Interview With Danny Reilly
Model Feature - April 2010
Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'
Photos by: BBpics
WP: Danny wasn’t always the biggest kid, but that never stopped him; at 170 pounds he went on to play Division 2 college football for Pace University where, 4 years later, he came out at 230 pounds! He's now 24 years old and is more cut and defined then he has ever been in his life.
In this interview, Danny gives our readers tips on how to get cut, gain mass and how to stay healthy all year around.
“After college is when I really started to lean out, re-teaching myself how to lift. I was brainwashed with the whole idea of lifting for power and explosiveness from football, not that it’s a bad thing; but it just won’t get anyone far in the gym if they want to have an overall great shape. So, after about a year or two of researching and hard work at the gym, I found myself wanting to share my physique with the world.”
WP: Danny, great to be interviewing you today! Let’s begin with you telling our readers a little about yourself.
DR: First off, I would just like to say that I am very flattered to be featured in World Physique and like to thank them for giving me the opportunity for future successes. My name is Danny Reilly, 24 years old, and I’m from Denville, NJ. I’m currently a Branch Corporate Account Manager for Enterprise Rent-a-Car during the day, and by night, I’m a warrior in the gym. The first thing anyone notices about me is either my confidence or that I’m always smiling. I’m thankful to have been raised conservatively by my parents who have taught me that it’s important to have confidence, but also be humble along the way.
I am the youngest of 3, my brother Matt and sister Kathy; so of course, naturally, I had acquired a competitive spirit from trying to fill their “shoes” all the time. I wasn’t always the biggest kid, but that never stopped me; at 170 pounds I went on to play Div. 2 college football for Pace University where, 4 years later, I came out at 230 pounds! But, I really just loved the whole aspect of being in shape and how my body reacted to certain diets, lifting regiments and so forth. After college is when I really started to lean out, re-teaching myself how to lift. I was brainwashed with the whole idea of lifting for power and explosiveness from football, not that it’s a bad thing; but it just won’t get anyone far in the gym if they want to have an overall great shape. So, after about a year or two of researching and hard work at the gym, I found myself wanting to share my physique with the world.
WP: What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?
DR: Yes, in this industry, you absolutely can not have any doubts heading into this; you must have a 100% positive attitude and determination to succeed. After every workout, whether it was a chest, back, legs or cardio day I would head into the bathroom, take my shirt off, and start to flex in front of the mirror. It sounds selfish, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with appreciating the hard work that I put in to getting my body where it’s at today. I practiced certain poses and learned new muscles that I could flex or work on. I began getting a lot of compliments from my peers and as well from others on various website profiles I had. And one day it all just clicked, I wanted to express my physique to more than just the people at my gym.
WP: How long have you been lifting?
DR: I’ve been lifting ever since I could start. If you don’t know, it’s not too healthy for anyone to start lifting before the age of 12 or so. My dad had these old dumbbells he used to use, and finally on my 12th birthday, he gave them to me. So, let’s just say I’ve been lifting for about 13 years.
WP: That's a while! No wonder why you have the mass and cut! Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and/or more cut?
DR: Which ever route you wish to take, more mass or more cut; you must bring willpower with you, or else, you won’t get anywhere. The more precise you are with your diet and/or workouts, the faster and better results you’ll see. For example, one of the ways I gained mass during football; I had to match every gram of protein for every pound of weight I had on my physique (i.e. 210lbs=210 grams protein). This also included a steady amount of healthy calories, so I could utilize my muscles at their highest level. And getting more cut, well most models will tell you, “Cardio, cardio, and cardio.” But, you can also make your workouts faster to increase your heart rate, and in turn, burn fat. I only wait a minute between each set for bench, squat or any exercise that I work on and also superset things as well. Pop this idea into your regiment, along with a low carb high protein diet, and you’ll see great results.
WP: Talking about diet, what does your daily diet usually consist of?
DR: My remedy to getting a shredded defined body is having a fast metabolism. I eat around 6 meals a day, but small portions; this makes my body go into a continual program of constantly digesting and storing nutrients. This allows me to have a high intake of protein without being too hungry, but at the same time, getting rid of all that extra fat that’s hard to do with just cardio. I usually eat organic peanut butter, vegetables, grilled chicken and some fish. Pretty boring menu list, but after seeing my results from it, I really don’t care too much.
WP: It must be working even if it's boring! Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
DR: Yes! I strongly believe in allowing yourself a cheat day; 2 reasons why. One, I think I would go crazy without one and two; your body can adapt to its environment very quickly, even to my low carb 6 meals a day routine. Which means eventually you’ll just plateau and not reach your goals. I have a cheat day either every Saturday or every Sunday; this will shock my body and keep it guessing. And if you are wondering, my cheat day usually consists of one meal at McDonalds (Big Mac, large fries, large coke, Angus bacon cheeseburger, and two 4pc. chicken nuggets). Ha!
WP: So, you eat fatty foods, but only in moderation I see. What supplements do you take?
DR: I mostly rely on protein to keep my muscles growing and have energy for workouts. But, I like to have a little extra energy for workouts and also some great inflammation for my muscles. I take what is called, either, Superpump or Expand. They both cause vessel dilation which allows more blood flow into your muscles and in turn giving your muscles great size during lifts and fast recuperation after.
WP: Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
DR: I think there are a few moments in a person’s life that can make a major impact on the path have chosen. For me, it was really two things: playing sports gave me the need to have a top conditioned body and ever since then I was addicted to keeping physique looking at its best. And, was probably when I went from high school to college and realized that I can increase my size, change my look and look as good as anyone else out there, I just had to work hard in the gym. Therefore, along with my confidence and knowing that I could control my outcome, I’ve been able to finally break into this competitive industry and start creating a name for myself.
WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?
DR: God has always been my guide in every choice I make; I follow the verse out of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And, of course, I have to thank my parents for their support and the motivation they give me everyday to be the best that I can be. My father always said, “Treat everyday like it was your last.” And, I’ll never forget that.
WP: Tell me about your modeling.
DR: To me, my modeling revolves around being confident. I think there are plenty of great looking physiques out there, but it means zero if they have nothing on the inside. I want to concentrate mostly on fitness modeling, capturing a “sporty” image or motivating others with my photos; but, I found that I do best and bring out the best images when I have this swagger; it allows me to create the right poses along with an expression that says, “No one can stop me” and this picture you see is genuine. Whether it’s important or not, I strive for that mental goal every time I go into a photo shoot.
WP: Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?
DR: Yes. For instance; whenever I see those commercials for Nike, Underarmor, and Reeboks, etc. it gets me so psyched up. One, is because I can relate to those, and two, because I can see myself doing something like that. I also love to help others with regimens and/or methods to getting in shape; so I would love to get involved with more magazines and/or commercials. Right now, I’ll be working with your Senior Photographer, John Mitchell, again in May to increase my experience and expand my portfolio.
WP: What was it like working with John?
DR: If I really wanted to tell you about my experience with John, I would need a lot more time and a lot more room to explain. So, in a few words; John was the first photographer that I actually felt as if we were teammates. It sounds corny, but we worked off each other so well and I think that’s important for models to have with their photographer. There was not one single point in the day that I lost focus or thought about a cheeseburger. He kept me motivated and I listened to every word he said, because the trust was there. This was due to his professionalism over the phone before meeting with him, and of course, the day when we did meet. He has an extensive background and experience in this industry and I will be working with him again in the near future!
WP: Would you recommend him to your friends? If so, why?
DR: I would only recommend to him to my friends that I know are serious; because John takes this seriously, and puts a lot of time into his work. And, I am currently speaking to two potential candidates right now about working with John in the future.
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?
DR: The hardest thing overall is keeping myself on top of my diet. In my line of work it’s hard to find time to eat my meals and not cheat either. But, I just keep telling myself I’m going to regret it in the gym that night if I do.
WP: Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
DR: I’m single right now; and think it’s a good move right now considering my busy schedule. Unless a girl comes by that sweeps me off my feet and loves to workout as much as I do!
WP: Who had the most impact on you growing up?
DR: I’d say my brother had the most impact on me growing up. We are only about a year apart and one grade apart in school. We were always around each other because of sports and that’s all we knew. He taught me about work ethic and gave me the competitive edge that I have today.
WP: Sound like you two are pretty close. Any shout outs?
DR: Yea, shout out to all the people who said I couldn’t do this or didn’t have the look to be a successful fitness model.
WP: What is the funniest story that has happened to you while working out?
DR: This one time, while working out at my school, I fell off the treadmill and went flying into to this poor girl and took her out as well.
WP: Ha! Now that would be a good picture! What is the proudest moment of your life?
DR: The proudest moment of my life would have to be getting recruited to play football in college. It was something I’ll never forget, because I know there was so much work put in, up to that moment. And I’ve learned so much more about myself from experiencing the following years I had playing football.
WP: What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?
DR: Besides bodybuilding, I like to play baseball which I play on this men’s team and also love going snowboarding. In the summer time, I ride my motorcycle as much as possible, its kind of a release besides going to the gym.
WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
DR: I wish I could have thick hair, I hate having thin hair because it’s hard to work with.
WP: Oh my, your hair is just great! It perfect for your face shape. Okay, the interview is closing and it has been a pleasure to interview you! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!
