World Physique

Interviewed by Tammy Renee'
Photos by:BBPics.com

Dan, it's great to have you here! I've known you for some time now and you have impressed me since I've known you. So, let’s begin with you telling our viewers a little about yourself.

DF: Hello everyone! My name is Daniel Freed and I am a fitness model and personal trainer here in Lawrence, Kansas. My goal is to someday grace the cover of every men’s muscle magazine out there.

WP: What has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?

DF: I believe the event that launched me was doing a shoot with BBpics.com in the May of 2006. It was the first time I had ever dieted down to the level of a bodybuilding competition type physique. It was a humbling experience to go from bloated, sloppy 220 lbs to a ripped, tight 165. It definitely taught me that if I wanted to make a career of this I had to eat clean year round and leave my ego at the door in terms of bodyweight. This is the one professional where better truly beats bigger.

WP: That's about the time I met you. I actually met you though John. What has it been like to maintain your physique? Have you done anything different lately?

DF: It is a constant battle for me of getting bigger, yet staying very lean and symmetrical. I normally eat very clean but allow myself one cheat meal a week. When I aim to get bigger, I do it slowly at a rate of about 2-3 pounds per month. I have gotten a new protein product that has allowed me to cut body fat but still gain pounds at the same time. This is normally unheard of for me, so I am very excited about it. It is called liquid beef aminos and I work closely with a supplement company that makes them for me.

WP: Have you ever played any type of sports or activities?

DF: In high school, I was very involved in baseball, basketball and football. I was a pitcher in high school and would have to say that baseball was my favorite. I just loved the feeling of striking people out!

WP: I was raised up with brothers that played baseball so, I can relate. Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?

DF: I grew up in a strong, big, catholic family. My mother was the oldest of 13. I have 2 brothers and one sister and I am the youngest. In case you were wondering, the stigma of the baby being spoiled is entirely incorrect. I worked hard for everything I received now and today.

WP: Sounds like your parents did very well with you. What has modeling taught you thus far?

DF: Modeling is a very tough business. It has taught me many things. First, there is always someone out there that is always just a little bit better than you. For this reason, one must constantly challenge themselves and improve their body. Pushing yourself to the limit must be done on a daily basis.

Second, you just never know when that “big call” will come. For this reason, one must always be looking “on-season” and very marketable. At any time, you may be flown to New York or LA to shoot for Muscle and Fitness. The shots that you will be doing most certainly will call for a shredded, muscular body and washboard abs. The last thing you want to happen is for you to meet with the photographer and look nothing like the stud on your comp cards.

Lastly, your networking skills will make or break you. You can have the best body in the world, but if you cannot build lasting business relationships you will not go far. Getting out and making great impressions on photographer is also very important. What good is a ripped body and an attractive, sharp jaw-line if no one wants to shoot you because of a poor personality or a “God’s gift to the world” type attitude?

WP: Very well said! What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?

DF: For me, I could always build size and be the biggest guy around. To stay lean and ripped is a constant struggle. With each passing day, I am getting a little bit better at it.

WP: What was the hardest thing you had to deal with when it came to your diet?

DF: Cutting carbohydrates was very tough at first. It took me a while to learn about the benefits of other macronutrients for energy. People underestimate the importance of non-carb like energy producing nutrients like MCT oil, coconut oil, and poly and mono unsaturated fats.

WP: It's amazing how cut a person can get when they cut carbs! It's hard but, it works. What are the key factors that dictate the way you model today?

DF: The main factor the pushes me in modeling is my attitude towards being the best. I am a very competitive person naturally and this constantly keeps me hungry to get better at my trade. I love when I meet or see people that I perceive to be a little more gifted than I; it provides more fuel for my fire.

WP: How has your training compare to when you model to when you do not. What do you do differently?

DF: When I am leaning down for shoots the only thing I change is my carbohydrate intake. The closer I get towards the day, I gradually eliminate carbohydrates as my energy source and substitute MCT’s or healthy fats in its place. I try to keep my level of intensity in the gym just as high as when I was full of carbohydrates.

WP: What titles/accomplishments have you thus far? Tell me about them.

