Life is filled with triumphs and failures. We are not defined by these events, but rather the choices we make when faced with them. Natural bodybuilding is about choice. It is not our place to judge the choices of others, but we celebrate the choice natural athletes make on a daily basis.
We believe the only requirement to take part in natural bodybuilding is the dedication, desire and discipline to do so. In this sport there is no vast fortune to be won, nor any great fame to be awarded. The journey to the stage can be a transformative experience and it is the journey rather than the destination where the true rewards are won. Through honor, integrity, blood, sweat, and tears, this transformation can be beneficial in all aspects of life. The physique is not the end goal, but rather a testament to the years of dedication, desire and discipline required to reach one’s potential.
OUR MISSION
Our goal is to provide a community where you can look at your brothers and sisters and know that they are walking the same path. We exist to serve the drug-free strength and physique community by providing evidence-based information, community support, recognition to natural competitors, and holistic coaching to help athletes fulfill their true potential in all facets of life.
OUR VALUES
Dedication to a craft
Whether you’re a coach, competitor, bodybuilder, or powerlifter, refining your craft over time requires dedication to your chosen pursuit. We’re dedicated to delivering outstanding coaching and education to the natural bodybuilding community.
The desire for better
Life is filled with triumphs and failures, but everyone deserves to feel the euphoria that comes with reaching their fullest potential. We’re constantly striving to improve the way we work, and we aim to inspire that same aim in our clients.
Talent starts careers, discipline sustains them
Natural strength sports are a marathon, not a sprint. You get better at what you repeatedly do, and having the discipline to sustain those actions over years of a competitive career is what separates our bodybuilding idols from the rest.
Honesty, always
Our goal of providing a supportive community for drug-tested bodybuilders is built on a bedrock of healthy relationships. Honest, respectful communication allows us to be better coaches, better athletes, and better humans.
Respect the science, honor the individual
We believe in a bodybuilding experience that is truly “evidence-based”. We are diligent in assimilating what the current body of scientific evidence recommends, and are experienced practitioners who are confident in our decisions. But – above all – we treat every single client as an individual. No two people are the same, and thus no two coaching relationships look the same.
OUR PROMISES
1) To deliver world-class coaching and evidence-based education to the natural bodybuilding community.
2) To always conduct ourselves with integrity, humility, and honesty.
3) To celebrate natural bodybuilding and those who dedicate their efforts to the sport that we love.
OUR TEAM OF COACHES AND SPECIALISTS
JEFF ALBERTS – HEAD COACH
Jeff Alberts started in the iron game in 1986 and has been consistently in the gym ever since. His first bodybuilding competition was in 1993 and over the years he’s experienced success by turning professional in multiple organizations as well as placing high on the pro level. Jeff has experienced firsthand just about every positive and negative of the sport over the past few decades. The valuable lessons learned, have and continue to guide him successfully as a highly reputable coach in the natural bodybuilding community. An enthusiast for the basics, Jeff puts heavy emphasis on making sure there’s a holistic approach to the sport to ensure all 3DMJ Athletes are successful both in and out of the gym.
“If the approach is causing far more stress than enjoyment, the approach needs to change.” – Jeff Alberts
Instagram: @3dmj_godfather
Origins Podcast: Meet Jeff Alberts
BRAD LOOMIS – HEAD COACH
Brad Loomis’ experience in strength sports is very diverse. His career started in natural bodybuilding competing as an amateur from 1998 to 2008 when he earned his pro card with the WNBF. He founded, owned and operated “Healthy Bodies Fitness” from 2002 to 2012. He’s been certified with the RKC School of strength multiple times and in 2009 started competing in Drug Free Raw powerlifting. He has earned national podium placings in both 74 and 83kg weight classes as a USAPL Master Powerlifter. His true passion is coaching and believes that’s what God put him on this earth for. To deliver effective coaching of any content he’s mastered in a language that is enjoyable and easily understandable. “My life is not mine. I live to serve others.”
“Brad, I do believe you could coach a 1 legged man in a butt kickin’ contest” – Anonymous Co-worker in Health Care.
Instagram: @3dmjcoach
Origins Podcast: Meet Brad Loomis
ALBERTO NUNEZ – HEAD COACH
The year was 1999, and it was love at first rep for Coach Alberto Nuñez. Eventually he made it onto the bodybuilding stage in 2007, and his love for the iron game ascended to a whole new level. The very next year he earned pro cards in every major tested federation, but there was something about seeing the local playing field not fully caught up from a methodological standpoint that didn’t sit well with him. He felt compelled to help spread word in regards to the more modern, up to date methods.
Fast forward to today, and his contributions as a coach, athlete, and author have helped propel some of the growth of the sport. Despite all this success, Nuñez claims his most successful accolade comes in the fact that he gets to be called Coach Nuñez. “My biggest thrill is that I was lucky enough to be one of the founders of Team 3DMJ.”
“I can honestly say we as a team have changed this sport we love for the better. I get to wake up every single day with a strong sense of purpose, responsibility, and the ability to make a positive impact.”
