By Rod Labbe

Champs like Rob Kreider are pounding metal in hometown gyms. They’re stoic, solitary figures familiar with rejection’s painful sting. A contest victory here, a crushing disappointment there, still these warriors persevere, pitting themselves against crazy odds, driven by a force no average person can truly understand. Why do they continue?

MMI: Rapid-fire question #1: From the ’50s till now, bodybuilding’s finest hour was...
RK: The ’70s, without question. Arnold and Joe Weider brought our sport screaming into the pop-culture mainstream. There was an actual bodybuilding circle back then.
Today there is no one doing anything to help us ascend to the next level.

MMI: Because our PR is incredibly bad! Bodybuilding’s painted itself into a corner, what with all the emphasis on size, steroids, and one-upmanship.
RK: Yeah, sad to say. When people see a massive physique, they’re shocked. They’re probably even disgusted. But when a proportioned dude struts the the sands it attracts positives from every camp. That’s the appeal I’m after.

MMI: Rapid-fire question #2: Is bodybuilding a healthy lifestyle?
RK: Bodybuilding is healthy for the body and the mind. There aren’t many things in this world that we, as individuals, can control. We can control our own bodies.

MMI: With the drugs and other assorted pharmaceuticals you’re required to ingest, inject, and absorb?
RK: Hey, you’ll always find folks who make themselves feel better about their own shitty physiques by knocking down the hard work required to be a bodybuilder.

MMI: There’s no getting around it – steroids and other substances have infected our sport, period.
RK: Steroids are dangerous in moderate dosages. Besides, roids only help for about 10 percent of a bodybuilder’s physique. The rest is achieved through work, dedication, consistency, ambition, faith, and intelligence.

MMI: Were you the biggest kid in your neighborhood?
RK: I was, um, husky. A tough, stocky kid who didn’t take shit from nobody.

MMI: Were there any indications a championship bodybuilder might be lurking somewhere inside?
RK: I didn’t waste time scarfin’ down Ring Dings! I involved myself in a lot of different athletic activities, like soccer. Once in high school, I gave up everything to spend my time haulin’ iron.

MMI: Which undoubtedly caught the eye of a coach.
RK: My high school wrestling coach, to be specific. He convinced me to go out for the team, but after three days of drills and practices, I said fuck this. My heart wasn’t in it. I went back to lifting and forgot about team sports.

MMI: Achieving physical superiority became the focus of your adolescent world?
RK: Don’t laugh, okay? My first dream was to be a rock star. I’ve been playing guitar since age 13 and wanted to be like Eddie Van Halen, a rock god!

MMI: Any regrets about paths not taken?
RK: Nada. I did everything I wanted as a kid, and I don’t live in the past.

MMI: You started weight training, I presume, for strength purposes.
RK: For strength and endurance. But I also wanted one hellacious physique!

MMI: Any siblings?
RK: None. I’m an only child. My parents divorced when I was very young, about one year old. Mom did everything in her power to make sure my needs were met. She married again when I was four or five, to a great guy.

MMI: Have you ever strayed from your goal?
RK: Heaven forbid! When you’re in love with bodybuilding, you remain loyal. I’d lift in my basement with old weights and equipment, consumed by intensity. Once I had the chance to workout in a real gym atmosphere, I began dreaming about competing.

MMI: That dream came to fruition with the 1992 Mr. Annapolis, an AAU sanctioned event.
RK: Right, and my last AAU show. I’ve competed NPC ever since. I made fourth place and couldn’t have been happier. I had the biggest most face-breaking smile ever, and it shows in all the pix! To just stand on stage was more than enough reward.

MMI: You showed a whole different side of yourself in the May 2005 Playgirl.
RK: Sure did, and I loved it.

MMI: No hang-ups about being naked?
RK: Come on, bro! A bodybuilder having hang-ups about nudity is like King Kong being afraid of bananas!

MMI: When you’re not maxing iron or stripping for the camera, do anything else productive?
RK: I can play my Fender Strat guitar for hours. I’m also a video game freak.

MMI: You’re a musician. Does music tame the savage beast?
RK: It tames this savage beast! I’m into all types of music, except country. Blech! I have a little too much soul in my blood for that! I’m listening to acid jazz these days.

MMI: Acid jazz? Can’t say I’m familiar with it.
RK: You need to get out more. Acid jazz rules! When I’m driving to the gym, I’ll have Limp Bizkit in my CD player to bring out my aggression. Away from the gym, soothing music brings me back to reality.

MMI: Take us out with Rob Kreider wisdom.
RK: I’m no sage or anything, but here’s my advice: Go with the flow. Don’t sweat the small stuff, because life’s way too short. Live every day like it’s your last. And respect all living creatures!

Training Split

Off-season: Three days a week
Day 1: Chest, shoulders, triceps
Day 2: Legs, calves
Day 3: Back, biceps, abs


Precontest: Five days a week
Day 1: Chest, calves
Day 2: Legs, abs
Day 3: Biceps, triceps
Day 4: Shoulders, calves
Day 5: Back, traps, rear delts, abs

Website: www.robkreider.com

photo credit: Impact Photography