Anthony Catanzaro – Male Fitness Model Interview and Photos

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I got into male modeling at the age of 18. I not only compete as a male fitness model, I also compete in natural bodybuilding shows all over the country. I have appeared in many films, TV shows, commercials, magazines and catalogs. What I am most proud of is helping others achieve their goals. Whether it’s health and fitness, motivation, nutrition or well-being, I always encourage people to follow their dreams. I believe we all have a purpose and we should all help each other to find that purpose.

Anthony Catanzaro – Fitness Model Statistics

  • Name: Anthony Catanzaro
  • Height: 5’10”
  • Weight: 185-195 lbs
  • Hair Color: Black
  • Eye Color: Brown
  • Age: 35
  • Location: New York City

Anthony Catanzaro – Fitness Model Interview

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Anthony Catanzaro, but all of my friends call me Tony. I was born in Bay Shore Long Island, I now reside in New York City. My father, Carlo, worked in the fish business and my mother, Rosaria, was a seamstress. My mother and father were from a town in Sicily called Sciacca. Both of them have unfortunately passed away. I love and miss them dearly.

I am the youngest of six children. I have four sisters named Kathy, Lisa, Annette, and Francine. I also have an older brother named Michael. All of us live in the New York area. I’m married and my wife’s name is Tina. Yes, we had the real Tony and Tina’s wedding!

My dream to become successful started when I was around 8 years old. I loved to imitate people and still do. I remember being 10 years old and imitating my uncle Sal. I would actually put on shows in my house and my whole family would watch as I imitated him. He was and still is a character, but that’s another story! I started to get so good at it that imitating anyone became an event. My parents would get phone calls from my school saying that I was jumping off of desks with a red towel around my neck thinking I’m Superman! I always had to entertain people wherever I was. I think that the most important thing you can do is to make someone smile and feel good. To me, that’s the greatest gift you can give.

Growing up in Bay Shore, we all lived in a small house. My brother and sister moved out when I was still a child. It was around my 15th birthday when I transformed one of the bedrooms in my house into a gym. I was so into WWF Wrestling at that time. I used to love to watch Hulk Hogan pump up his persona on TV. I used to get crazy watching it! I think that was the spark that got me into fitness and bodybuilding. On my 15th birthday, my sister bought me a weight set. Then around Christmas, I used my money to buy a bench to go with it and the rest is history! I still remember playing “Rocky” music and hearing my mother screaming at me because it was so loud! The room I used for the gym was right next to the kitchen and my mother was always in the kitchen. I still listen to the “Rocky” song today and feel right at home playing it nice and loud!

How did you get started in the fitness modeling field?
I got started in fitness modeling shortly after winning the 1997 International Mr. Fitness contest. I have been modeling for fitness, romance and clothing ever since.

What is the #1 thing you like best about being into fitness?
The fact that others can learn from me and better their lives. Most of the world is very lost when it comes to health and fitness. It’s so important to follow a proper diet and exercise program but have balance in your life.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in the fitness field?
Besides winning numerous fitness and natural bodybuilding titles, I would have to say my biggest accomplishment is the thousands of fans I have all over the world.

What is the best way to get started in the fitness modeling industry? Should I just contact the photographers directly or should I use an agency?
The fitness modeling industry pretty much works the same way fashion modeling works and that is through an agent. I really don’t have an agent and that’s because I made myself known through my contests and my personal website. Plus, modeling in books and magazines helped me gain recognition all over the world. Contacting photographers that shoot for magazines and the press are a great way to get great photos and you will have a good chance of getting into magazines.

Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
My wife Tina and I usually get up at the same time and go to bed at the same time. I feel this is very important in a relationship. I feel it helps the bond between husband and wife. I get up and start making breakfast for both of us and then begin my day with clients that come to my home. I run a successful training business out of my home.

I don’t have that much time during the day to workout, so I really want to burn major calories in a short amount of time. What is the #1 “bang for the buck” cardio exercise I should do to burn serious calories?
There are no best bang for the buck exercises! Most people today are always looking for a short cut. The bottom line is that if your diet isn’t right then your body won’t be tight!

