6 Days and Counting

The 2nd of January seems such a long long away, the day I started my prep for my return to Body Building after 22 years. My training has been so hard that occasionally I suffer from exhaustion and it's only my mental strength that allows me to continue onto the next and toughest challenge to date, the NABBA British finals in 6 days.
The over 50's is usually fiercely contended with around 15 Finalists, champions from each region of the UK, so this is not only a tough call for each competitor but also for the Judges, so to do well one has to stand out in many ways, like muscularity, definition, symmetry, skin tone and presentation. I work on all these aspects daily, knowing that many of my fellow competitors miss at least one of those criteria I have mentioned and that's what I'm hoping will give me the edge.
I won't be the biggest guy in the line up but my symmetry and presentation does stand out, at least it has in the previous 2 shows I have won. It's all about getting noticed!
I going into the NABBA britain around 4lbs heavier and in better condition, 4lbs doesn't sound like a lot, but for a short old man like me it's quite significant, I think these improvements have slowly ascended since the the start 2nd January. My carbohydrate intake has increased too, I always kept to low carbs in the past in the fear that I would spill over and loose some of my definition but this simply hasn't happened this time, in fact at 54 years of age I believe I'm leaner and more vascular than ever.
3 more comps and I'm done, NABBA Britain 31st of May, one week later The NABBA World in Belfast and finally one week after that the WABBA Worlds in Athens. I have never ever done 3 shows consecutively so I really don't know how my body is going to react, on a positive slant I have the Chance of winning at least one of those!
The support and kindness that has been shown to me by friends, family, colleagues and sponsors has simply been overwhelming and fuels the fire within me to do well, I hope I make all my supporters proud and bring home the spoils.
I'll blog again on Thursday just to let you know how my week has gone, thank you for taking the time to read my blogs and make comment, it's always inspiring. Visit www.therenzoeffect.com to read my blogs taking me through the whole Journey

Reflection - the past weekend

Travelling to Colchester on the eve of my first competition in 22 years, I kept trying to visualise myself on stage and then all the doubting questions came flooding in, "am I lean enough" "will I get my water manipulation correct" and so on, luckily Sean who was my driver, bag carrier, confidant and sponsor all rolled in one, made a quick stop at to Neale Cranwell's gym Krunch for Neale to give me the once over.

Neale was instrumental in prepping me for this show, he's a great guy and a very experienced competitor, of course all I had to do leading up to this important weekend for the last 3 months was 6am Cardio, work, lifting my heart out in the gym, followed by more cardio, followed by posing practice and eating all the right foods to maintain muscle and lose body fat!

It was thumbs up from Neale who hinted I may be good enough to win the whole show! Feeling elated Sean and I continued our journey to Colchester and arrived at the Hotel for steak, potato and eggs as my last meal and a glass of white wine to act as a natural diuretic because I had stopped taking water by 6pm that night to tighten up even more. 

I couldn't sleep all night thinking about the show the next morning, I felt really tired but the mood changed when I checked my condition in the bathroom mirror, I was bang on the money and all nerves had fled back over the Severn Bridge to Cardiff. I felt confident about everything as I casually checked in with officials, handed over the music to the DJ and then just relaxed until about an hour before my class was due on stage. 

The setting was indeed Herculean, stage lighting, back drop all perfect and some amazing trophies too. 

I wasn't really taken seriously or noticed by anyone until I began to change from track suit to trunks, then I felt the presence of many fixed eyes and murmurings, I then knew I had brought my best to Colchester's Scott Hercs Olympia and my confidence grew by the minute. I didn't pump up like so many were, frantically lifting dumbbells and pulling stretch bands from one corner to the next, I just flexed and flexed, that's what I had painfully practiced night after night for the past 3 moths and inturn my body began to respond and my body got tighter and tighter. 

Sean applied the tan and then we "over 50's" were ushered to to the stage entrance! I could hear the crowd, see the lights and the atmosphere was building but I felt no nerves at all after all these years, I was home again!

As we stepped on stage the crowd went wild as we presented our selves as best we could and then I noticed all seven judges looking at me which could mean I was good or really bad! Comparisons made we asked to leave the stage and come back one at a time to perform to music, I knew my music and routine were unique, I just hoped the crowd and the judges would agree.

