In the Ask Alessandro series, I field your questions on topics such as training, lifestyle, and fitness. If you would like to submit a question for a future post, please click here.
Special thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this edition of Ask Alessandro! Now, onto the questions:
Question: Who are your role models in bodybuilding, including past and present?
Answer: In the past, one of the most important for me was Steve Reeves. I remember this because when I was a child, I used to look at very old-school bodybuilding magazines.
I remember Steve Reeves even before Arnold, and that kind of physique looked like a warrior, like a Greek god.
Then, of course, there was the era of Arnold, and that really impressed me — especially because he is from Austria, which is close to my town and close to my country.
I am impressed by athletes who not only have excellent physiques, but also strong mindsets, values, and the way they approach life.
For current bodybuilders, the answer is clear for me. One of the best right now is Chris Bumstead.
I don’t know him very personally — I’ve only talked to him a few times — but what he shares, especially on social media, feels very real. It doesn’t feel like marketing.
His values, and the way he speaks in deeper conversations about principles, are very close to mine and to the kind of person I want to become in the future.
Question: What do people misunderstand about the lifestyle of a bodybuilder?
Answer: I think one of the biggest misunderstandings comes from how people see bodybuilding through the media.
I travel all over the world, and every country has a different perception. A lot of that comes from how things are communicated. Sometimes the media presents bodybuilding as something dangerous, or they share information that is not really accurate. So people start to believe that this lifestyle is extreme or unhealthy.
But one of the main mistakes people make is how they imagine the daily life of a bodybuilder.
They think we just go to the gym, eat chicken and rice, never go out, never go to restaurants, and don’t really live life. They see it as something very boring.
Of course, it’s about priorities.
When it’s time to compete, especially in the last month or month and a half before a show, everything becomes very focused. You need to give 100% of your energy, and at that point your energy is already low. So yes, during that phase it becomes more isolated — training, resting, and following the plan very strictly.
But that’s only a short period.
A year has twelve months. Outside of that phase, it’s important to find balance. You can compete, but also enjoy life and live normally.
People always ask me if I only eat chicken and rice, but it’s not true. I go to restaurants, and it’s actually very easy to stay on track. You can enjoy dinner with friends and still eat clean. And eating clean doesn’t mean being on a strict diet — it means taking care of yourself.
You can eat many different foods—grilled fish, grilled meat, vegetables, rice. There are always options.
Sometimes people think bodybuilders don’t live, but I think it’s the opposite. We wake up early, we follow a routine, we take care of our sleep. For me, it’s a high-quality lifestyle.
People misunderstand it because they only see the gym part, but in reality it’s a very structured and productive way of living.
Question: Outside of bodybuilding, what are your main interests or passions?
Answer: Outside of bodybuilding, I really enjoy traveling.
My home country of Italy is beautiful in terms of landscapes, food, and culture, and I also like to experience different places around the world. I enjoy discovering new environments, new cultures — places you might only visit once in your life.
I also really enjoy food. When I’m not competing, I like to go out and have different experiences, like Michelin-star restaurants. Most of the time I cook for myself, so when I have the chance, I enjoy going out and experiencing high-level cuisine.
What I like about it is how chefs can create incredible flavors with simple ingredients. And many times, it’s still quite clean — not heavy or full of junk food.
Question: How do you get to travel so much, and how do you decide where to go?
Answer: This is a good question.
Most of the time, I just follow what life puts in front of me. But now I think I’m more aware and more selective when I choose where to travel.
Of course, I combine it with my competitions and my business. If I see an opportunity to grow — myself, my brand, or my fitness community — then it makes sense for me to go there.
Right now, I’m also focused on developing my brand more in the direction of longevity, health, and fitness. So travel becomes part of that. For example, now we are partnering with a gym in Las Vegas. If I didn’t travel, I would never create these kinds of connections or take those first steps.
For me, it’s also about sharing my point of view. I want to show people my approach to bodybuilding, but also to longevity and health. It’s a beautiful sport, and I don’t want to keep that only in my country — I want to bring it worldwide.
So I try to build a community around this, not just locally, but internationally.
Question: Is there a place you’ve always wanted to visit, but haven’t been able to yet?
Answer: Yes — Japan.
It’s one of my dream places to travel. I’ve read a lot about it, and I think the people are very kind, very disciplined, and very respectful.
I really want to go there.
Question from a reader in Mexico: What is your next competition?
Answer: Right now, we are in the first part of the season.
At the beginning of the year, I put the shows I want to do on my calendar. But at the same time, I also have to take care of my work, my business, and everything around me. Like I said before, you have to be smart and not become obsessed with competing, because there are competitions almost every weekend.
So I focus on the important shows — like the Mr. Olympia, the Arnold Classic, and other high-level competitions.
For the next few weeks, my plan is to compete in Pittsburgh at the end of May. It’s about five weeks out. It’s a very tough show — one of the most important after the Olympia and the Arnold Classic. The lineup is always very strong, with top Olympia athletes.
I’ve received good feedback from the judges, and I know my structure is a bit different from shorter athletes. But as I improve, I believe I can be very competitive — maybe top three, maybe even higher. We’ll see.
Pittsburgh is about 80% confirmed, because I also have New York around the same time, and I’m not 100% sure yet.
For me, it’s important to show up better every time I compete — even just 0.5% or 1% better than the last show. If I feel that my condition or my form is not at that level, I prefer to skip and take more time, rather than step on stage not at my best.
