Denise Rutkowski

[DRF]

[DRF]

Some posts by legendary bodybuilding photographer, Bill Dobbins, lending further confirmation to Denise's psychological issues.

[asapferg]

Some posts by legendary bodybuilding photographer, Bill Dobbins, lending further confirmation to Denise's psychological issues.

Titus and Denise had so much potential back then. It's sad that one is prison and the other living on Skid Row fighting mental issues.

[DRF]

Titus and Denise had so much potential back then. It's sad that one is prison and the other living on Skid Row fighting mental issues.

Denise needed to relocate to a safer place; ironically because whatever she was trying to protect and isolate the disadvantaged kids from seemed to have gotten the better of her. That is not to say that she didn't have any dormant mental issues- although it is difficult to prove cause and effect through just info of various reliability standards on the internet. Truth is there was a sudden and possibly violent turning point 2-4months before September 1994 in which she herself claimed that she was getting ready to re-compete in the Ms O, ultimately taking her down the path to (what we assume is) religiosity. Unless she speaks we can never be sure of what instigated her downfall. Still, all of this doesn't mean we can't appreciate what was capable of delivering to the sport. 




More from Bill on denies...her quads were simply outrageous which might have overwhelmed her hams in appearance. 

[DRF]

[DRF]

[DRF]

Got three magazines off eBay, will publish the articles and better quality scanned images here later...for now:

[DRF]

A photo that makes the way she is now remembered all the more shameful:

[DRF]

Article Excerpt from the DEC 1993-JAN 1994 ISSUE OF:

MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT

BY DON ROSS

DENISE RUTKOWSKI: SUPERSTAR IN THE MAKING

DENISE RUTKOWSKI

Back-to-back victories in the NPC USA and JAN TANA Classic have firmly established this muscular young beauty as a force to be reckoned withat the upcoming Ms. Olympia and beyond....

When Denise Rutkowski hit the stage last July at the NPC USA Bodybuilding Championships, a superstar was born. A star so bright, she eclipsed the competition with her combination of sci-fi muscularity and breath-taking femininity. She certainly had tough competition in the form of the ultra-massive (and pretty) Danielle Le Roy. But once the two women hit their poses, Denise disarmed those judges who may have frowned on her degree of muscularity with a beautiful presentation that was seductive without being pretentious or sleazy. The routine was poetry-of-movement, yet she held her poses. Her gold posing suit, golden hair and golden tan combined for a 24-karat presentation...a treasure of bodybuilding excellence. Three weeks later, Denise scored an impressive victory in her first pro show, the Jan Tana Bodybuilding Classic. Besting a lineup of seasoned pros and World Champions, The Blonde Bombshell had the hardcore fans speculating on her ultimate showdown with Lenda Murray at the next Ms. Olympia. It is clear that Denise is already more than just another contender on the pro-circuit. I was fortunate enough to interview Denise just before this spectacular victory. It made the show more interesting for me, since I now understood the many-faceted personality of this unique lady superhero.

The Denise Rutkowski Story

Born one of four children growing up in Reading, Pennsylvania, Denise was influenced by her athletic mother who worked out and figure skated. Her step father, in the military, took the family to where he was stationed, near mesquite Texas. It was 1987when Denise's weight training began. Weighing a willowy 105ibs, she walked into the Lone Star Gym for the purpose of becoming a competitive bodybuilder. This in itself is unusal, since most women competitors began lifting for other reasons, then drifted into bodybuilding. Rutkowski is the first woman I interviewed who states emphatically, "I began weight training so I could become Ms. Olympia!"

In her school years, Denise had a penchant for entertaining. She took drama classes and enjoyed dancing and acting. She had a background in gymnastics, speed roller skating, and aerobics- all of which gave her thin body a solid look and a head-start into the direction she would be heading. One day, she picked up a bodybuilding magazine and thumbed through the pages. When she saw this form of self-sculpture and stage presentation, Denise knew in her heart that she would make a name for herself in this highly competitive show/sport. She was at once impressed by the magnificence of Cory Everson and could see herself in that role. At Lone Star Gym, proprietor, " Rappin' Rick" Adams was impressed by Denise's enthusiasm and lofty goals. He took a personal interest in the young lady and started her on a hardcore program. Rick not only taught her to train and formulate routines, but worked with her on dieting and posing. The magnificent display we saw at the USA was choreographed by Adams. Nine months after she began bodybuidling, Denise entered the '87 Metroplex physique contest. She dieted for 16 weeks and came in at a ripped 115lbs. to take the middleweight division. This started Rutkowski on a string of contest wins which included the Southern Texas and the Spring City Classic, a national qualifier. By 1989, seeing herself rapidly approaching her goal, Denise moved to Southern California to be closer to the mainstream of the sport. She first landed in San Diego, where she won the over-all World Gym Classic. Denise didn't compete in 1990, instead spending time moving and adjusting to her new environment. The year off helped fuel her enthusiasm and gave her time to improve considerably. She won the over-all Orange County Championships and California Bodybuilding Championships, a contest considered tough as any national show. The Bodybuilding World now started to take notice. She was a favorite in the 91' USA, where she won the Heavyweight class. Entering a bit smooth, she lost a close decision to the ripped and statuesque Nancy Lewis. The USA class win was important to Denise, since it created interest in her by contest promoters who called on her frequently to guest pose. "Each guest posing was a learning experience," says Denise, " I learned how to peak for a show and my presentation improved."

Denise now lived in Venice, California just down the street from the famous Gold's Gym. She was focused and ready to take on all contenders. The glory that seemed inevitable at the 92' Nationals turned out to an example of Murphy's Law. "If anything can go wrong, it will..." Getting into the very best shape of her life, Denise was riding her bike just two months before the show, when a careless driver ran her off the road. She smashed into a parked car and broke seven bones in her hand. Still, she trained like her life was at stake, using machines to circumvent having to grip weights. The cast came off two weeks before the show. Her tenacity paid off and she looked great. It looked like she would win in spite of the injury!

Alas! that year, Women's Bodybuilding was feeling the backlash of the incredible muscular progress that the women had made. In an attempt by the organization to popularize the sport by "toning it down," women were actually marked down for exhibiting "too much muscle." Denise took third in her class in that show. Though third in the Nationals is certainly respectable, virtually everyone I spoke to who attended, said that Denise had been ripped off.

Like a true champion, Rutkowski never complained. She kept working to improve, knowing that the uproar these kinds of decisions created and the falling attendance at women's shows would force the organization to reconsider and divert it from the sexiest direction, back to the sport it had been. Sure enough, 1993 saw the swing to back to real bodybuilding for women- hence the exciting battle for the Heavyweight class between Rutkowski and LeRoy. This time, Denise was flawless. Cut and symmetrical. Artistic and charismatic. A true champion!

If there was any question in the minds of the pundits of the sport as to Denise's standings as a new pro, they were answered loudly before the month ended-- when she won the Jan Tana Pro competition to qualify for the Ms. Olympia. Her first pro victory evened the score with her nemesis Nancy Lewis, who had to settle for for second place. The Bombshell proved her competitive edge over a line-up of World Champions and veteran pros including bodybuilding's "Dream Girl," Tonya Knight. What better place to start your pro career...on top!


BIG SISTER
It is easy to get absorbed by your own importance while in the midst of bodybuilding stardom. Especially when, like Denise, you have appeared on T.V. shows, videos, and are constantly in demand for guest posing, seminars, public appearances and endorsements. We have seen it happen to many bodybuilders in Southern California once they become blinded by the spotlight.

Not Denise. This woman selflessly puts aside hours of her time during her busy schedule to help underprivileged children. She is currently "Big Sister" to 8-to-10 kids between the ages of 8 and 13. After moving to Venice, she found herself in a ghetto surrounded by poverty and broken homes. " Lots of people are afraid to come down here," she said, "They feel this neighborhood is too hostile. I made it a point to get to know the neighbors. Being muscular helped break the ice."