Move after move flowed, the noise of the crowd increased and flashes of photography pinging every where. When I had finished many were on there feet applauding and I even saw a couple of judges sneaking the odd photo or two. I had a chance!

There was another good Italian who had brought over a large contingent with him but they were cheering me, it must have deflated the poor man. 3rd was called and the Englisman graciously accepted his award. And in Second place, the Italian competitor was called, I knew I had won, it was amazing! 

As I was leaving the stage to thunderous applause, Scott Hercs turned to me and told me my physique and routine were incredible, I was taken a back.

Joyously I put my track suit on and from there on in I was mobbed by well wishes and new fans,I was on top of the world, I was the over 50's champion. 

Then I realised I had the small matter of the overall to contend with. the over all means all men's class winners going head to head on stage for the Title of Mr Hercules Olympia.

A couple of hours later we all lined up back stage ready to go to war! I happened to be first in the line up of around Seven other champions and as we took the entrance to the stage the crowd went berserk. I even noticed the Italian team cheering for me, 3 of us were to called to compare physiques, I new the other guys were bigger than me but I also knew I was able to present myself better than them.

We were asked to line back up and then the winner was announced, they called my name, from there on in it was all a blurr, photos, hugs and kisses of adoration and much much more. It took ages for Sean and I to leave the venue because we were stopped on every corner by well wishers. 

I can't actually remember much after that and the journey home back to Cardiff was one of the happiest and easiest ones I have ever made. Special thanks to my Sponsor Sean Brown who tirelessly worked to make my weekend a comfortable one.

And so as champion of my first comp I head toward my goal to be over 50's Mr Wales on May 10th and qualify for the British champions.

Thank you to all of you you that have lifted me with your comments and encouragement, you really have made a difference and remember "Train With Purpose".

So here I am just a couple of days away from competing at Scott Hercs show, the first in 22 years.

January 2013 I began training hard with the goal of getting lean and muscular for the summer, the nearest competition last year was the Nabba Mr Wales in May, so my training partner Sean and I thought we'd take  look.
I never frequented many shows during my lay off because I got bored of body-builders doing compulsory poses to their music, which obviously we had all see during the compulsory round, and here they were repeating those very same poses to music, yawnnnn, so just got bored of it all.

The artistry and skill to display your physique in a statuesque way to original music, had over the years, developed into an unimportant part of competition! But I was curious about the over 50's class.
Seeing those guys in their 50's really impressed me and deep down inside a fire had been lit! I kept thinking that if I put my mind to it, I could beat those guys and make a good account of myself, so I began to 'Train With Purpose'. The goal - to win the Nabba Over 50's class in May 2014.
I planned on getting as heavy as possible without losing too much condition just so that I could meander into the show over a steady pace.
I attained my heaviest ever weight of 15st 7lbs by December, not big for a lot of guys, I know, but I could still see my abs! My diet would be a long one, I began dieting and Cardio, with earnest, from the 2nd of January. Early February the realisation of not competing for 22 years began to scare me. What if I trip? What if all the fat doesn't come off? What if I didn't have the confidence I once had to stand on stage again?
That's when the idea of doing a warm up show came to mind and I found on Face Book, Scott Hercs Olympia in Colchester on the 5th of April. Perfect to iron out any creases I had developed over the years of not competing and then I would have 5 weeks to correct my mistakes for Nabba Wales.
My training and nutrition took on a new fervent of winning - there is no other option. What I didn't realise was the speed at which this training and diet would condition my body beyond that of my last win 22 years ago. I kept repeating "warm up show" until Sean my training partner said there's no point in entering unless you enter to win - that stuck in my head and I went for it.

Present day, I can honestly say I could not have done more than I have today, I'm skin and muscle, no fat to be seen any where! My barber, whilst cutting my hair, said that I had a muscular body with a skull attached as the head! It was funny at the time and that comment reaffirmed the sacrifices Julie my wife and I had given - Julie was keen for me to enter and she's stuck through some tough times, thank you Julie, its always unconditional with you, you're my Rock.
I am in great shape, my posing routine is class and my music is originally mixed by my son Niko - with strict instructions that I didn't reveal it to anyone except my wife. I know the last sentence sounds cocky, but if I can make a good account of myself in one of the biggest shows in Britain, with athletes coming from Italy, Spain and most of the European countries and even as far afield as Dubai, then I would have a great chance of winning the Welsh title again.
The show on Saturday is a qualifier to the world championships held in Athens in June and I would love to be part of the British Team.

