About

My love for bodybuilding and health started when I was 15 and my father received a barbell weight set for his birthday. Instead of my father putting the weights to use, I did! I was hooked from the first barbell bicep curl and completely fell in love with lifting weights. I was amazed that these exercises could redefine your physique and health. I began going to the public library to read up on how to work out from the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joe Weider. In high school, I took weightlifting classes to continue to hone my exercise form and programming skills. Once I graduated high school, I enrolled at the University of Maryland taking many exercise science and nutrition classes that earned me a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. That’s when I knew I was completely committed to life-long learning on how to achieve health and the ultimate physique.

Fast forward 20 years, I now have several degrees under my belt. I hold a Doctorate in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Education from Loma Linda University. Prior to this degree, my years at San Diego State University culminated in two master’s degrees—Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Sciences. The acquisition of these degrees helped me to also become a Registered Dietitian, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, and an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist.

During and after graduate school, I have held numerous professional academic positions which assisted in cultivating and enhancing my education and experiences as a health professional and coach. I was the Measurement Director for the San Diego State University Pasos Adelante Investigation of Pedometers and Step Counters for Physical Activity Promotion. Similarly, I was a Faculty Research Associate for University of Pittsburgh’s Human Performance Laboratory within the Special Operation Forces community. Both research positions helped me develop my research acumen and resulted in several peer-reviewed research publications.

Currently, I am the Wellness Coordinator for the American Red Cross Southern California Region’s Women, Infants & Children program. I design, coordinate, and evaluate their wellness, weight management and cooking staff and client programs. In addition, I mentor and precept numerous undergraduate and graduate nutrition, exercise physiology, and public health students each year. Also, the California Women, Infants & Children Association has hired me as a Wellness Consultant tasked with writing their statewide staff wellness newsletter. Finally, I have been a personal trainer/coach for over 25 years helping 1000’s of people from all walks of life, e.g., corporate executives, endurance athletes, physique competitors, and medical professionals, achieve optimal health and wellness.

I’m fortunate that my professional career is inextricably intertwined with my passion--bodybuilding. I am a Professional International Pro Elite Natural Bodybuilder who has been competing for over 15 years. I won my professional card in 2014 prior to returning to school for my doctorate. Speaking of which, my doctoral dissertation was entitled Dietary Intake and Behavior in Competitive Women Bodybuilders and I have several manuscripts submitted for publication.

Whether you want a healthier physique for life or aspire to do a bodybuilding competition, the combination of my knowledge, professional experience, and competitive success can help you achieve your goals. This is epitomized in my mission, “To provide you with an evidence-based, individualized training and nutrition coaching experience to educate, inspire, and empower you to achieve your health and physique goals for life and competition. Together let’s create a physique worthy of your vision. I strongly believe your path to success should not be average it should Be EPIC!

Be EPIC

Dr. John Haubenstricker, DrPH, MS, RD, CSSD, ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist®, IPE Professional Bodybuilder