Carla Dunlap!

Even though bodybuilding great Carla Dunlap has been off the competitive circuit for a year and a half, she hasn’t slowed down one bit. In fact, she’s moving at breakneck speed, immersed in plenty of bodybuilding and fitness-related projects. Pick up any woman’s fitness magazine, for example, and you’re likely to see a Danskin featured ad featuring Carla. Along with her are several of the world’s top female athletes, including Brandy Johnson, the number one U.S. gymnast: Connie Young, Olympic cyclist; and Camille Duvall, five-time world water ski champion.

“I was recommended as one of the models for the ad, “the former Ms. Olympia says. “Naturally, I was proud to be chosen as the female athlete to represent bodybuilding. It was an honor.”

Carla has also just completed an hour-long television pilot called “Flex Lady,” which chronicles women’s bodybuilding from its early days to the present. “If the pilot goes, it will become a weekly or monthly half-hour show on television, and that will be exciting,” she says.

Not too long ago, more TV excitement occurred when Carla joined Janet Tech, Lenda Murray, Jackie Paisley, Diana Dennis, Laura Creavalle, and several other women bodybuilders on the Geraldo show. “Contrary to my expectations, the show went smoothly. It was basically an update on women’s bodybuilding-with no real controversies.”

Not only is Carla moving fast into various media projects, she’s moving fast-literally-in the athletic world. Just this year, she completed her first triathalon-a half-Olympic length series held in New York City. Without even training for this event, she finished in one hour and 35 minutes-a time netted her 11th in her age group and 197th place out of 350 women.

“Now that I know what I can do without training, just imagine what I can do with it! That’s why I’m seriously training for the next one.”

Speaking of training, Carla works out intensely five days a week. “Though training lighter than I used to, I keep consistent body weight of 130 to 133, with a body fat percentage of 10.5.”

Carla is now in her tenth year as a bodybuilding pro. She started following the Parrillo Performance nutrition program, including supplementation with CapTri and other Parrillo Performance supplements, while training for the 1988 Ms. Olympia. “I had just met John Parrillo,” she recalls. “And in the short time I followed his pre-contest program, I was able to get in the best shape I’d been in for years.

For that reason, Carla is definitely sold on John’s nutrition and supplementation program. “I plan to try all the recipes in John’s Captri cookbook too.”

In the future, will we ever see Carla back in bodybuilding competition?

“Perhaps, especially if women’s bodybuilding continues to be nurtured, with more women’s shows ad better standards in random drug testing. I’d definitely consider competing if the sport would revive its professional couples competition.”

Alone or as part of a pair, bodybuilding fans throughout the world would certainly welcome Carla Dunlap back to competition with an out pouring of love and support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lee Labrada: ’91 Is My Year

This year’s Mr. Olympia was the “Battle of the Lee’s”: Lee Haney and Lee Labrada, that is. As you know by now, Lee Haney was the victor, claiming his seventh win in a row. Many, however, felt the victory should have gone to the other Lee. “Though I didn’t win the title, I won the fans over. I had dyed-in-the-wool Haney fans admit that the 1990 Mr. Olympia was my show,” says the phenomenal and incomparable Lee Labrada.

While other competitors seemed to be slightly off-condition, Lee was in his best shape to fate, having put on five extra pounds of hard, rippled muscle this year. He feels he was the only competitor who had actually improved from last year.

“So naturally, my opinion is that I should have won. But the only opinion that counts on that of the judges. Judging is subjective. When you have two diverse physiques on stage such as Haney’s and mine, judging is more or less a matter of preference. And I respect that. To prepare for next year, I’m going back to the drawing board so that I can win the 1991 Olympia.

That preparation, Lee says, will mean heavier training and stricter attention to nutrition. “I want to polish my physique even more, so that I can come in harder than ever next year. In addition, I’ll continue to consult with John Parrillo. He has been a great inspiration and a vital source of information for me.”

Since 1990 Mr. Olympia, Lee has been in demand now more than ever, giving seminars and posing exhibitions in Jamaica, Australia, and Europe. In his hometown of Houston, he’s building custom homes with a business partner and will soon be opening a gym in San Antonio as a business investment. Admittedly, he has his “hands in a lot of pies,” but bodybuilding remains his priority.

I’m back in training. I’ve rededicated myself to winning the Mr. Olympia. 1991 is definitely my year.”

What are the judges looking for?

What are the judges looking for?

This is the question I am most frequently asked as a bodybuilding contest judge. I’m dedicating this article to that question and hope to explain what I look for when judging a competition.

