Interview by Marc David

Daryl Gee entered his first bodybuilding competition at the NPC Contra Costa Bodybuilding, Figure, and Fitness Championships on May 3, 2003 in Hayward, CA.  He took first place in the Lightweight Class –Novice Men and also took second place in the Lightweight Class –Unlimited Men, which qualified him for the Nationals. This particular show is the second largest in California, the largest being the California State Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Championships in Culver City.  Placing first in the Novice Class and second in the Unlimited Class, in the second largest show in California is no small accomplishment. Here are some quick questions with Daryl, who is training, dieting and getting ready for the San Francisco Bodybuilding and Figure Championships on September 13, 2003.

What started you in bodybuilding?

I started working out about 10 years ago, when I was 17. I think developing my foundation at this age and staying as consistent as possible with my workouts helped me get the physique you see now. Over this course of time, I would look at myself in the mirror and compared myself to my workout partners and other people at the gym and I noticed my muscle development was coming along much quicker than anybody else. At that point I knew I probably had the genetics to be a bodybuilder.

When did you actually get serious in bodybuilding?

About 3 years ago, I tried to make the world of personal training a career, but was unsuccessful. So, I just applied the knowledge I received from the three personal training certifications I earned during this time to myself. It was amazing to see the development I made to my body by utilizing proper training techniques and supplementation. I began looking at bodybuilding magazines and thinking to myself that I was not too far off from the guys I saw in there (not the pros of course). This is when I began to seriously consider competing.

What do you tell people who want to start bodybuilding?

If you are thinking about doing it, then follow through with it; otherwise you will always have the question of “what if?”

How come you decided to compete in the 2003 Contra Costa Bodybuilding show?

I’ve actually tried to do this show three times before, but I always got hurt right before the show. I was being stupid and working out with my ego by trying to lift the same weights I would normally while dieting. I finally dropped the ego and came to terms that I would have to start lifting lighter if I ever wanted to make it to this show. It was also perfect timing, because I just got back from the Arnold where I was approached by the editor of Muscle and Fitness and a photographer from Muscleweb to do photo shoots with them. Having these two guys come up to me on two separate occasions while I was just walking around the expo was definitely a reality check that I really need to do a show soon. So the Contra Costa was just a month away and it was game on from that point until show time on May 3^rd.

You are going to compete at the 2003 California State Championships?

No, I am going to take a little break because the dieting to get ready for a show is really extreme in my opinion and trying to maintain the condition I was in at the Contra Costa for 3 weeks until the Cal would not be possible. I have my sights set for the San Francisco show in September. My focus is to win the overall Novice, so I cannot compete at the Novice level anymore.

What did you think of the competition when you got on stage?  I’ve heard that some guys just know when they look in the mirror in the morning that the day is theirs. 

I really didn’t look at the competition much because I was so focused on what I needed to do to perform and look my best. I wish that I could look in the mirror the morning of the show know that the day would be mine, but in reality you never know who will show up at a show. This is why it is very hard for me to go into a show with expectations, because I don’t know who I am going to compete against.

Tell me about your diet for these shows?

First of all my diet is pretty clean to start out, which is probably why I only needed to diet a month out from the show. I started out at about 167lbs eating London broil, bok choy and steamed rice. I cut my carbs and that dropped me down to about 159-160lbs with 30 min of cardio included. Then I cut my calories, which is when the weight and muscle really starts to drop off, so I can make the 154lbs cutoff for lightweights. I am sodium loading the whole time until about the last week. I also carb load in the last week of contest prep.

What supplements do you use?

During contest prep I take a multi-vitamin; extra vitamin C; glutamine; ZMA; potassium; SportPharma’s Amino Maxx, BCAA’s, Vanadyl pH, Thermadrene XP, Lean Protein Powder, Pyruvex, Micronized Creatine, and Nitroxide.

What did you think about the Contra Costa show?

I think it’s a show that has been around for a long time, which is why it is so large. I wanted to go up against some of the best for my first show and this show was definitely a good venue to do that. The Contra Costa will always be special to me, not only because it was my first show but also how well I did in it. This is definitely a great accomplishment for me.

What do you feel about the judging in the contests?

I think politics do play a factor in the judging at this level and even more so at the national level. Obviously, if you are a familiar face to the judges, they will probably be more favorable to that competitor than someone they don’t know.

What do you think about the drug situation in bodybuilding?

To reach the pro level it is definitely necessary to use drugs to get freaky big. At the NPC level it is not really necessary for me, because I have great genetics. I know that there are some competitors that are obviously not as genetically gifted and must resort to using drugs to be successful at the NPC level.

What do you consider three of the biggest mistakes "natural bodybuilders" make in their training?

I would not limit these mistakes to just natural bodybuilders, but all bodybuilders:

1) Practicing your poses in the mirror too much.

2) Not knowing how to hit a pose to look your best.

3) Eating whatever you want during the break from pre-judging to the evening show.

What did you think of Marco Margiotta’s performance?

It was kind of a coincidence while we were all in the in the waiting room I just happen to sit down in a corner with about 4-5 guys and one of them was Marco. He was really cool and nice and introduced himself to me. We got to talking and found that we would be competing against each other, little did we know how close it would be between us for the Unlimited lightweight title. After looking at the video, Marco is thick and definitely has excellent muscle maturity. It was an honor for me to be compared to a competitor at his level my first time out in a show.

Has anyone been your inspiration?

Maybe Lee Priest, because he is an inspiration to us short guys.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Ten years from now I would hope to have competed in a few national level competitions and it would be nice to have done well at these national shows. I do definitely see myself still weight training, if not still competing. This lifestyle is something I think will be with me forever.

Daryl's Bodybuilding Photo Gallery