Frank Zane
With desire and focus, Frank Zane has always manifested and accomplished his goals. It did not matter whether the endeavor was becoming a better typist in high school or the recipient of the coveted Mr. Olympia for three consecutive years; Zane has demonstrated what can be achieved through positive thinking and a focus that is laser like.
Zane has always had the ability to follow his path to success in spite of those that would doubt him. At the age of fourteen, he began lifting weights and saw the positive results within a short period of time. His impetus was a lack of physical prowess. He had very few supporters and far more critics. Coaches and his father did not provide encouragement. Coaches during the fifties viewed weight training as the facilitating a muscle bound athlete and his slight of build senior high school typing teacher echoed these sentiments suggesting that Zane would never become a good typist due to his muscle bound fingers. Of course, his reaction was to become the best typist and a remarkable student, graduating first in the 1960 graduating class located in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania.
With an impeccable ability to manifest his dreams, Zane continued to develop his physique, sculpting his body with the precision of a master sculptor. He also cultivated his mind by achieving
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Wilkes University, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1964. Throughout his life, educating himself and others has been a synchronized mission that parallels his remarkable success as a bodybuilder. His other degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from California State University-Los Angeles in 1977 and a Masters of Art in Experimental Psychology from California State University-San Bernadino, California 1990.
His bodybuilding achievements are a treatise to an individual who concentrated on every detail leading to success. His physique was lean and symmetrical which was appealing and distinct. His posing routines were virtually flawless. Countless hours of training and analysis of form and symmetry led to his position as one of the most prolific bodybuilders of his era. Some of his titles include:
- 1967-Second Place Mr. America
- 1968-First Place Mr. America and First Place NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe defeating Arnold Schwarzenegger
- 1969-First Place Mr. World
- 1970-First Place NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe
- 1972-First Place Professional Mr. Universe
- 1976-Second Place Mr. Olympia
- 1977-First Place Mr. Olympia
- 1978-First Place Mr. Olympia
- 1979-First Place Mr. Olympia (Third Consecutive Mr. Olympia Title)
- 1980-Third Place Mr. Olympia
- 1982-Second Place Mr. Olympia
- 1983-Fourth Place Mr. Olympia
His resume of bodybuilding awards rank him as one of the most honored athletes in the history of the sport. With no more mountains to climb as a bodybuilder, Zane could have forsaken the health and fitness lifestyle for a less disciplined existence. Instead, he continued to stretch his muscle as a health and fitness icon. He and his wife Christine operated Zane Haven fitness center in Palm Springs, California training thousands from 1981-1998. He and Christine also authored a number of popular health and fitness books including: The Zane Way to a Beautiful Body, Super Bodies in 12 Weeks and Zane Nutrition. He would author and publish Fabulously Fit Forever and authored Frank Zane: Mind Body-The Personal Training Diaries and The Zane Training Manual.
He did not confine his fitness influence to one genre. He invented and patented the Leg Blaster, which develops leg strength while minimizing lower back and knee stress. Zane hosted the television program, Infinite Power Workout, which featured a variety of notable fitness and celebrity guests such as Jack Lalane, Steve Reeves and Joe Weider. In 1998 he began publishing Building the Body Quarterly Magazine which is free of advertising. In 2002 he produced and marketed a fitness DVD titled Train With Zane. He is also a popular speaker and currently provides a seminar that encourages others through Frank's Body Transformation.
Zane is a pragmatist. He realizes that his bodybuilding competition days are over. In fact, he emphasizes that an athlete needs to know when that peak has been reached. "People have imaginary opinions of themselves" states Zane. With over 10,00 photos of himself, Zane has documented proof of his transition to Mr. Olympia and his current physique, which is lean, symmetrical and muscular. A pose captured at the age of 64, included as part of this biography, is a treatise to the benefits of a lifetime of exercise and scientific nutrition.
The state of today's bodybuilding concerns Zane. Unlike his era, which lauded symmetry, definition and balanced proportions, bodybuilders of today are disproportionate and freakish in size. "Young people aren't attracted to the sport. They don't want to look like that drug subculture." Zane's competitive physique relied upon a scientific approach to maximize his potential. In 2006, readers of Flex and Iron Man Magazines were asked which bodybuilders physique would you like to have 24/7. Zane beat Steve Reeves, his idol, Arnold Schwarzenegger and at that time the reigning Mr. Olympia.
Currently, he trains five days a week. His resistance training includes leg work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The upper body is worked on Monday, Wednesday and Friday His highly-defined abdominals are sculpted during each workout. Zane focuses upon each movement during a single lift. He places an emphasis upon perfect lifting form. With a concentrated effort to perform correct form, only one set of an exercise may be necessary. In his exercise DVD, he discusses the need to concentrate upon eccentric or gravity movements. For example, a lifter may neglect the downward motion of a benchpress, when the bar is lowered to the chest. Zane, would emphasize the benefits of lowering the weight in a controlled manner, which will add to overall muscle size and strength and frankly make the lift much more difficult. Zane's mantra, "You only have one chance. Do it the first time perfectly" was espoused to the over 3,000 clients he has personally trained.
His future goals are to wake up tomorrow and enjoy time with his wife and pets. His recommendation for those seeking youth is to contact him. In addition, he recommends maintaining positivism and states, "The more you can remain positive the better. Older people are often fixed in their attitude." His premise asserts that such fixed thinking can lead to older people feeling deceived when long held beliefs are proven false.
A high school and junior high school teacher for 13 years, Zane will continue to teach and inspire others. His dreams will be manifested, as always, through diligence and focused determination.
Portions of this biography were derived from: frankzane.com written by Christine Zane
The Legend of Wellness by Phillipe Matthews
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