Where and when were you born? I was born in New England on Sept. 20, 1963 What is your profession? I am currently selling bakery supplies and commodities and also some real estate; previously I was a pastry chef/ chocolatier. What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights? Lots of running, track and cross country How and when did you get involved into lifting weights? I started lifting weights as rehab from a severe car accident in 1997. Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body? I never even thought that I had any potential until a new gym member, who happened to also be a bodybuilder, asked if I competed as soon as he saw me…he coached me through my first show. I had been training about one year at that point. What was your first competition and how did you place? My first competition was the Ms. Annapolis, an AAU drug tested show, I came in first place heavy weight. And which contest has been the biggest success for you yet? My recent first place win in the Master’s nationals female HW over 35 division. Could you please add a history of all contests that you have entered so far? NPC USA's 2005, 8th place HW; Masters Nationals 2004, 1st place HW over 35; NPC USA’s 2004, 9th place HW ; Bodyrock 2004, 2nd place HW; Lenda Murray Bodybuilding Classic 2003, Overall and 1st place HW and Masters; NPC Nationals 2003 and 2001, did not make the cut!!!!; Bodyrock 2002, 3rd place HW; Jr. USA’s 2000, 7th place MW; Jr. nationals 1999, 5th place HW; NPC MD state champion,Overall and 1st place HW, 1998; Fullblown Kevin Levrone Classic 1998 Overall and 1st place HW; Tournament of Champions 1998, Overall and 1st place HW; AAU Annapolis 1998, 1st place HW. Please describe a typical day in the life of Deniz Odar. Early AM, cardio and posing practice, prepare all the food for the day, work in the morning in my home office, out seeing customers all afternoon and into the early evening, and then 3-4 hours of bodybuilding, more posing practice and a final cardio session, then answering emails! Please tell me something about your daily training routine. I do more cardio than I would like, but it is needed. I do 12 sets of chins every time I do an upper body part. I tend to rain heavy for lower reps, so this year I’ve been focusing more on higher reps/volume training. How often do you train in a week? Every day…I love training! The one aspect of competing that I don’t like is that I’m not in the gym for at least three days….the day after a show I’m in there already, dying to feel some heavy weights in my hands! What are the main differences when you train for a competition and in off-season? Competition training is about more reps and angles and sets, in addition to maintaining a few heavy core lifts. If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)? Currently, I weigh 164 lbs with a 42” chest, 28” waist, 36” hips, 15” arms, 16” calves, 23” thighs. My nutritionist Todd Swinney says that I’m 4% bodyfat right now. Lifting wise, I don’t do maxes and singles, but I will reveal some typical workout weights: bench, 225 x 8; incline bench, 185 x 8; incline dmbls 12x 70; chins 12 x 15 reps; squats 225 x 20 or 315 x 8; dmbl rows 8 x 110; leg press 50 x 380, 40 x 470, 30 x 560, 20 x 650 (that is one of my leg press workouts); hack squat machine 12 x 405; press to the rear, 12 x 135; calf raises 20 x 1000 lbs. Which bodypart is your best in your opinion? Calves. What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much? Chins with weights strapped on are the best; I dislike barbell curls. Judging in Women’s Bodybuilding has always been criticised in one or the other way. Please tell me your honest thoughts about today’s judging in Women’s Bodybuilding. That is a tough question, one that I’d prefer to defer until I’ve been a judge myself (I’ll be starting next year with the NPC) Please tell me about what else you are doing when you don’t work out (profession, hobbies, etc.) Enjoying Life in my BUFF BOD!!!! What are your future plans for 2004/2005? If I don’t have my pro card by then, I will be entering all the usual qualifiers, plus judging, plus starting some personal training plus enjoying life in my BUFF BOD!!! Please note: Deniz does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!! |