Wahiawa's John Ligsay Jr. has recently been muscling his way toward a Pinnacle NPC USA Bodybuilding & Figure Championships title.

He has finished 13th, ninth, sixth, fourth and third in the Las Vegas tournament over the past five years.

"When I first got there nobody knew who I was, so I didn't get good placings," he said.

Ligsay, 40, is hoping to break through July 28 to 29 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus. He qualified for the event by placing in the top five last year.

"This is the best I've ever been," Ligsay said. "I'm at my top weight right now. Before I've been a lighter bantamweight (143 1/4 pounds and lighter division). I'm ripped right now — four percent body fat."

According to Ligsay, Flex Magazine, in its February issue, predicted he will win the bantamweight title this year.

"It's a real honor for me; saying I was third (last year) but could take first this year," he said. "I have to show everybody and myself I can be the champ. I know I can do it and I'll do it."

He'll be one of the older competitors, but said: "The muscles are more mature. Some guys get it later. I'm peaking now."

A victory in Las Vegas would qualify Ligsay for the NPC national tournament in Miami Beach, Fla., Nov. 10 to 11 at the Jackie Gleason Theatre. All division winners from the national event have the option of turning pro.

"I hope to win my weight class and get my pro card," Ligsay said.

Ligsay works out at 24 Hour Fitness in Mililani, and prepares for shows 13 weeks before they start.

His routine consists of an hour of lifting and 45 minutes of cardio both in the morning and evening.

Ligsay said he eats six meals a day, mostly consisting of low carbs and low fats such as chicken, turkey and fish.

As for junk food, he said: "First I cut out fast food, then ice cream — every week I stop something."

Ligsay, who has been a bodybuilder for 15 years, starts working on his posing six weeks before an event for an hour every day.

He fits everything around a job as a loan officer for a realty company and has a 2-year-old son, Kaeo.

Ligsay said it's no secret steroids are a problem at bodybuilding competitions, but he said bodybuilders are randomly tested at national competitions.

He said he was tested in Las Vegas in 2001 and his result came back clean.

Ligsay said he was 5 feet and weighed 89 pounds as a senior at Campbell High School, and got interested in bodybuilding after going to a show in 1993.

When he was younger, Ligsay was involved in break dancing, karate, boxing, paddling and surfing. Recently, he has served as a personal trainer.

"Whatever I did, I did my best at it," Ligsay said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.