The rain was pouring down and Mitch Sneed made a mad dash for his car. When he jumped inside, he was so out of breath that he had to sit for a while to steady himself. That’s when he realized he had to make a lifestyle change.

Sneed was in his mid-20s then and, like most people his age, he gave more thought to the frolic of foods than to their nutritional value. All of that changed as he sat in the car hassling for breath.

Sneed changed his lifestyle and, in the process, he became passionate about health and fitness.

Sneed, now in his 40s, is a body builder and health and fitness personal trainer. He also competes in body building events and does so very successfully.

Over the weekend, Sneed took third place in the Pro Male Physiques division of the Super Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition in Andalusia. This top finish came of the heels of another third place finish at the International Federation Professional Athletes Pro Galaxy Elite Bodybuilding championship in Montgomery on May 30.

Each event attracted 40-plus professional athletes from several states including California.

“These events are professional events and natural athlete events,” Sneed said. “No performance enhancers of any kind can be used. All athletes are tested before the event and following the event to make sure that no performance enhancers were used after the initial testing.”

The athletes are judged on their physiques including symmetry, stage presence and the way the body is displayed to the judges.

“These championships are very competitive and I was pleased to take third place in both of them,” Sneed said. “Any time that I can make the top three, I’m pleased with my performance.”

The trophies and medals are Sneed’s rewards for two-a-day workouts in the gym during competition season from March through November. Then, he takes a break and only works out once a day.

“I never get tired of the workouts,” Sneed said. “Health is wealth, and maintaining a healthy body is my way to wealth.  Working out and eating right are what I can do for my health’s sake. I mainly eat vegetables, raw and steamed. I don’t eat any pork, mainly turkey and fish but nothing fried. I eat sweet potatoes every single day. Sweet potatoes are carbs but there’s no fat in them and they have fiber. They’re all around good for you.”

Sneed said he does not diet. He just puts the right foods in his body and keeps his body tuned with daily exercise.

“To eat healthy, you don’t have to give up all the foods you love, you just have to eat the right portions,” he said. “What I recommend for anybody is too eat right and exercise. You can go on diets and lose a bunch of weight but, if you don’t change your lifestyle and go back to same eating habits and stop exercising, then you’re going to put the weight back on. You see it happening all the time.”

Sneed said staying fit, no matter one’s age, is all about lifestyle.

“Get in the habit of healthy eating and exercise and you’ll feel better and look better and you could save your life.”