Interview with Doberman Dan

Vince: Tell the readers about yourself..

I’m a Sagittarius and like long romantic walks on the beach and working towards world peace… lol!

But seriously, I’m actually a muscle writer. I started my first site back in 1997 called DrugFreeBodybuilding.com. I put it up as a resource for genetically average bodybuilders who want to maximize their bodybuilding potential without the use of anabolic steroids.

I’ve been pretty low-key over the past few years. I’ve actually been devoting a lot of time to my musical projects lately. I play with a funk/R&B/ “rough-neck jazz”. I’m also recording a solo project of some of my own compositions.

Vince: Why did you personally choose the drug free path?

Bodybuilding is not supposed to be just about getting big and strong… it supposed to be about building health, too. At least the old timers of the iron game were interested in building better health. I just feel that it is healthier to build your body without drugs.

Vince: Who are your role models in the Iron Game and why? Who influenced you growing up, or motivated you to start bodybuilding?

Arnold (of course), Franco Columbu, Larry Scott and all the guys from the “golden age” of bodybuilding. Those were the guys who inspired me. They had such classic “Greek god-like” physiques that were attainable for guys like me. Nowadays the guys are so cartoon-like freakish it just de-motivates me. The physiques that the current crop of bodybuilders have is simply unattainable for most guys.

Vince: You’ve been published in numerous bodybuilding magazine. What’s your favorite article that made it to print?

Hmmmmm…. Probably an article published in Bob Kennedy’s magazine, “Reps!” I called “Being Anabolic”. I wrote it with a real “smart ass” kind of tone. I thought for sure Bob would edit out all the smart ass stuff… but he published it word for word!

Vince: How did you get the nickname Doberman Dan?

Ha ha ha! I wrote an article for my original site drugfreebodybuilding.com a few years ago talking about a fight between my Doberman and a big bulky Rottweiler. My Doberman won. So I wrote an article explaining how I had become a “Rottweiler” from bulking up and I wanted to lean out and become sleek and muscular like my Doberman.

Vince: Any advice for the newbies getting involved in trying to build muscle?

Yes. DO NOT follow the advice from the champs in the magazines. It doesn’t apply to you. They are genetic freaks and taking massive amounts of drugs.

Get on a good basic program, work really hard but don’t over-train and eat a lot of good food.

Vince: How important is diet? Do you adhere to a strict diet?

Diet is EXTREMELY important. In 90% of cases, diet is the reason many bodybuilders have a hard time gaining muscle. I’ve written a lot of articles about it.

I don’t follow a really strict diet unless I’m leaning out for something. I usually eat plenty of clean foods like chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, salads, green veggies, oatmeal, fresh fruits, etc. But I still indulge in a little junk food every now and then. I want to enjoy my food and not be miserable on some kind of Spartan diet all the time.

Vince: Tell us a little bit about your training philosophy. Do you train for looks, strength, size, or for other reasons?

Mostly for vanity! Lol Health, too of course but I want to look good and feel good about myself.

I was a small skinny kid and got teased a lot because of it. That’s really why I took up weight training… to help improve my self image. AND kick all the kids’ asses who made fun of me when I was small! (I’m just kidding. I never really kicked their asses.)

Vince: I’ve heard a lot of talk about your ebook “Hyper Growth Muscle Mass Training“. What makes this program unique?

I think people like it because it’s a fun program to do and you don’t have to train to complete muscular failure. In fact, if you DO train to failure, the Hyper Growth Muscle Mass system won’t work for you. Nothing works for everybody and it’s always best to change up your training routine when you start going stale.

Guys and gals who have been doing high intensity “train to failure” types of programs can switch to the Hyper Growth system when they stop making gains on the high intensity stuff and start making gains again… by training with LESS intensity. I think that appeals to our lazy side! lol

Vince: What exactly to you mean by less intense? Is the program a walk in the park?

No, not exactly. I guess I should have explained what I mean by intensity. What I see guys doing in gyms across the country is three sets of eight reps adding in a couple forced reps at end of each set. Than they might finish it up by doing a drop set.

Hey I trained like this for a long time, but at some point you stop making gains and it’s like hitting your head against a wall. The Hyper Growth program is based on capillary training and achieving a muscle pump. There’s a lot of debate over the pump in bodybuilding circles but there is a huge amount of followers that swear by it. If you’re not convinced look up some Vince Gironda’s 8X8 Programs.

Vince: Sounds pretty interesting Dan. I guess you could call it plateau breaking program. You’re not possibly claiming this is the perfect program for everyone are you?

No, again, I don’t believe that at all. One thing that really irritates me is how so many trainers and gurus think that their training system is the “only way” to do things. I don’t think there is one cookie cutter program that is perfect for every unique individual.

One thing I do believe very passionately about is periodization. I mean who honestly believes you should just train one specific way all year long for the rest of your life. Every athlete and advanced trainee for that matter knows you need to change your workouts.

If there’s one the thing the human body is great at, it’s adapting to whatever you throw at it. So if you’re not making progress with one training approach try something else! It’s not brain surgery.

Periodization is just that. An organized approach to cycling different training regimens during a specific period of time. For example do you think football players train the same during the season and during the off-season? What about bodybuilders and models, are they ripped all year long or do they have mass building cycles?

Vince: I see what you mean. Thanks for the QnA Dan, appreciate you taking the time to chat with us.

Thank you. I love talking about this stuff, so the pleasure’s all mine.

For more info,click on the link below:

Hyper Growth Mass Training