Interview With Kris Wolfe
Featured Model - April 2010
Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'
Photos by: BBPics.com
Kris entered his freshman year of college weighing a soaking wet 155 lbs. With a desire to get bigger and some help from friends, he would eventually reach 225 lbs. There was a time he was consuming more than 7,000 calories a day, but he'll remind you that's still 5,000 less than Michael Phelps daily intake.
“I’d just say for all the peeps reading this who are new to working out, keep it up! Every big guy or fit girl had to overcome many hurdles just to get where they are.”
WP: Let’s begin with you telling us a little about yourself.
KW: Well, I relocated to Los Angeles over a year ago with my job, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to live by the beach. Yet, since I’ve been here I spend all my time working and in the gym. I can walk to the beach from my place, and it seems like I hardly make it down there. I did get a chance to go surfing and play some beach volleyball this weekend, though. My side hobbies are playing guitar, singing, and writing songs.
WP: It actually sounds like you have it made! What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?
KW: I just knew I didn’t want to be skinny anymore! I got hooked on working out when I started seeing results. Then, once I put on some size, I saw one of my training buddies compete and I thought, “I’m going to shoot for this next.”
WP: How long have you been lifting?
KW: Oh crap, this makes me sound old, but 16 years! It’s become incorporated so much into my life. I’m never going to stop at this point. When I turn 80, I hope “World Physique” will ask me for another interview. Speaking of which, yesterday I was at the gym, and I really needed to get on incline, so I worked in with this older couple. I was impressed this older woman, who happens to be 71, is working out (even doing deadlifts. I’ve seen her do 240!). The guy Joe she’s with informed me she’s a World Champion Power Lifter. Look her up…Helene Tropp. Joe was a bodybuilder himself back in the day. I’m in awe of both of them!
WP: Wow! I might just do that! That’s amazing! What competitions have you appeared in and what place did you win?
KW: I’ve competed in one NPC competition and two NANBF natural competitions. I got fifth and a big sword as a middle weight in “The Missouri” 2007 NPC. Then, I got second in the 2007 NANBF Springfield Naturals in the tall division (by the way, you’re placed in height brackets vs. weight brackets in natural competitions). In ‘98, I got 5th in the Men’s Tall Natural Missouri Physique.
WP: Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and/or more cut?
KW: I absolutely do! Everybody wants instant gratification now-a-days. Bodybuilding is not a sprint; it’s a marathon, a way of life, so be prepared for the long haul. People are always looking for tricks and quick fixes, but it’s really all about consistency, and it all begins by going to the gym and taking baby steps towards a better diet.
On a side note, there’s also that group of people who go to the gym and socialize instead of working out…that’s not going to cut it! Plus, it’s just annoying to those of us who are focused on getting results.
WP: Yeah, that is pretty annoying! What do you eat in a normal day?
KW: I try to eat every 2 to 2.5 hours and I eat the most in the morning. I start off with a Whey Protein shake, and then I’ll have two cups of oatmeal with some raisins and protein. Then, I’ll eat a banana, and a Big 100 bar. Since I work out of my car, I always keep it stocked with food; the smell of spilled protein shakes still lingers. I literally douse my car in Febreeze before a date or before my boss rides with me. Bringing your own food is always a good idea, though. It prevents you from making bad choices when you do get hungry.
WP: Yeah, we want to impress the women and bosses that get in to ride with us! Ha-ha! Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
KW: I get so stuck on a regimen; it’s tough for me to break my diet believe it or not. If I consume any simple sugars, it’s usually immediately after I workout. So, when I cheat, I don’t splurge on a whole day of cheating. Maybe just a cheat meal or snack here and there. Every few days, I do try to incorporate a higher carb day into my diet just to kick-start the metabolism.
WP: What supplements do you take?
KW: I take Whey, Whey Isolate, Creatine, Glutamine, Casein, Flaxseed and fish oil. I also take Milk Thistle because I’m running all that crap through my liver. What is my new favorite supplement? Lemon flavored liquid fish oil. Sounds gross, but it’s the bomb! I had it this past weekend when I went surfing with a bud. Before we left, I was watching March Madness and he comes up with a plate and says, “Would you like some milled flaxseed and fish oil.” After I was done laughing hysterically, I tried it and got hooked. It tastes good! You can even take some before a date and not to have to worry about burping fish smell up.
WP: Ooh, that does sound gross. I might just have to try it! I’ll try just about anything once. Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
KW: There’s this verse in the Bible where it says, “Iron sharpens iron, as man sharpens man.” I think there’s a lot of truth in that even in the gym. I’m where I am because I’ve worked out with guys I respect, and who push me to the next level. Be sure to train with someone around your size/strength because you’ll get competitive when they get stronger than you, and you’ll be saying to yourself, “Hell no!”
WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?
KW: Two people: my best friend from growing up, Ricky Speciale. He was a big blockhead, and forced me to go to the gym even when I didn’t want to go when I was first getting started. Then Richard Plank, who’s been on a lot of fitness magazine covers, and who has won many bodybuilding competitions. He took me under his wing in the gym, and helped me get ready for a few competitions. He’s a great positive encourager, and I miss him and his beautiful wife and daughters in Missouri.