Many competitors do not realize that the placement they receive at the end of a contest is not based on one score but on a combination of three scores.

A judge must first look at the competitor’s symmetry-the proportion of his or her physique. This is done during the quarter turns. When considering proportions, the judges look at the upper torso and it’s balance to the lower torso. They must consider not only muscular development, but the skeletal frame as well. And they must weigh other factors, such as bowleggedness or the presence of scoliosis (a curved spine). The symmetry round also encompasses overall appearance which includes skin tone, color, and style of suit.

Next comes round two, the presentation round. During this session, the competitors have 60 seconds without music to present their physiques to the judges. The first mistake many competitors make is to attempt to condense their 90-second evening routine which is choreographed with music, into a 60-second routine without music. Remember, this is the first time the judges get a chance to view your muscularity, so let them see what you have! Don’t rush through the routine by squeezing it into 60 seconds. And try not to move so slowly that only half of the routine is completed, most of which are transition moves. Judges can only judge your physique by the way it is presented. We cannot judge what we cannot see.

By the end of the presentation round, the judges have a good idea of who the top contenders are. But they don’t yet know in what order they will fall. This is where the final round comes into play. At this time the judges call back the competitors they feel are equal in quality. Individuals are then asked to perform certain poses at the same time so that the judges can make their final placing. During this round I often see competitors who have worked so hard on their routines that they forgot to practice the compulsory poses. The compulsories are very important because they help the judges make their final decision.

From what you’ve read, you can see that many factors come into play when judges are making their decisions. So even though you receive a single score, that score is really based on a combination of three individual scores.

Here’s another question I am frequently asked: “Why did the most muscular physique win last week and the most defined physique win today?” Neither judging panels were necessarily wrong in these cases. Because of its judging systems, our sport allows physiques of both types to compete. Unfortunately, no competitor is perfect, so it is up to the judges to decide who is the most perfect that day. There is no control over the biggest variable, which involves the quality physique presented at any given contest.

For example, I once judged a female competition that had four competitors. One competitor had some muscular development but no definition; the other three had symmetrical physiques but no muscular development. I gave my first place vote to the heavier competitor. The next week I judged another contest which had six female competitors one of whom was the winner of the previously mentioned contest. In this contest, however, some of the competitors were much leaner but also showed muscular development I placed these competitors over the winner from the week before.

After the show, spectators who had attended both contests could not understand why one week I could reward the most muscular competitor and the next reward a competitor who was not as muscular but more defined. I explained that the more muscular physique was the best of the previous competition, but this competition had included competitors who showed both muscularity and definition. This is what most judges are referring to as the “best overall package” on a given day.

Though it might seem inconsistent, there is an advantage to this system: It allows competitors of different physiques to compete in our sport.

 

 

 

 

Johnnie Morant – Winning with Parrillo Performance

Johnnie Morant

Winning With Parrillo Performance

During his first five years of bodybuilding competition, Johnnie Morant was continually, coming in second or third-never first. Then his luck changed.

In 1988, he attended a seminar at Diamond Gym in New Jersey given by John Parrillo. “I was impressed,” Johnnie recalls. ” The guy really knew his stuff.”

Johnnie also knew that a rising bodybuilding star named Franco Satoriello had been working with John and had made amazing gains. So Johnnie started training with Franco and consulting with John.

It paid off. Johnnie entered and won the 1989 North American Championships-a victory that enabled him to turn pro. Today, he is one of the biggest and most formidable contenders in the pro ranks.

Right now Johnnie Morant has his sights set on the 1991 Olympia-an aspiration made stronger by Lenda Murray’s recent Ms. Olympia win.

Of his friend Lenda, Johnnie says: “She is awesome. She followed the Parrillo Performance nutrition and training programs to the letter-and look where she is now. She has inspired me.”

Like Lenda, Johnnie also follows Parrillo Performance programs. He eats plenty of quality calories each day, takes all the supplements (including Captri), and incorporates fascial stretching into his already-intense push-pull routines. Johnnie even has his brother Kenny, an aspiring bodybuilder, on the program.

“John Parrillo knows more than anyone in bodybuilding about nutrition and training, Wherever I go, whoever interviews me, I always tell people that I follow John’s programs, and no one pays me to say that. No fitness company I know of has a John Parrillo-someone who can guide you, help you, and inspire you to reach the top.”

John Kemper: A True Champion For 30 Years

John Kemper:

A True Champion For 30 Years

John Kemper is one of those people who has “done it all” in bodybuilding. At age 16, he won his first contest, the Teenage New Jersey, and he’s been competing ever since. The Mr. New Jersey, Heavyweight USA World Games Champion, Junior USA, Masters Nationals-these are just a few of the titles he’s collected over the years.

