(photo credit -Michael Neveux)

How and when did you start training?

I started playing sports when I was a kid. I played football, basketball and track in high school, and ran track in junior college. I then attended the University of Texas, where I was a physical education major. I ran, worked out, practiced Tae Kwon Do, and played a lot of intramural sports so I was always in shape. I had dabbled with weights since I was 15 yrs old but had never gotten really serious about. But, I joined a gym in Houston when I started by first job out of college (teaching/coaching), just to stay in shape. That was in Sept 1983.

You are amongst the most, if not the most renowned natural bodybuilders of all time. Why have you chosen to stay natural and what would you say in favor of natural bodybuilding?

When I first got serious about lifting I was reading things in the magazines about the side effects of steroids. Just the superficial side effects such as accelerated baldness, and acne were enough to keep me away initially. I decided that I should give myself at least 5 years of drug-free training to see what I could do naturally. At about the 5-year mark I lost a national qualifier to a guy that was really juiced up. He beat me in a tiebreaker. I thought, “If I had just 5 pounds more muscle that guy couldn’t come close to me!” I decided that if I was going to move to the next level I would have to use steroids. I did some research and talked to some friends of mine who were using. I was about ready to take the plunge. I called a power-lifting friend to see what he would suggest I take. He said, “Dave, look how well you’ve done without them. You don’t need them, and they’re about to be illegal to possess. Hang in there because soon there will be drug-tested shows.” That was all the nudge that I needed to keep from going over to the dark side! I’ve never looked back and I’ve never regretted staying natural!!!

How many days a week do you train and
what is your routine?

Download Dave Goodins 4 day split

What is your diet when trying to
get in peak condition?

I do cardio for 20-30 mins first thing in the morning every day. As I hit plateaus in fat loss I will add another 30-minute session in the evening after work. On non-weight training days I will sometimes do 30-60 minutes of cardio during my normal workout time.

Typically macros are 42% protein, 42% carbs 16% fat. This year I had a harder time getting all the way into shredded contest shape. The last 4 weeks of dieting I was at 50% protein, 35% carb, 15% fat.

What are the
contents of your fridge?

I’m off-season right now, but I don’t think there’s anything bad in there. I know we have 2 big dishes of chili made with 96% lean beef. And there’s some chicken breast covered in tin foil.

What is your favourite
cheat meal?

Off-season I like pancakes. I don’t have cheat meals when I’m on my contest diet.

How do you managed to stay motivated?

I love competing and I love guest posing! For me there’s nothing as motivating as thinking about preparing to get onstage. And, the e-mails and message I get from fans who are inspired by what I’ve done is quite motivating to me. I have so many people who tell me, “Keep doing what you’re doing!” Thinking about all the naturals and all the people my age who are pulling for me really keeps me going. …But competitions are the biggest thing!

What is your greatest bodybuilding/fitness
achievement so far?

I’ve won a dozen international competitions over the years and every one has been an incredible experience. But the one that really rocked was winning the IFBB Over 50 World Championships in Poland in 2009. As I stood on stage next to IFBB President Raphael Santonja, with the gold medal around my neck and the National Anthem playing….there’s no feeling like that!!!!

What are your future goals?

I’ll be competing next at the IFBB Toronto Pro June. I will do a few more pro shows in 20011. I just haven’t yet decided which ones. My new contest preparation DVD has just been realeased which is available at TexasShredderClassic.com and Shredderbuilt.com.

Who are your favourite bodybuilders/ athletes
or fitness models?

My favorite bodybuilders of all time are Arnold, Frank Zane, Dave Draper and Lee Labrada. I’ve never met Arnold, but I can tell you that Frank, Dave and Lee are all awesome guys. My favorite fitness model is Jamie Eason. I think she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in person. And, she is such a sweet person, too! I had the pleasure of getting to help teach Jamie posing for her first Figure competition, the 2005 Texas Shredder Classic….yes, she won the overall…easily.

What is the number one philosophy you live by?

I have 2 things:

• One, treat others like you would like to be treated. (Got that one from mom)
• Two, hard work and persistence pays off!

What 3 tips would you give to anyone wanting
to get CutAndJacked?

1. There’s no substitute for consistency.
2. You have to train brutally hard and eat right…. There’s no way around it!
3. Be patient! After 29 years of training and 28 years of competing, I’m living proof that the natural bodybuilding lifestyle will continue to reward a person.