David Papaleo - Ready for 2011!

[David Papaleo]

Well, here we go again! First up this year, the NPC Southern States in July.
Right now in these pics I'm 191 lbs, feeling strong, not suffering at all, haven't even started any cardio or hard dieting yet since I never let myself get too far off from last years win at the NPC Florida State Masters.

Hope to make this my best year ever...

[hifrommike65]

You are aiming for lightheavy, right, David? Lookin' good! ;)

[Hammerfit]

Looking Great Dave. Awesome conditioning. Legs are freaky!

[masterschamp]

Looking good, Dave....bets of luck, bro.

Keith

[Gigatron]

looking good,nice conditioning too:)best if luck

[KevinCouch]

You're already shredded!! You're not doing a show until July? Damn impressive David. You should do the Masters Nationals too in July if your
schedule permits......

[freebirdmac]

You're already shredded!! You're not doing a show until July? Damn impressive David. You should do the Masters Nationals too in July if your
schedule permits......

No kidding! This is your off season look??? That's a tough bf% to maintain.

[JoeB8962]

Dave you are a beast my friend..how old are you and like Kevin suggested you should do Masters Nationals if you can..very, very impressive!!

[hifrommike65]

Please don't peak too soon!

[David Papaleo]

Thanks guys! No Mike, no peaking too soon. It's pretty easy for me to hold this condition. Actually, I prefer it. I feel my best between 190-200 lbs. Whenever I used to bulk up a lot, I always felt like shit, and usually ended up losing most of the weight by the show anyway. That's aside from how weak I would feel towards the end. Now I do the opposite. I plan on slowly filling up to the show, and keep getting fuller, harder, and staying strong. I want to come in like a hybrid of Frank Zane's symmetry and Branch Warren's hardness. :yep:

Joe, thanks you.....and I'm 41.

[BigJD69]

DAM Bro looking GREAT!!! Another 40+ BBer looking better than most 20 y.o. AWESOME Conditioning!!!!

[mkris7]

All I can is WOW! Great Job!

[KyMuscle]

Freakin' Freak! Wow!

[GerryT]

Huge respect to you, David. Look just about stage ready now! Most guest posers do not bring to the stage what you have now! Best of luck.

[BryanB]

Yikes!..You could step on stage now and kill them.

[V-Man]

Looking great. Wish you all the best of luck. You will do great. Any extra muscle you want to get rid of send my way.

[Mac]

Freak! share some of your secrets.

[hifrommike65]

David, your strategy is nothing short of brilliant. To combine the best of both worlds--great lines but freaky thickness--would be a coup. No one else has really done it. & no one I've seen at the national masters level in the NPC has the vascularity you show (at least, since Charlie Arms).

[mkris7]

Taking a second look at your photos I had to chime again. Dave your legs look massive. It is amazing that you stay that hard and lean without cardio. What's your secret LOL :)
Very impressive, I am almost scared to imagine what your going to look like in July. keep us posted and I can't wait to see the contest pics from your show....like I said earlier...WOW:yep:

[hifrommike65]

David, you look scary. That is a compliment! ;)

[David Papaleo]

mkris7, I would have to say that the "secret" is that I did do plenty of cardio getting ready for last years competitions. I started dieting slowly around 11/09 and competed in both June and August '10. I had decided then that instead of doing my usual weight gain after the shows, that I would keep my diet about 80% clean all the time and for once, not let myself get above 15 lbs above my competition weight. All the up and down in weight never really did me much good over the years, and made getting ready such a pain in the ass with all the zero carb dieting and 1-2 hours a day cardio, which in retrospect only chewed up a lot of my gained muscle, leaving me weak and even dead on my feet. I think most of us know that feeling.....and it sucks. So, I said no more, and am doing things different now.
Also, I tend to train at a fairly quick pace with not a lot of rest between sets, plus I do a good bit of isometric work to give me better control over my muscle groups which has a nice side effect of my never getting fatigued onstage.

hifrommike65......being a bodybuilder right to my core, I take being called scary a very high compliment....thanks bubba :)

[axioma]

Welcome, I think we can learn a great deal from you. Please share any stories related to your work too!

[David Papaleo]

New pics taken today 6/7/11. Damn, these cell phones aren't half bad...lol. Right now about 193-194, 5 1/2 weeks out from Southern States.

[KevinCouch]

Dave,
These recent pics you look a little fuller and just as hard!
Very impressive!

[HeavyDutyGuy]

Holy crap! Very good. You are like 3 lbs of- water from beng able to step onstage and win.

[GerryT]

Very impressive, David! Should do major damage looking like that.

[David Papaleo]

Wow....host hotel for Masters Nats sold out, but I got a room at the Westin just down the street for $100/night. I've decided to skip the Southern States and just go straight to Pittsburg. I'm not exactly made of money these days, so I'd rather put it all towards the big one.

[masterschamp]

Dave.......you're a beast, bro! Sorry I'll miss you at the Southern States.....I won the 50 Overall at the Southern States in '07, and I can honestly say that it is absolutely one of the top 5 amateur shows in the country........over 125 competitors, with at least 7-12 awesome bodies in each class.Most guys in that show are multiple title winners. Seeing you compete would have been great, but I understand your reasoning on the Master's Nationals. I know you would have had a GREAT shot at the Over 40 and the Master's Overall, but it looks like you have a great shot at doing the same thing at the Nationals. It's still pretty rare to see the combination of thickness and conditioning that you have......BTW...I will be in Pittsburgh at the same time the Nationals is being held...it's my hometown and I usuallly go up there at that time in the summer for a week as either a vacation or in the case that I would be doing the Master's Nationlas. Not competing this year, but since so many great guys from this site are gong to be in the show, I think I'll get down there for the pre judging. Hope to see you there.

