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Written by Craig Titus
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Wednesday, 25 April 2007 |
I heard that at the last minute you decided to do the Ironman and you didn't sign the contract before the deadline! With you guys being able to jump in whenever you want like this, it pisses off a lot of pros and makes it look like these contracts aren't worth shit. Plus, if a guy who signed the contract backs out of the show, I think they should get fined $10,000. I've been reading a lot of shit about this online. Do you think we should just do away with contracts altogether? How did you get away with it? I heard you kissed the promoter's ass to get in the show!
Let me tell you the real story. Three weeks before the contract deadline, I called John Balik, promoter of the Ironman contest, and told him I still had some scar tissue underneath my left nipple as a result of the plastic surgery I had done on my chest. I told John I didn't want to insult him by signing a contract and then showing up out of shape because I wasn't able to train in time. As it was, I couldn't start training until December 7. Naturally, I didn't want to sign the contract because I didn't think I'd be ready, but I did show John and the other athletes the consideration of letting them know I wanted to do the show and would if he could give me a medical pass. A few days after the contract deadline, I called John and he said I was able to jump in because it was due to surgery and he knew I wanted to do the Ironman from the beginning. I had told the athletes in Amsterdam that I was doing the Ironman, so they also knew.
Now, as for Dexter and other guys jumping into the show, here's my opinion. There are a lot of guys out there who are trying to qualify for the Olympia, they're trying to make some money and make names for themselves, and they're strategically placing themselves in shows so they can do this. These guys are showing consideration by signing the contract in time so the promoter can use their names in the promotional material and release the list of contestants to the public. I do not think it is fair for anybody to sign that contract after the deadline date and be allowed to enter a show.
Not that I think any fans will be complaining, but honestly, is Dexter Jackson going to put any more people in the seats that weren't already coming to the show? No, I don't think so. Is Craig Titus going to put any more people in the seats? Probably not. Whoever was coming to the Ironman was coming anyway. They're not coming just because of Dexter and me.
John is a very nice gentleman and I appreciate the fact that I was allowed in the show, but remember that I was an exception because of my surgery and I had always planned on doing the Ironman. Dexter jumped in the show because he heard Chris is in shape and he wants to pick up some extra money because he may possibly lose the Arnold. At least, that's what I was told. I don't think an athlete should be able to jump in a show after a contract deadline date, but if that's the case, I don't think an athlete should be fined for backing out of the show.
I just talked to Georgio, the promoter of the San Francisco Pro Show, and he informed me that no one will be allowed to jump into his show who didn't sign the contract by the deadline. The guys who did sign the contract showed respect and consideration for the promoter to use them in the promotional material and release the list of the contestants to the fans, so that he has a show. You got some prima donna guys who, if they decide that a particular show is weak in their mind, they're just gonna jump in and pick up some money. That's not cool and it causes bad blood.
Quite honestly, I heard some rumors that a bunch of guys are gonna get up at the Ironman press conference and say point blank that if Dexter's allowed in your show, we're walking out. And if that happens, then there's no show.
I like the fact that now only the top three guys in the shows qualify for Olympia. I think that will bring back the legitimacy of the Olympia. In the past few years, there have been a lot of guys on the Olympia stage that probably shouldn't have been there, myself included. In 2001, I was not ready to do the Olympia. In 2002, I was not ready to do the Olympia. I'll be the first one to admit it. By making it more difficult to qualify, now you're going to have Olympias that are full of the best athletes.
DIRTY ROTTEN FILTHY STINKIN' RICH
I've been a hardcore bodybuilder for five years and I'm a devout member of several Internet message boards. It seems like every week the boards are full of your yapping about all your new contracts. I mean no disrespect, Craig, but come on, you're talkin' like a lyin' bitch! No one in this sport has that many contracts! You need to come clean now, or I'll flame you until your fat gut explodes into a virtual mass of intestines all over the ‘Net. You've been warned.
You've gotta calm down, man! You need to understand that I do not lie or feel the need to boast about my accomplishments. I'm just proud and feel very blessed. Don't spread hate on a bodybuilder just because he can make a living. That is something that should be respected, because doing so is not easy, my friend. Kelly and I are very blessed and thankful for what we have, but you should know that we have worked really hard to get where we are.
The truth is that we do have quite a few contracts. Right now, we've got Pinnacle, Cytodyne, Hardbodies Home Gym, APT Pro Wrist Strap, Oxygen and MD. Kelly also writes for Bodybuilding.com. After this season, I'll be looking for an agreement with whoever wants to sign me to a publication deal.
We just signed a five-year deal with HardbodiesHomeGyms.com, an Internet home gym equipment company. HHG is a site where the normal, everyday Average Joe can go to pick out a good-quality, affordable home gym for himself. Of course, it's a great site for anyone, including professional athletes. HHG sells various types of equipment and specializes in Body Solid (which has a lifetime warranty), as well as cardio equipment. We are very excited about this deal, because now Kelly and I can take what we've learned in the bodybuilding and fitness industry and start educating people from the comfort of their homes. We'll be helping out with visitor questions, so since you say you're an Internet buff, stop on by sometime. Training at home is an absolutely crucial part of a good fitness regimen. Everyone needs to understand this and give it a try. At home, you have no travel time or traffic to deal with, there is less stress and you're able to get in your training and meals all in the same place without the hassle. Home training is the best, period!
