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The NLF Coaching Podcast
Two Coaches in the fitness Industry discussing all things fitness, natural bodybuilding, with guests from different avenues of the health and fitness industry.
The NLF Coaching Podcast
Episode #5 Greg Echols
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In this episode we dive into Gregs life as a full time Veterinarian and how he juggles competing in bodybuilding with a high stress career. We also talk about his foundation where he sponsors aspiring athletes with their bodybuilding costs of competing to make their dreams a reality.
All right guys, welcome back to the NLF coaching podcast. Today's guest we have Greg Eccles. Greg, um, so you've been competing in the OCB for quite a while now, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's been uh since 2017.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. So talk to us a little bit about kind of how you got started with your bodybuilding journey and uh kind of what you do professionally. Give us a little background on yourself.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so um professionally I'm a relief veterinarian um in the Charlotte region, but I practice out in North Carolina, South Carolina, and I go to Virginia. And so that's what my veterinary side is about. And when I was in, I've always been in, you know, the fitness, I've always been into lifting, um, mainly my whole life. And then once I got into veterinary school, that's when I really got into bodybuilding at that point and did my first show at that point. Um, my coach Twig, he was at the weight club and he was my coach during that process for me there. And that was the main gym that I went to in Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. And so we really, you know, just connected really well before he ended up opening his own gym and I started going there too. And so that's definitely what got me, you know, my first time ever, I have always thought about competing. I just never had the drive to really go and push myself into that realm. Um, which his insight and his dedication, you know, within the sport and you know, commitment within me during prep helped me get to that point to actually do my first show. And that just kept the drive in me to just keep pushing forward to hopefully one day when my pro car is the goal overall. But definitely um that's when I started, and that's something I've just been continuing to drive forth at this point.
SPEAKER_02I love it. So, Greg, how many shows have you done so far up to this point?
SPEAKER_00Uh see like eight so far.
SPEAKER_02Almost one a year, basically.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, something like that. But I take a good two years off in between.
SPEAKER_01That's funny you said the the weight club. So that's actually so I used to go there too, actually. Uh that's where I kind of got into bodybuilding myself.
SPEAKER_00You know, during college gym.
SPEAKER_01It is. That's really cool. So how long would an all-season have you taken between uh your last season and now?
SPEAKER_00Uh I typically do at least two years, so it was what, we're 26. So 2023, 2024 is when I did my last show. So um it's been about two years, and I'm about to hit the stage in Hawaii at the Kokoa Classic um on July 4th.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. Yeah, we were actually um scheduled to be out judging that show, but obviously we've got the England show after, and it was just too much travel and taking time away from the business and stuff. So I ended up pulling out, but I do hope to make it out there you know, one year to be able to be a part of that show because I'd love to go to Hawaii and support natural bodybuilding over there too.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, I love Hawaii.
SPEAKER_02So, Greg, you you know, we talk about this all the time, you know, is is being persistent, um, continuing to step away from the stage, improve yourself, come back with the same level of enthusiasm, um, and just loving the process, right? So you're saying that you're you're you're really trying to get that pro card, um, you've done eight shows, you're in prep for another one. And I love that because it just reflects that nobody is guaranteed a pro card when they compete. And can you persist and do you have the hunger um to keep going to make it happen? So, going into this prep, what's your mindset like knowing that you've already done the eight shows? What are you doing differently this prep? What do you think will give you a better chance of maybe winning that pro card this time?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, my biggest thing has been my coach's feedback. So, what I've been utilizing mainly for this prep is trying to get my upper body to match because my legs are pretty big, um, and trying to get my upper body, my chest, and my back to um be a little bit more symmetrical with the size of my legs. And so that's been majority of my feedback from majority of my shows the past two years for me there. So I've just been really grinding, working, hitting chest and back really, at least typically I would do like once a week um with those, and now I've been this whole past two years been hitting those at least twice a week, legs twice a week. So I've just been really focusing on, you know, trying to get my upper body to match somewhat symmetrical to my lower body. Um, because I felt like definitely in agreement with what they were saying, um, but I definitely felt like that was gonna somewhat try to set me apart from the you know other competitors, because I definitely feel if I put forth the work into what they're trying to tell me what I need to work on, that's definitely what they're gonna be looking for when I get there. So that's what I've been striving for at this point.
