Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Muscling into the movies

Not bad la considering that i've not been competing or anything that would put me in the limelight...still got "saham" la so to speak hahahahaa!!!
Anyways , have a read and a laugh at my expense..no problem!!! ;)

Article was from NST 5th Aug 2008.
Muscling into the movies















Q & A with TERRY GALLYOT.

KUALA LUMPUR: Following the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, Malacca-born champion bodybuilder Terry Gallyot has embarked on a movie career of his own.

After two decades of training and competing in the sport, he has moved on to movies and started a business in nutritional supplements produced locally.

In 2006, Gallyot was approached by rocker actor Awie who asked him to play a role in his movie, Iskandar. Gallyot also starred in Sumolah with Afdlin Shauki.

The 39-year-old Eurasian was declared as Mr Asia in 1999 by the International Federation of Body Building.

He also walked away with the title of "Most Improved Bodybuilder" at the event.

The jovial 130kg behemoth has won 32 titles in the sport since he started competing in 1987 at state level and progressed to the international arena.

"Bodybuilding is a lifestyle. It is the focus of mental will and physical ability to reach one's potential," said Gallyot when asked what the last 21 years of training meant to him.

The five-time Mr Malaysia said: "My quest was to reach my potential in terms of fitness and physical strength and to realise this, I chose bodybuilding."

Apart from muscling into the acting scene, Gallyot is focusing on his own training centre known as The Ultimate Gym in Wangsa Maju.

"My joy now is to train others to be fit and reach their goals whether it be weight reduction, bodybuilding or other wellness programmes."

Q: How did you get started in bodybuilding?

A: I remember that when I was three years old, my father took the family to the zoo. I stood on the barriers of the lion cage and posed like a bodybuilder.
Since then, muscular physique has intrigued me and I started training with weights at home. I started training seriously after completing my SPM in 1987 and joining a gym in Kuala Lumpur.

Some years later, at the launch of another gym, I was approached by bodybuilding official Datuk Paul Chua who urged me to compete.

Although I was not training for competition then, my joy came from seeing my body being transformed into what I visualised in terms of getting big.
I started reading many books on bodybuilding and nutrition and coupled with my idol Arnold Schwarzenegger's videos on bodybuilding, I learnt many techniques to improve.
I coached myself as I believe that no one knows his own body better than anybody else.Because of my movie roles and business commitment, I have put off competing for a while.

Q: You have embarked on an acting career, how did you get involved?

A: It all started when Awie approached me in 2003 to act with him in his movie Iskandar. I have done many commercials, telemovies and sitcoms.
I had also acted with Afdlin Shauki in Sumolah which was my biggest role to date.There were acting offers for me but due to my business commitments, I had to turn them down.

Q: Tell us about your childhood and your family?

A: I was born in Bandar Hilir, Malacca. I studied at quite a number of primary and secondary schools as my father was working as a heavy machinery technician with Pernas Constrcution, and was transferred many times across the country.
I completed my SPM at Setapak High School and went on to do my A-Level at a local college in the city. I have a younger brother and a younger sister.

Q: What titles have you won?

A: My greatest achievement was winning the Mr Asia title in 1999 and being listed in the top 15 in the Mr Universe competition in 2000 in the heavyweight category. Since 1987, I won a total of 30 titles from state to national and international levels.

Q: What is your training regime like?

A: I train six days and rest one day every week. In bodybuilding, it is 70 per cent nutrition and 30 per cent training, so eating right is very important to me. Bodybuilding is a lifestyle.

Q: Bodybuilding has been tainted by claims of steroids. What is your view of drugs in sports?

A: The use of drugs is prevalent in many sports. In a survey by Time magazine, bodybuilding was not among the top 10 sports for drugs abuse. I feel that one has to be responsible for one's actions as there are adverse health risks, let alone being banned from the sport.

Q: What motivates you?

A: Personal satisfaction. Since young, I have a picture in my mind of what I wanted to look like and I worked hard to achieve it. Being a competitive bodybuilder was a bonus, I guess.

Q: When did you start Ultimate Gym and what are its facilities?

A: I opened the gym 18 years ago. It provides aerobic and anaerobic exercises, and has weight machines to free weights. It was difficult in the beginning as people's awareness of fitness was low then.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: I want to open a bigger gym. I have also gone into promoting nutritional supplements which carry the Malaysian brand.

Q: What is your diet like, and what is your favourite food?

A: For any bodybuilder, diet plays a crucial part. I normally have five meals daily which consists of the five main food groups. Diet is more controlled during a competition period.

Q: What is your message to youths who want to go into bodybuilding?

A: Always focus on getting an education first. Bodybuilding is more a lifestyle towards training and nutrition. Those interested must learn the techniques of the exercises and nutrition. Nowadays there are ample sources of knowledge from books and the Internet.My advice would be to keep to basic training methods as they have been proven to work over time.