| Mike Francois answers our top questions that you wanted asked. Mike is known as one of the best pro bodybuilders with many titles, including the 1995 Arnold Classic, under his belt. |
Hello dear friends. Today I have the opportunity to
interview one of the best bodybuilders of the 90's.
He has won many bodybuilding titles, including the
second best bodybuilding show on earth, The Arnold
Classic, and the very prestigious Night Of The
Champions. He was one of the most powerful men in the
sport. His amazing massiveness resulted from
applying power bodybuilding to his program.
Of course I am talking about Mike Francois. Mike
had one of the best backs, especially his lower back
development. He built steel cable erector muscles with
800 pound deadlifts! Very few that I know of could
deadlift like Francois.
Mike Francois is now a Certified Personal Trainer who
specializes in the design of customized weight
training and nutrition programs for people of all
fitness levels. Mike has a diverse group of clients
including professional & collegiate athletes,
executives, bodybuilders, doctors, fitness
competitors, and retirees.
MIKE FRANCOIS INTERVIEW!
1. Q. Mike, you had a great bodybuilding career having as the best time,
the
1st place in the Arnold Classic in 1995, and many people believed at that
time
that you had the potential to be the next Mr. Olympia. Unfortunately,
you had
to deal with some very serious health problems a few years later.
My question is will we see
you competing again
in the near future or you have officially retired from
competitive bodybuilding?
M.F. I have officially retired from competitive bodybuilding. I still
workout, but I will never again see the stage as a competitor. Bodybuilding
was a lot of fun while it lasted and provided me with many exciting
opportunities.
I never set out to be a professional bodybuilder, so anything
I accomplished
or achieved (i.e., winning contests and earning a living from
bodybuilding) was icing on the cake.
I have been involved in a few different ventures
since retiring and am truly
enjoying life after bodybuilding. I started
a fitness consulting business
which is going very well. My wife and I
have a bodybuilding and fitness
contest called The Mike Francois Classic
that is held annually here in the
Columbus area. I also have a fitness
camp. The camp isn't just for
bodybuilders - my campers range from the
serious competitor to people who
just want to get into great shape. If
anyone would want more information
about any of these things, they can
check out my website at www.mikefrancois.com.
2. Q. I know that with bodybuilders at your level, the competition is extremely
tough, since everybody is giving his 101% in order to become the best.
Because of this high competition, how easy or how difficult is it to become
good friends with some of your opponents? Did you make any real friends
from
bodybuilding?
 M.F. It can be difficult to become good friends with your competitors.
Anytime people are going after the same prize money or trying to get a
contract with the same nutrition company or sponsor, it can put a strain
on a
friendship. I tried to never let that get in the way of being friends
with
some of my competitors. I think it was easier for me because I lived
so far
away from many of the other bodybuilders, and I only ran into them
at
contests or other bodybuilding related events. I consider everyone
I
competed against to be at least a casual friend, more or less just because
of the bond we have as professional bodybuilders. I did develop a few good
friendships while competing that are still intact today.
3. Q. What's
the most important thing that you would change in bodybuilding in
order
to make it a better sport if you had this opportunity and why?
M.F. My goal for bodybuilding would be to get it recognized as a true
sport.
For instance, each year here in Columbus we have the Arnold Classic,
however
the local newspaper will not put it in the sports page. Bodybuilders
are
athletes and I think the sport should be recognized accordingly. I find
it amusing that fishing will appear in the sports section, but bodybuilding
will not.
Once bodybuilding is accepted as a sport by the mainstream, more doors will
be opened (i.e., t.v. coverage by major networks, more sponsors and
advertisers,
more contracts for the athletes, etc.) and the sport will be
legitimized.
At the same time, I do think the bodybuilding industry and various
organizations
are partly to blame for the lack of acceptance as a true sport.
In my
opinion, bodybuilding needs to clean up its image. I would like it to
be portrayed and promoted more like the PGA, not the WWF.
4. Q. It's time for my last question to you Mike. I know how important for
a bodybuilder it is to train hard, to eat right,
and to recuperate plenty,
but what about his supplementation? What
supplements do you currently
use and trust?
M.F. I believe in the following supplements:
 1. Branch Chain Amino Acids: 9-12g. after workout
2. Glutamine: 15g. before training/15g. after training
3. Multi-Vitamin/Mineral: As directed on label
4. High protein powder: As needed for muscle repair and recovery
I feel these are the necessary supplements for anyone who trains at a high
level of intensity. First and foremost, an adequate nutrition plan is the
most important factor in achieving success in bodybuilding. Supplements
are
called supplements for a reason - they add to your body what you cannot
get
from your diet. Do not rely on them, yet take advantage of what they
can do
for your recovery and rebuilding.
ATTENTION!
You can contact him at:
Michael Francois
P.O. Box 26752
Columbus, OH 43226
USA
Don't miss out on the opportunity to get a photo of
him for only $10 (plus $2 shipping), as well as his
detailed Workout & Nutrition Programs for only $5
(plus $2 shipping).
Also don't miss out on the opportunity to ask Mike!
For just $25, Mike will personally answer your
detailed questions about bodybuilding, weight
training, and/or nutrition. (Questions must be in
writing). Limit five questions per $25.00 tape (plus
$2 shipping)!
Check out his site for more information!
I would like to thank Mike very much for the time that
he spent giving this interview. I wish him good luck
in his future business plans, and I hope some time in
the future I will again have the opportunity for
another interview with him
Till my next interview, take care all.
John Stamatopoulos
Learn more about Mike Francois by clicking here.
OTHER EXCITING INTERVIEWS:
MANY MORE INTERVIEWS COMING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS!
Including Dave Draper!
giannis@bodybuilders.com
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