In addition to competing, John now runs the New jersey State Championships each year, and it’s one of the largest contests in the state, with over 90 contestants.

he has also fulfilled a dream of most bodybuilders: owning a gym. John has Diamond gym, one of the best known training facilities in the country and former home to bodybuilding greats such as Carla Dunlap, Johnnie Morant, and many top national competitors.

There’s more. John is a judge for the NPC and the IFBB and spends much of his time judging amateur and pro shows around the country. John can judge physiques with a perspective few other judges have: with an artist’s eye … because he is an artist by background.

And speaking of art, if you’ve ever read the Conan paperback series, that’s John’s likeness as Conan on the book covers, as illustrated by fantasy artist Boris Vallejo, a friend and Diamond Gym member.

Of all these pursuits, competition is his first love. “Few things can replace the fun of training for competition,” he says. “It spurs you on to look better and perform better than you did the last time. It gives you a goal to achieve and even surpass.”

Several years ago, John was beaten in competition by someone who had followed the Parrillo Performance Nutrition Program, The loss motivated him to seek out John Parrillo for help on his own diet-and the results were gratifying.

“With John’s nutritional advice and enthusiasm, I won the Master’s Nationals and the Mixed Pairs with my wife Shirley in 1987. John’s program s basic, and it works-as long as you stick to it.”

Joining him in bodybuilding is his family. Shirley is a successful competitor, who according to John, ” could have go be pro had she started bodybuilding earlier.” His daughter Christina, 22 recently won her first show. And another daughter, Mara, 14, has just started training. John says it’s too early to tell if his youngest daughter Kimberly, 12, will take up the iron game.

At 46, John says he will continue to compete. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in the sports so far, and I’d like to accomplish even more. Bodybuilding makes me feel good about myself, and it can do that for anyone.”

 

 

Penny Price: A Model of Success

Penny Price:

A Model of Success

What you probably know about pro bodybuilder Penny Price is that she’s a gorgeous, highly sought after fitness model. But what you may not know is that she’s opening doors for other bodybuilders and athletes who aspire to be models.

Penny is the owner of The Firm, a year-old modeling agency in her home city of Orlando. The agency specializes in sports and fitness modeling. “There is a growing need right now for muscular models,” Penny explains. “For athletes who have the right look, modeling is a great avenue to follow in addition to competition.”

Fifty models-male and female-are currently under contract with The Firm, and most of their assignments involve swimsuit work, exercise equipment and fitness and sports expositions. Penny is trying to interest Muscle and Fitness in using The Firm for its next swimsuit issue-and the prospect looks promising.

New models for The Firm are “discovered” at gyms and sports events, Penny says. “There are a lot of good-looking bodybuilders and athletes out there who make wonderful models yet have no idea of their potential. It’s rewarding to take someone without experience, put them in front of a camera and watch them transform.”

When a client requests a certain type of model, it’s up to The Firm to fill the bill. “Recently, we had an equipment manufacture who needed a six-foot blonde-with muscled abs-to pose on a huge abdominal machine. The shot would have been inappropriate with a smaller model. We couldn’t find a six-foot model , but we came through with a model who was 5’10.” ”

In addition to The Firm, Penny and her husband Jim own and manage a very successful personal training business called Physique Unique. even though her business ventures her on the run, Penny is still a bodybuilder at heart. She’s currently training for the IFBB’s 1991 Gran Prix in Rimini, Italy.

“Wayne DeMilla [Vice President - Professional Division of the IFBB] told me that I might have a good chance because the European judges prefer the feminine look over the muscular look.”

When training for competition, Penny likes to use Parrillo Performance CapTri and Pro Carb Formula to keep her energy levels high for workouts and pre-contest dieting. She met John Parrillo after being hired to co-star with him in a soon-to-be-released video called “The Nutrition Advantage.” Geared for athletes, the video features the latest nutrition information for training and competition.

With her many successful projects in the works, Penny is more than a model … she’s a great role model and inspiration to bodybuilders, athletes other models, and entrepreneurs alike!

 

The Parrillo Performance Women of Playboy!

The Parrillo Performance Women of Playboy!

By now, you’ve no doubt read or heard about the February 1991 issue of PLAYBOY, which featured the photo-story “Flex Appeal: A Pumped-Up Portfolio of Beautiful Bodybuilders” with photography by super lensmen Paul B. Goode.

