::Tevita Aholelei @ M U S C L E P o l y n e s i a ::

last updated:
Tuesday, 8-apr-08

		the STONE of TONGA ~ Tevita Aholelei ~ by Tui Letuli
		“Set realistic goals for yourself, beginning with short term goals. This will help prevent you from quitting because they’re much easier to achieve.”
		The man called “Stone of Tonga,” intrigued me the minute I logged onto his web site. He stated something that made me want to know more about him. It wasn’t bodybuilding; it was his priorities. It was the foundation which he built his integrity, by putting his family first. What seemed like something he focused less on, showed much success.
After corresponding with him via e-mail, I finally got to meet the Stone of Tonga at his son Kalanie’s baseball game. Tevita carried his youngest boy Kavika on his lap while rooting for Kalanie’s team, “The Rockys.” His wife, Kim, tended to the other kids, and his father Mr. Aholelei Sr., was also there with much joy, cheering his grandson’s game. Tevita and I started our conversation off about life, family, career, bodybuilding, health, fitness and nutrition as we watched the game. I soon realized that this guy wasn’t just an ordinary man but one with great integrity and passion. Tevita shared with me his priorities, and the foundation in which he built the success he has today. He is a family man; his wife Kim is his soul mate and their children are his world. He’s an insurance man, mortgage broker, entrepreneur, bodybuilder, trainer, speaker, and the list goes on. But the principle remains the same, he says, “When priorities are built on a strong foundation, your results are greater.” It reminded me of a Proverb: If you teach a child the way he shall go, when he is old, he will not depart from it. Definitely, Tevita hasn’t departed from the principles he learned long ago: Work smart, work hard and make a commitment to succeed in whatever you do. As a young man, he worked construction but had other interests in mind, so he pursued looking for new ventures. He soon found himself in the Marine Corp. and served four years. Soon after the baseball game was over, Tevita, his wife Kim, their youngest son Kavika, and I were on our way to Gold’s Gym in Fullerton, Calif. On our way there, Kavika, who is two years old, began singing the American National Anthem, word for word and note for note. More and more I was impressed with this wonderful family. Kim signed Kavika in child-care and the three of us went to workout. I couldn’t help but notice other Mr. Olympia bodybuilders, such as Shawn Ray, and others who were working out right beside us. I got encouraged to lift without feeling intimidated by all the muscle around me and I focused on what Tevita was teaching me about lifting properly with the right weight and breathing techniques, proper form, etc. As a personal trainer, he made it easy to understand how to stay focused and about using good form. The following day I felt the muscles in my body screaming in pain, but it was a good pain, the kind where you knew there were going to be results. As the saying goes,“No pain, no gain”

On my next visit with Tevita, I asked him to share his training techniques and other information with Muscle Polynesia. MP—What would be the first steps you would recommend to someone interested in getting started in bodybuilding as a foundation? Tevita—Enjoy it! You should look forward to going into the gym with a positive attitude and anticipation to the end result of your workout. Set realistic goals for yourself, beginning with short term goals. For example, start with weekly goals, then monthly goals, etc. This will help prevent you from quitting because the short term goals are much easier to achieve. Set aside time during the day for your workout. Many people always use the, "I don't have any time to workout," excuse. Instead of sitting at home watching television or sleeping in the morning, you should be working out. If I can do it while working full time, doing homework with my children, and coaching them in sports, then no one should have any excuses about not having any time to workout. MP—What about eating habits? Because you know most Polynesian foods are rich in starch and coconut milk etc. Obesity is a big problem with many Polynesians. What kind of advice could you give on good eating habits? Tevita—Changing your eating habits is much easier than most people think. The first thing you need to do is cut the amount of carbohydrates to half of the amount of protein you consume per meal. Your last meal with carbohydrates should be no later than 2pm daily. This will increase your metabolism and burn off the excess carbohydrates and calories as you sleep at night. Instead of three large meals during the course of your day, eat five to seven small meals which will help increase your metabolism. Food is very inexpensive if you eat healthy. Sources of protein are chicken breast, turkey, fish, egg whites, red meat, etc. Sources of carbohydrates are rice, wheat bread, oatmeal, potatoes, yams, etc. Fruits and vegetables are also important to include in your daily diet. Fruits are a good snack when you crave for more food or sweets, and vegetables (greens) are important for digestion. Drink as much water as possible and avoid frying your food. Eating healthy Monday through Friday and cheating on the weekends is an ideal starting point. As you continue on this diet, you will eventually eat healthy seven days a week instead of five days. MP—What type of workout routine do you follow. Do you workout everyday? And what body parts do you work on? Tevita—I workout six days a week with Sundays off. Before each body part, I do two light warm up sets. I do three sets per exercise.
	Monday - Shoulders Tuesday - Quads Wednesday - Chest Thursday - Ham-strings/Calves Friday - Back Saturday - Biceps/Triceps
MP—Do you have a mentor in bodybuilding? Tevita—I do not, nor do I idolize anyone. I have watched and learned from various bodybuilders in the course of my career. I believe that it is important to respect other bodybuilders and their accomplishments as well as learn from their mistakes. To me, if you idolize someone, then you will never be as good if not better than that person. My only mentor on earth is my father and God. MP—What type of exercise do you do together as a family? Tevita—Swimming, bike riding, basketball, baseball/softball, football, and wrestling around in the house. MP

THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and are for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTENTS, COMPLETENESS, OR ACCURACY OF THE PUBLICATIONS LISTED HEREIN. ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED.