LARRY VINETTE

City/Country:
Montreal, Canada

Occupation:
Coach

We understand you have known our very own Editor-in-Chief for many years. Describe your relationship with him and how it evolved over the years. 
I believe I first met Rodney way back in 2006 when I’d won my second world championship in Toronto. I’ve always known him to be a class act, always ready and willing to help out and feature new upcoming fitness athletes in his publication so we could get some exposure. He is definitely one of the good guys in the fitness industry and one that no one speaks badly about. 

You had a very successful physique competitor career over the past 30 years. What was that like? What was your biggest challenge?
My very first bodybuilding competition was back in 1994. I ended up winning my class, the overall title, and also the best choreography of the show. That kinda fueled me to keep going to see how far I could take this. I ended up winning 5 National Championships, and two World Championships and earned pro cards in five different physique federations: WNSO, Musclemania, PNBA, FAME, and IFBB.

My highest honour was winning the very first FAME Pro World Championship in 2005. I’m proudest of that one because FAME was a drug-tested federation that actually drug-tested their athletes for real. I’ve always said that the best way to tell the competency of a physique coach is to see how far he can take a competitive bodybuilder without the use of any steroids. The challenges are much greater when training is natural vs. enhanced. If you don’t do everything right when training drug-free, you end up losing a lot of muscle mass and look small onstage. You can get away with lots more when enhanced and not lose too much muscle. I’ve coached myself to winning two world Championships being 100% natural and I’m very proud of that accomplishment. Once I’d reached my natural genetic potential, I went for my IFBB pro card and got it in 2012. I tore my left tricep the year after that while training in Las Vegas during the Olympia weekend, so that set me back a couple of years. I ended up competing in two IFBB pro shows. The first was in San Antonio Texas in 2015 where I missed the top 5 by one point behind the late John Meadows, and in Vancouver 2016 where I placed 7th in the 212 category. I am now retired from competitive bodybuilding.

How and when did you move your fitness competitor career into a business? How was this transition for you?
I was already a full-time coach for two years before I did my first competition. Since I was making a name for myself by winning competitions, that brought about more physique athletes who wanted me to coach them. Back when I started coaching competitive physique athletes, we could count on one hand the coaches who specialized in contest prep. Now there are a lot more. I’ve now transitioned my business to guys over 40 who still want to continue making progress and live their best lives for a long time. I’m very picky about who I take on for physique competitions now. You have to be very coachable and have a good mindset in order for me to consider taking you on as a client for competitions. 

You are one of the best fitness coaches in North America for Men over 40 years old. How did you gravitate and excel in this area?
Now that I am over 40, and have been for more than 10 years, I now want to help guys who either were in great shape before but what they were doing back then just isn’t working for them anymore, or they’ve just never been able to check that off their bucket list and want to see themselves in great shape with more energy before it’s too late. I want to help men become better role models for their kids and the next generation, and better lovers to their wives. I want to help them put guys half their age to shame when walking shirtless on a beach. I want them to become confident AF and stay the alpha wolf in their pack for a long time to come.

If I am a middle-aged man who slowly let myself go over the years but now I want to finally start to take care of myself. What would you say to me?
I would do a lifestyle audit with you, and ask you what you’ve done in the past, what you’re doing now, and where you want to see yourself in the next 3 months, 12 months, and 24 months. 

If I want to learn more about your programs and offers, how can I get more information?
You can book a free 45-minute discovery call with me here

Training Plan:
These days I’m doing an upper body/lower body split, training 2 days on/1 day off. My training routine changes every 4 weeks.

DAY 1: Upper Body

Exercise                                                   sets                    reps                          rest                                   tempo
A1) Pull-ups                                            4                          6-8                           90                                     4010
A2) Seated DB overhead press   4                          6-8                           90                                     4010

B1) One-arm DB rows                     3                         10-12                       60                                     2011
B2) Flat DB press                               3                          10-12                       60                                     3010

C1) Incline DB curls                          3                          10-12                      60                                      3010
C2) Flat DB tricep extension       3                          10-12                      60                                      3010

D) One-arm cable lateral raise   3                          10-12                      90                                      3010

Nutritional Plan:
I eat 3-4 meals per day, mainly low-carb, high-fat. I do not count calories anymore apart from making sure I have enough protein which is set at around 1.25g/lbs. 

MEAL 1: Grass-fed beef + handful of nuts + bowl full of berries
MEAL 2: Elk meat + raw carrots + avocado
MEAL 3: Wild-caught salmon + asparagus + butter
MEAL 4: Chicken thighs + spinach + olive oil + balsamic vinegar + chopped pecans + raspberries + goat’s cheese

Do you prefer to take and recommend all-natural (no sugar, no artificial colours/flavours/sweeteners) supplements or supplements with artificial flavours and sweeteners? And Why? 
I prefer not to use any artificial sweeteners/colours/flavours. I’ll use natural spices. My motto is the same as Jack Lalanne’s; “If man made it, don’t eat it”. 

I have seen countless clients over the past 3 decades resume their fat loss journey once they cut out the artificial sweeteners. I don’t care what science says on this topic, nor what Layne Norton says. I’ll stick to what I’ve seen for myself. I can get you leaner if you stop the artificial sweeteners altogether. 

Please describe the importance of mental health
“Men sana in corpore sano” (a healthy mind in a healthy body) has always been one of my favourite mottos. I’ve found that the best way to get out of depression, increase self-esteem, and canalize your stress is to exercise. When you prioritize yourself and show up to your loved ones at 100% of yourself both physically and mentally, you become a fun person to be around. You aren’t draining everyone’s energy, but are the one energizing others and becoming a good influence on them…becoming a good role model… what is more gratifying than to see that through your positive actions and mindset, you’re able to influence others into doing something positive to change their life around and help them live their best life, and pass it forward. Working out is the best therapy and drug.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Leave it to the professionals

What does success look like for you?
Success to me is knowing that I’ve made a positive impact on someone’s life.

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