When Casey Hoyt tells people he is a bodybuilder, he gets a lot of different reactions. “A lot of people think I’m a jerk without even knowing me, which I think is funny. I think people have that stigma that people with muscles are just jerks. When they get to know me, they say that they thought I was a total jerk but now that they know they know I’m not,” said Hoyt. Hoyt’s roommate Craig Martin, a senior from Washington studying graphic design, said, “He is by far the most positive person I know. Things that resonate in my ears that’s classic Casey is, ‘Does it really matter?’ and, ‘Why wouldn’t you?’ These two sayings of his have made him such an interesting person, and it’s been a blast sharing a house with him for over a year now.”Hoyt’s friends know him for one of his key mottos: “No matter what you do, just try your hardest.”Hoyt, a senior in exercise sport science from San Clemente, Calif., said he fell in love with bodybuilding after he returned from his mission in Argentina. “Being LDS and a bodybuilder actually coincide. I think that it actually helps me to develop as a member of the Church because it’s built off of the idea of constantly progressing and becoming better,” said Hoyt.Hoyt said he chose to do bodybuilding because of the individuality of it. “The fact that I don’t need to depend on other people to do well is nice. I’m only accountable to myself. I can’t say that it’s this person’s fault. If I do bad it’s because I didn’t do something. If I do good then I did something right,” said Hoyt.As he continues to perfect his bodybuilding Hoyt hopes to become a professional bodybuilder. “I’m going to work during the time that I do bodybuilding because it’s not a lucrative profession unless you’re one of the very top guys. I’m not banking on it because it’s not realistic, but I could possibly do it,” said Hoyt.In addition to building his physique, Hoyt said his bodybuilding has helped him to flex his spiritual muscles as well. “Preparing for a competition is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. It’s in those moments that you realize the things you need to do spiritually so that you can make it through something hard. Being able to stick to something helps me to be able to have good patterns throughout my life. “Being a bodybuilder also helps me to continue to do spiritual things so that I can stay on top of my spiritual progress,” said Hoyt.To prepare for competitions, Hoyt said he works out every morning, except for Sundays, and consistently eats five meals a day to fuel his workouts.For anyone who wants to get in shape, Hoyt said the key is to start and be consistent. “It takes a lot of effort. There’s a nutritional aspect, a training aspect, and there’s a supplement aspect. If you don’t work out, start working out consistently a few times a week and once you can get that down then start working on your nutrition,” said Hoyt.
Writer: Joshua Mason ~ Multimedia Journalist