How much weight (pounds) should I focus on losing every week? What is a safe amount to make sure I keep it off?
The only way to keep unwanted pounds off is with healthy eating. Diets don’t work because they deprive the body of the food that we need to nourish our cells. When we starve ourselves, a funny thing happens. The body begins to store more fat! Yes, you will lose weight but it’s not the right weight because it’s muscle! Have you ever been in a tragic situation where you didn’t eat for days (sickness)? Yes, you lost weight but you didn’t look good. You were still flabby like a flat tire on a car. You want to lose fat not muscle!

What type of food or supplements should I take before and after my workouts to help me see results in gaining lean muscle and losing fat?
I eat tons of chicken, fish and lean beef. I also eat oatmeal, farina, brown rice, yams and tons of vegetables. I say “If it comes from the ground, eat it! If it’s made from man, throw it out!” Supplements are okay, but there is no substitute to whole foods.

How do you deal with cravings for junk foods, sweets and salty food? I can stay on a diet for maybe a few weeks but I eventually get really bad cravings and binge on snacks and fast foods.
The body doesn’t do well on diets. If you don’t eat in a balanced fashion, the body is going to crave sugar and salty foods because it is unstable, and that’s because of your eating habits. When you balance your diet, you are balancing your life! The best diet is a balanced diet!

I’m trying to create a healthy shopping list to stick with. What are some of the main foods I should include to maintain a lean and muscular physique?
Plenty of lean chicken breast, turkey breast and lean beef for protein. For carbohydrates, I like brown rice, oatmeal and yams. Stay away from canned foods and prepared foods. I want to have my own show where I go to people’s houses and teach them how to cook, eat and live healthy.

I’m about 35 pounds overweight. I have never started an exercise program and really don’t know where to start. What tips can you give me to get started on the right track?
First off, try to find a good personal trainer who can teach you correct form. I learned from trial and error. Join a local gym and get a good trainer.

I tend to eat out most of the time and really don’t know what healthy foods to order from the menu. What tips do you recommend for eating out at restaurants to make sure my diet will not suffer?
Eating out is fun and I enjoy it, but I always tell the waiter how I want my food prepared! Restaurants all cook with tons of butter, salt and even MSG. It’s important to know what is in your food before you put it in your body! Any restaurant can make you grilled chicken and broiled fish and any vegetables or salads that you like. Don’t be afraid to ask them what you want. They are in business to please the customer, so don’t feel bad and just ask them to grill you up some fish or chicken with a nice salad or some fresh vegetables.

What exercises do you recommend for getting a bigger, rounder and fuller butt?
Squats! They are the king of butt exercises. Lunges are also good but squats are much more natural. I like to use the barbell behind the neck because this puts more stress on my legs rather than my upper body when using dumbbells.

What is the most challenging thing you deal with about consistently staying in top shape?
It’s pretty easy for me at this point. I have been training for 20 years so my diet and life are given to health and fitness. The biggest thing I battle is actually myself. This is a problem with many people. The hardest person to satisfy is yourself. Champions push harder and harder to get to the top. Even someone like me, who is already on top, has to work twice as hard to stay on top. Trust me, work hard for the things you believe in, but don’t neglect your love ones! I wouldn’t know what I would do without my wife. Yes, given the fact that I am perfectly able to do everything to care for myself, the greatest accomplishment in life is having the person you love share your ups and downs as you go through life’s journey. My father always told me before he died that “When you meet that person and settle down and get married, there’s nothing like it! And he was right!

Please describe your normal diet. What do you eat in a typical day to stay in shape?

  • Breakfast: 8 egg whites, 1 cup of oatmeal or farina, 1 slice of whole wheat toast
  • Meal two: grilled chicken, 1 yam, small salad
  • Meal three: whey protein shake
  • Meal four: grilled chicken, 1 cup of brown rice, vegetables
  • Meal five: stir fry chicken or beef with vegetables
  • Meal six: whey protein shake

What type of exercises do you include in your routine to stay in shape?

