"They would say - Man, that guys conditioning is insane!" is how Abiu Feliz laughingly responds when asked what he thinks his competition would say about him- and when you see Feliz that's not hard to believe. But if you saw him in back in 2002, when he first started body building again, he wasn't the machine that you see now. In fact, he weighed just 130 pounds, and worked really hard that first year to get his body to where it needed to be in order to compete in the 2004 South Eastern USA, which he won - qualifying him for the Nationals.

As for that first win, Feliz admits that he wasn't surprised -"I knew it in my spirit that I was going to win. I felt like it was my destiny. I remember the night before at my Mom's house having a dream/vision. I don't know if I was up or not, but I saw myself as a bigger me, with lights flashing on me, and greeting the camera guys as I heard the words Feliz, you're on - as a black curtain opened, and then I woke up". In the nationals that year he placed 15th - not bad for one year back in the game.

I say back in the game because Feliz actually started body building while in high school. But after a year of hardcore training his first competition was cancelled. Discouraged, he stopped training and moved on to other things. Twelve years later, Feliz says he hit "rock bottom" and was looking for something to lift him up - "I remembered how bodybuilding used to make me feel so I got back into the sport to relive a long lost dream of being a Pro bodybuilder and to rebuild my life back together."

What's his greatest accomplishment? He doesn't point to winning a particularly fierce competition, although he's clearly proud of what he's accomplished, and has more to do. Instead, he focuses on something else - "Transforming my life through bodybuilding and putting an end to old lifestyles…If you saw me 10 years ago, you probably would not even recognize me. I was 135lbs, battling drug addiction, dealing with many issues such as abandonment and being abused as a young child." While Feliz is focused on training, staying spiritually grounded is important to him too, so he stays close to God and church, and also has lots of supports. He credits his mentor, and best friend Mose Carter with providing consistent support and inspiration - "He believed in me when no one else did", adding that "everyone deserves a Mose Carter in their life."

Clearly Feliz has come a long way in the last ten years, having started out with the 2004 South Eastern USA, moving on to the 2005 Junior Nationals, where he placed 13th and then to the nationals, where he placed second. It took two years for him to turn Pro but when he did it was by winning Welterweight class at the 2006 NPC Nationals and he's not done yet - suggesting that he hasn't reached his full potential.
But he still has challenges, and his main one has always been, and continues to be, "putting on size". Feliz handles this issue much the way he handles most things, thoughtfully and head on. "Now I am very conscious of my meals so I eat like the person I want to be" and "I train smart to avoid injuries and prolong my career…constantly doing research on how to get my physique to the next level." He actually eats six meals a day about 3 or 4 hours apart, topping them off with a shake before bed - day in and day out, well except on Sunday.

According to Felize, whether its off-season or pre-contest, he eats a very clean diet - lean cuts of meats such as chicken, ground turkey, steak, egg whites and some protein shakes, as well as quality carbs, like oatmeal, white rice, and potatoes. He also trains hard, keeping up a rigorous training schedule, but here too it's well planned out - "I train chest on Monday, quads on Tuesday, shoulders on Wednesday, back on Thursday, bi's and tri's on Friday, and hamstrings on Saturday - rest on Sunday".

What would Feliz suggest to new bodybuilders? "Be patient. Bodybuilding is a lifestyle - one day at a time... stick to the basics as far as training/nutrition and train smart to avoid injuries" - and of course "You have to eat in order to grow", which isn't surprising considering his own battle with putting on size. For him, body building really is a lifestyle, he's also a personal trainer and does contest prep for other bodybuilders.

His goal - to become Mr. 2012 Olympia, but that's not all. Feliz has his eye on some business ventures, and frankly with his positive attitude, grit and determination, we may well see him in the winners circle in both arenas sooner than later.

Born 12-17-74
Contest Weight 200 Off-season 230.

Contest history
2004
Southeastern USA 1st Middleweight class
NPC Nationals 15th Middleweight
2005
Jr. Nationals 13th Middlewight
NPC Nationals 2nd Welterweight
2006
NPC Nationals 1st Welterweight and earned Pro Status
2008
IFBB New York Pro, Under 202, 11th
IFBB New York Pro, Open, 19th
2009
IFBB Europa, Under 202, 15th
2010
IFBB Europa, Under 202, 9th
IFBB Tampa, Under 202, 7th
2011
IFBB Jacksonville, Under 202, 14th
IFBB Muscle Heat Pro, Under 202, 9th