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The Anthony Catanzaro
Approach to Natural Bodybuilding One man who is staunchly in the anti-steroid camp is Anthony Catanzaro. Anthony has trained for over 20 years as a natural bodybuilder, along the way winning numerous bodybuilding titles. Rather than taking the steroid option, Anthony persevered and through an intelligent approach to dieting and training has crafted a physique anyone would be proud of. Professing an unwavering level of respect for his health and well-being, Anthony feels putting potentially toxic chemicals into one's body is a sign of disrespect and should be discouraged. Anthony has never been tempted to use any form of performance enhancing drug to accomplish his bodybuilding goals and feels to do so would compromise his integrity. In this interview, Anthony shares his secrets to building a great physique the natural way and gives his candid views on the controversial topic of steroids in bodybuilding. Given his bodybuilding success, Anthony does talk with a degree of authority, which makes this interview compulsory reading for anyone contemplating steroid use. [ Q ] Hi Tony. How did you initially become interested in natural bodybuilding? Hey David. I have always been interested in bodybuilding and the human body for as far back as I can remember. I have always been interested in how the body works and how to achieve greatness in one's physique. The human body was designed to meet the demands of what its environment would shell out. In other words, if you are going to sit at a desk all day and the only exercise you get is from lifting your arm to get those chocolates next to you, you are not going to have the body of your dreams. Remember, you become your environment. I'm always looking for ways to challenge my body and in return, that strengthens my soul. [ Q ] What is it about bodybuilding that you love most? I have to say that it's the one sport where it's all you! You can't rely on a team member, or a coach to get you out of a mess. In other words, if you fail on stage they cannot bring in a relief poser. You have to be confident enough to know you could win. Therefore, it is a 24 hour seven-day-a-week sport. You have to give credit to bodybuilders as we are probably the hardest workers in sports history. [ Q ] Why did you opt for the natural approach in bodybuilding? I'm asked this question all the time and I'll tell you the same thing that I tell others. I want to be healthy on the inside, not just on the outside. I know many guys that are using drugs and they have encountered many problems from it. From skin damage to liver and kidney failure: it's pure GARBAGE! I do not recommend anyone use it, try it, or think about it. It's not what the sport is about! This sport is about building your body and your mind, not destroying it! [ Q ] When you say steroids destroy the mind, what do you mean here? What I mean is that it is not physically but mentally damaging. A person on steroids will know in the back of their mind that he or she needs the stuff to be on top. It's like that old saying that I have, "if you are unhappy with yourself being poor, then you will never be happy with yourself being rich." You must learn to love yourself regardless of your financial status, height, weight and race. It all begins with the mind. Remember, it doesn't take a championship win to be a champion. You can be a champion to your family, and friends and that's what really matters. [ Q ] The issue of drugs in bodybuilding has always been controversial. What is it about drug taking for performance enhancing purposes that you oppose? I'm against the whole thing. I don't judge a man on how he earns a living to put food on the table, but you have to understand the tone you are setting for others like your kids, your family, and your friends. Do you know that I have fans around the world that look up to the fact that I have never used enhancement drugs and that inspires them to do the same. That alone makes it all worth while for me. [ Q ] What negative effects of performance enhancing drugs in bodybuilding have you witnessed? Well I see it all the time... a guy will walk in the gym that I haven't seen in a few months, and he would be pumped out with crazy veins and looking like he is flexing when he is just standing there. He also has a look on his face as though he is guilty of something. I truly feel that a person on steroids and growth hormones has a feeling of emptiness inside them. It's almost like when a person cheats someone out of something. They don't feel as though they accomplished anything. Again, this is my own opinion. I understand that in order for a lot of them to win, they have to use what everyone else is using. But stop and think about it. What are you gaining? Forget the prize money and the pro card, look inside yourself and ask yourself, are you really a winner? Think about it. General Negative Effects
Negative Effects For Men
Negative Effects For Women:
Negative Effects For Children:
[ Q ] What are the benefits to being a natural bodybuilder in your view Tony? You can inspire others to follow in your footsteps you can show people that you can build muscles naturally with proper diet and training. That's why I create customized diets through my web site. I can create a diet to get you where you want to be the right way. Whether you're looking to gain mass or get ripped, I do all the work for you. With my 20-plus years experience, it's the best investment you can make for a lifetime. [ Q ] What other benefits are there to being a natural bodybuilder in your view Tony? There are so many, but I think the best reason is the motivation it gives others to go out there and learn as much as they can, and to be able to have an outlook that a champion body can be made without the use of steroids and other drugs. Inspiring others is a true gift. I would encourage those reading this article to get off steroids and to become one with their body again. You don't realize the effect it's having on you right now. You don't need it! I can guarantee that getting off the stuff will be the best decision you ever made. I promise you that you will be rewarded for it from above. Just like any other drug, it destroys you mentally and physically. Just think of it as the devil going inside you. Do you think he is out for your best interest? No, of course not. He is out to destroy you! Stay natural and put your hand in the hand of the man upstairs. [ Q ] What are some of the things a non-drug user should do to ensure bodybuilding success? What kind of attitude do they need? It's just like anything else, you have to put everything you have into your workouts, your diet and your rest. You also need to have a clear outlook on what you want to achieve. You have to "believe it to achieve it." In other words, if you really don't think that you