Featured interview :
Anthony DeAngelis
Pics from the NJ Golds Classic
Interview conducted by Vinny Galanti for NJBodyBuilding.com
VG= V.Galanti> NJBodyBuilding.com
AD= Anthony DeAngelis
VG> Anthony, Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day, and giving me some time to let everyone at NJbodybuilding.com to get to know you.
Anthony DeAngelis is 40 years old, he’s been training for over 20 years, and is a Physical Therapy Tech.
VG> Anthony when you first started weight training, did you know you wanted to be a bodybuilder, or were you more into just weight lifting?
AD> I started weight lifting to increase my speed for racing BMX (bicycle-motor-cross) I was very good, ranked #1 in PA and #3 In the Nation-
VG> How long did you ride for, and outside of the East Coast area...did you travel to race?
AD> I raced for 6 years; mostly raced in PA, DE and NJ...I had to travel for the nationally ranked races.
VG> When you first started out, did you have any idols you looked up too, like Arnold or Zane?
AD>I always admired Rich Gaspari and Dorian Yates for their work ethic, and Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler and Lee Haney for their lives outside of bodybuilding and family commitment.
VG>What about Haney did you admire; it seems that his name gets lost nowadays.
AD> Lee was and still is a gentlemen and very friendly. He is a great family man. He also is still in great shape!
VG> when/what was your first contest that you competed in?
AD>1987 Mr. Natural PA. I was a very light middle weight and placed 4th
Anthony or the left at the 2006 AC ProAM
VG> I hear this year has been an awesome year for you, how many shows did you compete in and win?
Anthony’s 2006 accomplishments
9/22/06 NPC Atlantic City Pro-Am
Men's Master's Over 35 1st place & overall, Men's Open Light heavy 3rd.
9/23/06 NPAF Mr. Natural South Jersey
Men's Open Light heavy 1st place & overall, Men's Master's over 35 1st place and overall. (Received new Natural Pro Card)
10/14/06 Mr. New Jersey
Men's Master's over 40 1st place & overall. Men's Open Tall 1st place.
10/21/06 NPC Gold's Classic
Men's Open Light heavy 1st place & overall. Men's Master's over 35 1st place & overall.
VG> Rumor had it that you were all set to compete in the new PDI Night of Champions, but at the last minute you decided to back out...why did you change your mind?
AD>Well, I always liked and felt the NPC was the best place to compete. NPC especially NJ and NY run the best shows, have the best judges and really do care and treat the athletes the best! The "Pro" status of the PDI allured me to seek information about the PDI. I do hope it does well, and they do have some very good bodybuilders. I felt is of my best interest to stay with the NPC and just keeping on improving on what I had done.
VG>After a big year like you had, do you need a rest from training, and diet, some guys just get all fat in the off season, what are your plans for now, and next season?
AD>I am still fairly lean (at 220lbs) I plan to go up to the high 230's and start my off-season diet-training in 1-1-07. I did take some active-rest from Nov-to Dec off, you know, train a little lighter, focus on healing the joints-tendons. Enjoy some Italian Holiday food, I am sure you can relate with this...
Yes….I has a little stomach from the last few days….lol
VG>When you thought about competing this year, did you think you would do so many shows?
AD>I always try to compete in 2-4 shows a year. Usually my first contest, for some reason...I don't peak 100% as I planned...There is always room for improvement when you factor in the carbohydrate depleting-loading and the drying out process of lowering your water intake. My condition is usually dead-on by my 2nd or 3rd contest. For example, I looked very good at my first show of 2006 the NPC Atlantic City Pro-Am, but my body was a little flat later in the night. I had made some minor changes in my carbohydrate and water intake and at the NPC Gold's Classic three weeks later I was 100% on!
VG> I know for my self, since I’m getting closer to 40, I need longer warm ups in the gym, and I need ample time to rest between workouts, even the way I diet has changed, I can’t take in carbs like I used too.....Have you experience anything different about how your body responds now that you are 40?
AD>Yes, I also need longer warm ups and I try to very carefully listen to my body. For example if it is chest training day and after my warm ups and rotator cuff exercises, if my shoulder(s) are still is sore I won't bench as heavy as I planned, or maybe switch from a barbell exercise to dumbbells. I also incorporate dead lifts every other workout and squats near the end of my workout. Trying to save the low back you know? I also noticed my metabolism is slowing down a little from my younger years. I do cardiovascular work in the off-season, just 2-3 days a week to keep my metabolism up.
VG> During a pre contest phase, does your training change from off season?
AD>No, I always train heavy with basic exercises (if my body allows me to, again, listening to your body is key!) The only changes are increasing my cardiovascular work and manipulate my carbohydrate intake. I need 16 weeks to prepare for a contest. I do eat fairly clean in the off-season with the exception of one cheat day on Sunday's. And even my cheat foods are kind of clean (pasta, cheese, burgers, breads, fruits, and maybe a little ice cream and cake)...that is my good friend Big Al Fortney's secret to getting huge and freaky--ice cream and cake. My favorite pre-contest foods are grilled chicken, lean steak, egg whites, rice, oats, string beans, and potatoes. Now for some of my indulgence cheat foods are oatmeal raisin cookies, cheese cake, pizza and anything with chocolate and peanut butter mixed in.
VG> Is Al Fortney your training partner?
AD>Al is a very good friend of mine, he lives in Delaware. I try to make a trip down to train with him several times a month. He does help me with my pre-contest prep work.
VG> Right now I’m doing the HIT style of training; I like to try new styles of training every 4 weeks.
I get very bored with the same routine all the time, I understand you train heavy all the time, but do you switch it up at all?
AD>I love to train! I sometimes switch body parts up like I might do arms with legs, chest with back, but what I found what works best for me is to train one body part a week, again, listening to my body, I will train with higher reps and do some machine work or use lighter weights if my joints-tendons are bothering me.
VG> The Masters Nationals are in July of 07, will you do anything new or different since you are going to train for a National level show, or do you have the mind set of....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
AD>that is a great question. I compete against myself, always trying to beat Anthony DeAngelis's previous best. I will stay with what works for me which is; going up to 240 pounds in the off-season and holding at that weight for 4-5 months, and when I am at 240 pounds to get a little leaner bit still hold at the same weight (240 pounds) Than at the 16 week mark I will start my pre-contest diet and cardio program, I always approach the judging panel after each show and ask the judges what I can approve on. The NPC judges are very good and very honest. I take their advice/constructive criticism to heart!
VG> When you start a game plan for a contest, does Al work with you from the beginning, or do you just bounce stuff off him for feed back?
AD>I have been working with Al for my contest prep for 2 years. We usually start the diet-cardiovascular work at the 16 week mark. I will go see him every couple of weeks, and we make changes accordingly.
VG> What supplements do you use, and does it change from off season to precontest?
AD>I use creatine, glutamine, whey protein, BCAA's, multi-vitamins and minerals.
VG> You also train people, do you have a studio, or do you train clients in a gym?
AD>I own a home-studio. It is very well equipped with Cybex, Streamline, Icarian and Paramount equipment. I also run Sport camps for athletes to help with their speed, agility, and strength for their specific sport.
VG>Everyone at NJBodybuilding.com would like thank Anthony for taking the time to speak with us.
We wish him good luck
