Weights Over Books: The Journey of an IFBB Pro and Entrepreneur

By: Marc Lobliner, IFBB Pro 

Everyone has a unique path in life. Some take the traditional route, excelling in school and landing jobs that lead to corporate success. Others, like me, take a less conventional road—one paved with sweat, weights, and a relentless drive to succeed. My journey from being a high school athlete to becoming an IFBB Pro, starting multiple businesses, and helping people transform their lives wasn’t built in a classroom. It was forged in the gym and on the playing field.

Growing up, sports weren’t just a hobby—they were my life. Baseball, soccer, and football weren’t just games; they were disciplines that taught me the importance of commitment, hard work, and resilience. My high school football coach didn’t care about excuses. He cared about results. That mindset stuck with me and shaped how I approached everything in life.

In school, I was an average student. Algebra didn’t excite me, but hitting a PR on the bench press? That lit a fire in me. It wasn’t that I didn’t value education—it’s that I found my lessons in a different arena.

When I first stepped into the weight room, I felt at home. The iron didn’t judge me. It didn’t care about my GPA. It rewarded hard work, consistency, and discipline—qualities I’d later carry into every aspect of my life. Bodybuilding wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was about building mental toughness, learning to push through pain, and committing to a process. Those lessons became the foundation for everything I would achieve later in life.

As I developed my physique, I realized something: people were looking for guidance. I started coaching others, and soon enough, it turned into a business. I trained people to pay the bills while in college and that led to landing positions at Weider Publications, American Media, Inc, and being a Co-Founder of Instone, Sylvestor Stallone's supplement line. Eventually, I co-founded Scivation, where we developed Xtend, the first BCAA supplements to dominate the market and that led to an entire category: Intraworkout. The lessons I learned in sports—teamwork, strategy, and perseverance—translated perfectly into the business world. When I sold my part of Scivation, it wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of a new chapter.

I wanted more than just a business. I wanted to create a legacy. That’s how TigerFitness.com and MTS Nutrition evolved, and later Ambrosia. These companies aren't just about selling products—they were about creating a movement, empowering people to take control of their health, and building a community that shared the same passion for fitness and self-improvement.

Becoming an IFBB Pro wasn’t easy. It took years of grinding, competing, and learning from every setback. Bodybuilding competitions are a test of everything—discipline, focus, and mental fortitude. When I finally earned my Pro Card, it wasn’t just a personal victory; it was proof that the principles I’d lived by worked.

Here’s the controversial part: I believe playing sports and bodybuilding were more important to my success than school. Sports taught me to overcome failure, to strategize under pressure, and to work with others toward a common goal. These lessons aren’t taught in textbooks—they’re earned on the field, in the gym, and under the barbell. This isn’t to say education doesn’t matter. But for me, the discipline and drive I learned through physical challenges were far more impactful than anything I learned in a classroom.

Success means nothing if you lose sight of what matters most: family. I’m proud to say that despite my busy schedule, I’ve always prioritized my wife and kids. They are my anchor, my inspiration, and the reason I push so hard every day.

One of my greatest joys is coaching young athletes at Legacy at Carbon. Seeing them grow stronger, more confident, and more disciplined reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the weights don’t lie. They’ll tell you if you’re working hard enough, if you’re disciplined enough, and if you have what it takes to succeed.

Bodybuilding, sports, and fitness have given me everything—strength, resilience, and a purpose. They’ve shown me that success doesn’t come from shortcuts or luck. It comes from showing up every day, putting in the work, and refusing to quit.

This is my story, but it’s also a blueprint for anyone willing to embrace the grind. Whether you’re chasing a Pro Card, starting a business, or just trying to improve yourself, remember: the lessons are in the struggle.

Now go out there and lift something heavy.