IFBB Pro Vinny Galanti is approximately 2 weeks out from the 2010 Sacramento Pro. In this video, Galanti talks of the 16 year struggle he had to make it into the pro ranks, and the fight he had with burning out.
Vinny tells us about how he always trained hard but just stepped away from the bodybuilding stage for a while, but now he is back and feels his conditioning is the best its ever been in preparation for the 2010 Sacramento Pro..
http://mdtv.musculardevelopment.com/pro-training/3582-in-the-trenches-with-ifbb-pro-vinny-galanati.htmlVinny Galanti - Sixteen Years to the Pros
Vinny Galanti had been a competitive bodybuilder for over twenty years before earning his Pro Card at Master's Nationals in 2008.
He has been working with Universal Nutrition for fifteen years - longer than any athlete in the company’s history.
He lives in New Jersey where he owns and operates a person training studio, The Training Station.
Vinny received his IFBB Pro Card at Master’s Nationals in 2008, after having been diagnosed the previous year with both Bell’s Palsy and Lyme Disease.
It was a long road to the Pro’s for Vinny, but as he will tell you, "Winning the overall in 2008: 16 years, 13 attempts, 1 pro card, PRICELESS!”
AZ: I find it interesting that you’ve been sponsored by Universal for over a decade. You don’t see that kind of longevity very often between athletes and supplement companies. Tell me a little bit about how you came to be with Universal and why you’re still there.
VG: Before I get into how I became sponsored by Universal Nutrition, let me say that after I won my weight class at the 1993 USA, I had the opportunity to guest pose at a show where Shawn Ray was also guest posing. I picked his brain about the business side of bodybuilding, never asking him any questions on contest prep.
I wanted to work with a company, and I wanted to make bodybuilding my job.
Shawn gave me a lot of useful information on the business end of the sport. He told me, “There are thousands of other bodybuilders that a company can replace you with in a heart beat. Always do your job. Make the fans feel special, and never act like you can't be bothered.”
He explained that I should give them input and ideas about the respective company that I would eventually work for. Even if they never used the info, I would show that I was a team player.
I had the chance to work with a few smaller companies like JBN, and then I landed a contract for a year with EAS.
When I approached Universal Nutrition, I went with a business plan. I explained that most bodybuilders can't relate to Dorian Yates, who was Mr. Olympia at the time.
I told them that their customers could relate to me more than Dorian.
Fifteen years later, and seeing many changes and faces come and go over the years, I have been very fortunate to have the life span that I have had with Universal Nutrition.
Everyone knows Animal, and now we are focusing on the Universal side of the company.
This week, they launch their new website: universalusa.com.
I am very excited to be a part of this new venture. Think of it as bodybuilding meets facebook.
AZ: I took a look at your contest history on MD. We’ve got contest history on you as far back as 1987, but you didn’t get your pro card until 2008. What was that like? Did you always think that one day you’d get it, or did you cross over somewhere along the way to if I get it, I get it?
VG: In 1986, I placed second in the NPC Teen USA in Colorado. I turned twenty a week after the Teen New Jersey in 1987 and competed in the Open. I placed fourth in the Lightweight Class.
In 1992, I won the New Jersey State and the Jr. USA.
Then, in 1983, I won the USA middleweight class. That’s when I started to think I could actually be a pro.
After placing fifth in the middleweight class at Nationals in ‘94 and ‘95, I knew that I needed to move up a weight class. I took 1996 off, and came back in 1997 to win the Light Heavyweights at Jr, Nationals and fourth in the Light Heavyweight Class at Nationals.
At this point, I was not at all discouraged and looked at fourth place as an improvement in placing with moving up a weight class.
In 1998, I slipped to sixth. I was pissed off about how I prepared for the contest, so I gave it another shot in 1999, placing third. By this time, I was one of the favorites to win it in 2000. Nope. Third again.
NOW, I was starting to get discouraged, thinking it is not going to happen....EVER?
In 2001, I didn't give it my all; I was at a crossroads with where I was going in my life with competing and work. I slipped to sixth.
After 2001, I walked away from the sport altogether.
I opened my personal training studio, The Training Station, in May of 2002, putting bodybuilding behind me to focus on the business.
I was really enjoying the fact that I was not living out of Tupperware and eating every three hours. I was also loving that I had stopped training.
I didn't train from January of 2002 until June of 2003.
In 2003, I was a mess and out of shape. It took me until January of 2004 to finally fall into a routine, and start eating like a bodybuilder again.
I had zero intentions of getting on stage again, but in January of 2005, a group of us went to Mexico for vacation. I wanted to look really good, so I trained for it like a contest, lol!
Well, the bug bit me once again! I found myself winning my class at the East Coast that year and re-qualified for Nationals where, I cracked the top 5.
Business was great in ‘06, and I had no time for the stage. I took off and came back to give Masters Nationals a try in 2007, placing second in Light heavyweight. Turning forty that year, I thought all the aches and pains I was having came from age. While training for the contest, everything hurt. The day after, I woke up looking like I had had a stroke. It turned out that I had Bell’s Palsy. I later found out that I had Lyme Disease as well.
Then in 2008, I earned my IFBB Pro Card at Master’s Nationals by taking first in the Light Heavyweight and the Overall.
AZ: You got your pro card as a Masters competitor. Do you think muscle maturity played a big factor in your finally getting your card? If not, what did? What was key to you getting it after over twenty years competing?
VG: I believe that everything happens for a reason.
I turned pro, because the timing was right.
It wasn't like I trained harder than any other contest in the past. Muscle maturity plays a big role, but I was going against other old guys that day too, lol!
AZ: The last time we saw you compete was at the New York Pro in 2009. You took 7th in a very stacked line-up, including the likes of Kevin English, David Henry, and Eduardo Correa. You beat Jose Raymond, who is one of the favorites heading into the Sacramento Pro. How do you feel going into this show? Do you think you’ll walk away with an Olympia qualification?
VG: I made many mistakes leading into my pro debut last year.
First, I bulked up to 235, and it didn't work well for my frame. I also trained way too heavy, and that caused a few injuries.
I focused on everyone else going into the contest except me. I had my head up my ass, and my tail between my legs. It was a very humbling experience.
I had to walk away from everything and everyone when the contest was over. I needed to do some soul searching, and get my head right.
I set a few goals for myself before I ever thought of what or when my next contest would be: first, my off season weight couldn't get over 220, and next, I needed to train the way my body responds well.
Everything started falling into place around June. At first, I was going to do the Detroit 202, but I would not have been ready. So, I focused on the Sacramento show.
Jose is a great guy, and a great bodybuilder. It’s awesome that he is the favorite going into the Sacramento. This time, I don’t care who is in it. I'm only focusing on me.
My goal is to redeem myself. Whatever happens happens.
Do I think I will qualify for the 202 Olympia? YES.
AZ: You’re a gym owner by day, so it looks like you pretty much live and breathe health and fitness all the time. Was it always your dream to own a gym? Are you doing what makes you happy?
VG: I am very happy with what I do, but the economy is a big issue at the moment. Personal Training is a luxury. People aren’t spending the money like they used to.
I own a Personal Training Studio. It's hard, since we don’t have the flow of traffic like a gym does to get new clients.
AZ: What does 2011 hold in store for Vinny Galanti? What will we see you do throughout the year?
VG: You will see more of me in 2011; I will be competing more often.
I'm also working on a project that will take me to India next year. I’m very excited about this.
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