Thank you to all of my friends that have followed my blogs over time and the informative comments you have made on each one, you have all been a big inspiration to me.

I'll post to face book on Sunday, just to let everyone know my placing and remember you can only be at your best if you TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

10 Weeks and Counting

I never thought I would say this but I'm almost on contest condition, at 10 weeks out from the Mr Wales, so what started out as a warm up show in 5 weeks (Scott Hercs Olympia in Colchester) has now become an event I'm out to win! Saying that though Scott's show does attract body builders from around the globe but what a great test for me, if I can do well against those guys then the Welsh Show should give me the confidence of a win.

It's been an odd experience this time round, everything is so different from 22 years ago when I last competed, everything except hard graft, discipline and self belief but boy has this 54 year old body felt felt some pain, unlike any other pain I can remember. The upside of that is that I'm in probably the best shape I have ever been in and here lies the dilemma.

Of course I'm quite level headed and take compliments for what they are and I appreciate them all but people are seeing me without comparing me (cause they haven't seen them) to other competitors and are now saying I should enter the tougher classes like class 3, by the way the more experienced competitors, current and former champions are decided in order of height with class 4 being the shortest to class 1 being the tallest and then the winner of each class competes for the overall. Over 50's are not included in the over all,  it's just one of the rules of Nabba.

My original plan and it still is to qualify for the over 50's British, which I believe I would have a good chance in.

It would be great to hear your thoughts on this though, the pic I posted a couple of weeks ago which had a fantastic response (thank you) doesn't not resemble the physique I now have, it's improved considerably from that and will continue to do so right up to competition day.

I love blogging and love hearing from friends and haters too, all your comments good or bad give me the energy to train harder, diet harder and be the best I can be. TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

Renzo

80 Days to Go

80 days seems a long way doesn't it but time seems to be flying by, which by the way isn't a bad thing, well not for me anyway. The journey so far has been very tough in many ways just because life throws in the odd spanner or two in an attempt to disrupt the focus, for one my wife's health begun to worsen ironically when I began my prep for the show. Don't get me wrong Julie is right behind me 100% of the way it was just a coincidence I could say.
It's become habitual now, 5.30am rise, amino acids lemon tea and then a 50 minute power walk around the streets of St. Mellons, weights at 5pm followed by 45minutes of stationary bike cardio, 6 days a week.
I read a lot about this HIIT cardio and I've even tried it but let me tell you it ain't for me, not at 54, old school stuff works for me and the discipline of the endurance I think gives me an edge on many body builders.
Right now all muscle groups are are clearly showing with plenty of vascularity, maybe I'm ahead of the game but that's ok, I'm not into this last minute panic stuff, I rather be ready at least 3 weeks out and just make minor adjustments leading up to the big day. On the other hand on this occasion I'm doing Scott Hercs Olympia in Colchester as a warm up and that's in 6 weeks so I'll be ready 5 weeks before the NABBA Wales, a long time for some but I love this sort of stuff and I'll come in even sharper for the Wales. I just hope I have some decent competition next to me.
Slight dietary and supplement changes from this weekend and another transitional period will begin.
Oh by the way my posing routine has to be 90 seconds that's the rules and Niko my son has mixed an amazing bit of music which I must say is difficult to move to but I've been practising and you're going to love it, none of this compulsory poses rubbish to music just because you've decided on a piece of music last minute and can't think of anything creative! Give the crowd what they paid for entertainment! See you there my friends and remember TRAIN WITH PURPOSE.

