Hazel Smith: Hi Malika and Dave, you are both very well known and busy with your own commitments, so thanks for agreeing to take part in this interview for us!
MZ &
DF: We are more than happy to share our experience & knowledge with MT members!
HS: How old were you when you started training and how old are you now?
MZ: I started training with weights seriously when I was 27. Before that I was doing circuit-training to keep fit, teaching classes like spinning, body-pump and kick boxing. I'm now 34.
DF: I started a long time ago when I was 17, I am now 38.
HS: How did you both meet and how long have you been together?
MZ: We met in a restaurant and we have now been together for 8 years.
DF: I met Malika in Donegal while I was having a break from competing.
HS: You are both competitive bodybuilders, do you train together regularly?
MZ: No, we don't. I could not train with him as my workouts are very different, but when I started, I did train back with him as it was one of my weakest body parts.
DF: No we train at the same times but as I train heavy for size our workouts are different, although she does give me a spot on heavy sets.
HS: Dave, you had a bad injury in the past, how have you managed to come back from that?
DF: I tore my left pec in 1998 and never thought I could compete again, but after I came back in 2004 I have improved with every show and won more trophies than before. It's very common to see guys with injuries like mine compete and do well.
HS:You own a gym together, 'Progym' in Derry, how do you find working together and living together?
MZ: Everybody wonders how we do it: it wasn't easy at the start, seeing each other 24hours a day, but we learnt to work with each other, giving each other space whenever we needed it, mostly pre-contest.
DF: Yes it is hard pre-contest working, training and dieting together, its just as well I am laid back and easy going, which is the opposite of Malika, so I think we work well together.
HS: Malika, you have your own website www.malikazitouni.co.uk , which Dave is also featured on, do you use receive a lot of emails asking for training advice?
MZ: Yes, very often, also many about pre-contest diet.
DF: I get emails from guys north & south of Ireland who I help get ready for shows. We also have quite a few competing from Progym, who both I andMalika help to get ready.
HS: What is a typical day like for you both?
MZ: I have my breakfast at 8am; open the gym at 9.30am, train at 10am following with a cardio session. I train in the morning as it's the only time the gym is not too busy! I have clients usually from 4pm until 8-9pm. Pre-contest, I have another cardio session in the evening.
DF: Usually breakfast at 8am, train at 10.30, cardio at 5pm and work till 9pm, bed at 11pm. I suppose it's just a typical day for any bodybuilder getting ready for a show (eat, sleep & train).
HS: When you are both getting ready for competitions at the same time, is it a help or a hindrance?
MZ: Dieting together for a show has its pros and cons: we eat the same kind of food at home so no temptation. Mood swings; we know when to give each other space!
DF: It's never easy getting ready for a show together but we try to help each other with moral support.
HS: How often do you train and do you have a training schedule?
MZ: I train 6 days/week pre-contest, 5 days off-season.
Monday: quadriceps
Tuesday: chest/triceps
Wednesday: calves/abs
Thursday: back
Friday: hams/glutes
Saturday: shoulders/biceps
Sunday: rest
DF: I train 6 days/week
Mon: quads
Tue: chest, bicep
Wed: abs, calves
Thur: back
Fri: hams, calves
Sat: delts, triceps
Sun: off
HS: What are you ultimate goals in your competition careers?
MZ: To win the NAC Miss Universe Overall title.
DF: To win overall titles at the Worlds & Universe.
HS: I see you have changed sponsors since we last interviewed you a few years ago, how is that going?
MZ: Great! Dougie and Jo from Extreme Nutrition are very helpful; they both have competed before so understand my needs. They are very supportive and cater for all my needs.
DF: I am currently sponsored by NutritionX (an Irish company based in Dublin). They produce supplements for some of the big American companies as well as their own so the products are top notch. Alan & Eamon have been very good to me for the past 12months, as a result I have been consistently building more muscle.
HS: You have started competing for a different federation too, recently winning the Figure and Overall Title at the NAC Championships, and Dave placing second in his class, how difficult is it competing for a different federation?
MZ: NAC has a rule regarding the maximum weight allowed for the figure class. A figure athlete should be under a certain weight which is calculated this way; 90 %( height-100) =maximum weight. So every athlete is weighted carefully at the registration, and if an athlete is over her maximum weight, she'll have to compete in the physique class.
DF: I was hesitant at first moving to a new federation, but everything seemed to fall into place and I am happy it happened. I have been asked to be the Irish representative by Harold Hoyler (German president of NAC) which means I can bring a team from Ireland to the NAC Universe in November and in the future run a qualifier here in Ireland.
HS: What are you ultimate goals in your competition careers?
MZ: To win the NAC Miss Universe Overall title.
DF: To win overall titles at the Worlds & Universe.
HS: Do you eat clean or do you allow any junk food in your diet?
MZ: Absolutely no junk food for me. I like to prepare my food from scratch and I like to know what I'm eating. I do allow myself cheat food, but some people won't call that kind of food a cheat. I'm a big fan of dried fruits and nuts, dark chocolate and I love yogurt & honey!
DF: I eat the same kinds of food all year round and maybe eat junk food twice a week but when the diet starts its just plain old egg whites, turkey and greens with very little carbs for the 12weeks.
HS: How do you alter your nutrition when you have a competition coming up?
MZ: It's not hard for me to go from off-season to pre-contest diet. Off-season I still have egg whites, chicken/turkey/steak, veg/salad, so to go on a diet, I just stick to these type of food but exclude my cheat food.
DF: It's not much of a change for me either as I don't eat too many carbs in the off-season. I tend to eat more food dieting and make gains in muscle while getting leaner.
HS: How long would you like to keep competing for?
MZ: It's a hard question to answer: I will keep competing as long as I feel I can still improve my shape.
DF: As long as I can train heavy and remain injury free, I will keep going, maybe until I reach 40 which is not far away.
HS: You inspire many members, especially the female ones. If you could pass on one piece of advice for someone thinking of competing, what would it be?
MZ: To be consistent with the diet.
DF: As Malika says, be consistent with all 4 (diet, training, supplements, rest)
HS: How do people outside of bodybuilding circles react to you as bodybuilders?
MZ: They see a female bodybuilder as a physique competitor, who should carry much more muscle than I do. I always have to explain that I'm a figure competitor etc. Also, they think that I'm in contest shape all year round; they don't understand how strict a diet has to be to achieve stage condition.
DF: Most bodybuilders in Ireland and the UK get negative comments regarding their size and shape. People on the street don't see the training and discipline we go through to achieve such a physique; they just think you have to pop a few pills.
HS: What is next competition wise for you both?
MZ: I'm getting ready for the NAC Universe in Hamburg the 30th November.
DF: Yes the diet starts soon for the Universe so I'm going all out for a win (hopefully we both will win!)
HS: Many thanks for taking the time to be interviewed and on behalf of all the MuscleTalk members, I'd like to wish you both the best of luck with the Universe in November. See you on MT!!