Meet NFF Pro Omar Solh

26
Feb
2018

Omar Solh AKA “O”

NFF Men’s Physique Pro Athlete

Earned Pro status: 2015 NFF Texas Shredder Classic

Pro Debut: 2015 NFF Physique Showdown – 1st Place Champion

Tell us a little about yourself

I come from different backgrounds and cultures. My father is originally from Lebanon and my mother from the Philippines. I’ve lived in different countries (Middle East, Europe, USA) throughout my life and I speak English, French, and Arabic. I’ve always loved playing sports and consider myself a competitive athlete. Physical activities took a toll on my body which shifted my focus on working more on my physique.

How did you get started with bodybuilding?

In 2001, a close friend of mine got me into lifting weights when we were in college. In 2014, that same friend created “Final15 – The Ultimate Challenge”, a program that allows you to burn fat and build/maintain muscle as fast as possible in 15 weeks. I was chosen to be part of the test group and the program got me down to 4.4% body fat. This is what eventually led me to my first ever show as a Men’s Physique competitor.

Where does your motivation come from?

My motivation comes from within. I always challenge myself to be a better version of myself physically and mentally. At the end of the day, it’s ME versus ME!

What are some of your greatest achievements?

My first great achievement was completing the Final15 Challenge and getting my body fat to 4.4%. I’ve competed in many shows since then and these are my biggest achievements:

NFF Texas Shredder Classic 2015 – 1st Place and Pro Card Awarded
NFF Alamo Showdown Classic 2016 – 1st Place (Pro Show)
NPC Europa Phoenix 2016 – 3rd Place and qualified for Nationals
DFAC World Finals 2016 – 1st Place
NPC North American Championships 2017 Masters O35 – 4th Place
NFF Poseidon Classic 2017 – 1st Place
DFAC World Finals 2017 – 2nd Place

What is your current training philosophy?

There are so many ways to train and there is no ONE right way. So many training techniques are available to us out there and there’s a lot to learn. I like to apply different training philosophies every time I go to the gym in order to ultimately create one that works best for me

What are 3 tips you would give to someone trying to reach their goal physique?

Have a plan, stay focused, and stay consistent. Your time will come.

What is your diet like? And does it differ on-season v. off-season?

Since it’s the off-season for me, I’m currently on a caloric surplus with higher fats and carbs in my diet. I also allow myself 1-2 “treat” meals a week. During prep, things are quite different since I would be on a caloric deficit with lower fats and carbs. I also tend to minimize the “treat” meals when on-season.

When trying to cut down what type of cardio do you do and why?

I use Low Intensity Steady State (LISS) for my cardio when trying to cut not because I prefer it but because it’s easier on my joints. However, if I did not have any pain issues, I would much prefer to do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) since it requires much less time to get the job done.

What is your next goal?

My next goal is to put on more muscle in the off-season. I would also like to work on growing my shoulders and adding thickness to my back

What’s your Favorite Quote?

“The body achieves what the mind believes.”

Learn more about Omar-

Instagram: @osolh

Facebook: omarsolhofficial

Twitter: osolh

Website: www.final15.com

Coach/Trainer Shout Out-

I’ll never forget where it all started… Mike Turino, the creator of “Final15 – The Ultimate Challenge”, got me into lifting weights during our college days and then eventually got me on board the Final15 test group which allowed me to see that indeed “the body achieves what the mind believes.” Shout out to Todd Rogers for helping me throughout my fitness journey and guiding me to the right path. And of course, I cannot forget my wonderful wife Chrislyn, who is always there to support me no matter what! Love You All!