So the plan right now is Pittsburgh. If not, then Miami. After Miami, Legion, and then a couple of shows in Europe. After that, I’ll take a short break before the second part of the season.
Question from Price in Thailand: How do you manage your masculinity to not be influenced by the toxic alpha male culture?
Answer: This is a good question.
For me, when we talk about masculinity or the idea of the “alpha male,” it comes down to being secure in yourself.
I’m the type of person who doesn’t really care about other people’s opinions. I have a very clear idea in my mind of who I want to be, where I want to go, and what my goals are. Because of that, it’s very hard for other people to affect me or bring me down.
In that sense, I feel unbeatable — because I don’t give up on my vision or on the person I want to become.
If you are secure in who you are, and your intentions are clear, good, and honest, then you just have to keep moving forward, one step at a time, without stopping.
There will be good days and bad days. Sometimes people will try to stop you or doubt you. But you can’t allow anyone to stop your path or your vision.
The most important thing is that the type of person you are becoming is something positive.
I know it’s not always easy. Many people are more sensitive, and sometimes they need support — and that’s okay.
But one thing to remember is that you are not alone.
Even in your worst days, you are not alone. I’ve been through those moments myself. I’ve had difficult days, but I made the decision to keep going anyway.
For me, that’s the best advice I can give: don’t stop. Keep moving forward, even on the hard days.
Question from a reader in Germany: Do you have something like an autograph address?
Answer: Yes, it’s possible to get something signed.
The best way is to meet me in person at events. I do meet and greets where we can take photos, talk, and I can sign anything directly for you.
For example, I’ll be at FIBO in Cologne next weekend at the stand of my sponsor, VAST. We’ll have a lot going on there, so if you’re there, come by and say hello.
You can also reach out to me through direct messages on Instagram, but I don’t always see everything or respond right away — so in person is always the easiest and best way.
Question: How do you approach cardio? What types do you do and what purpose does it serve for your training?
Answer: I usually do cardio in the morning as part of my routine, because I like that feeling of moving my body.
To be honest, I’m a bit lazy when it comes to waking up early — that’s the hardest part. It’s not always easy to get out of bed and start cardio. But I like to push myself.
Typically, I do around 25–30 minutes fasted in the morning. I keep my heart rate around 110–120 bpm, not higher, because I don’t want to stress my nervous system.
I always adjust step by step. If I see my weight is not dropping, I might increase the cardio a little — maybe five more minutes. Or sometimes I don’t increase the cardio, and instead I reduce my carbs slightly.
So I make small adjustments, little by little, depending on how my body responds.
Usually, I do cardio six days a week.
Question: How do you stay motivated during difficult periods, like injuries, low energy, or when you just don’t feel like training?
Answer: In my journey, I’ve had some issues with my body — not major injuries, but things that tried to slow down or affect my preparation.
For me, the correct word is not motivation.
Motivation is not something you should wait for. You shouldn’t procrastinate and wait until you feel motivated, because motivation comes after you start moving. It comes when you take action, when you set goals, and when you begin to see results.
So don’t wait for motivation.
Instead, try to analyze the situation and be smart.
Some people become obsessed with competing, but if you have an injury, you need to take care of your recovery first. The shows will always be there — there are competitions every weekend, every year, all over the world.
There’s no need to rush.
If you carry an injury with you and keep pushing, it may never fully recover. It’s better to take the time to heal properly, and then come back and train harder.
That’s the smarter way to approach it.
Question: Can you do more YouTube videos in English?
Answer: Yes, I want to do more YouTube videos in English.
Right now, I try to balance between Italian and English because I still want to grow my Italian audience. But I also see that when I speak in English, I reach more people and get more interaction — not just on YouTube, but on Instagram too.
In the future, I think I will move more toward English, because it’s an international language and it allows me to connect with a wider audience. As my brand grows globally, it makes more sense.
For now, I’ll probably continue with a mix — some videos in Italian, some in English — but over time, I see myself focusing more on English, maybe with some Italian parts when needed.
Question from a reader in the U.S.: When will you tell us more about the projects you’re working on right now?
Answer: Right now, I think it’s good to share a little bit about the projects I’m working on — but not too much.
I’ve already mentioned something about Las Vegas, but I prefer to keep a low profile for now, because it’s a big project. I’m very proud of it, and I really believe in it.
Most of what I’m building is focused on the future, and on helping people — not just for a short period, like during a prep or a competition, but for the long term. I want to help people stay healthy, strong, and full of energy as a lifestyle, not just for a few months.
I’ve also registered my brand in Dubai, so it can be used worldwide. The focus of the brand is on longevity, health, and fitness.
It’s not only for bodybuilders. It’s for athletes in general — any kind of sport at a high level. I respect all types of competition, whether it’s bodybuilding, golf, baseball, or anything else.
I’m also very interested in science and new research, and I want to bring that into what I’m building.
So the project is about combining longevity, health, and fitness, but also helping athletes stay strong and healthy, even during intense preparation. Because the truth is, high-level sport is not always healthy — you push your body to the limit.
I want to approach that in a smarter way — to protect the body, to stay strong long-term, and to build something that lasts into the future.
Don’t forget to submit your own questions for future installments of Ask Alessandro! And if you missed the first Ask Alessandro, you can check it out here.