SPEAKER_01Greg, I'm I'm curious. So we talk about so often, all of us for the majority of us, bodybuilding is a hobby, right? Um with the demands of like a of a stressful career like you have, how do you balance um being a veterinarian and bodybuilding? And what is your what is your motivation to continue um the hobby of bodybuilding while you challenge the you juggle the the career you have?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's very demanding and it's very challenging because my schedule is very random. Um it's nothing that's really consistent with my work schedule. And so um the good thing is, is since fitness has always been and lifting has always been my thing to just I have to do that just to make sure I have my mental stability to work. So there's days if I go where I, you know, I'm strained at work and I don't work out, it really shows, you know, when I'm at work. And so I always have to make sure I take that time out of my day to make sure I get my lifts in just so I can be ready for work. So overall, it's not too much of a challenge for me to um get my lifts in just because that's something I know I need to do to be mentally prepared for work. Um it's just whenever trying to get them in within my schedule, it's just you know, like this morning, I hate working out in the mornings, so I had to go early this morning since um I work three to 11s on these next three days. But then the days that I work, you know, eight to five, I'm more of an afternoon, evening person. So those are a little bit easier for me just because you know I'm already, you know, made it through my day, already, you know, had my stressful day now, can go actually debreathe, recompress, and you know, start my next day over at that point. So um it's just a little bit more challenging when I have to switch things around as far as my lifts going in the mornings.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's uh it's funny Nate asked that because I was gonna ask the same thing because when we're deep in prep, you know, we we train people on the gym floor and then we spend a lot of the time at the computer programming for clients, check-ins, all that kind of stuff. And sometimes it's hard enough just loading machines when we're in those deep points of prep, right? And I've always wondered people in different careers, be it surgeons, people in construction, veterinarians, whatever it may be. So when you get into that really deep point of prep where you're super hungry, you're tired, it takes a lot of effort and energy just to do the very minor tasks. Does that impact your work or not too much?
SPEAKER_00It does. Um severely. That's why definitely during my peak weeks, I just take my whole week off, just so I can just mentally be prepared and not have to worry about the stress demand. The last thing I want to be doing is doing surgery on a pet, and I'm not mentally stable to even do that. So those weeks I typically just take my whole week off. Um, but definitely when you know the carbs are really craving or I'm, you know, feeling a little bit lightheaded and things like that, I always come in contact with my coach to see if we can make some adjustments or anything that it's not going to hinder my physique too much. Um, just to see if there's something we can work out to where it can help me just try to get through my days a little bit better.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that makes a lot of sense because we we talk about a lot of the athletes that we see on stage, you know, not being lean enough, they could probably lose, you know, maybe 10 to 15 more pounds sometimes. And I do wonder sometimes how much of that is where they just got to a point where it was impacting their line of work so much that I can't push anymore, you know. And it's it's quite possible for a lot of people that they are in careers where it's just it's the juice isn't worth the squeeze for them to push that bit harder because they might make a mistake at work or they might have a job or whatever it may be, right? So that's great insight for some of our listeners that may be in you know um careers that's really difficult to get into those deep stages of prep.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Greg, so one of the reasons we want to get you on the podcast is you actually have a really cool foundation that you started where you actually sponsor athletes, correct?
