Interview With The Texas Bulldog Joe Mcree
Interviewed by Ben Tatar of CriticalBench.com - October 2008

CRITICAL BENCH: Joe, tell Critical Bench readers about yourself!

I'm originally from Nederland Texas and I now reside in Dallas. I'm currently a personal trainer at Gold's gym which I really enjoy. I've competed on the local, where I obtained the Mr. Texas title as well as the national level.

CRITICAL BENCH: Joe, I am sure you get comments about your physique very frequently. Do you have any funny stories about getting a cool comment about your physique by a random person?

I was grocery shopping one time and this guy started yelling at me and saying "Damn!! You're one big dude!" He then looked in my cart and saw I had about 4lbs. beef, 4lbs. turkey, 4lbs. chicken. and 4lbs. fish and said "After you buy the whole store, it's no wonder how you get that big!"

CRITICAL BENCH: What motivates you to get bigger and more ripped year after year?

I think my motivation is more internal. I'm always trying to improve my physique and better myself as a competitor. They say there's always something better you could do so I'm always looking for just that. Whether it's lifting heavier, doing 1 more rep or even little things like cutting some of the foods out of my diet that might not help my conditioning.

CRITICAL BENCH: Joe, so far in your bodybuilding journey, what has been your favorite, craziest and funniest moment?

• Favorite moment- Winning the Mr. Texas title and seeing how proud of me that it made my parents. I will never forget the looks on their face. They have always been very supportive of me.



• Craziest moment- Probably eating all the food I can get my hands on after my competitions.



• Funniest moment- While I was training legs one day I jumped off the leg extension machine and one of my legs gave out on me. The little girl on the machine next to me thought it was hilarious but it made me mad so I yelled m*%^&er f%&#er and got back on for another set, lol!

CRITICAL BENCH: What gym or gyms do you train at?

I train at a few different gyms including L.A. fitness, Golds gym, and Strouds. All in DFW. Strouds is a hardcore gym, L.A. fitness and Golds are both great corporate facilities.

CRITICAL BENCH: Tell us about your diet and how you supplement. How is it different from the on-season and off-season?

During pre-contest I usually use what I refer to as a "yo-yo diet". Every week is different. Sometimes I get moderate carbs, some weeks I get none. I always keep protein high and low to no fat. In the off-season I pretty much do the same only more of the same food. My favorite supplements include whey protein, glutamine, BCAA's, Uni-liver, and NO-Xplode.

CRITICAL BENCH: How do you train?

Right now I'm in the off-season so I train by how I feel. I always train very intense and heavy so I know I'll grow based on that alone.

CRITICAL BENCH: What is your opinion about the steroid debate?

In my opinion...to each his own. If you're willing to take the risk then go for it, if not, then don't. However, I definitely believe that should you decide to use steroids you should definitely educate yourself on all the pro's and con's of the things your taking so you'll have an idea of what to expect.

CRITICAL BENCH: Joe, other than winning Mr. Texas, what was another big accomplishment of yours in bodybuilding?

Winning the Mens Novie middle weight class at the Ronnie Coleman Classic

CRITICAL BENCH: What are your future goals?

Earn my pro card in bodybuilding. Build my personal training business and open my own training facility.

CRITICAL BENCH: We wish you the best with that. Away from bodybuilding what do you enjoy doing?

I love to watch movies, hunt, fish, and read books.

CRITICAL BENCH: What is the best advice you were ever told and what was the worst?

The best advice is to learn my own body. The worst would probably be when I was told to eat anything and everything with no control to put on muscle.

CRITICAL BENCH: What is your advice for the younger bodybuilder who looks up to you?

Everyone has there own opinion on how you can reach your goals. The best advice I can give is to learn to listen to your body and give it what it needs whether it's the proper nutrition, rest, or training.

CRITICAL BENCH: What is your favorite thing about yourself?

I'm going to have to go with discipline. Once I set my mind on something I do what I have to do to get there no matter what it takes.

CRITICAL BENCH: How do you want to be remembered?

I'd like to be remembered as a bodybuilder who wasn't the typical meat-head. I'm much more then that as a person and I don't like when people stereo-type me like that.

Critical Bench: Joe, it has been a pleasure. You're a well rounded, talented, hardcore machine. In closing who would you like to thank?

First off...my parents. They've always been really supportive of me and my aspirations. Secondly...my trainer, Herman Steele. Without him I would have never learned the ropes of the sport as well as the lengths to which I can push my body.

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