It takes a lot of discipline to look like Adrian Teal does.

Things like proper diet, conditioning and 40 hours or more a week working out in the weight room.

The 34-year-old Teal, a native of Texas who now resides in Oak Harbor, had all that hard work pay off for him as he placed third in the light heavyweight division at Callaway Fitness Northern Classic in Tacoma Aug. 2.

A barber by trade, Teal has had a colorful career to say the least.

“I played on the practice teams for two NFL teams, the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens, and I also played arena football for the Wichita Stealth,” he said. “They folded a couple of years ago, but they had a solid program when I was with them.”

Along the way, Teal said he sold a couple of barber shops and just recently moved to Oak Harbor.

“I lived in southern California a few years back and I always wanted to come up here,” he said. “My sister just got out of the Navy and got married, and she kind of talked me into coming up this way.”

Teal said there were approximately 100 competitors at the Tacoma event.

“It was pretty small to tell the truth,” he said. “I have been in two others, both in Texas, and they had a turnout of about 250. When you added on another 100 or so competitors in the fitness and figure divisions, there were at least 350 at each event.”

Teal said the Callaway Classic involved just posing.

“Sometimes they have body building and power lifting at the same event, but it’s kind of hard to prepare for both,” he said.

Teal said judging body building competitors is mostly based on symmetry, balance of body parts, conditioning, overall presence and look.

He spends his time staying in shape either at the North End Fitness Center on Seventh Avenue in Oak Harbor or the Excaliber Gym on NE Midway.

Tina Joiner, manager of North End Fitness, said it has been a motivating experience having Teal work out at the facility.

“I’ve told other people to come and see him work out so they can be motivated as well,” she said. “It’s awesome to see someone come into the gym and actually put what they do here into their whole lifestyle.”

Joiner said she has been motivated as well.

“I work out myself,” she said. “Fitness and health are so important.”

Teal’s next competition will be at the Washington state championships in November.

Until then he will continue with his training regimen.

“I eat, sleep, study and work out,” he said.