Page 15 - NGA NATURALmag 2016 FALL INAUGURAL Issue

Fall 2016
Marlo Diana NGA PRO Bodybuilder from Scranton PA is is a a a a a a a force to to be reckoned with
What makes him so so fierce? His life experience that would have taken an ordinary person off the map I sat down with
Marlo in in early July 2016
and asked him him to to to tell me about what makes him him the man he he is is is today Here is is is his story:
Terri Whitsel (TW): Tell me your beginnings in fitness Marlo Diana (MD): I I began working out at at the the age of 9 at at a a a a a a a a a a local gym and I I loved it right from the the the beginning My first bodybuilding com- petition was was at the the age of 15 I I even judged a a a a a a a a a show when I I was was 16
in in Marina DelRay California TW: Who were were some of the people you you you trained with
when you you were were young?
MD: Barry Demay and The Flexing Dutchman to to to name a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few I I had the opportunity to to to train in in in California for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a year Then I I I came back to to to PA and won the Mr Jr Pennsylvania competition I’ve been addicted to this sport ever since TW: So tell me about your setback MD: In 2000 I I was was involved in in a a a a a a a a serious car accident The result was was was a a a a a a a a a a a compound fracture and a a a a a a a a a brain injury I I was was bedridden for 4 months I I had reconstructive surgery surgery to to restore my left quad and and brain surgery surgery and and ended up having 4 total surgeries TW: As a a body-
builder being bed- ridden for 4 months must have been brutal MD: The physical aspect was obvi- ously extremely difficult I experi- enced rapid weight gain after surgery I had had to to learn to to walk again and also had had to to re-learn basic motor skills due to to to my brain injury TW: How did it affect you mentally?
MD: The mental mental aspect was actually the hardest part I started to become
Marlo resides in Scranton PA where he he owns and operates a a a a a a a a pizza shop has an an active acting career and of course competes as an an NGA Pro depressed as as you can imagine I began to ques- tion my self-worth was all this work that lied ahead of me even worth worth it? I I felt like a a a a a a a a failure I I had put so much work into building my body and to to to have to to to all all taken away in in in in in an an an instant I I felt felt like life was was just stacked against me I I felt felt all all my training up until then was was for nothing TW: How did you overcome the the mental aspect of recovery?
MD: I remember my doctor was involved in in in in fitness and weightlifting When we we we we were talking one day about my weight weight gain gain I I told him that if I I ever got on on stage again people would throw eggs at at at at at me me He said to to me me “That’s great eat eat them!” It was people like my my doctor that helped me pick myself up and keep pushing forward daily I I could not do it it on my my my own I I needed positive people in my life TW: When did you get back on stage?
MD: I I returned to the stage stage in in 2004 and I I turned turned Pro in in in 2009 My comeback made me me more aware of and and in-tune with
other athletes that have experienced physical and and mental setbacks It actually helped me me me grow as a a a a a a a a a a a a a person and enabled me me to to help help help others who dealt with
depression This experience has helped to to to learn to to eat cleaner include more antioxidants and leafy greens in in in in my diet I I thank God for giving me me the strength to to deal with
everything I I also had a a a a a a a a a a a a a great mentor Earl Earl “The Pearl” Snyder Over the past 10 years Earl Earl has taught me me me to to be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bet- ter person mentally and physically By following his principles I learned to heal heal the the healthy way He taught me one of of the the the most important pieces of of the the bodybuilding puzzle: t’s t’s not how how how big you you you are it’s how how how good you you you you look and and how how how you you you you present your package He taught me to to be humble and and to to realize that I am a a a a a a a a a winner just by stepping on stage TW: What advice would you give to to other competitors who have experienced setbacks?
MD: Expect Expect to to to get get knocked down Expect Expect to to to get get back back up You will will be stronger just for going through it it Everyone will will experience a a a a a a a setback whether it it be physical mental job related a a a a a a a a a relationship or or family Believe in in yourself and your your self-worth Do not remain a a a a a victim rise
to to be the victor The only time you you you lose is is when you give up n NGA NATURAL mag 15