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Greeley bodybuilder has hopes to make professional circuitDate: 27.11.2006
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team
The 33-year-old Greeley man is thankful to be alive and to be able to participate in the sport that has given him so much -- bodybuilding.
Nearly six years ago, Castillega was diagnosed with diabetes, a condition that led to the death of his father and two of his sisters.
However, Castillega was not about to let diabetes get the best of him. Last December, Castillega earned the title of Mr. Colorado after not only winning his light-heavyweight division, but the overall title at the 2005 National Physique Committee Rocky Mountain Bodybuilding and Carol Semple Fitness and Figure Championships.
This September, Castillega took it to a whole new level by finishing third in the light heavyweight division at the National Physique Committee North American Championships in Cleveland amongst some of the best bodybuilders in the country.
Bodybuilding gave hope to Castillega when he was worried that he might end up with the same fate as his father and his sisters. Now he tries to provide inspiration for others that may be struggling with diabetes.
Working at the GNC health supplements store in the Greeley Mall, Castillega often runs into people who are looking for advice on how to deal with diabetes in their own lives.
"I get a lot of feedback on how people say that I am giving them inspiration to keep doing things because some of them are healthy, just out of shape and that they could be in worst situation health-wise," Castillega said. "I kind of give them motivation because they see me doing something like this and they realize they can accomplish what they put their mind to as far as goals."
Helping others keeps Castillega inspired.
"If I can help just one person out as far as changing their lifestyle, than I pretty much got the job done," he said.
Castillega's success has come despite doing it all naturally and while dealing with his diabetes in a sport that requires a disciplined diet and a rigorous training regiment.
Castillega's wife Cathy believes that Frank has handled his condition so well because of his dedication and discipline to follow his training regiment.
The diet is not easy, especially around the holidays when everyone around him is slopping down the turkey and cranberry sauce and eating lots of sweets.
Castillega said that with his next show in July, he could afford to eat some pumpkin pie at his mother's house, but doesn't want to change the discipline in his life that has helped him stay healthy and led to the success he's had in his sport.
"Like they say, what you put into your body is going to turn out on stage, especially in bodybuilding," Castillega said. "It's about how you look and not about how strong you are, how high you can jump or how fast you can run. So that keeps me motivated to eat healthier and try to achieve the goal I set for myself."
That goal is to turn pro. Castillega is preparing for the biggest competition of his life, the USA Championships July 27-28 in Las Vegas.
He has been told by judges at the North American Championships the that by cracking the top five he has the potential to earn his pro card in Las Vegas.
Cathy, a former bodybuilder who is now a certified bodybuilding judge in the state of Colorado, believes her husband has all the tools to make it as a pro at the national level.
"Now I know that I can actually compete at the national level and turn pro," Castillega said. "It has given me confidence now more than ever that I belong there."
FACTS ABOUT DIABETES
Persons with diabetes have a risk of premature death that is two times greater than that of persons without the disease.
In 2000, diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
In 2000, diabetes cost the nation more than $132 billion in health care expenditures.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 21 million Americans have diabetes and, of these, about 6 million don't know that they have the disease and are not treating it. |
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