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Interview by Ron Harris
Dana Linn Bailey, identified merely as DLB to her hundreds of thousands of followers and followers, cast a singular path for herself in our business as an athlete who turned an entrepreneur and finally an icon who transcended our little world and gained mainstream attraction to hundreds of thousands of younger girls over the world whom she impressed. Although she solely competed briefly as knowledgeable, Dana embraced social media and YouTube from the beginning and used these platforms to unfold her messages of feminine empowerment and loving your physique whether or not or not you match the cultural beliefs on the time. I sat down and spoke with Dana about why she retired, if she’s going to ever compete once more, the endless “natty or not” debate that’s at all times surrounded her, and her not too long ago becoming a member of the crew at complement powerhouse Redcon1.
Dana, you have been the primary lady to earn a professional card in Ladies’s Physique, and also you have been additionally the primary Ladies’s Physique Olympia champion. However after taking second place to Juliana Malacarne the following yr on the Olympia after which second once more to her on the Arnold the next spring, you by no means competed once more. Why did you stroll away from the stage so quickly?
Most individuals don’t notice I had been competing for 10 years at that time. As an novice I’d do 4 or 5 exhibits a yr. That slowed down as soon as I turned professional. I received the primary Olympia, acquired second at the second, and getting second place was the perfect factor that might have occurred to me. I do know it sounds bizarre. I really like profitable and being first was superior, however I began placing quite a lot of pointless strain on myself. Sarcastically, I regarded higher on the second Olympia after I took second. After I misplaced the title, I assumed the whole lot was over, my entire world was going to collapse. I assumed everybody would comply with the winner, that the whole lot revolved round being onstage and profitable. Rob and I have been each like, now what? What can we do now? We went again to the expo and there was a five-hour lengthy line to fulfill me, and I noticed nobody gave a fuck that I’d misplaced. That was a fantastic factor to understand. Folks weren’t there as a result of I had been first place. They have been there for me lengthy earlier than that. They loved watching me compete and watching my journey on YouTube, not as a result of I’d received. It was virtually a reduction figuring out that.
The evolution of bodybuilding is a pure factor. I used to be getting higher, however everybody else was getting greater and tougher on the similar time. I acquired second once more to Juliana on the Arnold, and she or he regarded wonderful. After that, Rob and his brother Drew sat down with me, and we had a gathering. Bodybuilding modifications you, for the great but additionally in different methods. I don’t have an consuming dysfunction, however it could possibly make you consider meals and coaching otherwise. After 10 years of competing, I felt like a robotic that solely cared in regards to the fitness center and consuming. We’d go on trip, and I’d be apprehensive about coaching and consuming clear the entire time. Rob stated Dana, you’ve acquired to stay a bit of! He informed me he needed his spouse again. He needed to have the ability to take me out to dinner with out me having to leap up on a StairMill after we acquired dwelling. I did eat a wholesome, balanced weight loss program, however there was nonetheless a bit of little bit of loopy happening. He requested me to take a break and see what occurs. It was solely going to be a couple of yr. The yr after that, I simply couldn’t get my head again in it. We already had Flag Nor Fail, after which I began my very own enterprise DLB Every day, the place I give out totally different exercises and packages each week. Now we have them for dumbbells solely, body weight solely, full tools, and so forth. We do challenges, and I give substantial quantities of cash away. I’m capable of assist change individuals’s lives as a result of I’m not engulfed in competing. After I’d been away three years, I noticed I couldn’t return. The division had modified a lot in that point. Right here we’re, virtually 10 years later. I’m in the perfect form of my life, wholesome and blissful. I really feel very lucky. Finally I spotted the stage isn’t the place you make your cash. It’s only a platform. I’m very grateful to the IFBB Professional League for that platform, however it’s what you do offstage that units up your future.
I truthfully really feel that had you saved competing, you by no means would have develop into the “DLB” phenomenon that you just did. You traveled the world and had 1000’s of followers ready to fulfill you in all places you went. You opened up a fitness center and did so many issues. I feel you’d have missed out on so many alternatives in case your life had purely revolved round your exercises, cardio, and meals. The irony is that most individuals suppose competing and profitable is the holy grail, the one path to success.
Competing was a fantastic expertise, and I at all times say that bodybuilding has taught me a lot about myself. I can faucet into and go locations that not many individuals can. Each present you do, you’re like, I don’t suppose I can do that. You then come out the opposite aspect and it’s, holy shit, I did it! I discovered a lot about coaching, weight-reduction plan and vitamin and now I’m capable of share all that with individuals.
Have you ever ever been tempted to compete once more?
I’ve by no means used the phrase “retired,” as a result of there’s a foolish a part of me that at all times thinks, possibly. I do take a look at myself now and I’m in higher form now than I’ve ever been. I form of wish to see what I’d appear like. I’m turning 40 in just a few weeks and I nonetheless suppose, possibly only one extra time.
You’ll be eligible for the Masters Olympia in August. Did anybody attain out to you from that occasion?
No, however for me, I would want about 30 weeks to prep for a present.
Severely? You at all times look fairly lean to me. I’d guess you’re by no means greater than 12 weeks out when it comes to situation.
