David Hamlette, a radiological technologist at the Lab, recently placed second at the World Natural Bodybuilding Championship in Atlantic City, N.J. the same competition where he placed fourth in 1996.

Always active in sports, Hamlette played soccer, tennis, football, and wrestled in high school; lifting weights was always secondary to the sports he played. He began honing his weightlifting abilities during his sophomore year at North Carolina A&T University where he intended to continue wrestling. Unfortunately, the university cut wrestling as a collegiate sport in an effort to save money. Following the suggestions of friends, he started weightlifting seriously and in 1987, at the age of 18, won the Mr. Greensboro title.

He has since won other titles including Mr. Virginia Grand Prix in 1990, Mr. Tri-States in 1992, Mr. Atlantic Coast in 1993 and most recently the International Bodybuilding Championship in September of 1998. He is not sure what competition is next, but he hinted at the upcoming Mr. Universe competition in March.

Hamlette has always been a proponent of natural bodybuilding, preferring a regimen of proper diet, plenty of rest and a lot of hard work in the gym to that of growth hormones or steroids. He also does not promote the use of dietary supplements because some of them may be harmful to the body. "One of my big drives is to prove it can be done without the use of drugs," Hamlette says. This philosophy is stressed through his business, N-Shape Professional Training, whose clientele have won many competitions as well. Among them: Ms. Virginia winner Donna Weiss, Ms. North Carolina winner Katie Cartwright and Light Weight Mr. Virginia winner John Weiss.

Hamlette works out at home usually in the afternoon. He has a full gym complete with free and machine weights, aerobic conditioning equipment, mirrors and padded floors. On the days he can't work out at home he usually goes to Bally Total Fitness in Newport News.

For those interested in pursuing a healthier lifestyle, Hamlette advises trying different approaches to fitness. "Get out there and do the exercises, read health magazines, and follow nutrition literature to see what works for you as an individual. That's the best way to enhance your lifestyle. There is no single plan for health, nutrition and exercise that will work for everyone," he points out. "It's good to read to enhance your knowledge but you have to experience and experiment with it [fitness]."

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