Bodybuilding Airman takes first Published June 1, 2007 By Airman Alex Martinez 90th Space Wing Public Affairs F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- An Airman at Warren placed first at a bodybuilding competition in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 5. Airman 1st Class Luis Lopez, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, won first place in the welter-weight class, first place in the lightweight armed forces weight class and first overall at the 2007 Discount Sports and Nutrition Southern Colorado and Armed Forces Natural Bodybuilding and Women's Figure Championships. All military branches were represented. About 40 people participated in the competition. Factors such as muscle structure, proportions and body definition are judged to determine the scores of participants. Airman Lopez has been weightlifting since the age of 16 and said it takes a lot of hard work to get and maintain a bodybuilding body. "There are some days at the gym when I was so light-headed because I was on a [low carbohydrate] diet but I had to push through it," Airman Lopez said. Airman Lopez must workout and condition during the bodybuilding season and during the off season as well. He uses Warren's fitness centers to work out. A local company sponsors Airman Lopez for his bodybuilding competitions. "Bodybuilding can get real expensive with all the costs of the events, traveling and nutritional supplies so they really help me out a lot," Airman Lopez said. The next competition Airman Lopez will be participating in is the Shawn Ray Colorado Pro/Am Classic in Denver. The event is a national qualifier. Airman Lopez aspires to go professional in the sport and says if anyone wants to take up bodybuilding as their sport, it's not an easy road to follow. "You have to stay focused," Airman Lopez said. "If you really want something bad, you just have to have persistence."