Our second latest contract is with the APT Pro Wrist Strap Company. We signed with them less than a year ago and launched a campaign at www.prowriststraps.com; they approached the top pros about developing their own signature series. Since we've become part of the company, Lee Priest, Gunter, Markus Ruhl, Dennis James and others have joined on board, and it's really taken off.
Oh yeah, another big project of mine, besides the after-parties and whatnot, is my new website, www.promuscle-worship.com. For only $4.95 a month, you can pick your favorite female bodybuilder, buy a time card and watch her pose for you right in front of a camera, just for you. We're going to bring the girl right into your house. The site has been a lot of work, but we should have it done by May.
DEATH BY DIET
I've just acquired some DNP. When is the best time to take this stuff? I'm planning on taking 200 milligrams per day for 10 days, then take 10 days off. Is this a good way of doing it?
If I remember correctly, that is some sort of rodent poison that bodybuilders years ago were using to burn off extreme amounts of body fat in short periods of time. I'm not going to suggest anything to you, because I wouldn't touch it. You can get the same results safely with some over-the-counter Fat Burners like Xenadrine and by doing some cardio on the damn treadmill. Why would you risk your kidneys and liver by using a friggin poison? That stuff's not necessary. I've gotten absolutely shredded just by doing cardio one hour in the morning before I eat anything. When I wake up, I'll drink a glass of water and jump on the treadmill. It's easy.
The few bodybuilders that have tried DNP are having major kidney problems this very day. Quite honestly, may he rest in peace, I wouldn't trust too many things that Dan Duchaine ever said. Dan Duchaine was a person who swore by products he was selling underground to make a profit off people. It's not a very wise decision and I recommend you stay away from it.
HEALTHY OFF-SEASON JUICING
Hey Craig, what are your thoughts on fiber supplementation? As hard as I try, I don't eat enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis like most bodybuilders. I'm only 27, but I'm concerned about my overall health for the long term. Have you ever used fiber supplements? If so, can you recommend any? Thanks buddy, you're the man!
Well, I've never admitted this before, basically because I've never been asked this question, but for about five years now I've been a firm believer in using The Juicer from Jack LaLanne. I use The Juicer in the off-season almost on a daily basis. I take celery, carrots, apples, pears and bananas, and juice them three times a day, almost every day. It really does make you feel good and clear-headed and vibrant.
When I bought my first juicer, it left a lot of pulp when I was done juicing, which meant a lot of it went to waste. This juicer, not made by LaLanne's company, left me with literally one-tenth pulp in the glass and nine-tenths was pure juice. It was obvious to me that Jack LaLanne's The Juicer is a much better product.
I would suggest trying to get The Juicer in a store or off the infomercial, and juice in your off-season. That way, you get your fiber, your fruits and your vegetables down fast. It feels great in the morning. I can take three or four apples, five or six celery sticks and three or four carrots and drink it all in one glass. It tastes excellent. The beauty of it is that you can make the juice taste just the way you want it to taste. Carrot-apple juice is one of my favorites. By supplementing your diet this way, you'll literally achieve 100 percent assimilation because it's broken down as soon as it hits your body.
A 25-INCH FANTASY
I am 47 years old, and have worked out for the last 27 years. I have 20-inch arms, but my goal is to get 25-inch arms. I've got some plans to achieve that goal, like joining Gold's Gym to have access to some good equipment, taking Creatine and T bomb, and working out six days a week (not just arms, but whole body) two hours per day. Is there anything I'm leaving out? I currently work out at home, but may have to find a workout partner. Remember now, Craig, I want the guns, so please help.
First of all, 20-inch arms are absolutely huge arms. Your average pro bodybuilder doesn't even have 20-inch arms. Twenty-four-inch arms might be found only on guys like Ronnie Coleman, possibly Vince Taylor and Mike Matarazzo, or maybe even Kevin Levrone, but 25? No way!
To be honest with you, I would shoot for a more reasonable goal, something like 22 inches. You're going to make the mistake that most amateurs make early in their career. Nine out of 10 times you're going to overtrain. Any time you work your whole body, you can't utilize or single out any particular body parts to achieve the necessary breakdown to get a maximum amount of healing for muscle growth. You should divide your workouts. You should read Muscular Development and utilize some of the training spreads we have for you. There are a lot of great pros who put their workouts in here, and you'll notice that none of us do our entire body six days a week, two hours a day. We usually do one or two body parts per workout, two days on, one day off, or three days on, one day off. I only know a few bodybuilders who work out six days in a row, specifically Melvin Anthony and Ronnie Coleman, but even those guys split the body into groups. If I worked out six days in a row, I would overtrain and shrink.
