Adam Brooks of Hampden flexed enough muscle Sunday to take third place among the teen-agers competing in the Northern New England States Physique Classic held in Lewiston.

The competition was a first for Brooks, who said Tuesday that he trained up to three hours a day, six days a week at the former Olympus Health and Fitness Center on Harlow Street and at The Gym, a new fitness center on Franklin Street.

The 17-year-old and 133-pound body builder’s immediate goal is to become Mr. Teen Maine. But he has sights set on another title too. “I want to go all the way to Mr. America,” he remarked.

Brooks began lifting weights three years ago when he wanted to play football. He soon scratched the football idea, however, finding his niche in showing off his physique.

Brooks, a junior at Hampden Academy, trained for last weekend’s competition by exercising different muscle groups daily for the past eight months. He expects to enter another competition in October.

Why does he do it? “I couldn’t picture myself not lifting and turning into nothing,” he said.