Keith

[ayezer]

good luck look great

[Hammerfit]

Looking great Dave, understand about the finances, having the same issues. We have to pick our battles when times are lean. You should do well at Nats. Good luck!

[David Papaleo]

Thank you for the positive feedback guys. I hope you're right! This will be my first NPC national show. I really can't wait, as it looks like a lot of fun and a pretty cool group of guys there. That's one thing I like about competing in masters now.....seems like less egotistical BS goes on, and more like competitors who just really enjoy the sport. Makes it a lot more enjoyable.

Pics from 6/16/11.......Damn, it's almost here - Wooooooooo!!!

[V-Man]

Wow you look awesome you inspire me. Good luck with your shows and have fun.

[mkris7]

Your spot on, that is why I am apart of this forum, you guys keep raising the bar!
You have a very hard, thick and grainy look and your symmetry looks good as well.

Also I take to heart your advice, after this year I am keeping my weight lighter instead of having to come down from 220-225 to compete as light heavy. It is just too hard and while you "think" and "feel" big, it is just a delusion for me because I am not really in shape. Thanks for sharing your advice.

[Tim Wescott]

Freakin` animal!!

Good luck bro,you look great!

[David Papaleo]

Thanks Tim....I'm really looking forward to this show.

mkris7 - You're welcome. You'll be so happy when contest time comes around again. Soooo much better this way. :)

Ok......here it is 2 1/2 weeks out. I'm getting harder every day too. Can't wait to post pics in another week or so. I swear my skin is starting to really shrink wrap even in the few days since these were taken. It's going to be really cool when I dry it up. About 187 now.

[mkris7]

Freaky conditioning! Great work!!!!:yep:

[BigJD69]

Thanks Tim....I'm really looking forward to this show.

mkris7 - You're welcome. You'll be so happy when contest time comes around again. Soooo much better this way. :)

Ok......here it is 2 1/2 weeks out. I'm getting harder every day too. Can't wait to post pics in another week or so. I swear my skin is starting to really shrink wrap even in the few days since these were taken. It's going to be really cool when I dry it up. About 187 now.
My friend you are FREAKY LOOKING!!!! BRAVO!!!! BRAVO!!!!!
How tall are you??

[David Papaleo]

Wow - thanks! :) I'm 5'7"

[newaza007]

Great job and good luck!

[GerryT]

Look forward to seeing you, David. Will make an impact for sure.

[sassy69]

MANNNN I wish I was going to that show! In your first post pix in May you look grainy as hell already! Just gotta dump a little water in your back... I don't see water anywhere else!

Best of luck and looking forward to the show updates on RX!

[socalphotog]

Wow....host hotel for Masters Nats sold out, but I got a room at the Westin just down the street for $100/night. I've decided to skip the Southern States and just go straight to Pittsburg. I'm not exactly made of money these days, so I'd rather put it all towards the big one.

FYI - As far as I know, the only Westin in town is the Westin Convention Center, which is across the river. A short distance by car, but definitely not just down the street. In the attached map, the Westin is "A", the Sheraton is "B".

Rooms at the Sheraton have opened up, but not at the competitor's rate. The rooms will now cost ~3x what you're paying at the Westin. But it might be worth it, especially since the Sheraton is set up to accommodate competitors. And you won't have to worry about driving, or catching a cab to get to the venue.

[David Papaleo]

9 days to go....looking so forward to this! 185 and tightening up right on schedule :)

[Hammerfit]

9 days to go....looking so forward to this! 185 and tightening up right on schedule :)

Looking great David, conditioning and vascularity is off the hook.. Hang in there, almost there!

[KevinCouch]

Incredible conditioning David. Man, when you shave aren't you afraid of cutting your main artery open in your leg?? lol :yep: Never seen vascularity on wheels like that before!
Kevin

[mkris7]

Wicked conditioning David!:yep:

Your going to be scary up there on D-DAY!:yep:

[Mac]

Some crazy shit you have going on there Dave. Good luck in your show. You got this one.

[masterschamp]

Good Luck, Dave......youo sure look like you will be ready,bro.

Keith

[hifrommike65]

It won't be long now! :bowdown:

[David Papaleo]

Well, I got 9th in the lightheavies this first time around. I just think it's going to be a matter of putting on some more size for next year. I feel my conditioning and balace was on target, so 12 more pounds of the same on my frame and it'll be a recipe for success! :) See you guys next year!

[axioma]

Outstanding....12lbs.? Where are you going to put it? Based on your physique, 3-4lbs would be dramatic! Congratulations.

[booze]

Nice work, killer legs and conditioning. Do u think yr back is your weak point or is it the photos. No hate tho!

Sent from my HTC Liberty using Tapatalk

[David Papaleo]

Pics from pre-judging :) So fun being up there.....can't wait till next year!

[mkris7]

Gosh I am depressed. Man you take conditioning to the next level! I can only dream about being that shredded at 190! Great work!!!! I would hate to have stand next you on stage:yep:

[ayezer]

look great!!! if you came in 9th yes just a little more size for that classprobably conditioning definately not an issue
look great though