Phily Nuku has been weight training and involved in the Wellington bodybuilding scene since he was a 19 year old lad weighing 78kg. His passion for the sport has been burning for 17 years and now at 36 Phily has become somewhat of a stalwart in the Capital after competing in over 25 shows.
In this 2 part profile of Phily (yes he has alot to say!) we find out more about Phily and ask him what his ultimate goal in bodybuilding.
Occupation: Personal Trainer @ Bodyworks Gym, Wellington
Family: Wife- Natarsha, eldest son- Harley (7) & youngest son Oscar (5).
Height: About 511
Off season weight: 110-115kg, in the past Ive gone as high as 127.5 kg (Not flash!).
Contest weight: 105-98 depending on what part of the contest season Im in.
How many years have you been training? Ive been training on and off for 17 years now. I train (where I work) at Bodyworks gym, which is in Wellington next to the Stadium.
What weight were you when you started Body Building? I joined my first gym not long after I turned nineteen, I was 78 kg soaking wet at that time. Six months later I weighed 98kg.
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How many years have you been competing? I pretty much started competing right away, by age 21 I had become Wellingtons top Junior champion and had already done about 5 shows. Thereafter I took a break from competing for about 6 years while I pursued a career in the Police and got really FAT!
After leaving the Police I got into my Personal Training and it just kind of made sense to return to competitive Body Building, which was always my true passion. So Ive been around for a while now. Ive done more than 25 shows and even Guest posed a few times. I also do school visits, I enjoy posing for the kids- they love it!
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Phily @ NABBA
Nats 06
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Your achievements? Well Ive won some and Ive lost some, but you know- it was never about that for me. While I am a hugely competitive person Id have to say that (to me) my biggest achievement is that, even after all this time- Body Building (after my family) is still my biggest passion. I just love training and of course competing. I also really enjoy helping other people realize their dream of competing, I must of helped over a hundred people get to the stage over the years and this to me- defines my biggest achievement.
How did you feel winning the National title in 06 against some tough competition? Stoked to say the least! I had worked hard to get myself there and was nearly dead on my feet. Even so I couldnt get past this new feeling that I had, that being that despite my big win, my journey had really- only just begun
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Whens your next contest? When will you start preparing for that? My next big comp will be the 2007 NABBA Nationals but I want to start my season by Guest Posing in early August at the Hastings NABBA show. From there Ill qualify at the Wellington for the Nationals. This year I definitely want to contest the Mr. Universe also.
What weight class do you compete in? In the NZFBB I used to compete in the over 90kg Open class, Now that Im a NABBA competitor my class is not measured by weight, rather by height. So Im in the Open tall class (Just I think).
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Phily @ NABBA
Wellington Champs 06
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Whats the highlight of your sporting career so far? There have been many but if I had to pick one, it would be the very 1st time that I won an Overall show at the Wellington NZFBB. On that occasion I posed to Thomas the Tank Engine theme for my then very young Sons. Having them watch their Dad and dance and clap along just made it for me. Harley even came up onstage with me to help me carry my trophies.
Has there been someone whos had a big influence on your bodybuilding career? While there have been many (many) people who have helped me along the way, the most influential person with out a doubt would be Joe Daniel (Uncle Joe). I meet Joe when I started competing as a junior, he took me under his wing and taught me to fly. Of course over the years- like any father/son relationship I would often just know better than him and stop listening, as a result I spent many years floundering about. Now days, when Joe speaks, I listen, I do as Im told and good things happen J. I cant thank Joe enough for his help, he is the kindest and most selfless person that I have ever meet. This is the reason that I feel compelled to help so many people myself, Im forever just trying to pay back my debt. (Pay it forward).
How do you keep check of your weight? I weigh myself daily, I dont like to go over 115kg or loose my top 4 abs. The other thing that helps me stay leaner is competing every year. In the past I would compete biannually only and things would often get out of hand with the longer off seasons.
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Working as PT you have plenty of early starts and work throughout the day, what food is always in your gym bag or fridge at gym?
We have a good little kitchen facility in the staff room here at work, I'd be stuffed without it. Actually I take up about half the fridge on my own and have a double locker next door, that serves as my pantry.
Here's a list of what's in my locker currently.
Oatmeal, 2 big bags.
40 cans of tuna.
A big bag of sultanana.
10 cans of chilli beans.
6 large red Kumara.
Banana's.
18 packets of Uncle Ben's express (wholegrain) rice.
Flax seed oil.
Multi vitamin, Vitamin C and a B supreme.
Max's Daytime Mass, protein powder.
Many cooking containers, utensils and electronic scales for weighing my portions (if I feel like it).
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Phily eats alot to get his
body like a Hulk
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The fridge.
Milk- work is kind enough to supply this for us.
Steak container (3-5 days worth).
Chicken container.
Kumara container.
Cottage cheese 2-3 250g punnets.
Broccoli 2-3 heads.
Green beans 1 bag. (These are typically the only 2 vegies that I'll eat in the off season).
How do you manage your meal times? This is important. The knack here is to ensure that I only work in 2.5 to 3 hours periods at one time. Thereafter I'll take a 15 minute to 1 hour break (depending) to eat and then go on to my next lot of sessions. In short I'll only take on work around my meal times.
Do you cook the night before and what snack foods do you have in your bag if the hunger pang hits?
Yes but not always. Often I'll just cook up 3-4days worth of steak, chicken, kumara- keep them in the fridge and I'll just draw off them as I need to. I cook my vegies, oatmeal and rice on the spot. A meal usually take me about 20 minutes to prepare & consume.
If I ever get caught out, I'll eat Max's "CVGM" protein bars or take on a Max's mass daytime shake and a banana.
In part 2 Phily tells us how he uses all that energy by detailing his Mass Building Training plan!