But did you know that four of the five lovely ladies pictured in that spread consult with John Parrillo on nutrition and training? That’s right! No wonder they have such great bodies. For more information on Tony Dee, Carla Dunlap, April Johnson and Julia Kover, turn the page …

Toni Dee has won every bodybuilding contest she’s ever entered, including Ms. Sacramento, Ms. San Francisco, and the southern California Olympus Cup. Not all of her titles, however, are in bodybuilding. Toni is also the 1986 Nude Entertainer of the Year, the 1986 Ms. Nude Venus, the 1986 Ms. Hardbody, the First Runner-Up in Ms. Nude America in 1985, among other awards. In 1989, Toni made headlines as the “Oakland Coliseum Skybox Stripper” after performing for an audience of police officers. Her great body, talent, and flair have made her one of the top burlesque entertainers in northern California.

Toni, who is also a fitness consultant and personal trainer, uses Parrillo Performance supplements, the nutrition program, and training techniques – and uses then exclusively. “The Parrillo Performance products and programs helped me put on 20 pounds of lean, shapely, and solid muscle for the PLAYBOY photo shoot,” she says.

Regarding the photo shoot, Toni comments: “Working with Paul Goode was fantastic. It was thoroughly enjoyable and a lot of hard work. I love to be in front of the camera. I worked hard for this body and I love to show it off. I would pose again for PLAYBOY in a minute!”

April Johnson started using John Parrillo’s training techniques a few years ago- and because of the results, she’s been using them ever since. Not only that, she takes Parrillo Performance supplements because they “make the metabolism work a lot better.”

Her well-contoured, muscular shape combined with her experience as a fitness model made her a natural for the PLAYBOY pictorial. “The shoot was 15 hours of grueling work, yet it was so much fun. I really like that kind of modeling.”

Modeling is important to April but it may take a temporary back seat for now. She has just started a personal training business in Indianapolis, and it’s really taking off.

“Personal training is as much mental as it is physical,” she says. “As a personal trainer, I have to know my clients and how they prefer to be trained. Some people are motivated by screaming; others, by a gentler approach. To be successful, personal trainers must learn how to motivate their clients. That’s the mental part.”

For information on April’s personal training business, you can call Parrillo Performance at 513/531-1311.

Of all the PLAYBOY bodybuilder/models, Julia Kover, is the only one who doesn’t appear in the buff. Her gorgeously long tresses cover her body – but the effect is just as sensual.

“I didn’t want to appear nude because NPC and IFBB competitors who do so can get suspended for two years, and I’m planning on competing this year “Julia explains.

“The PLAYBOY shoot was one of the toughest I’ve ever done – but also one of the best. Hopefully the response from readers will be good.”

Julia has been a favorite on the bodybuilding scene for about four years now. A former speed skater and gymnast, this Hungarian-born beauty has always been muscular, so bodybuilding is the perfect sport for her. Julia trains six days a week, splitting her routines into chest and arms; back, shoulders, and traps; and quads and calves.

She does everything “the Parrillo way.” “I believe totally in what John says and I’ve always followed the same type of diet he recommends.” She takes all of the Parrillo Performance supplements.

Julia has just the right package of muscle, beauty, and intelligence. Look for great things from her in the future!

You just have to admire Carla Dunlap. She’s a Ms. Olympia, an IFBB pro for 10 years, a sports commentator and an articulate advocate for the sport of bodybuilding. In addition to all that, Carla is a gem of a person.

After meeting John Parrillo several years ago, Carla decided to take his nutrition and supplementation advice while training for the 1988 Ms. Olympia. “By following his pre-contest program, I was able to get in the best shape I’d been in for years.”

Just recently she wrote us with an update on her progress: “I’m already down about 2 1/2 points in bodyfat and my weight is fairly steady at 134. I feel really good, my workouts are strong, and the morning aerobics are getting easier (basically ’cause it’s finally getting warmer here).”

The proof of her belief in John’s advice is evident in the closing of her letter: “In my book, you can replace ‘Thanks Joe’ with ‘Thanks John’ anytime!”

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Hawk: He’s Back in the Pack!

He’s Back in the Pack!

One of America’s most popular pro-bodybuilders is back on the scene, most recently competing on the Pittsburgh Pro Invitational and the Night of The Champions. He’s Dave Hawk, Mr. USA and Mr. World.

Dave has returned to competition after a three-year lay-off. A serious bout with a bacterial infection contracted in Europe had temporarily sidetracked his training back in 1987. Later, Dave opened a gym and a nightclub in his hometown of Pittsburgh – two businesses which kept him busy from morning until night with little time left to devote to competitive bodybuilding.