  • Strength Training Exercises: Pull ups, bench presses, shoulder presses, curls, extensions, lat pull downs, rows, squats, lunges, hamstring curls, calves raises. Basically, every resistant exercise known to man!
  • Cardio Exercises: I love the EFX machines! I don’t do the treadmill because it’s like artificially walking. It’s not natural.
  • Additional Training: Stretching, yoga and meditation.

What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for developing toned and defined arms?

1. Curls are number one for the biceps.
2. Press downs and extensions are number one for the triceps.
3. Train heavy with low reps if you want muscular arms.
4. Train with high reps if you want more toned arms.
5. Train and eat frequently if you want to make good gains!

What are your top 5 tips for losing unwanted body fat?

1. Eat small meals frequently throughout the day.
2. Drink plenty of water (1 gallon a day)!
3. Do cardio daily (mornings are best)!
4. Stay focused! Don’t hang around people who will hinder your progress. Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize!
5. Stay away from junk food. That means anything that comes out of a box or can even if it says “Diet” on it.

What are your top 5 tips for gaining lean muscle mass?

1. Eat frequently and make sure you’re getting enough protein and good carbs to grow.

2. Get enough rest and don’t get stressed out. The body is like a plant, it grows healthy under good conditions and good environments.

3. Train with weights 5 times a week. Do body parts like chest and biceps, back and triceps, legs, shoulders and calves. Repeat the process while resting only two days a week (Wednesday and Sunday).

4. Train with a moderate weight. If you don’t lift heavy enough then your muscles won’t grow bigger.

5. Stay focused! The biggest problem with people not sticking to workouts and eating regimens are things that are getting in the way. Negative people have a way of discouraging you instead of helping you.

What are the top 5 tips you recommend for staying motivated on a fitness plan and truly making a healthy lifestyle change?

1. In the beginning it’s going to be hard to adjust to healthy habits because your mind is so focused on other things like rushing the kids off to school or racing to work in the morning. It’s so easy to just go down to the corner deli for sugar donuts or egg sandwiches filled with butter and bacon. That’s going to have to stop! Learn to eat a healthy breakfast before going to work. This will not only save you money, but it could possibly save you from a heart attack one day.

2. Try to get your whole family to do it with you! This will make it easier for you.

3. Don’t make excuses! Nothing good in life comes easy and you have to be willing to sacrifice things in order to achieve what you want. This will not only strengthen you on the outside, but also on the inside.

4. Learn all you can about healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle. ShapeFit.com is filled with a lot of great information to help you.

5. Think positive! Focus on getting leaner and healthier each day and don’t dwell on anything. Just hit the gas and keep moving forward!

What is your training routine like? (Please include a few details – training split, sets/reps, exercises, types of cardio, etc.)

  • Monday: Chest, triceps and cardio
  • Tuesday: Legs
  • Wednesday: Abs and cardio
  • Thursday: Shoulders and calves
  • Friday: Back, biceps, abs and cardio
  • Saturday: Chest, triceps, cardio
  • Sunday: OFF

What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for losing fat around the stomach and developing a toned and defined midsection?

1. I love crunches! I train my abs every other day for the best results.

2. I also do reverse crunches and bicycles which are great for the lower abs.

3. Another great exercise is broom stick twists. I do a ton of these and it’s the best for shrinking the waist.

4. Diet, diet, diet! Like I always say, “You have to eat clean to be lean!”

5. Don’t eat large meals or wait too long before you eat. The stomach only holds food for about three hours. After that it’s gone, your blood sugar will drop. If you don’t eat again, the body will go into starvation mode and begin to store fat for survival. Basically, you need to eat small meals frequently throughout the day. This will speed up your metabolism and you will begin to burn fat instead of storing it!

What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for toning the thighs, hips and butt?

1. Squats! Do them twice a week for great results. Don’t stop at 3 to 4 sets. Do 6 to 8 sets for a butt blasting workout!

2. Lunges are great with a barbell or dumbbell. Focus on free weights and keep your back arched and chest out.

3. Pilates is a great way to tone your thighs and butt.

4. Stretch between sets. Stretching is very important.

5. Leg presses and leg extensions are great too!

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