Another problem is Synthol. This year, there were some guys in the Nationals who were obviously using Synthol. Not only is Synthol absolutely 100 percent bad for you, it can cause health problems in the long run when it finally assimilates into the body and ends up in your lungs or your bloodstream. I've known a few bodybuilders who had to have surgery to have pockets of festering abscesses removed due to Synthol use, so don't even think about going that route! And the only guys with 25-inch arms are Synthol users. Think about it.
If you plan on getting big arms, I would suggest working them no more than twice a week and doing no more than 12 to 16 sets per body part, that is 12 to 16 sets for bi's and 12 to 16 sets for tri's. The pros will all say they have 20-inch arms, but a 20-inch arm is huge. If you were to pull out a tape measure, you would see that most pros' arms aren't 20 inches. I would re-think your goal if I were you.
KING TITUS' ROYAL CUISINE
Do you ever find fitting meals in each day somewhat inconvenient? How do you go about dealing with it if it does become a problem?
No, it's never been an inconvenience for me at all. Then again, I'm slightly spoiled. I don't cook meals myself. I use a company here in Las Vegas called Encore Nutrition, run by a lady named Cynthia. I‘ll e-mail Cynthia at
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and tell her how many meals I need, exactly what I need in the meals, the measurements, and how I want it flavored. Cynthia will have my meals prepared to my exact specifications, put in Tupperware and delivered on my front porch by 9 p.m. for use the next day. That way, I don't ever miss meals.
I know some of you may think it's expensive, but it's not. In the long run, I end up saving money because of the time involved in shopping, cooking, etc. I've been using Encore Nutrition for two shows now and it's absolutely fantastic. Seven days a week, five meals a day, it's always perfect. If you're a pro athlete or a regular person who wants to eat healthy, but don't have time to cook, look for a place like Encore where you can buy prepared food custom made for you. This is one of the best things I've ever done.
LATE NIGHT NUTRITION
I live the hectic college life and generally can't train before 7 p.m. I've been making decent gains over the last few months, but I ended up putting on slightly more fat than I wanted to. If you were training in the evening, how would you alter your post-workout nutrition to avoid fat storage? I try to get the majority of my carbs from low glycemic index complex sources post-workout, but since I go to bed around midnight, the timing of my largest meal feels like it's too close to bedtime. Do you have any suggestions?
Your problem has an easy solution: Quit college so you can focus on bodybuilding.
I'm kidding, of course. First, I've gotta tell you that even though everybody thinks eating right before bed makes you fat, that is a total myth. The way to stay lean or get lean is very simple. If you eat more calories than you burn in a day, you're going to store fat. If you burn more calories than you eat in a day, regardless of what time you eat, you're not going to store any fat.
In order to recover properly, you have to eat when you're done training. So, if you train in the evening and you have to eat late, it's okay. Just make sure you're burning more calories than you're taking in. That's the way your body works and there's no magic to it.
Personally, I eat my last meal at midnight! Having said that, I'd suggest using all your carbohydrates in your first four meals and eat just protein for your last two meals. Your recovery will still be the same because you already took in your carbs. If you don't think that recovery will be good enough for you, switch to three carbohydrate meals for your first three meals and the last carbohydrate meal immediately after training, and you'll be fine.
HAMMING IT UP
Craig, you have the best hamstrings in the business. I was wondering if I should train my legs twice a week, emphasizing quads one day and hamstrings another. I've tried this schedule before, but it felt like my hamstrings were not getting hit hard enough.
You know, I'm a firm believer of separating your hamstrings from your quads by training them on separate days. This is just my opinion, and other pros may disagree, but I don't think working hamstrings on the same day you work quads gives you enough energy to utilize your training on each muscle. In other words, when you train quads, that's a big body part to work out. It takes a lot of energy to train and it takes a long time to do. You wouldn't be able to do maximum training on your hamstrings afterwards. That's why I split them up. I do quads and calves on one day and I do hams and calves on another day. That way, you can utilize both muscle groups to the fullest potential.
There are actually two hamstring exercises I would recommend. First would be the straight-leg deadlifts because they tie the hams in the glute area. Second is the one-legged hamstring curl, because it's just like a biceps. You utilize your hamstring in the movement to its full potential and you can really feel it. It's just like doing a dumbbell curl, but you use the back of your leg. What I do is hook an ankle wrap on my ankle, hook it to the cable, stand on a bench with my back to the crossover machine and do standing leg curls. It's very, very effective. The stiff-legged deadlifts are good for size and detail, too.
If you look at my hamstrings in all my side shots, you can see that it works. If you look at a lot of the pros on the stage today, when they turn sideways and do side shots, seven out of 10 guys don't have hamstrings to the side- literally! They're just lucky other guys standing next to them don't have hamstrings either. You want a nice sweep coming off the back of the leg. I think hamstrings are one of those body parts that a lot of guys under-train because it's a boring muscle.
Have a question for Craig?Surf over to MuscularDevelopment.com.
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