Brad Hess

About Brad

Describe your path to the pros.

It took me 4 competitive seasons and 7 shows before turning pro. I took 5th place in the novice division at my first competition, the 2010 INBF Buckeye Classic, and was hooked. I made small improvements each year and placed top 5 in each show I have competed in with a 1st place finish at the 2011 INBF Tri-State Lightweight class and then the 1st place lightweight and overall at the 2014 INBF Tri-State.

Every year presents new challenges and new struggles. Going into the 2014 competitive season I took on the task of doing my own diet for the first time in my competitive career. I was able to bring my best package to date, but it definitely presented multiple challenges. My wife and I were engaged at the time and planning a wedding that was going to be two weeks after my last show for the season, so there were a lot of time commitments to get everything planned and booked. We are blessed to have great families that were able to help with everything and made the process as smooth as possible.

I learned a lot about myself during my 2014 prep and think I will be able to bring a much better package this year. This is my first time doing fall shows, so that has presented new challenges to this year’s prep. My wife and I took family vacations to Florida and Saskatchewan. Both vacations were a blast and I was able to train and stick to my game plan without any setbacks.

Which WNBF pro shows have you competed in?

I have only done one pro show so far – the WNBF Pro American in 2014. I was able to take third in the lightweight class.

What does being a WNBF pro mean to you?

Natural bodybuilding is my biggest passion so to be a pro in the WNBF means a lot. I love the platform that the WNBF has created for natural athletes to compete and be rewarded for their hard work. I hope I am able to reach other athletes and encourage them to challenge themselves and compete in the WNBF.

Are you involved in any other aspects of natural bodybuilding?

My brother, wife and I recently started our online coaching company – Hess Fitness. Currently most of our clients are close friends and family. After this competition season I hope to put a lot of focus into the business and start to build it up.  I have not judged before, but I would love to!

Which WNBF amateur shows are you likely to attend?

I will always make an effort to attend the WNBF Tri-State. I have competed in the show 3 times. Delbert and LaDawn Hickman put on a great show every year and it will always be important to me since it is where I was fortunate enough to turn pro. If more WNBF shows come to Ohio I will likely attend those as well.

Will you be competing in the 2015 Worlds in Atlantic City?

Yes, this will be my first time competing in Worlds. Since I first stepped on stage it has been my goal to be able to someday compete in Worlds. It will be an honor to share the stage with a lot of athletes whose careers I have followed over the years.

What are your competitive goals?

Right now my goals are just to come in more conditioned this season than I did last year. I feel like my conditioning has never been quite where I wanted it, so that will be my biggest goal each year until I am able to create what I have envisioned. Just competing at the WNBF Pro U.S. Cup on October 17th and then again at Worlds in November will be some huge goals accomplished for me.