THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 3, 1994 TAG: 9408020137
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
TO BECOME A successful body builder, athletes must endure hours of back-breaking weight training, suffer through miserable hunger pangs, and show great self-restraint from the multitude of life's fattening temptations.
And far too often, the lifestyle becomes the focus of day-to-day life to the point where nothing else seems to matter.
Marvin Chappell led such a life for many years.
And it cost him.
``I used to be married,'' said Chappell, 37, owner of East Coast Gym on the Virginia Beach/Chesapeake line. ``I took it so serious back then. Lots of people do, and they let other parts of their life slide. I was very guilty of that. It's such a small piece of life.
``It got to the point where I was waking up and seeing that I had a bunch of trophies and no life.''
Suffering from burnout and figuring out his whole life was getting crushed under the weights, Chappell quit the sport to train others and put on his own shows.
But it was too late to save his marriage.
Now, realizing there were some aspects of body building he enjoyed, the former Great Bridge High basketball player has gotten back into the sport that once consumed him.
But he is doing it with a new attitude.
``I don't take it so serious anymore, and it's much more fun,'' he said. ``I go to a competition and talk with everybody and have a good time and that's rare. People take it too seriously.
``But I noticed that a competitive desire was still there, so I'm getting back into it.''
Chappell says the chance of making the professional circuit is so slim that it shouldn't be a consideration of most musclemen.
That's why he has gotten back into competition at just the local and regional level with a few national goals.
``But let's face it, I'm not going to become a pro body builder,'' he said. ``It isn't going to happen, and I can live with that. There are a bunch of others out there who should do the same.
``Don't let it be your whole life.''
Chappell started pumping iron when he was 16 and entered his first contest in 1980. He finished second in the Mr. Chesapeake pageant that year and won the best newcomer award. Seven years and a multitude of trophies later, he won the novice award and the middleweight state championship before getting out.
Now, two contests into his ``new-attitude'' comeback, Chappell has three more trophies to show. He finished second in one contest and recently won his height and overall titles in the 35-39 age division at the two-year drug-free Body Sculpting Classic at Hampton Roads Academy.
Next in line is the Hardcore Classic in Maryland Aug. 13. He will enter another contest following that in an effort to build up to the state championships Sept. 17 in Alexandria.
``My goal is to win the state masters (35-39) overall championship with a long-term goal of eventually winning the over-40 championships at the Mr. America and national championships,'' Chappell said. ``Those are reasonable goals, considering I have a few years to work towards them.''
If so many contests in so little time seems unorthodox, it is. Many body builders compete in only one or two contests a year.
But Chappell's comeback is anything but orthodox.
``I'm going to do something many guys don't. I'm going to take some chances and try some new things. I'm going to enter lots of contests,'' he said. ``I ate three steaks the night before the last contest and people thought I was crazy. But it helped me fill out a little bit after a few weeks of starving myself. If it didn't work, I had another contest coming up.
``In trying new things, it's making it more fun and I'm going to stop when it's no fun.''
Being single again is affording Chappell the time he needs for the many hours needed to be contest-ready.
``I walk several miles after I close the gym, and it's sometimes after midnight before I get to sleep,'' he said. ``I wouldn't be able to do that in a serious relationship.''
But Chappell had the pleasure of having his 5-year-old daughter and ex-wife in the stands for his last contest.
``It was great hearing them cheer for me,'' he said. ``Like I said, I'm having fun now.
``I wish I would have realized all this a few years ago.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Marvin Chappell, 37, started pumping iron when he was 16 and
finished second in the Mr. Chesapeake pageant that year.
Marvin Chappell, owner of East Coast Gym on the Virginia
Beach/Chesapeake line, now has a have-fun attitude about body
building.
by CNB