*A Stallone Article from MUSCLE & FITNESS Magazine*

Stallone is a workaholic, perfectionist and health nut. "Sly is the most disciplined man that you'll ever meet in any walk of life," says his personal bodyguard Gary Compton. "He doesn't eat real late, he doesn't snack, and he doesn't eat much. Pasta? Yes, but not too often, and only when it's made with a special flour. Fish and brown rice are staples. He even eats fish for breakfast. He drinks little alcohol, but occasionally enjoys champagne. Quick energy? Would you believe oatmeal cookies? Of course, without processed sugar of preservatives. Sly says cookies raise his blood sugar higher than fruit does."

And not many eggs either, Compton adds. That is to say, nothing like the scene in which Rocky cracks a half dozen raw eggs one-handed and gulps them down. As for supplements, Gary says that his boss takes a package of about six tablets before each meal. If he needs more he'll just take double.

BACK IN THE GYM

As Stallone continues to slug it out in his workout, his jet-black hair becomes wringing wet. Sweat pours profusely off the tip of his straight roman nose and intensity conquers the contender. Working the world's most famous biceps, he says that this is the heaviest he's been in a while. "I was 178 for Rocky, and 200 in Rocky II. For Rocky III I was 163. For my next film, Rocky IV, I went up to 173. I like this weight, because it is a fuller, rounder look, more in keeping with the old Roman athletes. I'm not quite as sinewy as I was in Rocky III, but I feel stronger."

Stallone's measurements when he was filming Rambo II were: chest around 50", 29 ½ " waist, and 17 inch biceps. His body fat runs 4 ½ %, although when he's not filming it's 6 %.

Loud bursts of energy can be heard as the star does push-ups to get pumped up for some photos. The gym is quiet; all eyes are on the man of muscle. He does 20 pushups quicker than you can blink and eye. Exerting a tremendous amount of energy, he hits his triceps and deltoids. This 5'10" bundle of energy, with his small waist and massive back, appears smaller in person than on the screen. Complaining to M&F photog Mike Neveux, he says, "I've got to keep moving. I can't stand still this long."

"Relax the left shoulder," shouts Neveux.

"Relax the other pec," chimes in the Master Blaster himself.

Sly shouts back, "this is harder than working out!" - which generates laughter from his watchful audience.

Stallone firmly believes what the ancient Greek philosopher Plato preached: "To be a fully developed man, you must build mind and body equally." He stresses this concept to his children. "I believe you can deal with an inanimate object and become one with that object," he says. "Imagine what happens when you take that dedication and apply it to business, love, relationships or athletics. You become so focused, so channeled that you are going to enhance your performance at a supernormal level."

Stallone agrees without question that once you've begun bodybuilding and built yourself a firm physical foundation for life, you never retreat. "Once you get those people in the gym," he says, "they're hooked!"

He knows that Weider bodybuilding lifestyle is addictive because once you start building your body, you become conscious of the importance of eating good foods, staying away from drugs, and doing only those things which are healthy and beneficial to your body. Bodybuilding changes not just your body, but your entire life!

"It's like when you buy a cheap watch," Stallone explains. "If you break it, you don't repair it. When you start working out, your body becomes like an expensive watch or fine jewel. You take good care of it.

When you see results, you say ‘no' to that greasy hamburger. Now your beginning to pay attention! It's almost like an investigative game: How do I get better and better? It's a never ending story. That's what I like about bodybuilding." Stallone grins as though anticipating his next challenge. "There is no finish line. There is no end!"


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