The hard-knock life of a rock-hard con: ex-mobster Gino Gioe on serial killers, velour, and Xmas in the joint

GINO GIOE is selling the jailhouse workout, and if he has his way, you'll soon find an exercise book or video with his ripped, tattooed body on it shelved next to Billy Blanks, Richard Simmons, and Daisy Fuentes.

The similarities end there. Growing up in Queens surrounded by mobsters, Gioe became a company man by distinguishing himself to the dons as management material. He spent his early 20s peddling dope and stolen cars, and making bogus stock trades. Oh, and enjoying the hospitality of the finest max-security prisons for 10 years--three of them in solitary. It was there he invented the jailhouse workout, a blitzkrieg of sets that results in steel-belted muscle. Free now, Gioe has traded his lowlife prison clientele for high-end entertainment types such as the incredibly buff, er, Ben Affleck and, ironically, members of the Law & Order cast. Instead of conspiring with wiseguys, he now strategizes over lunch with agents. Men's Fitness sat down with him recently at Da Silvano's restaurant in Manhattan.

DESCRIBE THE BADDEST CAT YOU EVER SAW WORKING OUT IN THE PRISON YARD.

This guy killed a bus driver over a bus transfer ticket. The bus driver didn't give it to him quick enough, and he pulled out his nine-millimeter and blew him away right there. He was having a bad day. Twenty-five to life. Big guy, too. Warmed up with 405 pounds on the incline bench press.

YOU DID TIME WITH DAVID BERKOWITZ (SON OF SAM) AND RONALD DEFEO (THE "AMITYVILLE HORROR" KILLER). DID YOU GIVE THEM PERSONAL TRAINING ADVICE?

No. Especially David Berkowitz. Inmates tried to kill that guy everywhere he went. He had slash marks all over his face. Those guys were not with us at all. They were outcasts. No place in our society or in prison. "You go out and kill women?" It could have been my mother.

WHAT'S PROPER WORKOUT ATTIRE FOR MADE MEN-VELOUR TRACKSUIT AND WIFE-BEATER WITH MEATBALL STAINS?

When I'd go out to the yard, I'd wear my workout clothes: old sweat pants, three or four sweat shirts, construction boots, gloves, and a hat, 'cause it's like 20 below. It isn't a fashion show out there.

WHAT ABOUT JEWELRY? DID MOBSTERS TRAIN WEARING GOLD CHAINS?

If you got 'em on your neck, you better be ready to die. Can you hold your chain down? Am I tough enough to stab holes in this guy? 'Cause if you're hangin' out with me, pal, and somebody robs your chain, you better go do something about it. [He points to his plate.] This lamb chop is fuckin' beautiful. You want some?

NO, I'M GOOD. WHAT REAL-LIFE MOBSTER HAD THE WORST PHYSIQUE?

Fat Tony Salerno. He weighed 300 pounds.

WHAT WAS THE STRANGEST PROTEIN SOURCE YOU CONSUMED IN THE JOINT?

Fish with the bones and skin on and all. It's mackerel, but we'd call it Jack Mac. It comes in a can for 42 cents. They also sold this chalky protein powder. It didn't even break down when you put it in liquid.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE BUDDING CONVICT MARTHA STEWART FOR LOSING THAT PAUNCH SHE'S DEVELOPED?

Stay out of your own fuckin' kitchen and stop making muffins, Martha.

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON, WHAT WAS CHRISTMAS LIKE BEHIND BARS?

Us Italian guys, we all come from big families who celebrate the shit out of Christmas on the street. So it's as if I was home. I got two 25-pound turkeys, we got hams, we got pork roasts. There's a huge Christmas feast going on. It's awesome.

WAS THERE A SANTA CLAUS?

No Santa Claus.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning