Interview by Natalie “Natty” Freed of RawPL.com
About You
1. Name: Tom Eiseman
2. Location: Medford Lakes, NJ
3. Weight Class(es): 148-198.
I started in the 148 weight class. My father took me to a meet at the Rahway State prison. It was around 1975 and it was quite an experience. I bombed out just like I’ve done in more contest then I think anyone. There was a big crowd and lots of inmates that, between lifts pumped iron. They looked like they could lift anything.
4: Federations: I’ve lifted AAU, USPF, APF, USAPL, NASA and WABDL. I lift in WABDL these days.
5. Best Competition/Gym Lifts:
Squat 690@181
Bench 380@181
and a controversial Deadlift 800@181 that was a 2/1 decision against.
I don’t lift for pr’s in the gym yet. I did pull 765 at about 185.
6. Years Lifting: 39 years
7. Home Gym: I train at Extreme Fitness in Laurel Springs, NJ. It’s predominantly a bodybuilding gym.
8. Introduce yourself:
I read about powerlifting about 40 years ago and what people my weight could lift. I decided then I would be a powerlifter. In order to be the best I could be I looked into a number of adjuncts and one of them was chiropractic. Chiropractic worked so well for me I became a chiropractor. I have two children, Gabriel at 14 years old and Aaron is 11. My better half is Julie.
Lifting History
1. What made you start lifting? How about competing?
Like I said earlier, I read about it and believed I could do well at it.
2. Tell me some of your accomplishments & accolades:
I pulled 800 at 181 and was invited by John Inzer to compete at Gus Rethwisch’s Hawaii World Recorder Breaker’s meet. I lifted there in ’87-’89. I saw some of the most amazing powerlifting ever! Fred Hatfield, at 46 and weighing only 247, squatted 1014. John Inzer pulled 733 at 165. Ausby Alexander became the first 148 pounder to total over 1700. Dan Austin broke his record two years later. Jesse Jackson squatted 705 at 148. Gene Bell totaled 2110 at 181. The list goes on.
3. Do you lift with gear? Do you prefer raw or geared lifting?
I pull more weight raw with a conventional stance, but I pull more sumo style with a suit. I haven’t deadlifted in a meet raw in a long time. I enjoy lifting raw and or with gear.
4. What’s better about gear? Better about raw lifting?
It just makes sense – even in the DL, to some degree, you lift more with gear. So that makes it challenging and exciting, but raw lifting is challenging and exciting also. Raw is a purer division of the greatest and strongest sport on Earth, powerlifting.
5. What is, in your opinion, your best powerlifting moment?
Again, pulling 800 at 181 even though I didn’t receive credit for it.
6. Take me through a normal training week:
I train light on Mon. and that consists of leg presses with about 1100. Pull-ups, squats 425×5 box squats raw. Followed by DL’s for speed and feel, technique. Then close grip and normal grip benches. Next I’ll do some shoulder work. Finally, hyper-extensions 90 lbs. for 20 reps. On Fri. I start with squats and most exercises I just do one top set these days. I may try 3 top sets this cycle though. Next, I try to deadlift. Then I do good mornings, cable rows and last bench.
7. Your thoughts on cardio:
Don’t carry too much fat around all day and your heart will be less strained. Cardio, in my opinion is trained better and more effectively with high intensity interval training.
8. Where does your inspiration come from?
Above! My family, adversity, friends, all other lifters, PowerliftingUSA, sports, movies.
Favorites, Nutrition & Other Fun Stuff
1. What’s your favorite lift & why? Least favorite?
Deadlift because it’s the one that I do best. Also, it’s the one exercise that incorporates the most muscle and inspiration. The least would be the deadlift when I over do it.
2. Favorite workout music:
Rock
3. What’s the most uncommon thing in your gym bag?
Not sure, but perhaps the 100 lb. plates I carry with me all day in case I can’t find a gym, for conditioning, if the gym doesn’t have enough weight or I’m hungry.
4. Favorite pre- and post- meet meals:
Sometimes I use a supplement before and after the workout. Quest has some supplements that
really work well for me: http://www.quest-nutrition.com/store/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=24
5. If I looked in your kitchen, what would I be most likely to find?
Lots of fruits, some vegetables, beans and rice, peanut butter, raw almonds, cashews and other nuts. My family follows a vegetarian diet. You wont find the cakes, cookies and ice cream because you don’t know where to look.
6. What’s your opinion on nutrition? Do you follow a specific nutrition plan when you train?
Good nutrition is an amazing way to enhance your life, lifting and recovery. I have tried many supplements and some of them are very helpful. I have heard great things about curcumin and I will try it. I currently use rhodiola, Universal Real Gains, TMG, creatine, tribulus, avena setiva and others. However, I think there are so many nutrients in whole foods that they will never figure them all out. In addition, whole foods have
zillions of nutrients that work synergistically. So the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts.
7. What are your favorite past-times besides lifting? Current goals and aspirations?
My favorite pastimes are spending time with my kids, watching movies and writing. Goals are to Win NOTLD and lift 804. Be healthy, wealthy, wise, kind and happy. To be helpful and inspire.
8. Do you have any other comments? Who would you like to thank?
Quest Nutrition and Athletics
www.quest-nutrition.com
Thank you 
You are your habits. Be strong!
