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Written by Craig Titus
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Wednesday, 25 April 2007 |
Craig, you're always bragging about the million and one contracts you have. When are you gonna quit fronting? I bet you have one contract and a lousy-ass one at that! You're a disgrace to the sport. You make me want to punch you in that smug-looking face of yours so I can knock that Three Stooges wannabe-wiseguy hat off your bald fuckin' head!
I appreciate your comments. It affords me the opportunity to plug my endorsements for the 2005 season!
Here's what I have going on, brother. I'm signed with ATP Pro Wriststraps and you can visit them at Prowriststraps.com. Then there's HomeBodiesHomeGyms.com, an online equipment company. Kelly and I can even explain to you how to use the equipment- over the phone. I'm also signed with Addition to Chiropractic here in Las Vegas. Dr. Dean Stewart is our chiropractor and he does all our work and we endorse him 100 percent. Then there's Vegas Body & Tan, responsible for all of our tanning needs (vegasbodyandtan.com). Here in Vegas we also endorse Dr. Julio L. Garcia who does all my blood work following each and every show. And of course, who can forget the big contracts with Pinnacle Nutrition and Cytodyne Nutrition? Kelly and I are also spokesmodels for Xenadrine. Last but not least is my exclusive column, Titus Talks, with Muscular Development. I'm happy to say I have many, many loyal fans that read my column every month. You wouldn't believe the tons of e-mails I get about my column. So, my friend, you can hate all you want, but that's the truth.
All my contracts and endorsements are for multi-year deals, so they still have two or three years left. Pinnacle and Cytodyne are up for renegotiation in April. I don't foresee any problems, because we go together like two peas in a pod. Kelly and I are proud to endorse Pinnacle and Cytodyne because we truly enjoy using their products. We've been with them for two years and we plan on being with them for the remainder of our careers. The owners, Mel Rich and Steve Stern, are class acts. In addition, Kelly is also signed with Oxygen magazine and writes a monthly column for BodyBuilding.com called Kelly's Corner.
I have to include this as one of life's lessons for anyone in the industry. I used to have a contract with Olympic Tanning Products. Against my better judgment, we signed a three-year endorsement deal; it was a big mistake, as we weren't treated very well. We no longer represent Olympic Tanning, nor do we use the company's products.
DON'T O.D. ON THE P
Craig, first off let me say that you're my favorite bodybuilder. I like your "no BS" attitude. Anyone who can pull themselves up from the pits and become one of the best bodybuilders in the world deserves mad respect.
My question concerns protein intake while dieting. I'm 6-5 and about 50 pounds overweight because I let myself go over the past couple of years. I'm a big-boned guy with naturally wide shoulders, but I want to come down to around 220 or 230 pounds. Since I'm cutting calories and carbs, how much protein should I consume? I've heard that up to two grams per pound of bodyweight is ideal, but that would put me at 560 grams a day. Isn't that too much? I want to retain as much muscle as possible while still losing the flab.
Buddy, thanks for reading my column! I'm guessing you weigh 280 pounds with a little unwanted baggage. First, find out your percentage of body fat to determine how much lean body mass you're carrying. A lot of people don't understand the difference between lean body mass and total body weight. Two grams of protein per pound of lean body mass is good number to go by. Remember, you don't want two grams per pound of total bodyweight, because you're also taking into account the amount of fat in your body. After you take out the body fat percentage and subtract that from your total weight, you'll have a rough figure of your lean body mass (LBM). Obviously, your protein intake requirements won't be as high.
Pros always recommend two grams per pound of bodyweight rather than a more precise suggestion of two grams per pound of lean body mass. If you're a 300-pound guy with 60 pounds of fat and you're eating 600 grams of protein, you're eating way too much protein. It is unnecessary.
On the other hand, if you were very lean and those 300 pounds were made up of mostly lean body mass like Nasser, Jay Cutler or Ronnie, it would be a different story. With that amount of muscle, you're body would be like a furnace! You'd burn calories just to hold onto and even build more muscle while you sit on the couch watching television. So, you have to be conscious of your lean body mass and adjust your protein intake to that number.
I'd estimate that you're carrying about 230 or 240 pounds of muscle. That would put you at around 380-420 grams of protein, which is not excessive. It will be difficult to get all your protein from solid food, so I suggest using a protein drink. I drink two to three protein shakes a day. With my requirement of 420 to 470 grams of protein, I drink Pinnacle Juiced Protein to supplement my diet because it's impossible to eat that much protein from solid food.
So, to summarize, get your body fat percentage checked to find out your lean muscle mass. Then, take in two grams of protein per pound of lean bodyweight. Spread that out over six to seven meals per day, with at least two of those meals in the form of protein shakes. If you find that you're not leaning out, cut the protein back to 1-1/2 or 1-1/4 grams per pound of lean body mass. Too much protein is a waste of money, and for a gentleman like yourself, losing body fat comes from intense weight training, regular daily cardio and a very tight, clean diet rich in protein and balanced in healthy fats and carbohydrates.
ROAD TO THE IRONMAN
Journal Entry: Early January, 2005
WAS THE SEASON
What better way to spend the holidays than with those you love? Christmas was all about family. My daughter, Kelly, and her family had a very warm Christmas. It takes you back to when you were a kid and Christmas was the best time of the year. But in a different way; it's not about presents and all. Now it's about sharing time with your family.
New Year's was soooo relaxed! We went to dinner with our closest friends, toasted the past and rang in the future. Afterwards, we came back to the house and watched movies all night. Nothing too crazy, I know. But with contest prep in gear, you have to change your plans. It was real good. The holidays were a treat and definitely needed.
