FUSION BODYBUILDING

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Being A Bodybulder

Dan Ziccardi

View Dan Ziccardi’s before and after transformation.

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The reason I started bodybuilding is...

I first picked up a weight when I was in grade 10. I can still remember setting up my little training area in my basement. Pictures of famous bodybuilders I idolized filled the walls. I guess you could say there was something about the “Greek god” look I admired. I then joined the weight-room club at my high school along with one of my best friends, who became a consistent training partner. We both were inspired greatly by the lifestyle, dedication and outcome of bodybuilding.

The people I most wanted to be when I started were...

Like most current bodybuilders today, my idol was definitely Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was on the top of my list of bodybuilding athletes, along with more current bodybuilders like Kevin Levrone and Flex Wheeler. The reason for this was basically that they’re amazingly well-proportioned and have a small waistline to compliment their physiques as well. This, to me, is the ideal athlete, unlike many current bodybuilders you see today that have gone off the deep end, only searching for more mass than anything!

When I was just getting into the sport, I had the pleasure of meeting Quincy Taylor at a local nutrition store. I actually sat down with him and just chatted for a while. He talked to me about his life and his ways of training. He’s a great guy – down to earth, easy to talk to, level-headed, and proud of who he is. I still have our picture hanging in my wall. I must say I look a little different now. (I’m catchin’ up, Quincy!) I will never forget that little inspirational sit-down.

Another idol, as I mentioned before, has to be Arnold. He inspired me a lot when I was first getting into the sport. Sometime you should take the time to read about his whole life in fine detail: the way he worked so hard to become the best, kept his head in the game at all costs and conquered everyone he said he would – even his own idols. I hope one day I can even step onstage with some of mine. Even to this day, Arnold credits his political success to his bodybuilding lifestyle. It’s crazy how he always applies the values of the sport to other aspect of his life, and he always succeeds. That is a true bodybuilder.

The people I owe the most to...

My mother and younger brother have always supported me in everything I do in life. My number one fan is my mom, and as a single mother, she has put forth a huge effort to help me as much as possible. I want to thank her for everything she has done. She has done everything from prepping my daily meals to actually traveling with me to shows and putting on my final tanning coat. Love you, Mom! My close friends and family also support the lifestyle I have chosen, and understand everything I go through when it comes to training and dieting for shows. It’s great when you have people surrounding you who understand this lifestyle I have chosen. It truly does help push you to be your best.

Supplements I can’t live without are...

FUSION BODYBUILDING products are truly amazing! FUSION has put forth an incredible effort to create a line of products that are in a class of their own. They focus on making sure their products aren’t the same as every other companies, thus creating staple supplements that I use daily, like GLUTAMEND, SHUT•EYE, SUB•Q and OMEGA•OIL. Other than these, in my arsenal are basic isolate and casein proteins, so I get the best of slow- and fast-release proteins in my diet, daily multivitamins, calcium and vitamin D.

The best thing about training...

It’s not only the overall feeling of your endorphins going through the roof, but also the pumps you get. To me, it’s one of those things where either you have it in you to be a bodybuilder or you don’t. You have to love the lifestyle of training and dieting and the results you achieve along this never-ending path.

Two things I would change about bodybuilding are...

There are a lot of things about this sport that are great, and there are also a lot of things that could be changed for the better. Politics are something that have definitely developed over time in the sport. Unfortunately, they’ll always be there. It’s just something you have to learn to accept. Another thing I’d change is the drug aspect of the sport. It only seems to be getting worse. Oversized, disproportioned athletes with distended guts are around more than ever. The great thing I have noticed is the attempt to bring back to bodybuilding a tapered waistline and a more athletic look, like it was in the beginning. This is how it was meant to be, and it’s the look I personally promise to bring to every show.

My ultimate goal is...

My ultimate goal is to not only be one of the best competitors in bodybuilding but also own my own successful chain of gyms or personal training studios. I’m working hard to achieve these goals right now and I will do it.

Some things every gym rat should know are...

Number one, there is no such thing as quick results. Number two, listen to all advice, but do what your instincts tell you. Personal trial and error will be your best way in the end. Number three, focus on your diet just as much as the gym. Your nutrition will determine how you look.

Years I’ve been training...

I’ve been training since I was in grade 11 in high school. I was about 15 or 16 years old

Last new bodybuilding thing I learned is...

You’ll become better after every show because you learn from your mistakes. The last show, I learned my body responds better doing one 45- to 50-minute cardio session, rather than two split 30-minute cardio sessions.

The one question I’d ask a pro is...

I’d want to ask how they battle with their everyday thoughts of cheating. Everybody has their own way, and sometimes it’s good to hear a new one.

What I enjoy most about competing is...

The satisfaction of seeing yourself the day of the show, knowing your gruelling 16-week journey has led to this day and you look your best. The energy from all the athletes and people at the show is definitely worth doing the show in itself. Not to mention the people you meet that share your passion.

The thing I hate most about stepping onstage is...

The routine! I’m naturally a nervous guy at times, and for some reason when I step onstage during my routine, it hits me like a sack of bricks. When my routine is over, that’s when I know I’ve overcome the day.

The first thing I’ll do after getting my pro card is...

Um ... party? Ha, ha. But when that’s over, I’m going to really just take some time to appreciate what an accomplishment that really is. You’re with the big boys now! It’s a place I hope to be someday in the near future. I would love to experience the life of a pro bodybuilder.

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