Gaspari's transformation from 1987-1988.

[Matt C]

Discuss Gaspari's transformation from 1987-1988.

[Stavios]

he looks better in the first pic IMO

not a fan of his physique tought

[sarcasm]

man i remember back in the late 80's early 90's the commercials that Rich did for Mega Mass 2000 they had a couple of skinny geeks benching 115 and getting a couple of reps and in walks Gaspari who at the time me being 20 or so i thought he was massive beyond belief, he says, "i'm Rich Gaspari, here with a proven formula to help you pack on mass fast" while he's holding a ten pound bag of Mega Mass.

[sarcasm]

He might not be huge by today's standards and was weak in the arms, but he probably had more dense ripped mass popping off his frame than anyone I've ever seen.  He looks like he's about to pop in the first picture.

Although www.musclememory.com has him listed as 5'7, I read in the 1985 Mr. Olympia review in Muscle & Fitness that he was 5'8 and 1/2, and absolutely stacked for that height.

he was a freak, Mr. Vascularity.

[gracie bjj]

i used to go up to golds in milltown new jersey every saturday afternoon to train and  i used to look forward to watching rich go through a grueling workout,it was a sight to see man,his intensity was insane.this was back in 82 or 83

[sarcasm]

i used to go up to golds in milltown new jersey every saturday afternoon to train and  i used to look forward to watching rich go through a grueling workout,it was a sight to see man,his intensity was insane.this was back in 82 or 83

now where talking, tell us about some of his workouts.

[gracie bjj]

richie trained very heavy but used great form,700lb plus deads and squatting around 6 beans rock bottom for reps,he loved using the power rack while he was training,richie seemed pissed off all the time back then it didnt matter of he was training or just relaxing after his workout,i seen him afew years back and he seems like a nice guy now but back then he wasnt the friendliest cat around,he used to pose alot also and it was cool seeing him hit some shots,great build back then

[natural al]

I know someone on this board trained with him at one time and I made a comment and he jumped down my throat.  Anyway, this is my opinion so if that person is reading cut me some slack.  Rich was at his best at a lighter more streamlined weight.  86, he was incredible.  If you can get your hands on the 86 pro world, watch his routine.  His routine was so intense and so good.  In 88 he was great also at a more streamlined weight.  I know his body was really torn up when he tried his comeback in 95 or so, maybe it was 94 but he tried to come in way to heavy.  When Rich got past a certain weight his midsection really suffered but when he was on he was probably one of the most shocking human beings on the planet.

[JMentis]

Yeah I want to hear about some of these workouts too.  He would have only been 19 or 20 at the time.

I trained with him for 2 years...it was brutal!!!(in a good way)

[njflex]

I trained with him for 2 years...it was brutal!!!(in a good way)

i believe it,he must have had some drive to make it too the top so young,guy's like wheeler who had shapely muscled handed to them sat back and let the anabolic's do the work.the old flex mag's showed the old gaspari haney training pics they looked real.the 90's and up show's them fake training,greased up,and moving some say not legit weights.

[sean]

richie trained very heavy but used great form,700lb plus deads and squatting around 6 beans rock bottom for reps,he loved using the power rack while he was training,richie seemed pissed off all the time back then it didnt matter of he was training or just relaxing after his workout,i seen him afew years back and he seems like a nice guy now but back then he wasnt the friendliest cat around,he used to pose alot also and it was cool seeing him hit some shots,great build back then

Sounds like the results of heavy gear usage! Heavy workouts, bad attitude, unfreindly... hmmm.

[sean]

I think all he did was LOSE MUSCLE.  As a result he looked better because he didn't have mass pouring off his frame.

Please note: this is the only difference between ironage physiques and modern ones.  If Arnold was 300 pounds, guess what?  He would look a whole lot like GUNTER.  The weight has to go somewhere, and eventually it goes right to the waist / gut.

Matt, I think the answer is simple here.  The first pic has been squashed down and the second isn't.  Rich's main goal on into the early 90's was to continue gaining size.  The 91' Olympia video i have has him being interveiwed about striving to gain more size.

[ANAL DISCHARGE]

Richie was under 210 in 88 and had been over 220 in 87.  Definately sharper in 88 - those pics from vids never show much.  Was superb in 85/86 too and again at the 89 ASC.

[TN]

when I first got into bodybuilding Rich Gaspari was my favorite.  Just took second at the Mr. O, and then won the Arnold Classic.  Rich was Awesome.

[NotMrAverage]

Always one of my fav. bb:s too.
Lee Haney said Gaspari was the most focused guy he ever say. He didīnt even think he had a life outside BB and was SHOCKED when he ONCE saw him in company of a girl. He also said he would have quit if he took something so serious that he would die for it whick Gaspari said alot of times going in to the O.

When Gaspari competed in my hometown Gothenburg at Mr.O 1987 he forgot his tuna in U.S and refused to buy anything there so he had his father FLY in some 

[dzulboy]

Haney said Gaspari was too intense.  Haney said the reason he beat Gaspari was because he was balanced in his life.  That is a load.  Haney beat Gaspari because of genetics.  Gaspari was so ripped he made Haney look like a doughboy.  If Gaspari had Haney's genetics that would have been quite possibly the greatest bodybuilder of all time.

well said   even rich says his genetics aren;t the best he made it with hard training and he posed constantly  holding poses for 30 sec to a min

[gracie bjj]

i heard rumors that when richie and lee trained together lee had trouble hangin,lee was the best at what he did back then though

[Oliver Klaushof]

That's how Joe Pesci would look if he grew 1' and started juicing.

[Hulkster]

When Gaspari competed in my hometown Gothenburg at Mr.O 1987 he forgot his tuna in U.S and refused to buy anything there so he had his father FLY in some

Why didn't he just buy his wife a ticket in the first place?

[flurby]

first pic is stretched friggin idiot....

[Bigger Business]

its all about the hair baby

[WOOO]

he came in leaner one year and fuller another.... 

[Wombat]

pros please take note---take a look at gaspari and learn from it...If you don't have the frame of a Lee Haney or Ronnie Coleman, cutler ect...Do what Lee did---come in tighter then anyone and stop trying to put on so much weight...

[WOOO]

that is an excellent point... the mass war has gotten ridiculous

[gracie bjj]

very true,good point,its like trying to build a skyscraper on a foundation that was only designed for a small building