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_01So could you uh talk to us a little bit about um kind of what inspired you to start that and kind of talk to us a little bit about what that process looks like and how people um get in contact with you and how you select people?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So basically I sponsor athletes in their very first show. So it all started when I went through my first show and I was in vet school, so I had student loans. Um I definitely worked when I was in vet school. So I very I found out very quickly how much the financial burden was. Um basically trying to manage vet school plus trying to prep for a show. We're dealing with, you know, your food, you know, your membership, your coach fees, um, higher everything just starts adding up very quickly. And then seeing like the amount that I had spent in total overall, and you know, somewhat kind of worrying about, you know, how am I gonna get this paid, you know, um, when I had to go travel and things, you know, where I was gonna be staying, it basically was just a little bit of a burden plus trying to manage, you know, being in school, dealing with exams at that point too as well. And so when I finished, um, I was like, you know, how can I give back to the bodybuilding community in a way, because on my veterinary side, I basically um give back to them by um helping a vet tech who may have failed their exam, I repay for their exam so they can um take that for free, or a veterinarian who failed their Navily, their board exam, I'll um pay for them to take that for free. So that's how I give back to them on my side. And so I came up with, you know, well, I know like what I went through as far as a first-time competitor and the stress that I dealt with during that, you know, time frame. Um, how can I make this way more easier for another individual? And that's when I came up with United Athletes Incorporated, where I basically cover the whole cost of um an athlete who is competing for the first time and a very first show who wants to compete, who has a desire to compete, but there may be some financial burden that's hindering them from doing that. We all have lives. We some have, you know, families, some have, you know, kids, some have, you know, they're married, they just have a lot of obligations, but they have the desire, they have the drive to get it done. It's just financially, it's just not feasible for them to do it. So I just try to help and take out that burden to where they can reach the goal that they want to do without having to worry about that asset that they're having to deal with to come up with those funds to get that done.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's absolutely incredible, Greg. Yeah, I mean, you know, you're a phenomenal ambassador for the sport of natural bodybuilding. You know, I've seen you at God knows how many shows. You're there supporting so many athletes, you know, you you're cheering them on, you're encouraging them, you're you're such a positive person to have in the industry and to be able to give back like that. And you've actually done it to a couple of athletes of mine as well, which I'm extremely grateful for, and I know they are extremely grateful for because as you said, the expenses people don't take into account, you know, the the tan, the the polygraph, the entry fees, the crossovers, the registration, all of those things. So that's amazing. So what do you look for in an athlete that you're going to sponsor? They've obviously got to be a first-timer, but what are the other criteria you look for?
SPEAKER_00The biggest criteria is they have to really be in it and dedicated to actually doing it. So I've had so many come to me and they're like, you know, I'm uh definitely want to compete. I'm really in it, but their drive is really not there, their focus is really not there. Um, it's been plenty, you know, I go to multiple gyms and it's been plenty that, you know, ask me about it. And, you know, when I'm in a gym and I see like what they're doing, they're really not putting in work, you know, they're just really mainly there talking and everything. I'm not, I'm just I just don't want to waste my funds to cover something like this if you're not really gonna put your time and dedication into that when somebody else could be way more beneficial that this could go to. So you really have to have the drive, the dedication, and the commitment that this is something you're really gonna be putting your all into for it there. And that's like my biggest thing. And then another thing I really go off of is like a backstory. Like there's one that um I have right now, Malik, who um just recently, not too long ago, um, got into a real bad car accident and sustained a real bad vertebal fracture, well, spinal fracture. Um and now he's wheelchair, he's paralyzed um overall. So he's one that's gonna be doing um it's a show in Idaho, but it's um um one for the the wheelchair um category, and he's gonna be doing that. So I'm always looking for like a great backstory that you know, something that you've overcome or something that you're currently going through to just try to help determine is this something to see how dedicated you are with this for um overall. Um so definitely, you know, being a first-time competitor, definitely being committed and dedicated in it, but then also some kind of great backstory to show, you know, what you've overcome and why this is going to be so important to you to receive the sponsorship are the biggest things that I look for.
SPEAKER_01That's a grilling.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's awesome.
