Interview With Rick Collins With Alpha Male Challenge
Featured Product - January 2010
Interviewed by: Angela Courduff
Most people in the bodybuilding and fitness communities knows Rick Collins as a lawyer and writer. He has represented lots of bodybuilders and athletes across the country on various matters, including legal problems associated with anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Rick wrote a book on that subject called Legal Muscle, and created a web site at steroidlaw.com. In addition, he also writes a monthly question-and-answer column in Muscular Development magazine, and occasionally writes articles for other print or online magazines.
His newest book, called the Alpha Male Challenge, is what we are talking about today. Rick teamed up with international best-selling author James Villepigue and together they wrote the definitive guide for men’s inner and outer top fitness, Alpha Male Challenge. It’s been published by Rodale, the top health and fitness publisher, and it’s now on the shelves at your local bookstore and available online at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and at their interactive support website at alphamalechallenge.com.
We invite men to take this challenge. One out of every three American men over age 20 is now obese! Don't allow yourself to become a statistic! Start the challenge today!
WP: Welcome, Rick. You have one of the most successful law practices for bodybuilders and athletes. Can you tell us about your law practice.
RC: My law firm is Collins, McDonald & Gann, located in New York. The web site is cmgesq.com. Among our clients are the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and the International Society of Sports Nutrition. We also represent many companies in the dietary supplement industry, helping them comply with federal regulations on their claims and labels. I love what I do!
WP: You are also into fitness yourself, correct? What is your health and fitness background?
RC: I’ve been into physical fitness since I was a teenager, and I’m all about staying in shape as I get older. Being in shape physically impacts all other aspects of your life, especially your confidence to handle whatever curves life throws at you. If you want to be at the top of your game professionally and socially, you can’t neglect exercise and good nutrition. I’ve preached that true message to others for years, and I’ve followed it myself. I’ve been a certified personal trainer, the co-owner of a personal training business, and a competitive bodybuilder. I’m also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS).
WP: It’s extremely impressive that you fit in fitness with all you do! Tell us about your new book, Alpha Male Challenge!
RC: I work long hours, travel a lot, and successfully deal with my clients’ occasionally stressful crises. But I still find the time to write books and articles, and make time for family and friends. I’ve also been able to integrate strength and health into my hectic professional and personal schedule, and I wanted to share my insights and motivate others to make the most of their health and fitness. So I teamed up with international best-selling author James Villepigue and together we wrote the definitive guide for men’s inner and outer top fitness, Alpha Male Challenge. It’s been published by Rodale, the top health and fitness publisher, and it’s now on the shelves at your local bookstore and available online at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and at our interactive support website at alphamalechallenge.com.
WP: Where did the idea come from?
RC: Guys need help. Look around. More men today seem to be in worse shape than in previous generations. One out of every three American men over age 20 is now obese! Plus, this past decade some people have been saying, “Men are the new women.” There’s some truth to it. The more time metrosexuals have spent getting pedicures, frosting their tips and indulging their feminine side, the more we’ve seen our national manliness swirl down the drain. Did you know that men on average have considerably less testosterone now than their counterparts of the 80’s and 90’s? Manliness has become a dirty word in a society of uncertain beta males and soft techno geeks. We wanted to “bring manly back” in a book that provides a 10-week blueprint to reach and maintain “true alpha” excellence in an increasingly “beta” world. It combines training, nutrition and attitude components in a revolutionary new way. It’s for every guy who wants to be his best.
WP: What a truly innovative approach. I am sure men everywhere can benefit from the Alpha Male Challenge! Do you have a future book in the works?
RC: I’d love to write an updated sequel to Legal Muscle someday. James and I also have some awesome future book ideas based on Alpha Male Challenge. For now, though, I’m hoping that guys everywhere check out the program in Alpha Male Challenge. It’s not just for men looking to get back into shape. There are three different intensity levels so there’s a place for everyone. It’s challenging and radically different from any other fitness book out there. The feedback has been tremendous.
