Three, two, one more rep to go. This is his fourth workout this week, and today he is focusing on his legs. Tomorrow, he will add shoulders and biceps.

In addition to preparing for his English classes each week, teacher Daniel Hudson follows a strict workout routine. This keeps him in shape for his hobby, which is bodybuilding.

“Many people consider the development of one’s physique to be similar to an artist adding a little bit of clay to a certain region.” Hudson said. “It’s along the same line as chiseling some here and there, like the refinement an artist does to a sculpture.”

Hudson squeezes in workouts when he’s not grading papers or getting lessons ready. He tries to go to the gym 5-7 days a week for an average workout of 90 minutes. Beforehand, he eats or drinks his body weight in protein, which is recommended by some nutrition and muscular development experts.

Recently, Hudson entered his first bodybuilding contest in the middle-weight category and finished in first place.

“It might be surprising to people who know me, but I had never been to a bodybuilding contest before competing,” Hudson said. “Before that, I always had an interest in just working out for physical activity.”

Hudson has always wondered if he should enter a competition, but a certain mental aspect held him back. Once he moved past that point, he started competing.

The competition aspect plays a big role in Hudson’s workout routine, but he has been interested in maintaining his overall physical fitness through outdoor activity for many years. He especially enjoys mountain hiking, and has recently been to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park.

When he goes on trips like these, he still has to focus on his protein intake.

“I normally go on protein searches,” Hudson said. “I make it my mission to find any substantial protein that will help me.”

And besides protein, Hudson uses devices such as motivation from people to help him. Throughout the years Hudson has been inspired by prominent names in fitness and film, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

“So I was a child in the 80s, and these celebrities worked out a lot and were in the movies,” Hudson said. “They made me want to do a lot of things better.”

Hudson used the stimulus these actors provided to not only strengthen his body, but his mind, as well.

“Working out is not the only part of my daily regimen,” Hudson said. “I read the newspaper daily, visit museums and go to bookstores and libraries, which help me complete my goal of reading at least 15 books every year.”