SPEAKER_01I'm sure uh I'm sure the the athletes that you've helped along the journey are like extremely grateful. Do you uh do you still kept stay in contact with a lot of the athletes that you've helped along the journey?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I'm pretty sure like I've done so far. I got like 25, I think 25 so far in like 18, 19 of them. We still stay in contact. We follow each other on social media. They still text, we still call each other to check on each other. Um, it's great to see like what everybody's doing like outside still the bodybuilding community, but some of them are getting ready to start prepping for shows after they finish like med school. And it's just great to see like what they're doing outside in the world, um, outside of bodybuilding, but then also knowing, you know, that I'm always still a connection that they're you know talking to, still getting insight about things too, even when they're about to go back into prep and things. So um we definitely majority of all the ones that I've um sponsored, we still keep in great contact with each other. And or I see them at freaking conventions.
SPEAKER_02Well, and speaking of, were you not just up at the Arnold classic?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I was at the Arnold and I saw a whole lot of them that I recently sponsored or current sponsors, so it was a great experience. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so it's kind of circling back around to your own bodybuilding journey. Um, so for you, I know you said you had your site set on on Hawaii in July, right? Yes. For you is that are you uh are you a one and done guy when you compete, or do you like to do multiple shows? I know like it's it's kind of tough to cover all that with like your work and stuff.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So I typically do multiple shows at least like one a month. Um, so I have that one. I know I'm looking at um, I didn't go to the conference in Vegas this year because I have one scheduled in Vegas. Um I think it's like in November, and I didn't want to go to Vegas twice. Um I have one in Florida scheduled. Uh I think Carolina Fitness Festival is in Raleigh. Um and then it's one and then it's one more. Uh the um it's in South Carolina, uh by Myrtle Beach. Um but my coach, he's like, I have all these like planned out, but he's like, we're gonna try to win the one in Hawaii that way you don't have to do the rest of these. So in his mind, it's like a one and none for right now, but we're gonna see. But I have the rest of these planned out just to be on the safe side.
SPEAKER_02Amazing. So obviously you have the goal of winning a pro card, but how do you handle you know when you step off stage and you you don't get it over the line? I mean, what is your what is your mindset, you know, when that happens that allows you to just keep going?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so my mindset is like I always have my mindset on when I'm getting my pro card. But the good thing is I know the good thing is, I guess I can say I've always placed top five in everything, like every show that I've done. So um I'm always looking at, you know, what can I do to get better and you know, perfect more of my physique at that point. I've never been, I would say, I mean, we all I guess can get sometimes disappointed with our placement, but I've never been super discouraged or anything like that after, you know, my places when I've been on stage for me there. It just gives me more drive and more, you know, perseverance to, you know, keep pushing. Once I see, like, okay, where did everybody else place, you know, how did they look? Um, um, critiquing myself against them, seeing, you know, once I get my photos, you know, what can I do to improve to, you know, get a better physique, um, get my client, my um, not so much uh judges' feedback. So I just try to find ways to, you know, not solely focus on, you know, not winning my pro card and finding ways to just continue to better so I can actually reach to get that goal.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. So I do have a question for you in regards to kind of what we talked about with balancing career, bodybuilding, things of that nature. Like for you, what advice would you give to somebody maybe a first-time competitor? Because I think a lot of times when we have like interviews of people that are considering competing, the big thing a lot of people have is self-doubt. How can I how can I add competing into my life when I have a career and I have a family and kids, like whatever that looks like? I think a big thing that people struggled with is trying to figure out where they fit it into all that. Like, how do you how do you find that balance and what advice would you give for a first-time competitor considering doing a prep for the first time?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I would definitely say they need to really sit down and see, you know, one, if it's something that you're really into or something that you're really planning to do, um, one, you're definitely gonna have to try to find the time to get it done. And then two, just trying to, you know, figure out like where in your schedule that this is gonna be the most consistent to get this, your lifts or you know, your meal prep or things done. Because we can all say, like, hey, um, I want to be a I want to compete, I want to do this, but if there's not enough time in the day for you to actually get it done, is this really gonna be reasonable or feasible for you to even be able to, you know, pursue this for you? So definitely for the ones who have like self-doubt, um, because they just have so much going on or just doesn't have enough time to get it done, they really just need to sit down, determine like, you know, how many hours you're is this gonna be playing? Is there anything that I can take out that I'm currently doing that I really it's not really giving me any benefit in life? And I could use that time to, you know, actually get workouts done or get my meal prep done or get this stuff done. You just really have to sit down and look at the time that you have that you may not really be using, you know, for you personally that's getting any game and actually switch that out to actually get you prepared to be able to compete.
