SNI: What role did bodybuilding play in the development of your eventual career? (as a model, writer, etc).
Frank: Let me start off saying that I have the utmost respect for bodybuilding and what it takes to become a great competitive bodybuilder. When I look back to my hardcore bodybuilding days I don’t have any regrets. I enjoyed the training more than anything. I loved the idea of going into the gym and trying to become as strong and as huge as possible. I miss that aspect of it but I don’t miss actually competing. People always say he is a bodybuilder. NO! Flex wheeler is a bodybuilder. Phil Heath is a bodybuilder. I was a guy who competed as a bodybuilder for three short years and moved on. It was one part of my life not my entire life. Some people don’t realize that. I learned a great deal in the bodybuilding industry from some of the top pros and trainers and the knowledge I learned from these people was priceless. As far as writing about training or bodybuilding, of course I think going through the process of competing gives you a better understanding and perspective of what someone goes through in order to gain mass, shred up and put yourself out there on stage to be ripped apart by the media. lol . I still use a lot of the workouts and training techniques that I used back in the day and I can honestly say that a lot of these workouts were the basis for the Training Programs I have put in my books. Bodybuilding is the foundation in which I built my physique and it has been a springboard to my success in all areas of media and in the fitness industry.
SNI: What is your honest opinion of how today’s female bodybuilder looks? Do you think it’s attractive?
Frank: This question is usually were people say something derogatory in regards to female bodybuilders. I think female bodybuilding should get more press and they should
be respected more for their accomplishments. Whether you are a man or woman I feel that if you are able to build that type of physique you should be able to get your just rewards. As far as being attractive, there have been many female bodybuilders over the years who have been attractive. We seldom hear of any new comers! Female bodybuilding needs a superstar to come forward and bring it back to the level it once was. Will that ever happen; I don’t know, unfortunately for female bodybuilding, figure and bikini have pretty much pushed female bodybuilding to the low end of the food chain.
SNI: How did you get your start in writing, modeling, etc.? Did you have any role models?
Frank: My writing career. Hmm. Long Story…lol I started writing for MuscleMag in 1996. Robert Kennedy gave me a column called “Sets and Reps” and I had a ghost writer for the first three issues. He was a great writer but I just felt that people wanted to hear what I had to say on certain topics. After that I decided that I wanted to write my own column. Once I started doing it, I really enjoyed the feedback I was getting from the readers. During that time I was fitness modeling and I was meeting various editors of magazines and I would always inquire about writing something for that mag. So I was able to write a column, article or be a fitness source for some huge mags like Cosmopolitan, Good House Keeping as well as some of the various fitness mags we all know. Not too long after that I had an idea for a fitness book. I had a friend at Vogue magazine put together a 10 page treatment and bio so that I could pitch it to publishing houses. I got a three book deal with HayHouse and my first book, The Truth- The only Fitness Book you’ll ever need” became a top fitness seller at Barnes and Noble and Borders- it is still for sale today and is still doing well. I launched two ancillary books as part of the three book Truth Series as well and both books are still selling on Amazon.com. After the success of my first book , “The Truth” I was asked to be Group Editor for a custom fitness magazine company- The magazines were called AXL, Health Smart Today and Health Watchers. They had a combined circulation for 4.6 million 
and were distributed through Vitamin World and consumer lists. I wrote so many articles throughout that time on everything from nutrition, training, celebrity interviews etc. Long Story short- After that I became the EDITOR IN CHIEF Of the MET-Rx magazine (www.metrx.com), which I am extremely proud of.. My company Nigel Media II creates the entire magazine for the company. I work with Patrick Cornacchuilo to make sure that each issue is better than the next. I have also launched two more books through the Home Shopping Channel,- under my own brand , “Frank Sepe “Fitness as a Lifestyle” and have written books, manuals, ads etc over the years for MET-Rx. I love writing, I currently have a great blog on the Huffington Post as well. Anew book that I wrote is coming out March 2012 and that is going to be more on the mental apsect of wellness. Hope that wasn’t too long winded!!
SNI: Describe the ‘Frank Sepe’ brand?
Frank: I do so many different things that I don’t think I could explain everything in a 100 words so i will give you the short version. Lol First I have my own fitness brand called Frank Sepe” Fitness as Lifestyle”. I have had products on the Home Shopping Channel since 2009 and thank god have done really well with a product called the Fitness Disc. I will be launching new products under my brand through various other media outlets and retail in 2012. I have a media company that creates custom publications such as the MET-Rx magazine, which think is the best custom magazine in the fitness industry. So creating a 100 page mag takes up some time, lol. I also have a design and web company that has created some big projects. I also do a ton of photography. My office building is set up for photo and video shoots. I shoot a lot of stuff for MET-Rx. the new calendar with Ms. Bikini Olympia Nicole Nagrani and Figure Olympia Nicole Wilkins is out now. I have shot everything from Bud Light Ads, to clothing catalogs, celebrities, etc. My favorite shoot was with ex.80’s rocker Bret Michaels…LOL. I have over 1500 tear sheets and I have never solicited work. How crazy is that. Besides all that I have my own WebTV show launching in 2012 with a huge social media company and I just formally signed with METRx on a very special project. That you will have to check out on the MET-Rx site in 2012. Besides all that I have a few non fitness businesses that I enjoy and I love the fact that every day brings something new.
SNI: What is the most common misconception people have of you?
Frank: The biggest misconception about me. Hmm. There are so many. LOL. I honestly got to a pointin my life where I don’t care what people think about me. I can’t change the past and I can’t make everybody happy so who really cares what negative cyber people are saying. No matter what you do or how great something is, there is always going to be a person who disagrees with you or hates you personally. You are better off focusing on what you need to do and not what people think you should do. I try to stay positive and I don’t let the negativity creep in. I know at the end of the day the most important thing is my family. My three year old son Dylan does not care if Dad should be 260 ripped or 220lbs, he just wants his dad around. So I let all that negative stuff roll off me like rain.
SNI: Bonus Q: If you could be any superhero, who would it be and why?
Frank: That’s easy- Superman. he can fly, take a bullet, super-strong, never ages, and he has Lois Lane.
BIO – As a leader and innovator in the fitness industry for over 15 years, Frank Sepe proves to be one of the top fitness and nutrition experts. He has won body building titles, written best selling fitness and nutrition books, been recruited as a personal trainer to many celebrities, and has been behind some of the most revered fitness content in top magazines as an editor and writer. Frank has graced the cover of countless magazines, fitness encyclopedias, and you may have even seen him on dozens of romance novels, as he is one of the most photographed fitness models of his time. Frank is a fitness media expert both on television and radio, and now he takes center stage on HSN. Frank’s well-rounded talent and easy-to-use programs have helped countless people embrace his fun and innovative approach to fitness. His devotion to helping people and his true fitness expertise, has led him to bring the message of getting fit, motivating yourself and living Fitness as a Lifestyle, exclusively to HSN! For more info on Frank, go to: http://www.franksepe.com/about-frank.html
