Surging Men’s Open Pro Martin Fitzwater is leaving Florida for the Lone Star state. With preparations for the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro heating up, Fitzwater shed light on why he made the move to Texas and what groceries fuel his physique.
Fitzwater’s ascent in the Men’s Open division has been anything but ordinary. After winning the 2024 Detroit Pro, he ranked second to Nick Walker in New York. His most recent season culminated with a fourth-place debut at Mr. Olympia.
Then, Fitzwater out-muscled Classic Physique great Chris Bumstead in Bumstead’s Open performance at the Prague Pro. Not short on momentum, Fitzwater’s already 2025 Mr. Olympia-qualified, thanks to that triumph.
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Fitzwater’s New Home and What That Means for His Bodybuilding Career
Texas is the training birthplace of bodybuilding legends, including eight-time Mr. Olympia kingpin Ronnie Coleman and Branch Warren, who forged freakish physiques throwing iron around at the rugged Metroflex Gym in Arlington, TX.
Fitzwater, guided by Warren in 2022, plans to bring an even grittier look in 2025 with the help of his current coach, Stefan Kienzl. “It’s a sigh of relief,” Fitzwater shared about his move from Florida.
While Fitzwater must navigate workouts without his primary training partner, fellow IFBB Pro Brett Wilkin, he’s taken solace in his possible new home gym only 15 minutes from home. He believes the move best aligns with his latest bodybuilding goals.
“We’re moving to Texas for some bigger opportunities and to continue to make our environment what we want it to be. We’ll get Brett out here with me and continue to push each other,” Fitzwater shared.
Fitzwater’s First Texas Walmart Grocery Haul
- Zucchini
- Honey Crisp Apples
- Epsom Salt
- Ground Turkey 97/3
- Blue Hog Champions’ Blend BBQ Sauce
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Kellogg’s Corn Flake Cereal
- Eggs
- Egg Whites
- King Arthur Bread Flour
- Quaker Oats
- Fat-Free Lactose-Free Fairlife Milk
- Gatorade (Glacier Freeze Flavor)
- Doritos Chips (Nacho Cheese Flavor)
- Monster Energy Ultra Zero
Fitzwater is intentional about every product he adds to his cart. Aside from selections made by his partner, Wellness IFBB Pro Alexis Adams, Fitzwater aims to eat clean, whole foods leading up to his contest prep. As expected, a handful of high-protein sources, like eggs, egg whites, and ground turkey, were thrown in the mix.
Fitzwater avoids sugar alcohols as much as possible, a wise choice since they have been shown in some people to cause bloating and abdominal discomfort. (1) Picking a beverage like Gatorade during workouts supports Fitzwater’s hydration through electrolyte balance, boosting his performance inside the gym. (2)
Fitzwater’s fat-free, lactose-free Fairlife milk is a stellar option for building lean mass, strength, and power post-workout. (3)
With the 16-hour drive in his rearview, Fitzwater looks ahead to the Pittsburgh Pro, which is set to host the Open class for the first time from May 10-11. A $100,000 prize awaits the champion. To wear that crown, Fitzwater must overwhelm a powerful lineup and, of course, get the better of Walker in their rematch.
References
- Storey D, Lee A, Bornet F, Brouns F. Gastrointestinal tolerance of erythritol and xylitol ingested in a liquid. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Mar;61(3):349-54. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602532. Epub 2006 Sep 20. PMID: 16988647. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16988647/
- Harper LD, Stevenson EJ, Rollo I, Russell M. The influence of a 12% carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage on self-paced soccer-specific exercise performance. J Sci Med Sport. 2017 Dec;20(12):1123-1129. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.04.015. Epub 2017 Apr 21. PMID: 28483560. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28483560/
- Pourabbas M, Bagheri R, Hooshmand Moghadam B, Willoughby DS, Candow DG, Elliott BT, Forbes SC, Ashtary-Larky D, Eskandari M, Wong A, Dutheil F. Strategic Ingestion of High-Protein Dairy Milk during a Resistance Training Program Increases Lean Mass, Strength, and Power in Trained Young Males. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 15;13(3):948. doi: 10.3390/nu13030948. PMID: 33804259; PMCID: PMC7999866. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7999866/
Featured image: @martfitzh2o on Instagram
