Sagi Kalev
 |
Name: Sagi Kalev
Date of birth: July 30, 1971
City: Tel Aviv, Israel
About Sagi Kalev:
Sagi Kalev, a 34-year-old native of Israel, moved to the United States in
1993 to pursue his dreams in bodybuilding and modeling. After 12 years in the U.S.,
those dreams are coming true.
Sagi, who has done numerous photo shoots in California during the past two years for
Muscle and Fitness, Ironman, Men's Workout and Hardcore Muscle magazines, is part
owner of a downtown Dallas, Texas gym where he also does personal training and
nutritional counseling. His past includes both bodybuilding and modeling, starting
with his weight training as a teenager in Israel "to do something different and
build my self-confidence," Sagi said.
|
After a four-year tour of duty in the Army, which included participation in Desert
Storm, Sagi resumed his weightlifting and bodybuilding interests, capturing two "Mr.
Israel" titles in the process. He also began his college education, which culminated
with a degree in physical education and a minor in nutrition from the University of
Central Florida.
In 1996, while living in California, Sagi started modeling once again after a scout
"rediscovered" him at a local gym. He landed on the cover of Men's Workout magazine
and inside several other bodybuilding-fitness publications as a result. He also made
guest appearances on Baywatch and The Young and the Restless television series.
Sagi's modeling aspirations got another major boost the same year when Spencer
Gifts, one of the largest retail gift store chains in the U.S., signed a four-year
contract with him as their spokesmodel. In fact, Sagi's distinctive images are still
marketed by Spencer Gifts in the form of greeting cards, gift bags and keychains.
His last bodybuilding competitions were local shows in 1998 and 1999 in Texas, where
he won several first-place trophies.
Sagi decided to get back into physique modeling in the spring of 2003. Since that
time, modeling offers have come in quickly, including a contract with Impact
Nutrition and Lifewave as a representative and spokesperson for the companies. Sagi
is now prominently featured in Impact and Lifewave advertisements. In addition he
has appeared on four Muscle & Fitness covers in 2003-2004 as well as coveres of
Hardcore Muscle, Ironman and Men's Workout.
Sagi's unique ancestry -- which includes roots in Hungary, Poland and the Middle
East -- gives him a distinctive international look that's hard to pin down at first
glance.
When he's not working out, training clients, or traveling to and from photo shoots,
Sagi enjoys basketball, soccer, ping pong, cycling, swimming, hiking, good food,
good movies, and constructive partnerships and friendships. Because nutrition is a
crucial part of his modeling success, cooking has become one of his special
interests.
Sagi's diet, as one might expect, depends on the timing and the nature of his photo
shoots, which include magazine covers, exercise demonstrations, video productions,
and assorted features -- almost anything except pornography and total nudity, which
he says are off-limits.
Staying focused on diet and training in the midst of photo sessions, work
responsibilities and a personal life depends on self-evaluation and discipline, Sagi
said.
"My military background and my occasional training with professional bodybuilders
keeps me focused, disciplined and motivated," he said. "It really bothers me when
other people can't exercise discipline but still want to achieve great results from
their training and diet. It takes a lot of hard work. When I finish a good workout
and a hard day at the gym, I start thinking immediately about how to improve and get
even better."
Sagi usually trains four or five days a week. At a height of 5-8 and a weight of
between 200 and 210 pounds, he's right in the middle of the weight range for
traditional bodybuilders.
"My goal is not to be the biggest, it's to be the best," he said. "So I take very
short breaks when I train, usually 30 to 45 seconds. We'll have a series of body
part specific training videos on sale soon on my
website where you can see me
working out and explaining my training routine and philosophy."
If all goes according to plan, Sagi's future will include more magazine covers,
articles and illustrative photos, television interviews, advertisements and event
appearances with Impact Nutrition, video productions, and photo sales.
Website:
www.sagikalev.comLeave comment:
Contact Sagi Kalev