It takes a very long time for me to get my legs dialed in. We are able to discuss in regards to the “pure or not” topic later, however I’ve been competing naturally my complete life. I don’t begin seeing the deep cuts in my legs come out till I’ve already been weight-reduction plan for 25 weeks.
All of the divisions change and evolve over time. Males’s Physique execs now are thrice the dimensions they began out at. The distinction between you and the perfect girls in Ladies’s Physique like Natalia Coelho and Sarah Villegas is big. For those who needed to do effectively as we speak, that’s the kind of look you would want to convey to the stage.
There’s simply no method I may appear like that. I’m very real looking with myself. A part of me would like to go up there and never even care that I’d be the smallest and much from essentially the most shredded. I’d simply need to get previous figuring out I’d be standing subsequent to them and the way I’d evaluate. I’d simply need to have the angle that it’s high quality, who cares? I’m certified for all times as a previous Olympia winner. However the outdated ego would in all probability really feel a bit of insufficient.
It additionally begs the query, is it higher to focus all of your time and power for months to look nice on at some point, or have a extra balanced and productive life and look actually good on a regular basis such as you do?
That’s the best factor about not competing. I by no means did the bulking factor anyway. You’ve seen me in any respect forms of occasions through the years and I’m at all times in form. I didn’t even do bodybuilding the “proper method” by taking time so as to add quite a lot of dimension. As soon as I turned professional in 2012, I felt I wanted to look skilled always. I by no means needed individuals to see photos of me onstage after which meet me in particular person and say, “she doesn’t even appear like that in actual life.” Competing is excessive. You’ve happening to the bottom physique fats attainable, then you definitely flip round within the low season and acquire a bunch of weight. I by no means did that. I’ve seen women who gained 30 kilos inside a month or two after competing. Going up and down in weight like that isn’t wholesome. Staying in form truly acquired simpler for me as soon as I ended competing, as a result of there was no extra fluctuation. I used to weight loss program for 30 weeks after which lose that peak look in just a few days after the present. I’d quite look good and be wholesome year-round. At 5-4, I keep proper at 135 kilos.
OK, right here we go on the “natty or not” debate. You’ve been accused of utilizing PEDs and being a “pretend natty” for a few years. I defend you despite the fact that you don’t want me to only as a result of I’ve been round so lengthy and know the telltale indicators. You’ve regarded the way in which you do for effectively over a decade now, and your look doesn’t change a lot. You submit new pictures and video content material on a regular basis. I’ve by no means seen any drastic modifications in muscle dimension or energy in all these years as you’d count on with anybody who cycles on and off PEDs. And had you been on even reasonable doses of medication this entire time, there could be modifications to issues like your voice, hairline, pores and skin texture, and so forth. I’ve identified many ladies whose voice and look modified over time resulting from PEDs. Actually, if I assumed you have been a liar or a pretend natty I wouldn’t have even introduced this up. I don’t benefit from placing individuals on the spot or making them really feel uncomfortable. So, does this entire topic annoy you, amuse you, what?
It makes individuals so offended, and I used to get actually upset about it as a result of I knew I wasn’t mendacity. Folks actually hated me as a result of they thought I used to be. It bothered me till I assumed, you understand, I have to be doing one thing proper if I can appear like I’m on steroids with out being on them. The rationale I’m so vocal about it, I don’t care what anybody does. I actually don’t. You are able to do all of the medicine on this planet if you’d like. They simply don’t make sense in a feminine physique. You’re placing a bunch of male hormones into a girl’s physique, which isn’t presupposed to have greater than a miniscule quantity. You’ll begin morphing into a person. I don’t care who will get upset listening to that. You are able to do what you need along with your physique, I don’t care. I don’t like after I hear that coaches inform girls, if you wish to appear like Dana Linn Bailey, listed below are the steroids you will have to make use of. False! How about working onerous for 10 years? I’ve been an athlete since I used to be 5 years outdated. I performed six sports activities and performed soccer in faculty. Then I acquired into lifting, and I’ve been coaching onerous for over 17 years now. I skilled a minimal of six days per week, typically seven, and my weight loss program was constant. If I can change one lady’s choice to begin utilizing PEDs, then cool. I’ve completed my half. I’d like to vary extra minds than that. Doing it naturally simply takes longer. You must be extra constant and affected person. It’s not one thing you do in a single day or in a few months. It’s years and years. It’s been 17 years and I’m nonetheless solely 135 kilos!
I feel lots of people get butthurt seeing nice pure physiques and assuming they’re liars as a result of they don’t perceive that there are individuals such as you who’re extra genetically gifted than common. Then when these individuals prepare very onerous for years, they appear unbelievable. I’ve seen you prepare in particular person just a few instances, and only a few individuals, males or girls, can sustain with you within the fitness center. I’ve seen you hit what I assumed was failure on lateral raises, and the rattling set goes on for an additional 5 minutes!
I’ve skilled with a lot of the high bodybuilders on this planet. Jose Raymond stop on me midway by way of the exercise! Kai Greene was one of many few who may hold. Typically, the ladies may hold with me as a result of we typically have extra endurance. I really like coaching and I thrive on quantity and depth. I feel if I even touched a bit of bit of medication, I’d have been on the identical stage as Iris Kyle. Once more, I don’t care what guys take. These are male hormones. And I wish to see the freaks up there in bodybuilding, like Ronnie Coleman and Kai Greene. I’m additionally glad now we have Ladies’s Bodybuilding for them and for many who are followers of that. I simply by no means needed to go that route.
Let’s transfer on to some new, thrilling information. You have been not too long ago signed by Redcon1 which I truthfully thought would have occurred a few years in the past. I do know you and Rob have been associates with Aaron for a very long time, so how did you lastly get on board along with his firm?
That’s humorous, we hold saying we must always have completed this a very long time in the past! Again when he had Blackstone, we began our personal complement line known as Run Every little thing, and he was part of it to start with. We purchased him out a few years later and we had that firm for a minimum of eight years. A few years in the past, we realized that despite the fact that we had nice merchandise, it was nonetheless simply one other complement model. We did an entire rebranding to concentrate on girls in sports activities. The complement business has at all times been targeted on males. I keep in mind way back attempting to get a sponsor, and we weren’t paid the identical as the lads. Why not have a model devoted to the feminine athletes, to provide them a platform and share their tales. It was nice, however over the previous yr Rob and I needed to admit we had an excessive amount of on our plates and we couldn’t give the corporate the adore it deserves. We’ve identified Aaron for 15 years. I needed to see Run Every little thing in Goal and Walmart, however I don’t have the bandwidth. Aaron has an enormous employees and all these connections. He provided to purchase Run Every little thing and make it develop. On the similar time, he desires Redcon1 to develop, so he introduced me in to assist in that space. I really like all their merchandise. They’ve a a lot greater line than Run Every little thing, and I’m excited to be a part of such a giant model. I used to be with a giant model a very long time in the past, however they didn’t know what to do with me. They complained individuals have been having a tough time attending to their cubicles at expos as a result of there have been too many followers ready to fulfill me! I’m pumped to be a part of a very large model that “will get me.”
What are your favourite Redcon1 merchandise?
I really like BIG NOISE, their non-stim “pump” pre-workout. I already drink method an excessive amount of espresso, so I don’t want so as to add any extra caffeine on high of that. The MRE RTDs and bars style so good. I wish to attempt their greens product, GI JUICE, as a result of I’m all about well being. Their protein powders are wonderful, and in case you haven’t tried their MRE PROTEIN MUFFINS but, you don’t know what you’re lacking. They’re fucking implausible! The one factor I’ve to go simple on is their pre-workout, TOTAL WAR. I do half a scoop and it’s insane. Even opening up the can, the vapors that come off the powder make me cough! However for anybody who desires an actual kick for his or her exercises, TOTAL WAR would do the trick.
To wrap this up, let’s discuss your future. You’ve already completed and completed a lot in lower than 40 years on earth. What do you continue to wish to do earlier than it’s all stated and completed?
I’ve completed loads of seminars and interviews, however I’ve by no means completed knowledgeable, hour-long presentation or speech with simply me onstage. I did my first one a couple of month in the past at Coach Con in Atlanta, the place coaches from all disciplines come to study. They requested me to talk, and I used to be like, what? Simply go up there and discuss? I used to be so nervous that I broke out in hives a few days earlier than. It’s bizarre as a result of I’m so comfy in entrance of individuals and on digicam. I’ve completed seminars all around the world. Q and A? Simple-peasy for me. For some motive, this scared the shit out of me. I assumed I used to be simply gonna go up there and freeze. However I went up and informed my story. I had my speaking factors, and I acquired by way of it. Once I acquired dwelling, I assumed, possibly that is my subsequent factor. Perhaps that is what I do now. I do have an inspirational story that individuals can relate to. I went by way of quite a lot of self-doubt and physique dysmorphia and hated my physique for thus lengthy. Then I threw myself right into a sport that’s all about my physique being judged! Not getting breast implants was an enormous a part of that. I made the issues I hated most about my physique into the issues I’m the proudest of. I wish to educate individuals methods to get there. I really feel I’ve one thing to say that may assist others, and that’s my new journey. During the last 9 years since I ended competing, I felt like one thing was lacking, that there was a void in my life as a result of I’m a competitor at coronary heart. That’s what I’m, that’s all I do know. After doing that speech and other people coming as much as me afterwards, I felt that very same achievement the stage used to provide me.
MRE LITE®
TANGO®
TOTAL WAR®
MRE PROTEIN BROOKIE
‘I really like all their merchandise. I’m pumped to be a part of a very large model that ‘will get me.’ -Dana Linn Bailey
For extra data, go to redcon1.com
Ron Harris acquired his begin within the bodybuilding business throughout the eight years he labored in Los Angeles as Affiliate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Journal” present within the Nineteen Nineties. Since 1992 he has printed almost 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and health magazines, making him essentially the most prolific bodybuilding author ever. Ron has been coaching because the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives along with his spouse and two kids within the Boston space. Fb Instagram
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