In the Game

Bodybuilding
by Nicole Dreyer

The walls of Hyde Park Gym are lined with giant mirrors and framed pictures of rock-hard bodybuilders, many of whom can usually be found hanging out behind the counter or pumping iron in the intimate Austin gym. At almost 44 years old, Dave Goodin, owner of the gym and two-time World Natural Bodybuilding Federation World Champion, says he is stronger now than he has ever been, “and still improving” because of bodybuilding. “The only thing I notice now is that injuries take a bigger toll than they used to,” he says.
Goodin first became involved in the sport 20 years ago, at the suggestion of a friend he met in the gym. In the early 90s, he says he became discouraged because he could only reach a certain level without substance use. About seven years ago, he discovered natural bodybuilding, a drug-free organization of the sport.
“It’s very encouraging to see natural bodybuilding,” Goodin says. “It’s attainable and realistic. Most of the competitors don’t look like bodybuilders when they’re off-stage.”
Goodin will host the Sixth Annual Texas Shredder Classic, a natural bodybuilding competition for pros and amateurs, May 3 at the Texas School for the Deaf Performing Arts Theatre.
Another chance to observe or participate in the world of bodybuilding is the Lee Priest Bodybuilding Classic, coming to the Austin Convention Center April 19. The show is named for Lee Priest, a professional bodybuilder and three-time Mr. Australia.
The Lee Priest Classic will be judged in four rounds, first for symmetry, then muscularity, posing, and the final pose-down round with the top winners in each category on stage together for final judging. The posing rounds are done to music chosen by each participant. “Some guys do it to heavy metal,” says Marc Salvato, promoter of the Lee Priest Classic. “I guess it makes it more of an art that way. Lee loves ballads and love songs.”
Most bodybuilders train for 12 to 14 weeks before a show, says Salvato. During this time, they usually eat foods such as cream of rice, chicken, turkey, tuna and protein shakes. Competitors also will temporarily lower their body fat to unhealthy levels in order to look the leanest for the show.
Goodin says he usually gets down to three percent body fat when preparing for a show. “To get that low, you really have to restrict yourself, and that’s not healthy,” he says. “At three percent, I don’t feel good, but it’s just for the show.”
Karen Miller, a trainer at Hyde Park Gym and last year’s Ms. Pro International Heavyweight Champion, is, like Goodin, also a natural bodybuilder. She says she will diet to get to six or seven percent body fat for a show, but “doesn’t stay there, because it’s unhealthy.”
“Ninety percent of the sport is nutrition,” she says. “Even if you’re big, you’ll never look right on stage if you’re not lean.”
She also says getting over stage-fright is one of the hardest parts of the sport. “The more you do, the easier it gets, especially if you’ve been working hard.”

Professional bodybuilders (L to R) Milos Sarcev, Pavol Jablonicky and Porter Cottrell compete for top spots at the Toronto Pro Show.
Photo provided by Marc Salvato.