WP: Do you have interest in other health and fitness ventures? Please explain.
RC: The success of Alpha Male Challenge is opening some doors, and James and I are looking at a number of opportunities that are coming our way. We also just launched some very cool t-shirts under the “True Alpha” brand. You can check them out at the online store at alphamalechallenge.com. They look awesome!
WP: What do you feel has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?
RC: Whatever success I’ve achieved so far has been due to a combination of sheer luck and hard work, but mostly hard work. As Thomas Jefferson said, “I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” I think that’s true of most people. I also think that authenticity is really important in the health and fitness field. There are personalities in this business who talk a lot but really don’t walk the walk. I’m not sure that some of them even train. I don’t claim to be anything near a professional bodybuilder, but I make the most of my health and physique as a guy with very demanding work obligations and a wildly hectic schedule. I push it as hard as I can [check out a recent video of Rick below repping out on Hammer Strength rows]. And I can relate to all the guys out there trying to balance work and family with a commitment to staying in shape.
WP: It’s inspiring that you practice what you preach. Your readers and clients can appreciate that you ‘walk the walk’. What titles and/or accomplishments have you attained thus far?
RC: I’ve won bodybuilding awards as a young man in local competitions and I’ve since enjoyed a legal career with distinction. My professional accomplishments are detailed at rickcollins.com. But to me, my greater sense of accomplishment has to do with the people I’ve met because of my career in health and fitness. Not just being in a position to meet icons like Governor Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone and most of the top athletes and personalities in the bodybuilding world, but having the opportunity to speak with them on legal matters or to help them - or many ordinary men and women in the muscle world - with various questions and problems.
WP: Let’s talk about your personal life a bit, if you don’t mind. Are you married? Do you have children?
RC: I’m a very lucky man. I have a great wife and two wonderful daughters. The only other male in my house has four legs and a tail. I have a mom and uncle who have supported me through all my endeavors. I also have many wonderful friends, both old and new. Many are in the legal field, and many others are in the strength and physique community. I give a shout-out to all of them!
WP: A lawyer, writer, family man, fitness enthusiast; with all you have going on in your life, how do you create balance?
RC: That’s such a great question, because it’s really the key to everything. You need to balance work with play. You need to balance ferocity and ambition with compassion and tolerance. You need to balance development of your physical muscles with development of your mental muscles. Finding the proper proportions may vary for each of us, but being aware of the need for balance is essential. For me, it’s about effective time management, which allows me to stay happy and productive. I work hard, but I play hard, too. For example, I recently hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back over the course of two days. Talk about hardcore cardio! You can see the pictures on my Facebook page. I also jumped out of an airplane this past summer, and the skydiving video is on Youtube youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0LtjVvAQ8. I raised $15,000 for cancer research with that one jump.
WP: $15,000 for cancer research is absolutely amazing and commendable. You give back! That will create balance in a person's life. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
RC: I love what I’m doing now - being a lawyer and a writer and helping people in the health and fitness community in a variety of ways. I was an actor for a while, too, though, and I do sometimes miss that. I still have people contact me who remember my film work of a few years ago. If time permits, I’d like to rekindle that flame, and get the occasional acting gig.
WP: Acting, too? It doesn’t sound like there is anything you can’t do! I know you are a very busy man. I have one more question for you and I will let you get back putting your cape on to saving the world. What do you consider to be important in life? Why?
RC: Carving your own path to make a difference in your own way. I haven’t followed the “traditional” lawyer’s path, that’s for sure. But it’s been enormously exciting to me and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love being a lawyer and a writer, and doing what I do for the bodybuilding community is a privilege for me.
WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you, Rick! I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors! Be sure to watch for our Spring 2010 mag issue where you will be able to reach World Physique's personal review on the Alpha Male Challenge on our product section. Our very own David Hardy is writing the review on it.
RC: Thanks! Luck, as Jefferson said, means a lot more hard work, which is fine by me!