SPEAKER_02Put the phone down and stop scrolling, right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But I mean, I'm really bad at really bad at video games and watching movies, and I'm like, okay, all this time that I'm doing all this, like I could really be using this time for this.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, I think ultimately it's it's like we say all the time, it is it is a it's a selfish endeavor for you to like actually go through the process of getting stage lean and committing yourself fully to the processes. You have to really dedicate yourself for that six months time, whatever your prep time that looks like. Like you have to do what it takes to be dialed in from point A to point B to get where you want to be. So it's like having a good plan in place and mapping it all out and just having a good having awareness of like what's gonna go into it is is is so important because I think if if someone just starts a prep and doesn't really understand the full bandwidth of like what's gonna go into the process, like it'll it'll knock you on your butt the first time, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it will.
SPEAKER_02So just circling back to the um the sponsorship because we'll probably have a lot of people listening to this that are thinking about competing. Um, you know, what does a sponsorship include when you sponsor a first-time athlete?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so every sponsorship they'll get um a wolf pack backpack um of their choice. So they I basically just tell them to pick which one that they want, they let me know, and then they'll all get um a sponsored t shirt with their name on the back for them there, and then they get a little actual care package that I ship to them there. And then each athlete um I cover basically their membership. Registration and it doesn't even matter what organization. So it could be OCB, NPC, whatever. I cover their membership registration and their class registration. So if you're doing novice, debut, open, a master's, whatever, whatever, however many classes you're doing, I basically just cover all that for you. If it's your first show, um, I cover if they have tannin, if they have hair and makeup, I cover all that. If they have attire, um, so all the females, all their robe and all their stuff, I cover all that. Whereas the guys, if it's just the board shorts or the posing briefs, you know, I cover that for them. Um, and so, and then also recently this year, we just started where we'll cover accommodations and travel. So wherever they're going, uh, wherever they're staying, um, we cover that cost too as well.
SPEAKER_02So you I mean you could be looking a minimum of a thousand dollars.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, minimum a thousand females, it could get five to seven K five or seven K easily.
SPEAKER_02So um for the ladies for sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, the male athletes I can definitely sponsor way more uh than I can do other females.
SPEAKER_01So when you when you started this, did you it it from our perspective to me, it looks like it's it's picked up some momentum and uh something that you're kind of known for now. When you started this, did you have any idea that it would kind of gain the traction that it has?
SPEAKER_00Uh not really. Um I was looking potentially like around potentially like one to two athletes per year. Um, but then when we hit what 2024, it really picked up pretty well then, um, which I'm kind of glad that the word was getting out. You know, more individuals were like coming towards me to know more about the sponsorship. Um, I've been I just recently, this was what my third event where where the honor was my third event that I actually went to have a booth set up at. Um I'd done two OCB shows, and then in April I'll have I'll be at the NPC Charlotte Cup um where I'll have a booth there too. So that'll be my first MPC show that I've been at for them there. So definitely looking forward to that. So the exposure is definitely getting out there, and I'm glad, you know, vendors and things are actually coming out asking me, you know, would I set up a booth and things like that? Because it just lets me know that the word is getting out, which is a good thing. Um had a great turnout at the Arnold uh with so many individuals. Great place where first-time athletes, you know, are getting ready to compete or about to compete. So I got a lot of um um submissions, you know, after the Arnold, you know, with individuals looking to compete next year. So it's definitely blew up pretty great, which I'm kind of happy, which is a great thing.
