Physique stars over
six feet tall are a rarity. Of all our great Mr. America winners only
three have been six feet or slightly over--Stephan, Reeves amd Dubois.
But if you think it unusual to find a champion of this height it's positively
phenomenal in the case of Pete Lupus who tips the beam at an astronomical
six-feet-five! This amazing bodybuilding star has a physique that would
place high--perhaps even win the Mr. America or Mr. Universe title.
Why is it so unusual for a very tall man to develop a great physique?
Conversely, it's lack of height in the shorter bodybuilder
that feeds his inferiority complex which in turn spurs him on to great
physical achievements. In other words, the tall man already "has
it made"...he has no feelings of inferiority--stature-wise---that
would trigger his start in the bodybuilding world.
It's the little fellow who feels
that he must do everything possible to compensate for his shorter stature
so that he can compete on an equal basis in other ways with his taller
colleague. Height in itself is a considerable achievement in this world.
The good big man is already off to a better start than the
good little man.
Many
high-school youths find that extra height helps them in sports like
basketball, football, volleyball and distance running. Although they
may not have the degree of health the shorter man has, they are automatically
superior because of their extra height. I'm sure that you have
seen some of the basketball stars of your nearby schools and colleges.
They appear to be suffering from some type of famine...sunken chest,
long skinny arms and knock-knees. But still they are in the chosen circle
of top athletes.
It may not be until many years later
that muscular and energy supports needed for their long limbs will diminsh,
but it will happen and sooner than it does to the shorter individual.
The taller person becomes stooped and round-shouldered almost inevitably,
but by then he is older--has lost the youthful fire of bodybuilding
enthusiasm--and seeks to correct his condition rather
than acquire a spectacular physique.
Another reason why you don't see
many physique champions over six feet tall is that it's pretty hard
to pack a lot of muscle on those long limbs. A shorter bodybuilder will
always work faster toward proportion than the taller individual. But
in the final analysis, if the tall bodybuilder sticks to his workouts
there is no reason why he cannot reach the zenith of phyiscal perfection.
Pete Lupus was one of those tall
rangy youths who excelled in high school athletics...basketball and
track found him the leader. And he was invariably chosen for a chief
spot on the football squad. Although he was quite ordinary in his ability,
his extra height gave him the advantage to make him a standout...that
automatic superiority.
Later Pete's interests turned to
drama. His natural good looks and height were of primary advantage.
He tired of athletics in which he felt he had accomplished enough and
turned toward the acquisition of more practical and more renumerative
skills.
Pete's drama coach worked diligently
with him and discovered much talent in his sensitive nature which adapted
himself so well to the theater. Soon Pete was grabbing the leading parts
from others in the class...he was the Beau Brummell of his high school.
Upon graduation from high school
Pete attended Butler University where he continued his study of drama
and allied subjects. During his spare time he worked at his father's
supermarket in Indianapolis, Indiana.
One day while arranging the magazines
in their proper places in the rack Pete happened to pick up a copy of
Muscle Builder with Mickey Hargitay on the cover. He
recalled seeing a photograph of Mickey in the local paper...it said
that he was a Mr. America contender and trained right there in Indianapolis
at Bob Higgins' Gym.
Pete studied the picture for awhile
and felt pretty skinny in comparison. Mickey is a big man too, standing
at 6'1" and weighing 235. He simply oozes vibrant handsomeness,
something that girls just can't forget. This sex appeal was something
Pete definitely wanted for himself.
That night he studied himself in
his mirror. "No...that stooped posture is no good with my shoulders...why
they look like a hat rat compared to Mickey's shoulders! Sure I'm tall,
but it's going to take something more to make me a star against all
those Hollywood ruggeds!"
That night Pete couldn't sleep...he
just had to know more about Mickey...so the next day he drove into town
and made a beeline for the Higgins Gym for an interview with Bob.
He walked through the front door
trying to appear casual. The gym was buzzing with activity and people
barely noticed him as he passed through. The he turned to see a small
muscular fellow eyeing him. The little Hercules--Higgins himself--motioned
lanky Peter over to his desk and that was it...Pete was hooked!
He learned how he could improve
his shoulders, posture, and slap fifty pounds of muscle on his skinny
frame, yet maintain a smaller waistline than he had even now! What more
could a fellow ask for?
Then Pete asked about Mickey...when
he trained...would he be in that day? Higgins pointed past Pete's shoulder,
saying: "That's Mickey coming in just now."
Pete gulped at the unbelievable
sight of this huge, blonde, broad-shouldered Adonis then passing into
the dressing room. He gulped again when he saw Mickey strip for his
workout. Pete began his training that day and from that moment tried
to emulate his idol...and the great Mr. Universe-to-be Mickey Hargitay.
Later when Mickey left Indianapolis
to tour with the Mae West show, Pete changed over to Ed Hoffmeister's
Gym because it was closer to home, and because Ed taught the famous
Weider super-speedy methods which he'd heard Mickey talk about so often.
Now with advanced Weider techniques Pete added 3-1/2 inches to his chest
and 11 pounds of muscular bodyweight to his frame in just one month.
In one year of training he gained
from 190 to 218 and stripped his waist of two inches of excess tissue.
During the summer he played principal roles in summer stock...Will Success
Spoil Rock Hunter...A Streetcar Named Desire...Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
This led to Broadway where Pete
attended the American Academy of Dramatic Art and appeared in several
off-Broadway shows. With a considerable New York success behind him
Pete headed for the goldfields of Hollywood where he is sure to be discovered
by leading talent scouts. During the waiting period, however, he continues
to train with Weider techniques and he rigidly adheres to such super-fast
super-muscle-building techniques as Super-Sets and Tri-Sets and, like
most modern bodybuilders, Pete favors the Weider Split-Routine plan
of exercising upper body and lower body on alternate days.
Here is the exercise program Pete
currently uses...I think you will find it most interesting and if you
will try it for yourself I'm sure it will work just as rapidly and effectively
for you...particularly if you, like Pete, are in the tall man's category.
CHEST
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press
8 sets, 10 reps, 100-pound
dumbbells
LATS
Barbell Pullover For the Lats-Serratus
Tie-In
6 sets, 20 reps, 145 pounds
DELTOIDS
Dumbbell Incline Lateral Raises
6 sets, 12 reps, 35 pound dumbbells
TRICEPS
Supine Triceps French Press
6 sets, 10 reps, 125 pounds
BICEPS
Supine Dumbbells Curls
6 sets, 10 reps, 35 pound dumbbells (Triceps and Biceps work Super-Setted)
WAIST
The "Cruncher". Lying
in position shown, bring elbows as close to touching knees as possible.
5 sets 50 reps
THIGHS
Hack Squat
5 sets, 8 reps, 140 pounds
CALVES
Seated Heel Raise With Barbell
6 sets, 20 reps, 200 pounds
*Article from
Mr. America magazine, March 1962
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