can make your arms grow two inches, then they won't grow at all. You need to have what I like to call mind to muscle concentration. Otherwise, you are just spinning your wheels and staying in the same spot. Your attitude should be this: "everyday I am getting closer and closer to my goals". It's like climbing a ladder, keep going up... not up and down. [ Q ] Drugs are often seen as an easy road to gaining size. What unique struggles do natural bodybuilders have compared to their drug using counterparts? Size is always considered a plus in bodybuilding, but I never thought of it that way. You see, I look at the body as an ice sculpture, while one person might consider adding size to his shoulders for a more V-taper look, I would look to make the waist smaller to give even more of a V- taper approach. You see, bodybuilding doesn't mean build size it means build a body. That means looking at yourself like a statue, or how a car is designed. I just bought a Jaguar XK8 because I was drawn to the body style. This car in my opinion one of the sexiest body styles I have ever seen on a car! The bottom line is I don't think bigger I think better. Forget the HUMMER! [ Q ] Describe the feeling being a good natural bodybuilder gives you? First of all... don't you mean great? I'm only kidding! It's just a great feeling to know that you are of clean body, mind, and soul. [ Q ] We know that various drugs make it easy for a bodybuilder to progress in their sport. What does a natural bodybuilder have to do differently when aiming to pack on the muscle and arrive onstage ripped? Basically the same thing a bodybuilder on drugs would do, gain as much lean muscle mass in the off-season as he or she could. That's lean muscle mass, not bloat, fat, or water. There are some guys in my gym who compete in drug shows. I have respect for them because they are nice guys, but of course I don't agree with what they are doing. One guy would gain 50lbs in the off-season, which of course he had to lose to make his weight class for the show. What's the purpose of gaining mass if you can't keep it? I never understood that. I'm never more than 15lbs higher than what I would compete at. Therefore, in the past I have done middleweight shows coming in at 176lbs, which is the top off the class. So my weight in the off season would be around 190lbs. This year, I will compete for the first time ever in the light heavy weight class. I will weigh around 190lbs on stage so that means I need to be at least 205lbs for my off season. This is how I do it and believe me it works. Why would you want to kill yourself dieting for 12 weeks to get rid of the so called mass you built during the off season? Anthony's Titles
[ Q ] Have you ever been offered steroids? What did you say? What would you say? Luckily, I have never been offered steroids. I didn't start working out at a gym until I was 26yrs old, so for 11 years I trained in that little home gym I made when I was growing up. I think that the decision to use steroids would be made early on in the first year or two of training. So kids that are 17-18 years old, would be a high risk since the majority of them are unaware of the effects, they would just think that it's normal to use it. I want to speak to those kids right now and tell them first hand: you do not need steroids. Even guys that are using them agree that it's not a wise choice. Like I said before, they let the competition or the peer pressure take a hold of them. You don't need it. Even to this day I don't even know what steroids look like. That is the God's honest truth - remember these words: [ Q ] What advantages do you have over a steroid user do you think? Well like I said before, bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. It's the whole package and there are a lot of steroid users that are completely bloated and out of proportion. Then there are also some who are flawless, but the bottom line is that I will never lose what I have developed. That is because I did it naturally. I don't have to see myself shrink away to nothing. That is what happens when you stop taking the drugs. That must be very depressing to see yourself shrink more and more each day. It's like the wicked witch of the West, I'm melting. Stay natural, and you will have those muscles for life. Muscles don't age so you can always gain, at any age! [ Q ] It has been said that drug using bodybuilders work very hard and make greater sacrifices to reach the top. Do you respect those who use drugs to enhance their physiques? Like I said before, I don't judge them, that's the decision they made, and yes they do work very hard. I have made plenty of decisions and choices in my life that others would not agree on, but one thing I can say is that any choice I made would come from my love and honesty for something. If they truly love the sport of bodybuilding they wouldn't need it. It's not what bodybuilding was made for! It gives the wrong impression to those who are just beginning to lift weights. [ Q ] What are the best non-drug methods for gaining muscle in your experience? Diet. You can train until your arms fall off, but like I always say, "If your diet ain't right you'll never be tight". Learning about nutrition is key. I put it all together for you with my customized diets. Click here to learn more. [ Q ] Do you think more people will take the drug-free approach, or are drugs becoming more popular in bodybuilding? This is funny my brother-in-law, Anthony, always told me that I'm a legend before my time and that one day people will look at my photos and say this guy did it natural back when. I don't think drugs are becoming more popular. The look of bodybuilding is changing and there is more information available now than ever before. Men and women are more into the hard lean look so the use of steroids is becoming less and less I feel. [ Q ] What would you like to achieve as a drug-free bodybuilder? I have already achieved it. I inspire people all over the world. I have fans in places that I didn't even know existed. I never thought I would have an impact on people like I do. It is truly a blessing from God. [ Q ] What message would you like to give to the younger bodybuilder contemplating drug use? Don't do it. I have been training for over 20 years and have learned that within time like wine, your body will get better and better. Understand that bodybuilding is not to impress girls, or to look good on the beach during spring break. Bodybuilding is a lifestyle for you to follow for the rest of your life. It's like this... a person who does something for the wrong reason will never truly be one with himself. He or she will go on through life looking for ways to get things without the right intention. Remember, when your body is pure then and ONLY then will you be given the greatness from God. |
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