SUCKING IT UP, TITUS STYLE
Contest prep started 12 weeks out, which was December 1st. I was lit up from the get-go. Intensity was in outer space, man. Then, as the holidays neared, I got trapped in a lull. I literally didn't want to do anything from about the 20th of December to January 1st.
I've never had to endure the holiday lag before. It may be because I'm older and my focus is more on family and friends, especially during this time. However, I forced myself through all the rituals of contest prep, dieting and what not. After all, I'm a professional and a perfectionist. I'm back to being a beast. I truly enjoy preparing for the new season. I'm so motivated to get it on and show everyone what I can really do.
YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE A LITTLE
Kelly and I will try to get in more charity work this year. That's one of our resolutions. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is at the top of our list. I've already received e-mails from the organizers. We're also set to do some work with a foundation that sets up baseball tournaments for the handicapped. You always have to give back. It's part of being a community, as well as being human.
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU
As a professional who makes a living off their bodies, anytime an athlete gets injured or in an accident, it can be a life-altering event. My heart goes out to Lee Priest, who was just in a car wreck. I don't know any specifics, but I hope to God he's okay.
As a competitor, I'd never, ever, wish harm in any way, shape, or form on a fellow athlete. But from a practical standpoint, I'll say what 10 guys are thinking: If Lee's out, that's one less guy I have to worry about. In all honesty, I know he'll be back in top condition ASAP. He is Superman. Lee's a good friend of mine and it would be nice to be compared onstage with him. From the looks of things, Lee is doing fine now and will be onstage with me at the Ironman.
SHAWN RAY: GRACEFULLY BOWING OUT
OK, enough touchy-feely stuff. So, Shawn has said goodbye to the office. The first, and so far, the only, athlete's representative has called it quits. You know, I've always felt there should have been more than just one person to back the athletes as a representative. It makes more sense to have a panel of gentlemen to offer a broader perspective. You'd have more than one mind working toward the common goal, namely the good of all professional bodybuilders.
Now, I'm not saying Shawn didn't cut it, because once he got started, he did a really good job. He made a genuine effort to accomplish things. Unfortunately, he realized that in the end, he was just spinning his wheels. Nothing he brought to the table was gonna be changed, much less considered. That's why Shawn resigned his post. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing yet. It's certainly a good idea to have an athlete's rep, but it's just an idea, nothing more. Nothing came out of it.
Then again, I don't really know what transpired. The only people who know are Shawn and the people he talked to. Shawn's a smart man with a head for business. He knows what's best for him and his family. Ultimately, he's gotta do what he's gotta do.
TITUS ELECTED FOR OFFICE?
People have asked me if I would consider being, or supporting, an athlete's rep. Personally, I would never get involved with it. I've got too many things going on in my life to secure the future. At the present time, all my energy is focused on the 2005 season.
Contracts are coming up for renegotiation in April, so I need to place well and get my face and name out there to keep the engine running. I'm still four to five years away from retirement and I intend to make the most of my time. My goal is to place where I know I should be placing, and that's gonna take all my drive and energy. There's no time for the politics of being an athlete's representative. Sorry.
DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
Being reflective and looking back on 2004, I wish I had just done the Ironman and the Australia. I did well and should have sat out the rest of the year to let my body rejuvenate. It was a frustrating competitive season. I kept seeing these smaller shows and the possibility of winning the whole thing. I had beaten the guys in these shows before.
In reality, I was too tired to give it my best. I ignored all the signs and symptoms of being overworked. It definitely taught me a valuable lesson; you have to pick your battles strategically. You do one or two at the beginning and then one or two at the end. You can't compete year-round. This is how I've set up 2005. I'll do the Ironman and Australia, and then take a break; then the September shows and another break. That'll be much better, both physically and mentally. I was honored to get the invite to the 2005 Arnold Classic after pacing sixth last year. But after looking at the lineup and recognizing the fact that many of the athletes competing in the AC have placed well in the 2004 Olympia, mainly Gastavo who is now branded in the judges minds, I've decided to sit this one out. There's going to be a few other guys very disappointed, as well, when the show is over and they've realized how much money they wasted on contest prep.
The other thing that jumps out is my wife taking third at the 2004 Fitness Olympia. I don't wanna open up this can of worms again, but it has to be said. You can't know how disheartening that was for us. That's been the toughest obstacle we've had to overcome. Talk about a kick in the stomach! It took the wind out of our sails.
That injustice shaped the way we view the sport. It took a lot of self-motivation and reflection to heal the wounds. The couple of months after the show were especially hard, because Kelly went through a severe bout of depression. I was constantly trying to keep her up and positive. They say time heals all wounds, and believe me brother, this one took time and then some! If I had it my way, I wouldn't have Kelly compete in the Olympia again- ever. But that's up to her, not me.
We came to the realization that it's best to compete for ourselves and our paychecks; it's about making our money and enjoying our careers. I'm optimistic that bodybuilding and fitness is headed in the right direction, especially with the 20 percent decrease in muscularity for the women (if it's enforced). All in all, it was a learning experience. If you can learn something or come away stronger from a bad experience, then it wasn't a total loss.
CONNOISSEUR OF FINE THINGS
I want to plug Michael Godard's art, if you guys don't mind. Kelly and I got some of his work for our theater room. It's sensational modern art with a unique style. It's fresh, totally hip, contemporary stuff. It's got a sharp, edgy quality to it. You have to see it for yourself. You will be impressed. Go to www.Michaelgodard.com and take a look.
Until next time, peace out!
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