The kids were particularly impressed by the "nice muscle lady" who lives down the block. They began coming around the house to talk to Denise. When her dog had puppies, she got the kids interested in watching them relate to their mother and learned how to care for animals. Denise met the guardians and parents of these kids. Some lived in dysfunctional families-- single parents with little time for their kids, or no parents at all. Without a positive influence in their lives, they could easily turn to street gangs, drugs, and crime. Realizing this, Rutkowski took on the responsibility of working with these kids, teaching them crafts, taking them to amusement parks, field trips, movies, and having slumber parties for them. They often come to the gym to watch her work out.

"These are problem kids, but they are good kids," said Denise compassionately," and they will be good and lead productive lives as long as they get the attention they deserve." Most of the problems of Los Angeles and other big cities would be solved if there were more loving, understanding people like Denise Rutkowski in every neighborhood.

TRAINING STRATEGIES
The new USA winner and IFBB Pro Champions is a Spartan when it comes to training. She calls her training "Ballistic," referring to the relentless drive toward increasing the intensity. The word is a misnomer however, since she is a strict practitioner of perfect form. This is a claim made by most of today's champions, to whom "cheating" is a stigma. However, most of those who claim to be perfectionists of form turn out to be "closet cheaters" in practice. Not with Denise. She uses a slow tempo on all her movements, squeezing the contraction at the end of every rep.

To prevent adaptation of her muscles to a routine, and boredom that sometimes accompanies adherence to a set routine, Denise uses an unstructured routine. She has a pattern of which bodyparts to train, working each once a week, except for legs, which she works twice weekly. The exercises and sets change with every workout. Some days, she may do one or two sets of a dozen exercises for a bodypart. Other days, she may use fewer exercises and more sets. Usually, she will do at least six different exercises per bodypart, averaging 4-to-5 sets per exercise. Each bodypart gets a different amount of work according to her needs. Back work, for instance, consists of between 25 and 30 sets in all. Smaller groups get fewer total sets. Rep ranges change every three motnhs. She will train heavy for three months in the 8-to-10 rep range. Every set is done to failure during this time. She will have her training partner, roommate Jeffe Jessee, help her with one or two forced reps at the end of her final sets. Soemtimes, she will do partial "burn" reps after reaching her maximum effort on a set. At the end of three months, Denise takes anywhere from one-to-four weeks off, allowing muscles, tendons and ligaments to repair. This break helps to renew her enthusiasm when she returns to the gym. The next three months of training is done with lighter weights for sets of 10-to-12 reps. During this time, she will go to failure only on her final sets. On heavy or light months, Rutkowski usually begins an exercise with two warm-up sets, then goes to a poundage she will use for all her "working sets."

She once used lots of supersets, tri-sets, and giant sets, but now feels that these overworked her muscles and they grow much better with straight sets. Not one of these bodybuilders who spends her whole life in the gym, Denise trains once a day. On off-season, these workouts last 90 minutes to 2 hours. Pre-contest workouts last 3, to as much as 4 hours, including posing and cardio work. Denise's perfectly sculptured physique is kept at minimum bodyfat with 30-minute cadio sessions five days a week. These consist of the treadmill, and sometimes the bike (though she doesn't like it as much). Other days, she takes 30-minute jogs with her dog, alternating running with fast walking. Here is her pre-contest training pattern:

Day 1- Chest
Day 2- Arms
Day 3- Quads
Day 4-Shoulders & Hamstrings
Day 5- Back

Abs are trained 3 days a week. in the middle of the week, she does 12-15 sets of weighted calf work. At the beginning and end of the week, she does light, high-rep pump-sets for calves.
[/size]
TRAINING STRATEGIES

Bodybuilding's newest female star isn't a big eater. In fact, she has to force herself to eat the required calories to come in full and muscular. In the off-season, she eats four times a day. " I always keep my fat intake low, even in the off-season," she explains: "I try to stay at around 20 grams a day. I always eat clean and healthy, except on weekends, when I allow myself 'junk days'."

