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Written by Craig Titus
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Wednesday, 25 April 2007 |
I've worked very hard for the past few years and my physique is really
starting to turn from your average looking guy into a real muscular
type bodybuilder. I'm nowhere near as huge as you, but I'm proud of
what I've achieved. The change in my physique has prompted me to
re-examine my wardrobe. I've noticed that athletic wear dominates most
of my wardrobe. Unfortunately, the cool athletic gear is very pricey.
Plus, although it may look good on the lean, swimmer-type body, I don't
think it suits the super muscular look. I know you're all about
fashion, so I'd like to know what you would recommend.
It's funny you should ask that question. Kelly and I met with Icegear
Clothing at the Arnold Classic. They specialize in ice wick technology,
which pulls moisture away from the skin. We were so impressed that we
worked out an endorsement contract to represent their line. In fact,
we're the exclusive distributors for the western region. Currently, I
have Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana,
Utah, Colorado and New Mexico in my pocket. We're always on the lookout
for people interested in making some serious money with this high
quality clothing line, whether it be selling it in their stores or
distribution to other states.
I know how frustrating it is for the muscular guy to stock up on good
clothing for his wardrobe. That's why this line is so fantastic. We
have nice jeans, really cool sweatsuits for the ladies and tons of
underwear and casual wear for everyday use. The styles are very
flattering. It'll fit the guy with big calves, over-sized quads, even a
gigantic ass. They're as comfortable as all hell while looking fresh
and stylish. Anybody who's into fashion knows how hard it is to find
that combination.
When I was younger, I could walk around in plain old sweats and not
give a damn. Being a mature professional now, it's important to present
my best side to the public. That's what's so special about Icegear. You
can look good and still be as comfortable as you would in that old pair
of sweats that you wear around the house. And trust me when I say you
can wear these sweatsuits practically anywhere you go. This is some of
the finest gear around for bodybuilders and fitness athletes, as well
as the general public. Go to my website and click on the link to check
it out. Just remember that at the end of the day- no matter what you're
wearing- the motivation to train hard has to come from within. Yes,
appearance is part of it, but don't worry about it until after you
obtain your goals.
THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL
Craig, I'm doing a report for college on the growing world of personal
training. I'm also interested in pursuing this to make money doing what
I love most- bodybuilding. Based on your background in big business,
I'd like how much the average personal trainer makes, yearly or
monthly. And what's it really like to be a personal trainer? Is it as
good as it sounds?
Personal training is like any other business where you're an
independent contractor. You're only as successful as you make yourself.
You have no one else to count on or blame. You're your own boss and
that means everything is riding on your shoulders.
In order to make it as a personal trainer, obviously you need knowledge
and experience. If you've been an amateur bodybuilder for seven years
and then a pro for 11 more years, certification is unnecessary. Of
course, it wouldn't hurt to obtain more knowledge on nutrition and how
certain foods affect hormone production in the body. If you want to get
a leg up on the competition, I'd delve into nutrition as much as
possible. I find that most trainers are lacking in that area, myself
included.
With those two aspects being equal, the deciding factor is tenacity. Do
you have the tenacity to go out there and pick up clients? Can you
market yourself and keep the clientele coming in? It all boils down to
how many clients you have and how long you can keep them.
In order to connect with your clients, you have to develop your
interpersonal skills. You need a genuine concern for, and understanding
of, your clients. You have to be very caring and empathetic to their
needs. In a sense, you have to be a friend. You don't have to be their
best friend, but friendship to a certain degree is mandatory. After
all, these people are trying to change their lives and achieve some
highly personal goals. Conduct sessions wisely; pay attention to what
they're doing the whole time they're with you in the gym. Don't be
distracted by other people or situations while you're training your
client.
As far as money goes, the average PT makes anywhere from $30 to $50 an
hour. People who have been at it as long I have can charge $80 a
session. My fees are $150 per session for anything before six in the
morning and $150 for anything later than nine at night. That's how I
run my business. Currently, I've got two clients before 6 a.m. and one
at 9 p.m.
