Dean Correia
Bodybuilder of the Month - February 2011
Interviewed by: Mike Hall
Photos by: BBpics.com
Being raised by a bodybuilder has definitely had a big influence on the path of Dean Correia’s life. His father, Ralph Correia III, competed for many years and won many titles, imparticular the 1978 AAU Mr. Connecticut and 1981 Mr. East Coast. For as far back as Dean can remember, gyms, vitamin stores and bodybuilding magazines have been an everyday part of his surroundings. While all the other kids were rattling off every player on their favorite baseball team; names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Boyer Coe and Chris Dickerson were the sports heroes Dean came to know.
Upon entering his first year of college, Dean’s main subject of study became bodybuilding with the rest of his courses becoming a distant second. It became his passion in life and what he truly believed in as “my answer” to everything. Four years later, he graduated with a degree in Exercise Science and decided to become a personal trainer and make his hobby a career.
Almost immediately, he went to work for a private personal training studio. It was there that he began to help others feel the same sense of accomplishment and pride that he felt through achieving personal fitness goals. He now own his own personal training studio called DC Training, LLC in East Haven, CT. He has been in business for almost twelve years and trains the average client to the physique competitor. Just recently he has branched into doing corporate fitness seminars and running corporate weight loss competitions which is allowing him to help a greater number of people with their goals at once.
"...I think the best advice I can give is a three point answer to either mass or cuts. First, have a goal. Second, have a plan. Third, be consistent. A detailed goal will give you purpose, while a plan will provide the path to that goal and also the belief in what you are doing. Consistency is what the body thrives on in order to make changes. Too often people don't give their plan a chance to work and give up or lose their discipline before results are seen.""
WP: It is a pleasure having you here today Dean! What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?
Even though I was around bodybuilding my whole life, the first time I saw “Pumping Iron”, and saw Arnold’s supreme confidence and charisma in full display, I was sold! I figured if bodybuilding could give me half of what he had, then training was my answer to life!
WP: How long have you been lifting?
I got serious about lifting during my freshman year in college. It was then that I decided I wanted to take my training seriously and at some point compete. That was 18 years ago.
WP: You followed in your father’s footsteps and you use to compete until you started your own personal training business. What competitions have you appeared in and what place did you win?
Yes. Here is the list:
1997 Milford County Bodybuilding Championships
1st place - Men’s Junior Division
1st place - Men’s Medium Division
Best Poser
1998 AAU Mr. Ct
3rd place - Men’s Junior Division
4th place - Men’s Medium Division
Best Poser
Crowd Favorite
1998 ANBC CT State Championships
3rd place - Men’s Junior Division
4th place - Men’s Medium Division
Best Poser
2001 Mr. CT
2nd place - Men’s Medium Division
Best Poser
2001 ANBC Mass. State Championships
2nd place - Men’s Middleweight Division
Best Poser
2003 NPC CT and Eastern States Championships
2nd place - Men’s Light-heavy weight Division
2004 NPC CT and Eastern States Championships
2nd place - Men’s Light-heavy weight Division
WP: Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and/or more cut?
I think the best advice I can give is a three point answer to either mass or cuts. First, have a goal…second, have a plan…third, be consistent. A detailed goal will give you purpose, while a plan will provide the path to that goal and also the belief in what you are doing. Consistency is what the body thrives on in order to make changes. Too often people don’t give their plan a chance to work and give up or lose their discipline before results are seen.
WP: What do you eat in a normal day?
A typical day right now for me would be as follows: 1) oatmeal with a protein shake; 2) protein bar; 3) 6 oz. protein, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup greens; 4) post-workout shake with 1 Gatorade; 5) 6 oz. protein, 2 cups greens; 6) 1 cup greek yogurt, 1 scoop protein, 1/2 cup almonds
WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
Absolutely! I love to have a nice cheeseburger and french fries on a cheat day. But, sweets would be my weakness; an ice cream and brownie sundae sounds good right now!
WP: What supplements do you take?
In the past I would try every new supplement that came out, but now I have scaled back to just a couple. Protein powder, creatine, and a good NO are usually a regular part of my plan. Of course, a good multi-vitamin and antioxidant is also a good base I keep going, as well.
WP: Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
One moment that I look back on often and have inspired me to do what I have done and also my future, goes back to a friend’s wedding about fourteen years ago. My buddy’s uncle was a Special Forces Green Beret that had served in Vietnam, a really intense guy. During the reception, we were talking about life when he put his hand on my shoulder and looked really intensely in my eyes. He told me, “Leave your mark, and leave your mark.” I’ll never forget that. Really inspires me to live a unique, purposeful and inspiring life.
WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?