“Being out of competition for so long has made me respect bodybuilders more than ever,” Dave says. “It takes hard work and dedication to be a competitive bodybuilder. Now more than ever, I appreciate the sacrifices bodybuilders must make.”

Dave’s comeback is being strengthened by help from John Parrillo. “I use John’s products, and I go by his theories. John is always there when I need guidance. He has been a tremendous help to me in my return to competitive bodybuilding.”

Prior to his comeback, Dave was hard at work developing nutritious, convenience foods designed just for bodybuilders. The food is called Nutra-Vida Turkey, and it is a frozen food product made from egg whites, all-white turkey breasts, vegetables, and spices. “You can microwave it, put it in salads or sandwiches, or just eat it plain,” Dave explains.

Devoid of fat and loaded with protein, each 5.3 oz. serving contains 110 calories, 20 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbohydrate. Nutri-Vida Turkey is not only a nutritional bargain but a budget bargain as well. Each case of 24 is very economical. Check with Dave at 412/366-6072 for prices.

According to Dave, Nutra-Vida-Turkey is the first in an entire line of similar products. Next to be introduced is a Nutr-Vida carbohydrate roll, made of egg whites with brown rice and a carbohydrate supplement in the center. “We’ve flavored it to smell and taste like pizza,” Dave says. each serving will contain 400 calories, 75 grams of carbohydrate, and 10 grams of protein.

Also on the drawing board are a vegetarian roll with egg whites, vegetables, and amino acids as well as a tuna roll.

Besides being a bodybuilder and successful businessman, Dave is also a big family man. He and his wife Tracey have two children: Ashley, 7 and David, 5 – plus two iguanas, a six-foot boa, and a cocker spaniel.

If you would like to purchase Nutra-Vida products, check with local distributors or supplements or with gyms and local health food stores. Dave adds that “we’re looking for distributors and wholesalers.”

For information on purchasing the product or on becoming a distributor, call 412/366-6072.

 

Dean Caputo: Ready to Conquer the USA

At age 18 with barely $400 in his pocket, a 160-pound bodybuilding hopeful opened his own gym in a vacant room inside a dry cleaning business. The opportunity paid off. Today, he owns a 5500-sq. ft. Powerhouse Gym with hundreds of members. Even more impressive is that he just happens to be one of the most famous bodybuilders around: Dean Caputo.

His bodybuilding star began to rise after meeting John Parrillo in 1983.”I give him all the credit,” Dean says. “John’s been like a father to me. I used to go to Cincinnati every weekend to consult with him, but now that we’ve both been so busy, I don’t get to see him as often.”

Part of the reason Dean has been so busy is his promotional work with a national health food store – a contract which propelled him to further fame. Incidentally, Dean was “hired on the spot” for that opportunity – because he had the exact look the company was after: big, blond, muscled, good-looking.

At present, Dean is training hard for the USA to be held in Los Angeles this summer. The overall winner will be able to turn pro – and that’s one of Dean’s coveted goals. “Year after year, I’ve come so close. But I don’t want to turn pro just to turn pro. If I’m going to be a pro, I want to be one of the top ten pros in the world. I’d rather be a top amateur than a pro near the bottom of the rankings.”

These days, Dean is feeling a little sentimental about the gym he nurtured and built up over the past decade. He’s selling it and moving on to California to help open an 8000-sq. ft Powerhouse Gym in Huntington Beach, California – a super – equipped facility owned by Will and Norm Dabish and designed to become the Powerhouse Gym headquarters on the West Coast. Opportunity is calling once again, and Dean Caputo is answering.

 

Mike Ashley: Getting Massive, Ripped and Ready!

This issue, Mike Ashley returns to his “duties” as a Parrillo Performance Press columnist. For the past several months, he’s been traveling all over the globe, giving guest appearances and seminars. This guy is in demand … and he’s HOT!

Two knee surgeries last year set him back – but only temporarily. Mike returned to the posing platform this spring, claiming fifth in the Montreal Muscle Fest and eighth in the Night of Champions. “I’ve got more work to do this year to bring my legs up,” he says. “I’m gaining mass, so I’m optimistic about future competitions.”

Those competitions include a possible Grand Prix show in the fall and definite Arnold Classic and Ironman in the spring of 1992.

To stay lean for his guest appearances and get muscular for contests, Mike has increased his daily carbohydrate intake along with his aerobics – and the results have been fantastic. “I’m holding – and gaining – lean mass. In the off season, I usually carry around 10 percent bodyfat. Now I think I can stay at 8 percent.”

Mike Ashley fans, look for a big, ripped Mr. Natural Wonder this year!

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