DF: I have done a few things thus far. Firstly, I have appeared on BBpics.com as a model. Next, I won the title in August of 2007 for Champion Nutrition’s “Twenty and Hot Contest” as the next upcoming, promising model. Also, I have been featured in Real Gainz magazine and wrote an article for Bodybuilding.com explaining how I transformed my body.

WP: Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?

DF: 10 years from now I plan on living in the southwest United States and enjoying a hot climate. Hopefully, I will have been in all of the muscle magazines and still be one of the most sought after models. As I age, I plan to focus more on personal training of elite athletes or aspiring models or bodybuilders.

WP: I believe you can do anything you set your mind to, Dan. Can you tell me any photographers you’ve worked with, or someone you’d like to work with?

DF: I have worked with John Mitchell, which is my main Photographer. I have also worked with a few local photographers like Renate Rea. I would like to work for anyone that has connections with the top magazines in the future.

WP: What supplements do you currently take?

DF: Currently, I take fish oil, whey protein, liquid beef aminos, multivitamin, and vitamin C.

WP: What are your pet peeves?

DF: I cannot stand lazy people. Also, people who demand respect and have not earned respect is so annoying!

WP: Those are actually some of my pet peeves, too. What do you consider to be important in life, and why?

DF: I consider my family and friends to be very important to me. Those who stood by your side through the ups and downs will always be there for you. Those are the kinds of people that just won’t come around when you’re famous, but always be by your side through life’s struggles.

Also, I consider setting small, attainable goals to be just as important. When I get too lofty with my expectations, it sets up feelings of self-doubt when I cannot live up to my goals. My motto in life is “One step closer to my ultimate goal, one day at a time”.

WP: How have you changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?

DF: I have learned to pace myself. I used to over-train in my early stages of weightlifting. I was overzealous and so enthusiastic about building the perfect body. I had the mindset “more is better”. I now have planned off-days where I allow my body to reenergize and recuperate. I have noticed, especially lately, that I have gotten stronger and more ripped looking than I have been in the past. This is one of those things certainly where less is more.

WP: What are your stats such as height, weight, biceps, and waist?

DF: Right now, I am a lean 180 pounds. I am 5 ft 8 inches. My waist is 31 inches and biceps are 18 inches.

WP: Any shout outs?

DF: Thank you to John Mitchell of bbpics.com and those who have supported me and believed in my goals.

WP: Give me an example of your workout.

DF: Every 3 days, I take an off day and repeat. I normally work one large muscle group per day. A sample weak may look like this:

Mon - Shoulders and traps
Tues - Biceps
Weds - Legs
Thurs - Rest
Fri - Chest, triceps
Sat - Back
Sun - Shoulders and traps
Mon - Rest

I am doing 7 days a week of very low intensity cardio currently.

WP: Give me an example of your diet. What do you normally eat each day?

DF: I allow myself one cheat meal a day at the last meal of the day. Normally, here is how it goes:

9 am: 3 tablespoons liquid beef aminos, one tablespoon coconut oil.

9:30 am: Work out.

11 am: 1 cup of yogurt, one cup of oats, and 40 grams of Nitro Core Protein.

11:15 am: cardio.

12:30 pm: 3 tablespoons liquid beef aminos, one tablespoon coconut oil.

3 pm: 12 oz. of chicken breast and 6 oz. of steamed broccoli.

5:30: 3 tablespoons liquid beef aminos, one tablespoon coconut oil.

7:45: 12 oz. of chicken breast and 6 oz. of steamed broccoli.

10 pm: 3 tablespoons liquid beef aminos, one tablespoon coconut oil.

WP: Wow! Thanks for that break down. I can see everyone writing this all down saying, "If this makes someone look like Dan, I'm doing it!" Ha-ha! Could you tell me about your future projects?

DF: Right now, I am taking the next month or two to refine certain muscle groups. I am open to fitness shoots after that.

WP: Is there anything I have forgotten to mention that you would like to bring to light?

DF: That about covers it!

WP: Great! It's great to see you again and I am sure we will be doing something soon together. It's been a pleasure, Dan!