MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Still perspiring from his morning workout, Sgt. Frank Bugner walks into his small cubicle and grabs a protein bar from his fridge full of chicken, tuna fish, cottage cheese and other protein-packed items.

Before sitting down at his desk, surrounded by autographed posters of muscle-heavy body builders, a second place World Gym Classic trophy and an "I kiss better than I cook" sculpture, the short and buff Bugner changes the date on his muscle competition countdown calendar.

A year ago, the 23-year-old cash collection agent, food service department, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., ran a second-class physical fitness test and was five pounds away from reaching his maximum weight. Now, after months of hard work, Bugner has found his passion in bodybuilding.

"I was always small and when I joined the Marines I weighed about 135 pounds," said Bugner, looking down at his desk full of papers. "Then a year of drinking and not working out caught up with me and I gained 15 pounds. I soon scored my first second class PFT."

Not happy with his new lifestyle, Bugner was determined to make a change.

"I looked in the mirror one day and decided it was time to get back in shape," shrugged the reserved sergeant. "I started working out at the gym everyday- about five to six days a week and just kept going. In high school I always avoided the weight room and now I'm in there all of the time.

"I can't recall what I used to do before I started this," he said. "It's tough getting started in the beginning. The hardest part is getting to the gym, especially after work and you just want to relax, but once you get there it comes natural."

Soon, Bugner's new routine started to catch the attention of others.

"I used to work with him at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego," said Warrant Officer Lenroy C. Cummings, food services officer, H&HS. "When I left MCRD in 2003, he had no weight to him and when I came here, I figure it had been maybe fifteen months since I last saw him and he had put on over twenty-five pounds of muscle mass. I was shocked."

Cummings, who has competed in body building competitions since 2001, encouraged Bugner to enter his first competition last March. Bugner started preparing for the competition months in advance.

"Body building is a science and more of a mental thing," said Cummings. "You have to know how to build muscle and know what you're going to do before going to the gym. You can't take supplements and go to the gym. It takes diet, training and cardio."
For six months, Bugner read muscle magazines, ate a protein-rich diet and stayed consistent with his exercises.

"I thought this was a one time thing," said Gunnery Sgt. Paul Rieper, Alternative Contract Officers Representative, H&HS. "When I first met him he wasn't as committed to body building, but when I went to his first competition I saw that smile he had and years from now, I could still see him doing this. He has the fever now."

Bugner placed second in the men's unlimited bantamweight competition at the General Nutrition Centers National Physique committee world gym classic. Though only one other bodybuilder competed in his category, Bugner came close to winning.

"There was only a five point difference between him and nine years experience, " Cummings said about the winner, who has seen several competitions before. "When you get up on stage it takes a lot of courage. There's about five hundred people looking at you and you're in nothing but bikini briefs. I was nervous when I got up there, but he (Bugner) doesn't get that way."

Though Bugner is modest about his achievement, the trophy adorns his personalized desk.

However, a cutout of a bodybuilding slogan reading, "I eat alone. I go to the gym alone. I train alone. Only I know what it took to get this far. Only I know how far I'll go. Bodybuilding is a lonely journey" covers the trophy placard.

"He's going to make it happen," smiled Cummings. "He's hungry and he wants it."
Bugner, who describes himself as a dreamer, is currently training for his next competition in July and according to the ambitious Marine, anyone who believes they can do something can achieve their goals.

"If you really want it and see yourself there, then yeah, you can do it," he said. "If you say you want it and don't do something about it, you're just wishing."

As for his future, Bugner sees himself as a Marine living on the West Coast, in what he calls "the mecca of body building and concerts," flexing his muscles in competitions and going to live shows and perhaps becoming a famous body builder.
"I'm very confident and I see him going far," said Cummings. "When he puts his mind to something, he's going to do it."

After work, Bugner grabs a protein bar for the road and heads to his room for a quick nap before heading to the gym. According to Bugner, the gym is open until midnight, which suits his schedule fine.