Off season eating includes red meat in the form of flank steak and beef for muscle size and strength. Four-to-six weeks before a show, she begins her pre-contest dieting. To keep her metabolism from slowing down to compensate for low calories. Denise staggers her calories. Eating around 2200 calories for two days in a row, she then increases it to 2700 calories for the next two days then back down to 2200 again. On both high and low calorie days, she keeps her protein at 200 grams. Carbohydrate intake fluctuates from 350grams on a high calorie day, to 250 grams on a low calorie day.

These meals are eaten every three hours, eating her biggest meals in the morning and following her workout.
Here is a typical day of eating for a contest:

A.M- 10 egg whites, Cream of Rice cereal (3 servings)
2nd Meal- 1 can of tuna, 1/2 cup of rice
After Workout- Half a pound of swordfish, 2 cups of rice
Before bed- 10 egg whites

Denise also takes supplements, consisting of a protein/carb supplement, vitamin B, Vitamin C, Zinc, Calcium-magnesium, and beta-carotene. She uses these supplements only before a contest, and doesn't take them on the week-ends, so her body can use any excess amounts.

Aside from her professional competition aspirations, Denise is looking forward to guest posing, "Performing is my favorite part of the game," she says, "and I have skits and routines in mind that I believe will make me the best guest-poser."
While many women enter bodybuilding falsely, believing it can springboard them into movie and TV roles, Denise's performing abilities have already made this a reality for her. She has appeared in several commercials, on the Arsenio Hall show, in a movie called, "The Last Pison," and was featured in HBO's "Dream On."

With the influence she will have as a top pro, an actress, and TV personality, Denise Rutkowski will better be able to serve her community. Bringing attention to the needy and less fortunate, and being a true role model. Not just in the bodybuilding world, where the superficiality of appearance often dominates, but in the real world, where a scoially aware and caring personality can open many eyes and improve people's lives.

To contact Denise for seminars or exhibitions, write to her in care of her manager, Robin Chang, 9688 Moss Glen Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Or call (714) 775-6560

[DRF]

Article Excerpt from the DEC 1993-JAN 1994 ISSUE OF:

MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT

BY Carol Ann Weber

A DAY WITH DENISE RUTKOWSKI AND "BEBE'S KIDS"

Paying the USA and Jan Tana  champ, Denise Rutkowski, a visit in her Venice Beach neighborhood was an "adventure" I wont soon forget. Known as "The Hood" to the locals (also dubbed "Ghost Town" by the Venice Police), the area surrounding Denise's rental home could be described as, well, scary. I didn't pay too much attention the first time I dropped by--- I was too engrossed in conversing with her four pitbulls (mommy pitbull, daddy pitbull and two puppies). But one morning I went over to return a couple of video tapes I had borrowed, and that's when I had a taste of what "The Hood" was really like.

Now you would think that a single, white female like Denise would not feel very safe in such an environment, but this is where the story gets good. You see, Denise has become an icon in "The Hood," and is looked after and protected by all the neighbors-- including gang members-- for one very good reason: she takes care of their kids. I don't mean she's become the neighborhood babysitter, either, but rather the kids' guidance counselor, their friend, their big sister, and most importantly, a role model. It's hard to imagine a competitive bodybuilder having the time for anyone else but herself and her contest preparation, but somehow, Ms. Rutkowski makes the time.

Denise invited me to join her excursion to Magic Mountain with "Bebe's Kids" (pronounced "Baybay"), as she affectionately calls the kids in her charge (after the animated feature film by the same name, starring kids belonging to a relative who's never around when the kids are creating havoc), and warned me that they are a "handful." The kids range in age from eight to fourteen years, and having been a private junior high school teacher, I felt confident that I could handle just about any situation that might come up. So I bravely went where no reporter has gone before, and met up with the gang at our starting point, Gold's Gym in Venice. I was introduced to the boyz (by the way, there are no girls in this group) as they entered the pro-shop two at a time, and learned that almost everyone had a nickname. "G-Mike," "Book" (rhymes with Duke), and "Gumby," came in to pick out their tank tops (so generously provided by the Gold's people. Then we proceeded to load up the cars. I realized all too quickly that even when it came to seating arrangements, there were earned privileges involved, and when I mistakenly allowed the wrong boy to ride "shot-gun" (that is, to sit in the passenger seat next to me) it caused quiet a commotion.