WP: Tell me about your modeling.
KW: Well, I did a really cheesy boat commercial and then I did pontoon modeling for Bass Pro catalogs back in the day. Ha-ha! After competing, I did some work with Stamina Fitness Equipment, and about the same time, I start working with John Mitchell from BBPics. I’ve worked with him several times since.
WP: How was it working with Senior Photographer, John?
KW: I’ve worked with John several times. I think every photographer needs to have a ‘lil OCD to be good. John is very detail-oriented, and he’s worked with some of the top fitness models. Because he’s worked with so many body types, he’s very helpful in suggesting posing techniques to make a great shot.
WP: OCD! That's John for you! Ha-ha! Love you, John! How did he go over and beyond for you?
KW: I think John always goes “over and beyond.” I gave him this nickname “Mother Hen” partly because he’s OCD, but also because he genuinely wants to mold and shape all his talent into being RESPECTABLE fitness models. You have to watch out with a lot of photographers, but John is one of those who have good morals and values. I’ve seen him interact with new guys, and he’s always encouraging them to make wise decisions.
WP: Would you recommend him to your friends? If so, why?
KW: If you have aspirations to do fitness modeling, then you should definitely get in contact with John. He enjoys helping new talent, and doesn’t mind taking the time to teach a newbie how to pose.
WP: Where do you want to be in 5 years?
KW: I do have short term and long term goals, but I’ve been taking a backseat and letting God work out the details. It’s been quite the roller coaster ride, but I’m not that organized anyways. Maybe getting married and having kids? That would be pretty cool if I found the right lady.
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?
KW: Thanks! Like I said, it’s a lifestyle for me. I work-out 5 times a week at least, and even if I’m on vacation, I still get my workouts in for the most part. The hardest thing for me is when I’m away with work and in meetings all day and all night. This is why corporate America has become so unhealthy. You’re literally sitting for almost 8 hours, and it’s not like they’re serving protein shakes during snack breaks ha-ha.
WP: Who had the most impact on you growing up?
KW: When I was a kid, my mom used to make me go with her on the weekends to a soup kitchen to serve the homeless. At the time, I hated it, but I’m very thankful now because it’s made me realize how blessed I am in my life. So, for that, my mom has made a huge impact on me because I’ve seen how much she cares for people in need and I’d like to think some of that has rubbed off on me. For my birthday this year, I celebrated it by getting my friends together to help out at some projects in LA with this awesome organization called Red Eye. Look them up www.redeyeinc.org. You can find another picture of me on the homepage too.
WP: That is so awesome you mom did that for you! What is your work-out regimen?
KW: I usually workout 5 days a week, and I change my workouts up every few weeks. But, here’s basically what I’m doing right now.
Mondays: Chest/abs
Tuesdays: Back
Wednesdays: Shoulders/abs
Thursdays: Legs
Fridays: Arms
WP: Have you played in sports before?
KW: I did track and football in high school. I competed as a sprinter from a very young age. I was doing AAU and Hershey’s competitions in the 4th grade. I was largely a brainiac, though, and so I got an academic scholarship to college, and not a track scholarship.
WP: Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?
KW: Recently, I saw bodybuilding.com donated $10,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief, and BSN donated 132,000 bottles of ready- to -drink shakes to the effort. Bodybuilding is viewed as a self-absorbed sport, and I think we could all do a better job of extending the helping hand to those in need. Plus, I think it would give the sport some good PR.
WP: What is your greatest achievement in bodybuilding?
KW: I’m feelin’ like this is a pretty strong achievement right here; just to be interviewed by World Physique.
WP: Awww, blush! Ha-ha! Thank you! What is the proudest moment of your life?
KW: You know, sometimes the proudest moments you have are actually seeing what grows from the seeds you’ve planted. When I was in college, I helped start a Theta Chi chapter, Iota Beta, at Missouri State. Every time I go back to visit my brothers, I’m like a proud pop. Just recently, they were recognized as one of the top chapters in the nation. I guess the things I see represented in the fraternity are the same ideals I have for my life and bodybuilding. They’ve won many, many awards, but there is no resting on laurels. At no point have we reached the summit. I don’t think that happens in this life.
WP: What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?
KW: I play guitar, sing, and write songs. Last time John from BBPics was in LA, he came to a spiritual community I’m involved in called Mosaic to watch me. Singing and bodybuilding is a weird combination, I know. I went to a chiropractor recently, and he thought I was there as an athlete. When I told him my voice coach recommended it, he said, “So, are you a singing bodybuilder?” A lot these talents have come from my involvement in church, and being in LA has really brought a lot of my creative talents out. I even did a short film recently.
WP: Ha-ha! Every time I see you now, I’m going to think about the singing bodybuilder! If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
KW: I could definitely get better at time management and organization. This month is tax time and I hate getting all that together.
WP: If you are dreading taxes then that means you are making money...humm! Ha-ha! Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!
KW: I’d just say for all the peeps reading this who are new to working out, keep it up! Every big guy or fit girl had to overcome many hurdles just to get where they are.
WP: You are one amazing man! There needs to be more in this industry like you! Thank you for inspiring me! You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors! See you back here when you're 80!