Instagram: @nunez3dmj
Origins Podcast: Meet Alberto Nunez
ERIC HELMS – CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER / COACH
In addition to some coaching, Eric Helms PhD, CSCS is the Director and Chief Science Officer of 3DMJ. He helps the team members play to their strengths, stay up to date with best practice, and acts as a science communicator, helping lifters find sustainable pathways to high performance. Eric is the chief author of the Muscle and Strength Pyramids, a founder of and reviewer for Monthly Applications in Strength Sport, and is a research fellow at the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand at Auckland University of Technology, pursuing research in training, nutrition and psychology for strength and physique sport. Eric has a PhD in Strength and Conditioning with a research focus on autoregulating powerlifting, a masters with a research focus on protein and macronutrient manipulation for dieting bodybuilders, a second masters in exercise science and health promotion, and a bachelors in sports management, fitness and wellness. As an athlete, Eric competes in bodybuilding, as well as multiple strength sports.
Instagram: @helms3dmj
Origins Podcast: Meet Eric Helms
BRIAN MINOR – HEAD COACH
Brian Minor is a coach, educator, and athlete. He holds a Masters Degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University, and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
Brian Minor has been coaching for over a decade, with a primary focus on those interested in improving body composition, physique contest prep, and within the sport of powerlifting. As a coach, Brian is passionate about both educating, and seeing his athletes achieve success both within their fitness endeavors and beyond.
Brian competes as a pro natural bodybuilder and in raw powerlifting. He began training as a teenager to become a better hockey player. As his competitive years on the ice came to a close, his passion for training continued; as he directed his training efforts towards building muscle and getting stronger.
He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his wife and two children.
Instagram: @bdminor
STEVE TAYLOR – REGISTERED DIETITIAN
Steve Taylor is a registered dietitian, with a master’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, and exercise physiology. His formal training, combined with over 15 years of experience has equipped him with tools, skills, and strategies he now teaches to others.
Steve wants everyone to have the knowledge and skill set to be able to direct their energy, health, weight, and strength. His goal is to teach those he works with how to do this.
Steve owns and runs a private practice that is centered around helping people develop sustainable healthy habits. He has been team 3DMJ’s registered dietitian since 2016.
Instagram: @stevetaylorrd
Website: SteveTaylorRD.com
AMANDA RIZO – MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTANT
Amanda Rizo, LPCC, is a psychotherapist and 3D Muscle Journey’s Mental Health Consultant. She graduated from Florida International University with a Masters in Counselor Education: Clinical Counseling in 2017.
Amanda has five years of clinical experience specializing in depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body image, codependency, attachment, and substance use issues. She has experience working in residential substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment, community-based counseling, and private practice. Amanda has also facilitated groups on mindfulness, honoring one’s body, and women’s issues
After facing immense challenges around food and body image, Amanda took her power back and began a journey toward self-love and service for others. She set the intention to live harmoniously in mind, body, and essence to inspire others to do the same.
She incorporates a holistic approach, creating a safe environment as she guides clients toward self-care while cultivating self-love and trust.
Though Amanda hasn’t taken the plunge to compete, she understands the mental and emotional weight the process bears and is dedicated in assisting athletes in creating balance and equanimity in their lives as they master their craft.
Instagram: @rizomonster
Email: amirizo027@gmail.com
NICHOLAS M. LICAMELI, PT, DPT – INJURY REDUCTION & MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
First and foremost, Nick is a husband to his high school sweetheart, Carly, and a father to two beautiful girls, Ava and Nina. He believes in giving himself to others in an attempt to make the world a happier, healthier, and more loving place. Nick sees himself never as an expert, but always as a student thirsty for knowledge and improvement. Nick wants to be an impactful and positive resource from which his younger self would have benefitted and of which his older self would be proud.
Dr. Licameli graduated summa cum laude from Ramapo College of New Jersey with his bachelor’s degree in biology, then furthered his education by completing his doctoral degree in physical therapy from Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences (previously the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey).
Dr. Licameli is the owner of an outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinic, is the Injury Reduction and Management Specialist for 3D Muscle Journey, is a member of The BFR Pros, and is the founder and CEO of Strength Together, Inc. Nick writes for various health and fitness publications, presents at professional conferences both nationally and internationally, is a sought after guest on various podcasts, is a published author, and is an instructor of continuing education courses with The BFR Pros.
A doctorate in physical therapy and professional status in bodybuilding are similar in that they both don’t mean a thing…it’s not the credentials that matter, it’s what you do with them that matters. The work of 3D Muscle Journey is changing the sport and has helped make Nick the person he is today. The mission statement says it all. To paraphrase, 3D Muscle Journey provides unity, support, evidence-based information, and holistic coaching to help athletes fulfill their true potential in all facets of life. It should come as no surprise that Nick sees it as an absolute honor to have the opportunity to contribute to that cause.
Instagram: @nicklicameli
Website: StrengthTogetherOnline.com
ANDREA VALDEZ – DIRECTOR OF CONTENT
With a background in competitive gymnastics, cheerleading, bodybuilding, and powerlifting, Andrea has been a lifelong athlete. She carried this love of athletics into her continuing education, with a B. S. in Sports Management from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Oklahoma.
Andrea became a part of the 3D Muscle Journey coaching team in 2015, and in 2018 shifted rolls to focus on the company’s content development and distribution. Her main objectives are to help the team provide free and useful information to our growing community, and to build The 3DMJ Vault into the best bodybuilding education platform on the internet.
Instagram: @andreavaldez
Origins Podcast: Meet Andrea Valdez