Finally, when all three vehicles had children correctly placed in their assigned seats (including the newsman covering the story for KNBC, who took one child with him), we were on our way.

Denise gave each fella' a $20 bill (out of her own pocked, I might add) to spend as he wished, making it clear that when the money was gone, there was no more where that came from. Then, immediately after we entered the park, the KNBC people went to work conducting the interviews with Denise and the kids, and as you can imagine, they attracted quite a crowd. As I watched, I couldn't help but wax philosophical as my journalistic mind attempted to arrive at some kind of overview of it all. I was thinking, " Here's this incredibly muscular, champion woman bodybuilder who will change forever the way these kids think about themselves. They're learning self-respect, self-discipline and morals, and they're getting attention in positive ways. They are also learning that women, especially muscular women, are worthy of respect." I could see their love and respect for Denise written all over their faces. And now, the general public had a chance to share that view, and see women bodybuilders in a positive light. It's an old cliche to suggest that bodybuilders can learn to build more than their muscles--they can build character. But if the cliche fits...
Well, we shut down the park that night, and by 10:00pm., I think our happy little crew managed to ride every attraction in the park. And, as in life, some of the boys had made their $20 last far enough to pay for dinner, and some had squandered it all in the arcade. But even with the high finances and wheeling and dealing, a good time was had by all.

It was the following day before the NBC story appeared on the 5:00 o'clock news. Bret Lewis, the newscaster, did an excellent job of presenting Denise as a "big sister" (he added, a "very big sister") to the boys, without any derogatory comments or implications that she was masculine, or too muscular. He also included a clip of Denise winning the USA, with two of the boys--Kevin and G-mike ---- at her side. And when asked how they felt to see Denise win the show, Kevin's comment was, "I was so happy I cried," By then, I was crying too, because after spending a day with Bebe's kids at Magic Mountain, those children had really gotten under my skin. I found Denise' genuine love and concern for them contagious, and I think I've been bitten by the "Bebe's Kids" bug...

[DRF]

[DRF]

Article Excerpt from the JAN 1994 ISSUE (#27) OF:

FEMALE BODYBUILDING AND SPORT FITNESS

BY LAURA DAYTON

DENISE RUTKOWSKI: DON'T NEED LUCKY CHARMS!

Denise Rutkowski is riding a high. After seven years of digging in her heels and chasing a dream, she managed to slam-dunk this year's USA with an impressive overall win and a much-awaited invitation to her first pro show. Barely stopping to catch her breath and celebrate her victory, Denise was back on a jet winging her way to the Jan Tana Classic and her first pro title and paycheck.
A few days later, back home in "the hood" of Venice, in a modest second-story rental behind Gold's Gym, Denise finally stole a moment of self-reflection to realize that she'd accomplished the goal that had begun in a small Texas gym so long ago.
"I weighed about 105, maybe 110 pounds then. My first contact with bodybuilding was a photo of Rachel McLish. That tweaked my interest but it was a photo of Cory that made me say' Oh yeah, that's what I want to be.' I packed a workout bag and went to see Rappin' Rick Adams at his gym. He was known as the best trainer in town, so I stepped right up to him and said, 'I've decided to be a pro bodybuilder. I want to make this my career. I want to win the O.' Just like that, He looked at me, kind of rolled his eyes, and just said 'Yeah, yeah, sign here and we'll see what we can do.' We still laugh about that!'

