I started bodybuilding at 16 years old by lifting a few weights at home. I did that for a couple of years and then at 18 years of age I decided to join a Bodybuilding gym. After a few months I was given the opportunity to work part-time at the gym while I was studying at sixth form.
As I entered my early twenties my passion for the sport of bodybuilding began to grow so I started to learn about supplements and nutrition and also developed a structured and effective way of training.
I began training with a friend of mine who was getting ready for his first competition, this gave me taste for competing and I set it in my mind that this is what I wanted to do. From then on my dedication to eating the right foods and following training patterns has become consistent and I enjoy every minute.
I entered my first natural competition with the BNBF at the age of 25 in 2007 and finished 4th in the novice class. Later that year I competed at the finals and finished 7th which was pleasing but just made me more hungry for success. I competed again in 2008 and achieved 3rd place in the lightweight class. I was pleased that I had improved but know that I could have done better as my concentration towards the final stages of my preparation was effected by a change in my personal circumstances.
This year I am working in a completely different environment, having left the financial services industry behind. I am now self employed which gives me a bit more flexibility with training and eating at the right times. I try and make my training and eating as consistent as I can because I believe consistency is the key to success. I train 5 days a week - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday. Here is my training pattern:
TRAINING
Monday - Chest, Biceps, Abs, 10 min cardio
Tuesday - Calves, Back, Triceps, 10 min cardio
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Shoulders, Biceps, Abs, 10 min cardio
Friday - Legs, Calves
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Back, Shoulders, 10 min cardio
This routine is what I follow all year round apart from when I'm preparing for a competition. Before competition I increase my cardio and tend to focus more on areas that I feel need more development by working on them twice a week. I do different exercises on the areas I work on twice a week - I go heavy on one day and go for reps on the other day.
NUTRITION
I follow a consistent diet/nutrition plan every day of the week. I believe that staying lean but maintaining muscle size can be done by having plenty of carbohydrates early on in the day and not consuming any after the early afternoon. This helps to keep definition and not over-load with carbohydrates when the body starts to slow down in the evening/night. Off-season I do allow a couple of meals to be whatever I fancy at the weekend but generally my typical meals in a day would be as follows:
5am - Porridge oats, 6 egg whites, banana, LA Aminos
7.30am – Protein Shake (with carbs)*, Norateen Heavyweight II (2 tablets)
11am - Tuna, potatoes, vegetables, Udo's oil
2pm - Tuna, potatoes, vegetables, Udo's oil
4pm - Protein shake (no carbs), Norateen Heavyweight II (2 tablets)
-TRAINING-
6pm - Turkey Breast (2), vegetables, Centurion (LA Muscle), LA Aminos
9pm - 6 egg whites, Norateen Heavyweight II (2 tablets) |