REMOVING ASS HAIR
Craig, what's the best way to get rid of body hair? At the moment I'm
shaving, but it grows back way too fast and it irritates my skin. I've
heard waxing is an option, as the hair doesn't come back for weeks. But
I've also heard it hurts like hell. And how in the world do you shave
your ass hair?
Ha-ha-ha! First of all, shaving is the only method I know of. That's
all I've ever done and it's all I'll ever do. There's no way I'm going
to pay someone to wax me. That's a waste of time and money. I tried
waxing once before and it did nothing but burn, irritate my skin and
cause breakouts. So, waxing is out of the question. As for your ass
hair, that's where your girlfriend- or in some cases, your boyfriend-
comes in. Sometimes you need a helping hand. It's as simple as that.
BUMPS ALL OVER
I was watching your '96 video, "Titus 2.0," and I was really impressed
with the width and thickness of your back. What's your favorite
movement for brick-thick thickness and insane width? Which do you think
is more important for making a visual impact, thickness or width?
Excuse me, but did I read that correctly? This is the first time I've
heard somebody say my back is thick and wide! Thanks, brother. I have a
couple of basics I stand by because they've worked well for me over the
years. I like close-grip seated cable rows, close-grip lat-pull-downs
and T-bar rows. I go very heavy using strict form. Of course, I do
blood volume for all my body parts. Rep range is 12 to 20. If I were to
do only those three exercises, I'd do five sets of each. Normally, I do
five exercises for back. In that case, I'd do three sets per exercise.
In my opinion, you can't have an awesome back without both thickness
and width. But for a guy just walking down the street, I'd have to go
with thickness. Thick muscles always make an impact. You want bumps
popping out of you shirt. That's always impressive to witness.
Road to the Dallas Pro
Training Journal: April, 2005
D-DAY IN DALLAS
I'm really excited about the Dallas show. This is the inaugural event,
but I'm confident Ed and Betty Pariso will put on a fabulous contest.
Ed's a businessman, so I suspect it's going to be very professional.
And since Betty's a professional bodybuilder, she'll be in tune with
the needs of the athletes. I'm looking forward to a well-run show, from
equipment backstage to the way the athletes are treated.
Of course, being the last show prior to the Olympia, it'll be a
dogfight for guys who are trying to qualify. I couldn't care less about
qualifying. I've qualified three times for the Olympia and I've been in
it twice- both times with less than satisfactory results. Until I feel
it's going to be a good experience, I'm not staking my whole claim just
to be in the "O." I'm looking to do well in Dallas for my own sake.
I'll expect nothing less than top five, making some cash, and keeping
my fans and sponsors happy.
This is a great opportunity for me. As everyone knows, I had to drop
out of both the Australia Pro Show and the New York Pro Show due to a
pulled calf muscle at the Ironman. I hate being forced out of
competitions. To make matters worse, I missed my peak at the Ironman by
a few small percentage points. I know what I did wrong, so that little
bit would have been easy to improve upon.
Training commenced today. I'll go super heavy for the next eight weeks
to pack on monster size. Then I'll back off a little bit for about five
weeks to gather myself for the final push. Then it's balls to the wall
training for the last 10-week stretch. We're going to rock out! That's
why I can't wait until September. I'm going to see what havoc I can
wreak on the field at my tiptop, 100 percent best.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
There's a lot of negativity in the air about the industry being in a
slump and how nobody is supporting the athletes. Well, that couldn't be
further from the truth for Kelly and me. We just resigned with Pinnacle
and we couldn't be happier! Pinnacle is like family to us. They're a
total class act, all the way. Mel Rich and Steve Stern have put
together one hell of a company. Look for a lot of new, cutting-edge
products coming out this year. The very first Creatine product that
burns fat! Talk about friggin' awesome! We'll be releasing it soon.
This stuff will blow your mind, guys. Stay tuned for more in store.
Until next month, peace!
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