One on One with Mahmoud al Durrah

Interview with Mahmoud Al Durrah and David Otterbein

DO: You have quite the story, Durrah. For the fans who don’t know you, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what got you into bodybuilding?

MD: Thanks David. I started bodybuilding back In Egypt when I was an engineering student. Just before I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I won the Egyptian University and Collegiate Nationals after trying five times. When I graduated, I moved to [the United Arab] Emirates to be a sales engineer, then I received the green light to land in Canada, and as Steve Harvey said, I left everything, and took the jump! After that, it was your typical immigrant story; I moved to Canada four years ago to Quebec, didn’t speak French, couldn’t find work for the longest time, and had two kids to feed. I cleaned cars, did dishes, worked horrible jobs … and it was very hard at first, but I vouch this is the greatest country on the planet. Your hard work pays off, and if you pay your dues and stick to your vision, it will repay you. Currently I’m a two-time national champion, I coach people all over the world including some of Canada’s top athletes, and I’m the owner of my own supplement line, Durabolic Nutrition.

DO: What were your meals like leading up to the 2016 CBBF nationals? Can you show the fans what you would eat in a typical day?

MD: I wouldn’t use me as an example; I have a very fast metabolism. If I skip a meal, that’s one pound down the next day. My breakfast would consist of four whole eggs, 300 grams of white rice, and then typically white rice and chicken throughout the day. I was doing 300 to 400 grams of carbs leading up to the show. We tried lowering it one week to 200, and in a few days I looked horribly smaller.

DO:  You won the 2015 CBBF nationals in your weight class. You came in looking bigger and fuller than we have ever seen you. What types of things did you do differently to achieve this look? (Break down training program)

MD: Honestly, it was more food. My drug protocol was relatively very similar to last year—I have no issues talking about that. I always had a problem digesting carbs. But over the last two years, we practiced slowly increasing day by day. So in 2015, I’d get bloated eating more than 300 grams of carbs a day. My carb load-up was 350 in 2015. This year, I’d go up to 450 grams of carbs a day with no issues, and my carb-up was close to 600. A small piece of advice for people: Eat what you can eat easier. So, for example, fish for me is just brutal! I can’t stomach it and it would shut my appetite down, as would oatmeal. So this year I just did chicken breasts and eggs, and for carbs, only white rice. And for protein, chicken. Eighteen weeks of chicken breasts. I’m pretty sure societies of chickens have me on some list now.

DO: Who are your heroes and source of inspiration?

MD: Ali, bomaye! Ali, bomaye! May his soul rest in peace. His voice echoed in all of our hearts at some point of our lives. That’s what success is. It’s not money, it’s not fame. It’s making people feel a certain way. Making others feel inspired when they need to be. Bringing out the best in people. That’s success. And he is the epitome of that.

DO: When trying to cut down, do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?

MD: Normal steady StairMaster, 30 to 45 minutes. Not more.

DO: What are your plans for the rest of 2016? Will we see you back onstage, or have you decided to go into off-season mode?

- David! That’s supposed to be a secret! At least buy me dinner first. I’m contemplating Legacy Cup in Edmonton. I won in Edmonton twice; it’s really my lucky place. And each of those times I won, I travelled alone. I’d also be going alone if I did it, since Wifey will be back in school. And I always wanted to turn pro before 30. The show is one week before my 30th birthday! What do you think? Should I do it?