My love for bodybuilding has always been based in the way that it makes me feel - it adds so much to my life. I didn’t begin bodybuilding to get attention or win trophies, make money, or to feel superior in comparison to the next guy. It has always been a very personal endeavor for me and after 30 years of active practice, I don’t think I will ever NOT be a bodybuilder. At this point, it’s just what I do. That said, by my own admission, I am no longer on a mission to be the absolute biggest, most shredded version of myself.
I’m well aware of my mortality and the fact that the all-out pursuit of an Olympia level physique comes at a cost; especially if taken too far for or pursued for too long. But I’ll be damned if I’m gonna look in the mirror and fail to a see a bad motherfucker looking back at me.
Likewise, when I walk down to my basement at 5am and put 315 on the bar and rep it for 15+, I feel good about that. So please don’t misunderstand me, I am retired from competition, but I am and will always be a bodybuilder.
When I sit for a moment and I think about my take on how nutrition might change for the aging bodybuilder, I’m immediately reminded of my collaboration with ANIMAL in the development of ANIMAL Meal. At the time, there was questions about WHO it as for. My answer? Anyone and everyone. I remember using a chicken breast as an example. Bodybuilders eat a ton of chicken.
Is chicken a bodybuilding food?
Yes, but chicken is for everyone. Water is for everyone. There isn’t a bodybuilding food and a non-bodybuilding food. There’s food and there’s application.
Everyone from my 7-year-old daughter to my 90-year-old grandmother and elite level athletes in between use ANIMAL Meal on a regular basis. When my grandmother uses ANIMAL Meal, she’s using 1 scoop in place of a meal and having 1 or 2 whole food meals each day. When I use ANIMAL Meal, I’m using 2-3 scoops per serving, potentially adding more carbs or fats for extra calories and I’m consuming it in addition to another 4 or 5 whole food meals.
Think of it this way, the same 2x4 studs that are used in a 1,500 square foot ranch can be found in a 20,000 square foot mansion. The carpenters who construct the home use the same tape measures and hammers and saws and nails. The tools and the essential building blocks are fundamentally the same; the EXTENT to which they are used is what differs. The same holds true in bodybuilding.
I was once 290+ pounds and eating 6 meals per day, with each meal containing 10 oz of either chicken, fish, or steak - plus having a shake consisting of 3 scoops of ANIMAL Meal + an added banana and 1 additional tbsp of olive oil.
I am now 250 pounds and eating 4 meals per day with each meal containing 6 oz of either chicken, fish, or steak - and having a shake consisting of 2 scoops of ANIMAL Meal.
See what I mean?
The building blocks are more or less the exact same - all that has really changed is quantity.
I think people often make the mistake of thinking that things are more specialized than they actually are. Van Gogh didn’t have different paint or canvas than everyone else. Michael Jordan’s sneakers aren’t what made him the greatest, and Tony Hawk would still be Tony Hawk if he was riding any old piece of plywood with 4 wheels screwed to it. It’s all about HOW you apply the fundamentals.
The same holds true for supplementation!
I started using ANIMAL Pak supplements when I was 15 years old.
The decision to do so was based on the desire to cover any potential micronutrient shortfalls with a comprehensive and powerful training pack. When going through times of extreme dieting and calorie restriction, I would take 2 packs daily.
Today, 1 pack per day is more than enough.
And the same holds true for ANIMAL Omega and ANIMAL Flex - these are products designed to help secure a solid foundation. Whether I’m 250 pounds or 290 pounds, I want the same foundational support!
Writing this, I’m reminded of just how much I believe in the fundamentals. Good practices and the right ingredients will help build ANY body. There are no special bodybuilding foods, no tech, and no glam.
I have always believed in hard work, the basics in the gym and kitchen, and living a disciplined life. At the end of the day, the decision to no longer compete has not changed any of those beliefs.
Once an ANIMAL, always an ANIMAL.
About The Author
Evan Centopani has been part of the ANIMAL team since 2006. Earning his IFBB professional status in 2007 at 25 years old, Evan is a 3x IFBB champion who has competed several times in the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, generously sharing his extensive knowledge of fitness and nutrition with the Animal community.