With that first workout, Denise set a goal for herself, to win a national show and go pro. Now, with her goal finally accomplished, she's off to realize her dream, winning the Ms Olympia.
"The point is, anyone who has a goal or dream can accomplish it,' says this newest blonde, brown-eyed addition to the pro scene. "If you work hard enough---whether it's bodybuilding, or becoming a doctor, or even President of the United States--- if you really want it, you're going to achieve it. If you could see a picture of me when I began you'd know what I mean. You can accomplish anything, if you want it bad enough."
But that's not to say, as Denise knows from experience, that it's always going to be easy. In the beginning, it seemed a bodybuilding career was, if not in her genes, at least in her destiny. Rick Adams did indeed take her under his tutelage, and in nine months she won her first overall title at the Texas Metroplex. Then she repeated the performance at the South Texas and Spring City Classic. Qualified for national competition, she left her mom, her gym, her friends and her car and headed out to San Diego, California in 1989. "That's when it started to come a bit unraveled. In Texas Rick had two gyms, and I worked at one. It was pretty easy. When I moved to California I had to get a job, and it was nearly impossible to keep up with my training. I was taking a bus to get to work, another bus to another bus to get to the gym, and two buses to get back home. I lost weight. I was working my butt off just to make a little money. and bodybuilding had to go on the back burner. I saved as much as I could, but for a time I lost sight of it. After two years, my qualification ran out."
In 1991, Denise got back on track. Entering as a middleweight, the 5-foot-5 former Texan won the World's Gym Classic in San Diego, then went on to take the Orange County before tackling the California. As always, she won. Not just her class, but the overall honors as well. Feeling back on top, she moved from San Diego to the heart of the jungle, Venice.
Then, things started to backslide. First, money became an issue. Establishing her personal training business took longer than expected, and the insurance outlay came as a surprise. Then the real hurt. As judges wrangled over what constituted a "Female bodybuilder, Denise lost her first overall title to Nancy Lewis at the USA. At the Nationals, she placed third to the amazement of her fans, family and herself.
"The money was still a problem, I don't come from a wealthy family and it's always been a struggle. But the loss was the hardest part to take. I'd never lost, it hit me really hard. I sat back and asked 'Why?' It happened for a reason. I knew that the whole sport was in a controversy, but it was more than that. I realized that bodybuilding had become my life, it was all I thought about. It was everything. That was when i started taking stock of things, and I knew that with all this energy I had, I needed more than just bodybuilding. That's when I started broadening my scope, my interests."
A big part of what began to fill Denise's life came in the form of young people. They were all colors, sizes and sexes, and all under the age of 15. They were the kids of the Venice Hood. It was easy for Denise to look at her shattered dream of bodybuilding and understand that these kids were starting out life without even the hope of a dream to shatter. They became her kids. Her role as Big Sister of the neighborhood began when her pitbull gave birth to a litter of nine pedigreed, squirming, chubby little pups. As puppies will do, they attracted children. They came in pairs, in groups with their friends..their little sisters and big brothers. Soon Denise was entertaining the entire neighborhood every afternoon. "School was in, so they'd usually show up about 4 or 4:30. My best friend, Nancy Knoll, has an eight year old, and she usually comes over about then. We'd do things here, play with the puppies, do homework, hang out, or go to a movie or the arcade. We have six bikes, and lots of times we'd go for a ride. On Saturdays we started having slumber parties, and the kids would bring their sleeping bags and we'd all sort of sack out." The kids remain a big priority in Denise's life. They, along with her best friend Nancy, roommate Jeff Jessee, and long-time friend and mentor Rick Adams, compose the support group she credits with her recent string of wins. Nancy acts as her right-hand woman and personal secretary. Jeff, her training partner and dog-sitter, Rick, her choreographer, and the kids, well, she's not about to let them down, and they are unquestionably her biggest fans.
"I really couldn't have done it without them. They've made a big difference this year. I feel better about my training and everything's working out."
For Denise, that means she's been able to put her training and bodybuilding career back on the front burner. Money isn't as much of an issue, but she's the first to admit that she doesn't need much.
"If you have a penny more in your pocket, that's all you need. A roof over your head, food in your stomach, as long as you have that, you don't need to train 20 people. That's taking away from your training time."
Denise maintains a few select clients and manages to keep that extra penny in her pocket through photo sales and guest posings. She also professionally breeds her pitbulls, but that's a pastime that seems to just break even, considering she has the upkeep of four dogs to maintain now.