SPEAKER_02So that's amazing, but what's the long-term vision for this for you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, long-term vision really is nothing personally for me, which I tell everybody, it's nothing really that I really get gain from, except exposure to let individuals know they do have an opportunity, or there is there are opportunities out here for them, um, if it's something that they're definitely wanting to pursue. So nothing on my end that I'm really trying to gain from it, except if I can make somebody's dream, you know, really happen, come to a reality without them having to be worrying about you know finances or worrying about how they're actually going to get to this when they have so many things going on, then that's just the biggest thing that makes me happy overall.
SPEAKER_01So with the momentum that started the game, um curious, like when you're at gyms and at these expos and things like that, do people recognize you? Like, do you get noticed by people like, hey, I know you too many people?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, yeah, a lot I do. Um, it was a lot at the Arnold, more than I expected. It was kind of um, I would say, because you don't really recognize a lot of people. I mean, you may know them from social media, you may know their hashtags or things like that, or their um names and things, but um, it was so many individuals that like came up and like, oh, aren't you the guy that likes sponsors athletes or aren't you short black and awkward? I wish I could put a face to everybody, but but it's crazy the amount of people that you can actually actually you um make an impression with um and never have any idea that they even know who you are to even begin with. But um, yeah, definitely that happens a lot.
SPEAKER_01What uh what social media platform are you currently like biggest on? Like what do you what do you promote on the most?
SPEAKER_00Um I promote mostly United Athletes on um my website and my personal Instagram page, my short black and awkward one. Um and then my veterinary side, I'm mainly on TikTok and Instagram on them two sites.
SPEAKER_01Your veterin uh TikTok's quite big, isn't it?
SPEAKER_00Yes, right at what one I think it's like 145k and then 20 on TikTok, and then it's like 28k on Instagram.
SPEAKER_02Wow, that's amazing. Yeah, you're you're you're the influencer, Greg.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I get a lot of brand deals on the vet size, so that's not a lot.
SPEAKER_02That's amazing. That's amazing. So, how many athletes would you say you want to kind of cap this thing out, or is there no cap?
SPEAKER_00Uh there's really no cap. Um I typically like this year, I thought I probably would have had like four or five since I did 11 last year. Um, but I hear I am with nine, so that's really that's really no cap, really.
SPEAKER_02You have a problem saying no, Greg. Is that what you're saying? He's got a big heart, this guy. Now, I will say, you know, guys, it's what Greg is doing is amazing, but don't, you know, don't um if you can afford to bodybuild by yourself, you know, obviously save these spots for people that that really truly need the help, right? Is that kind of the message that you're preaching?
SPEAKER_00Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Well, Greg, I mean, you are a phenomenal ambassador for the sport of natural bodybuilding and just bodybuilding in general, to be honest. Um super happy to have you on and spread the message, spread the word. Uh, how can people apply with you if they are first-time competitors? They they really want to compete, but they don't have the funds to do so.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so um, they can apply. I have a link in my bio on my Instagram, short black and awkward. It goes to my website and under contact us, it's an electronic form. They just fill out and it sends the email to me, and I basically get the submission form and review all those. So that's basically how everyone's applies there. Or they could just, if they don't know or something's not working, they can just DM me um on my Instagram, and I'll basically just send the form to them um by email.
SPEAKER_01That's awesome, Greg. It's really inspirational what you're doing. We appreciate you being a great ambassador for the sport of bodybuilding. Um, help countless people, and I'm excited to kind of witness your journey this season, and we'll be rooting for you, brother. So thank you for your time. Thank you. Let's get out of ProCon, yeah. Let's get it.
SPEAKER_02Let's get it. We'll speak to you soon, brother. Thank you very much. All right, you're welcome, buddy.