Articles Bios & Interviews With Great Genetic Potential Comes Great Responsibility: An Exclusive Interview With IFBB Pro Roman Fritz
With Great Genetic Potential Comes Great Responsibility: 
An Exclusive Interview With IFBB Pro Roman Fritz
If you were asked to make a checklist of what it takes to be a championship bodybuilder it might look something like this:
1.) Elite Genetics
2.) Dense Muscularity
3.) Classical Symmetry
4.) Relentless Work Ethic
5.) Championship Mentality
You can double check the boxes in each category for twenty-five year old German bodybuilding sensation Roman Fritz. After qualifying for his pro card with a dominating performance at the German National Bodybuilding Championships Roman now has his sights set on bringing his devastating combination of classical symmetry, razor sharp conditioning, and freaky dense muscle to an IFBB stage. I got a chance to speak to Roman just prior to the show to find out how he managed to pack on over one hundred pounds of lean muscle, what his future plans are, and much more in this Rx Muscle exclusive interview.
Q.) You obviously have incredible genetic gifts, but great physiques are never built without hard work. Could you give use an example of what your current training split looks like?
A.)
Day 1 am: chest pm: traps, shoulders
Day 2 am: back pm: arms, forearms
Day 3 am: claves, hams pm: more hams, quads
Day 4: off or repeat
Something similar to that has always been my split over the majority of my training career. Dave told me to cut down to one session per day, 5 days per week. I´m trying hard to get into that schedule, but it´s difficult, I love training!
Q.) How would y
ou describe your training style? HIIT? High Volume? A mix of both?
A.) I mix things up here and there, but I´m definitely an Arnold style trainer when it comes to working sets. I train heavy (4-10 reps), though. One thing I found out is that certain bodyparts respond better to a lower volume. Take my calves for example. Since I started training them HIT style and they blew up, but before that they´ve always lacked a little bit. After two years of heavy weight and only two sets per workout (two exercises) they are finally getting there.
Q.) One of the things that separates bodybuilding from other sports is the level of commitment and dedication it takes to be successful. What did you find to be the most difficult aspect of the sport when you first began?
A.)The most difficult thing for me has been, and still is to this day, overcoming my fear of getting to far out of shape. I like to look good and I have a certain image of myself in mind that I want to see in the mirror with regards to leanness. So sometimes I think I am undereating in order to make sure that this image doesn´t blur out. I´m sure that this approach has slowed down my progress a bit over the last few years, but my appetite is not a problem at all. I love food and I can put down a lot if I allow myself to. Dave has helped me a lot with this issue and now my mindset is starting to change. I can feel and see it.
Q.) One of the things that make your physique special is that you don't have any glaring weaknesses. In your opinion, whats your greatest weakness as a competitor? What are your plans to improve it?
A.) The bodypart I would like to improve the most is my back. I´ve been working hard on my mind-muscle connection, therefore I´ve decreased the weight on all the lifts by a good 30%. I also start every training session with a type of pullover to pre-exhaust my lats. And, of course, I stick to basic mass building exercises like bent over rows, T-bar rows, dumbbell rows and heavy Deads.
Q.) Another unique feature of your physique is that your walk around sporting a nearly stage-ready physique. How are you able to maintain such low levels of bodyfat year round while still managing to make improvements at the rate you have so far?
A.) I guess I have a pretty fast metabolism, at least that´s what 
Dave has told me. His, Juan Morel´s and mine seem to be almost at the same speed. I´m currently doing a crazy offseason diet that Dave has given me. I´ve realized that I can get away with a lot more food, and still stay leaner than I had thought. I´m gaining weight and I´m staying ripped at the same time. I love it! :)
Q.) Since you began training you've managed to pack on well over 100 lbs. of lean, dense muscle. In order to make those types of gains it requires incredible consistency in your diet. Could you give us an example of what a typical day of off-season eating looks like for you?
A.) Here´s what Dave has written out for me and I´ve been following this meal plan religiously:
1. 6 whole omega eggs, 6 extra egg whites
75g carbs from oatmeal
2. 75gr from brown rice
10oz. steak
2 tps. Mac oil
TRAININGà Shake: 60g Whey isolate, 40g Waxy maize
3. 75gr carbs from rice cakes
55gr protein from egg whites
1/3 cup almonds
4. 60gr carbs from sweet potato
10oz. turkey
2 tps. Mac oil
5. same as 2.
TRAININGà shake see above
6. same as 3.
7. same as 4.
8 same as 4.
These are the clean meals that I have to eat. On top of that Dave wants me
to have 1 pint of ice cream every day and a 9th meal of burger and fries, like Mc D´s for example. His suggested order for me is: “Double quarter pounder with cheese (hold the pickles and onion) with large fries and two apple pies.” I´m not doing the Mc D´s every day, since it would be way too expensive for me, but I definitely get that 9th meal in! A lot of times I´ll visit my mother and have her cook something up for me. A big Schnitzel, meat loaf or something like that.
Q.) Up to this point you've been incredibly successful as an amateur, placing in every show you've entered thus far. The next logical step for you is to enter into a pro-qualifier and attempt to earn your IFBB Pro Card. When could fans expect to see you onstage again if you do earn your pro card?
A.) My third place at the Arnold and the overall at the German Nationals qualified me for pro status. I´m looking to put on as much size as possible right now and then maybe pick a pro show in 2014. FIBO pro show would be great because of the travel aspect.
Q.) It's been said that we learn the most in life from our failures, not fro.jpg)
m our successes. Despite the fact that you've had so much success so quickly do you think there's the possibility that you haven't pushed yourself as hard as you possibly could since you've never been the underdog?
A.) No way in hell! I actually have a mantra that I keep repeating to myself when I´m at the gym or at a very tough point in my diet. I say to myself: “no one else, no one else, no one else…” This gives me the strength to endure more pain, suffering and torture than anybody else, to make sure I achieve my goals.
Q.) During your Heavy Muscle Radio interview you mentioned that you battled body images issues when you were younger. This is something that seems to be true for a lot of the competitors in the bodybuilding industry. In your opinion, what is it about bodybuilding that tends to attract people with these sorts of issues?
A.)Like you said those people have an issue with their body´s image. Weight training is a way of changing that image for the better. On the other hand, once you start entering the competitive side of our sport, those issues might even get worse because of the additional outside pressure that is now being put on you. I´ve seen that happen a lot, especially to women.
Q.) If someone would like to contact you for guest posing or potential sponsorships, how can they reach you?
A.) My email is [email protected]. I also have a Facebook Fanpage: Roman Fritz (official)
Q.) Imagine a mad scientist locked you Markus Ruhl, Dennis Wolfe and Ronny Rockel in a room together. He tells you all that you have to fight to the death and that the fate of the world is at stake. Who’s the last man standing?
A.) Well, I know Dennis has been into some kind of martial arts when he was younger, but I´m not sure if he´s still able to perform any moves at his size. I´m not really into fighting, I´m a pretty laid back guy, so I will leave this question open for the RX community to discuss on the boards ;)
To quote the great American philosopher Uncle Ben from Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In bodybuilding “With great genetic potential comes great responsibility.” Romans genetic gifts are undeniable, but it’s his mentality, his relentless desire for self improvement that sets him apart. It takes dedication, routine, and hard work to build physiques – and to build character as well. Look for Roman to take hit the stage again in 2014 to show the world what his dedication, hard work, and character have built.
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