Her schedule does allow some freedoms. For Denise, if there isn't a movie call or a prejudging, you won't see her up from bed until 11 a.m Then its breakfast of about 10 egg whites, three servings of oatmeal with some raisins, artificial sweetener and maybe a dollop of honey, followed by a big glass of apple juice. She takes care of business calls, fan mail, bookings and errands in the afternoons, which are shared with the company of her two adult pitbulls and the rapidly growing puppies she kept from the last litter. A walk along Venice Beach, clad in her trademark Dr. Martin boots, shorts and crop top with a 100-pound-plus pitbull tugging a leash in each hand invariably attracts a few tourists and their cameras. The muscle woman and her muscle dogs. The rest of the day's meals are usually on the go: A can of tuna, cup and a half of rice, cup of broccoli and a tablespoon of fat-free Miracle Whip thrown in the microwave then tossed around a bit before consumption. The kids come by, her best friend pops in, roommate comes home and on special occasions, they may actually prepare a meal in. At 8 or 9 pm, Jeff and Denise hit the gym depending on the time of year, workouts may last one and a half hours or go past midnight.
Denise likes to train according to how she's feeling. Rarely does she fall behind her eight rep minimum, and often she hits 20-30 sets per bodypart. Her routine is an ever revolving five-day split, but not five days in a row. Each week hits each main bodypart once and legs twice. Her split is non-conventional: chest and calves, arms; quads; shoulders and hamstrings; back. Every fourth workout is devoted to quads. Aerobics only come into her routine precontest, and then its the treadmill or bike for an extra 30 minutes every day.
Training and diet don't vary much between contest and off-season. Nor does her bodyweight, which was about 135-138 pounds for the USA and Jan Tana. Her heaviest competitive weight was 142, and the heaviest she's ever been off-season was 155. Her problem isn't gaining off-season weight, it's losing too much. "As I get older, my metabolism changes. It speeds up and I have to diet less. My muscle mass and maturity are simply burning more calories." she explained. In addition to her bodybuilding career. Denise continues to pursue some acting and promotional engagements. She's appeared in two movies and had a speaking part in HBO's Dream In. She also pciked up a fellow, literally, in a Pepsi commercial that aired during last years's Superbowl. While she's not devoting any time or additional energies to acting school, she admits it may be a path her career takes in the future. As for the not-so-far future (somewhere after the Ms. O) she definitely sees her not-so-conventional life taking a turn toward most women's dreams: a husband and kids. Although she admits there's no immediate prospect for who gets the role as Daddy, she has no doubts those details will work out. Like everything has so far. While it doesn't sound like this lady needs a lucky charm. she does have one. Actually, she has two. For her birthday, Nancy presented her with a custom-made pendant identical to the tattoo Denise has on her ankle: A heart with a weight through it that reads Flex Appeal. That pendant will be with her, as will her baggy, big white lucky shirt. That shirt has never missed one of her shows, expect for the ill-fated Nationals. After that third place finish, she made certain to have it with her every contest. Will it be with her at the O? For sure. But Denise doesn't think good luck charms or superstition will have that much to do with the outcome. And just to prove it, she signed and faxed her contract on Friday the 13th. Nope. Denise is confident that hard raining , focused goals and a healthy happy attitude are far better assets to have on her side than even her lucky charms.

 

 

[DRF]

Turns out that Denise was involved in one of Pepsi's commercials

No YouTube links allowed in this section.

[DRF]

HAPPY 55TH BIRTHDAY TO DENISE RUTKOWSKI!! 08/07/1962

[DRF]

is there video??

It's on YouTube just find the video titled "Pepsi commercials 1990s PT2" which is 14.4mins long and move to 5:30. Its just a glimpse really nothing more which is why I had to slow it done and turn it into a GIF. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information presented through the different article excerpts published on this thread both refute and ascertain many of the "myths" surrounding this woman. There is one more magazine that I am considering purchasing before collating all the information into a coherent biography essentially. One legend that I have yet to see any evidence of is the "she found religion" notion being floated and kicked around on many forums and BBing circles. Gang involvement? Without a shadow of a doubt.