8oz of 96% lean beef
Backstage: Beverly’s Goo (mix in a bowl equal parts UMP, peanut butter, and honey and sprinkle in some Reece’s Pieces); I also have some rice cakes and banana, sipping water as needed.
I also added a Nitric Oxide supplement and drank hot black coffee for vascularity.

My Training
Immediately after COVID-19, my wife and I decided to build our home gym. This is where I have been training for years and where I continue to train. I maintain a bit of a powerlifting edge in my training. I like to have a heavy main movement and follow up with good accessory work.
Workout Split
Sunday: Chest and triceps, cardio
Tuesday: Back, traps, shoulders, biceps, cardio
Thursday: Cardio and any additional work, like calves or abs
Saturday: Legs and cardio
Chest
Flat Bench Press 3-4x8
Flat DB Flye/Flat DB Coffin Press superset 3-4x10-15
Incline DB Press/Incline DB Flye superset 3-4x10-15
Cable Crossover 1x100
Triceps
Skull Crushers 4x8
Dips 3-4x10-12
Tate Press/Rope Pushdown superset 3x12-15
Back
Chin Up 4x10-20
BB Bent Over Row 3-4x8
Close Grip Cable Row 3x10-12
1-Arm Cable Pulldown 3x10-12
Cable Rope Pullover 1x100
Traps
BB Shrugs 4x12-15
DB Shrugs 4x12-15
Sometimes, I superset these two exercises
Shoulders
Giant Set: DB Lateral Raise/DB Front Raise/Bent-over Rear DB Raise/Standing DB Press
I do this 4 times through x 10 reps, each using the same weight.

Biceps
Standing EZ Curl 3x12
Single-arm Cable Curl (that pulls from behind) 3x12
DB Spider Curl 3x8-12
Legs
Squat 4-6x8
Leg Press 4x10-12
Leg Extension 4x12-20
Front Squat 1-2x50-100
Stiff-leg Deadlift 3-4x10-15
Lying Leg Curl 4x10-12
Seated Banded Leg Curl 2-4x25
Calves
(Pick 2 exercises and use 3 different foot positions)
Sled Calf Raise 3x25-100
Belt Squat Standing Calf Raise 3x15-20
Donkey Calf Raise 3x15-20
Seated Calf Raise 3x15-20
Cardio
I didn’t do any cardio until five weeks out from the show. I added brief sessions an hour or more before my weight training on Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday. These cardio sessions took no more than 25 minutes. They consisted of interval training, mainly on a recumbent bike, warm-up, then 15 to 20 seconds all out, with 40 to 45 seconds at a very low intensity. I did anywhere from 10 rotations up to 15 rotations per session.