Ultimately, it would have to be my father. Without his influence in my life, I never would have gone down this road of bodybuilding and had the emotional connection to it and the passion for it like I do.
WP: Tell me about your connection with John Mitchell.
I became connected to John Mitchell through a modeling agency I was working with about 10 years ago. I have lost contact with the agency, but have always kept in touch with John. He is very persistent in a good way, always pushing you to be in shape and updating your physique photos. It is because of him that I had the good fortune to have my photos used and be interviewed now by World Physique Magazine. I enjoy getting ready for shoots; it gives me a good goal to get in shape. And of course, it is always exciting to see your hard work being paid off by getting your pictures published…that’s a dream of any aspiring bodybuilder/model.
WP: Where do you want to be in 5 years?
In five years I definitely see myself having won the Connecticut bodybuilding title. That has been my dream since I decided to get serious about training at 17 years old. Beyond bodybuilding, I see myself living a successful life; which to me means loving who you are, loving who is around you, and loving what you do!
WP: You look great! How do you keep the physique you have? What is the hardest thing for you to face when it comes to keeping your physique?
Thank you! I keep my physique because I love to workout and know my body. I know when it needs a rest and when to push it harder. I know how to put my eating together no matter where I am and at least maintain what I have. The hardest thing for me, like most, is the diet that’s necessary in order to obtain a certain look for a contest or photo shoot.
WP: Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?
As far as modeling goes, I plan on doing some new and improved pics come this spring. But in the mean time, I have some great shots I did this past summer with John Mitchell, and hope to get some of those published. Interested?
WP: I believe you are on pages…let me turn this magazine…pages 36 and 37 in our Winter 2011 issue with Monica Brant on the cover. So, I would say yes, interested! Ha-ha! Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
I have actually been separated for about a year and a half. We have a beautiful four year old son named Deven. He is the absolute love of my life!
WP: Who had the most impact on you growing up?
Definitely my father made the most impact on me. I think every young boy wants to be like Dad and have his approval. I’m sure this was a big reason for my passion with bodybuilding.
WP: What is your work-out regimen?
I work-out five days per week; training one body part per day. I keep the volume pretty low and the intensity high. I am definitely a big believer in less is more.
WP: Have you played in sports before?
Karate was my main thing for a long time when I was growing up until I switched to bodybuilding in college. I also played baseball, basketball and soccer in high school. I really enjoyed those couple years of team sports, but was always very drawn to the individual activities…I guess it fit my introverted type personality well.
WP: Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?
I am a big fan of the physiques from the 70’s and 80’s. Although I respect today’s pros, I would never want to look like them. I think a lot of them would like to not have to be so big or do what it takes to get that way, but unfortunately that is what they have to be in order to stay competitive. Another thing is all the damn divisions that are involved with a bodybuilding show now with the Men’s Physique and the 5 different women’s events. I really think that bodybuilding should be on one day and all the other events on another.
WP: Any shout outs?
I would like to say hello to all the people I have trained with from my old hole-in-the-wall gym in college to my present friends at Gold’s Gym New Haven. This “Bodybuilder of the Month” interview is dedicated to you!
WP: What is the funniest story that has happened to you during competitions or while working out?
Can’t really think of anything that happened to me off the top of my head. But this past summer I did witness a guy literally fall out of a leg extension machine because he was leaning so hard trying to see my bikini competitor client practice her routine in the aerobics room. He didn’t even slightly catch himself either! Both feet were stuck behind the pads and he went face and hands first into the floor on a busy Saturday morning…hilarious!
WP: What is your greatest achievement in bodybuilding?
I would have to say was winning two first placing awards and best poser in my very first show. The theatre was standing room only including my family, closest friends and all of my coworkers. I really put my all into that show and it paid off…was a near perfect night!
WP: What is the proudest moment of your life?
This would have to be the birth of my son. Of course every parent says this, but you could only understand the truth of it if you have a child of your own.
WP: What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?
I am really involved in music. My friend and I are a two man acoustic duo called “Styll Remains”. We write, perform and record all original songs. It is a great creative outlet that gets out a deeper part of me that I couldn’t with bodybuilding.
WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Oh boy, you’re talking to a bodybuilder remember! That’s really opening a can of worms! But seriously, one thing that comes to mind is that I am a terrible procrastinator…really wish I could change that.
WP: Wow! I don’t see you as a procrastinator! Ha-ha! Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!
I would just like to thank World Physique for this great opportunity to be able to share a little bit of myself with the bodybuilding and fitness community. I always dreamed of seeing myself in a magazine and being interviewed, so thank you for making a dream come true!
WP: You are amazing! You just keep being you! You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!
