Interview with IFBB Athlete Valantis Dokos

This article is followed by an interview. This time with a bodybuilder, the IFBB athlete Valantis Dokos.

To person:

• Name: Chrysovalantis Dokos
• Year of birth: 1982
• Size: 178 cm
• Nationality: German / Greek
• Place of residence: Iserloh
• Weight: Offseason 110 kgPre Contest 98 kg
• Job: vet
• Training since: August 2002 (before that only half measures ... :)
• Aims: Become an IFBB Pro

Valantis Dokos in an interview with toppharm-online.com Athletik:

1a. Hello Valantis! How did you get into bodybuilding and how long have you been doing this sport?

Valantis Dokos: At the age of 20 I got my hands on a “MuscleMag” magazine *. Immediately on the same day I changed my life so that one day I could achieve my dream of becoming a bodybuilding professional and a very good one.

* American bodybuilding and fitness magazine.

1b. What drives you, how do you motivate yourself and do you have a mentor?

Valantis Dokos: As a person, I am very determined and always give everything so that I don't “fail”. My mentor is also my coach at the same time, Dennis James. He's very motivating and the fact that he believes in me gives me an extra boost.

2. You are a veterinarian by profession. How do you combine your job, the high amount of training in sports and the equally time-consuming effort for a performance-optimized diet. Can you briefly describe your daily routine for us? What does your typical training week look like?

Valantis Dokos: I can combine the profession of vet and intensive training at the same time, because I have my own practice (Tierartzpraxis Dokos in Iserlohn). So I can organize my working hours myself. My training week always varies. Depending on which phase I am in. When I go through an intense phase, I train 5 times a week, mostly Monday through Friday. I rest on the weekend.

3a. What is your life like as a bodybuilder besides your job? Do you take every competition and show that you can get with you or are you more relaxed and looking for the highlights?

Valantis Dokos: So far, I've only had targeted competitions in my sights. My goal was to win every championship, which is of course not easy. I have now changed my mindset and plan to compete in many more competitions to increase my chances of getting a “big” win.

3b. When was your first competition? Were you satisfied with your placement and form and what experience did you have from this competition?

Valantis Dokos: My first competition was in 2011, the German IFBB International Newcomer Championship and on the same evening the Heavy Weight Cup. At that time I won my class up to 90 kg, the overall victory in the Newcomer Championship and, to top it off, won the Heavy Weight. It was a unique feeling, the best that could have happened. My form was very good for the circumstances at the time, but if you compare it with the current form, you immediately notice that I have improved.

4. Is this how you imagined the sport and the effort involved in it? There are always people who start to “do” bodybuilding and think that with a little training and a lot of food, you can become Mister O. Others think you go to the gym twice a day for a few hours each time, eat mostly supplements, constantly appear at competitions and shows, and no longer need to go to work.

Valantis Dokos: This is how I imagined the sport and the associated effort from the beginning. I knew that it was very demanding and I was aware of what to expect. People really think it's very easy. But that's not the case. The genetics play an "alpha" role, whether you can achieve good ornaments or not. Genetics and hard, consistent work are sure to lead to success.

5. What improvements in your performance / form do you plan for the near future? What are your long-term goals?

Valantis Dokos: I am currently in a "mode" of rest :), simply regenerate and try to give my body a break. I think it's very important to give your nervous system a break so that you can perform well again later. At the beginning of 2016, I plan to attack again very dynamically. Will try to gain mass, build muscle in the right places so that I can improve my symmetry. My goal is still to win the Pro Card *.

* In order to be able to start with the professionals in the international IFBB Proleague, you need a professional license, the so-called "Pro Card" (professional card). The biggest competitions or professional championships in the IFBB Proleague are e.g. the well-known "Arnold Classic" and the "Mr. Olympia ".

6. What does your training look like at the moment if you take it easy? Could you perhaps give a brief overview of how you otherwise organize your training?

Valantis Dokos: Due to my time off, I'm currently training very irregularly and not as intensively. I have to admit that I always change my training, never keep a plan for more than a week. This may sound a bit paradoxical, but my body never adjusts itself to getting used to it. So my training is very instinctive, I decide which exercise I will do at short notice, only when I have entered the training area.

7a. What is your diet like in the mass building phase (off season)? Can you briefly tell us your calories, fats, proteins and carbohydrates in your nutrition plan?

Valantis Dokos: In my offseason I eat a lot or try to eat a lot, but the nutrient sources are very clean. Every now and then I “sin” like every other person. My protein is around 300 grams. However, they are carbohydrates sometimes very high for me, up to 1000 grams. Fat is very moderate, around 60 to 80 grams and these are predominantly unsaturated fatty acids.

7b. And what about the on-season nutrition for the competitive muscle definition?

Valantis Dokos: The nutrient ratios change in the diet. Try to keep my fat to a minimum. The protein remains about the same as in the offseason. The carbohydrates vary depending on the shape, but of course a lot less than in the offseason. I usually start my diet with around 700 grams of carbohydrates.

8. You are a “Team Scitec” athlete. What are your top 5 supplements from Scitec Nutrition that you also use yourself?

Valantis Dokos: I am very lucky, of Scitec Nutrition to be sponsored. It's really great that Scitec offers a wide range of supplements. My top 5 soups are:

• 100% Whey Isolat whey protein isolate microfiltered and ultrafiltered from cross-flow
• Vitargo, a high molecular weight maltodextrin carbohydrate
• Amino Magic with 10-component amino acid complex
• Lean Boss Transformer-Matrix
• Winter X, my first choice for the winter to protect my immune system. Try it, it's worth it!

9. What is your next competition or your next competition / show appearance?

Valantis Dokos: My next competition will only take place when I feel physically ready to get the best out of it and that would be victory. It will definitely be an international competition, like the Mr. Olympia Amateur, Arnold Classic or Ben Weider Cup, all competitions where you can win the professional ticket.

10. Three valuable tips from you that you would like to pass on to our readers?

Valantis Dokos: 3 valuable tips that I would like to pass on to the readers:

1. Please take care of your health. If you have no competition ambitions (realistic), you should take everything a little easier.
2. Dreams are not only there to remain dreams, but also to be realized. Believe in yourself and be patient, you will be rewarded one day.
3. Every body is unique, every person functions differently. There are guidelines to follow, but everyone has to find out for themselves which diet or exercise style suits them. If you see success, then you should stick with this method. Why change something when you are making progress with it?

Thank you Valantis! Good luck and success for your further goals and competitions!

If you want to find out more about Valantis Dokos, you can find more information and current pictures on his fan pages:

• Facebook: Valantis Dokos Ifbb Athlete
• Instagram: valantisdokos
• YouTube Channel: Valantis Dokos

If you enjoyed the interview with IFBB athlete Valantis Dokos, please leave a comment.

We at toppharm-online.com Athletik are always open to interviews with professionals and top amateurs from the fitness, weight training and bodybuilding scene, just us.

Pictures: © Scitec Nutrition, Valantis Dokos, Max Cameo (cover picture)