You’d only read the words ‘pizza’ and ‘bodybuilder’ together when a bodybuilder mentions their holy ‘cheat meal’. But Paul Jayilian throws a dumbbell in the works. Paul was recently awarded Arnold Champion in the Masters category (40-49 years old) in Melbourne, leaving 21 other men in his dust. He achieved this despite working full-time as the owner of Yummy Pizza and Kebabs in Frankston (temptation central).
Frankly Frankston Magazine asked Paul how on earth he achieved such a feat while the smell of pizza and kebabs awoke his taste buds. “It was hard, but I’m also mentally very strong,” says Paul. And you’d have to be after competing for nine years in just under 40 shows and coming in the top two every time.
After 22 weeks of a strict diet and exercise regimen, Paul competed in four bodybuilding competitions. First, he competed in two Melbourne competitions, then two international competitions giving him world titles from the Melbourne Arnold Classic and Kahma Classic. Paul also enjoys training others for competitions among his own training and pizza-making duties, so you could say he’s a superman.
He achieved all this while maintaining 3 per cent body fat at all times. How, you ask? His wife, Gladys, made it her mission to always have her hubby well fed. She cooked seven meals a day, with the last meal at 1.30am (steak was compulsory). The daily meal plan didn’t stray from the following: a breakfast of eggs and steak, then throughout the day meals of chicken or fish with rice or sweet potato. These meals contained no oil or sauce; he only allowed a little salt and pepper and oregano for flavour (for the whole 22 weeks, don’t forget). How amazing must those yummy cheesy pizzas have looked?
Pre-competition training was as strict, with cardio in the morning and weight training in the afternoon. Now in his off season, Paul is adamant that his abs will remain visible and he’ll be in shape all year round. “If I look in the mirror and struggle to see my abs, it’s time for change.”
Paul credits his wife’s support, and highly values the support from Sarah Andersen at Fithealth Nutrition Frankston for providing him with all of his supplements. Supplements are vital to body builders, and are very important to consume everyday to achieve optimum performance of your body, as well as look the best.
We had to ask him what his first meal was after the strict diet - and oh boy, he didn’t disappoint: pizza, burgers, kebabs, chocolate, ice cream and so many more sugar coma-inducing treats. “I always look forward to it, and I always say I’ll take it easy, but it never happens – I just jump in and feed the cravings until I explode.”
It’s now time to relax and eat pizza every night, right? Wrong. The next competition involves representing Australia to compete for the world title at the WFF World Championships at Cyprus November 4. The best from each country will come together to fight for the honour of being the best and biggest.
Until November gets closer, he’s down to five or six meals a day, but he’ll allow himself a treat or two. Nothing too crazy because he’s got the biggest competition ahead of him. One day off a week, and only one training session a day will also become the norm, but no cardio (who likes cardio anyway?).
YUMMY PIZZAS & KEBABS
T: 9789 8955
A: Shop 4, 300 Heatherhill Rd, Frankston