What a Year

2013 certainly brought it's challenges, not only in training but in life in General, what it did do though was it re-ignited the competition flame in me that had been neatly tucked away and out of site for almost 22 years.
Once my mind was made up, the gains came quickly, however competition body building has changed some what since I last graced the stage in 1992! Those changes also applied to my 53 year old body too, recovery time became longer, joint and tendon pains were a clear indicator that I had to train smarter as well as harder. My digestive system had changed considerably too, I couldn't assimilate certain nutrients like I used to so my nutrient intake had to change drastically too, not only to gain muscle but to loose fat too, but hey that's why it's taken the whole of 2013 to get it right.

These modern day trainers and gurus haven't a clue when it comes to the older man, they're great with all the latest nutrient timing and macro mix but they haven't factored in ageing, although some have done a great job with the younger generation.
Any way it's all systems go for 2014, May 10th to be exact, my aim is to win and win emphatically, sounds cocky I know but I believe I'm bringing a package to the stage that hasn't been seen in an over  50's before, not just my physique but I aim to captivate judges and audience with a routine that'll justify the cost of their ticket, something special is all I can say right now.
Finally without the unconditional love and support of my wife Julie I would not be on stage in May, a special thanks must go to my training partners Sean Brown and Sean Mathews who have pushed and encouraged me all the way, thank you guys.
Speak to you all soon and remember, TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

And so it begins

There had to be some mistake, my alarm clock sounded almost cocky as it yanked me out of blissful sleep into an enigmatic reality but alas it was true, the 5.30am get up call was more painful than any set of leg presses I've recently done. My limp body slowly twitched and stretched, each sinew and tendon pleading for clemency then the image that's haunted me ever since I made the decision to compete again, smashed its way to the forefront of my mind, I had to win and I had to get up and get walking.
 Black coffee with coconut oil and I was ready and fuelled for for my first competition cardio workout, the cold air soon filled my lungs like elixir and soon my mind was filled with tensing my gluteus with each stride imaging the look I hope to have on May 10th.
45 mins later and it was all over, it felt good, next step food and supplements.
My nutrition was bang on throughout the day and the evening workout with the 2 Seans was as tough as ever but completely satisfying, home for food and day one was coming to its successful conclusion, strange really, got to do it all again tomorrow.
You've really got to want it to succeed, I mean it has to be more than just a desire with some planning and preparation, it has to be a burning need to win, nothing else counts, I don't understand people who say they're in it for the experience! Are you nuts? Go on holiday, that's an experience! Competitive bodybuilding has to be about the winning that's all there is to it! TRAIN WITH PURPOSE.
For those that regularly follow my blogs, you can get an extra 10 % discount on supplements with www.musclefinesse.com  just enter RENZO10 in the voucher code. Look out soon for "Train with purpose" clothing too.

Getting Stronger

Getting Stronger

The last 8 weeks have really been tough on me physically, I've never been so tired; but the start of this week finally showed massive changes in strength which wasn't surprising given the kind of workouts we have been having. Anyway this jump in strength is all well and good but I am a body builder not weight lifter, my focus must lean more toward toward sculpting, isolating and destroying each muscle group to create the balanced symmetrical physique I used to be known for. Testing times to come but this is one old dog that isn't going to take it lying down, the fire is burning ever stronger! TRAIN WITH PURPOSE.

Progress

This time last year I could barely bend my knees, patella tendon trouble saw to that. Couldn't train my legs for at least 6 months and when I began to train them my strategy had to be completely different, I had to listen to my 53 year old body!
Today my legs are getting better and better although my knees still hurt I'm able to manage the pain and train around the weakness in my tendons, the intensity never changes though it's just the way I do things.
Most over 50 competitors have smallish legs but I'm going to be the exception without forgetting the balance side of things for which I'm known for. Big thanks to Sean Matthews and Sean Brown for pushing me on and picking me up on occasion hahaha. TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

Growing time

Training intensity is at an all time high despite May 2014 being months away, get the muscle packed on now then refine and define later that's what we're doing. Apart from struggling through the workouts I'm also struggling with eating more food, I've never been a big eater but I know it's a requirement for packing on those extra pounds of muscle. Training Partners Sean Matthews and Sean Brown are busting a gut too, it's hard work but great fun also, we all connect mentally and the camaraderie is clear to see, we (Well Sean Brown is) are very vocal too just so that other gym users can hear the pain we endure during our workouts!!! I have every intention of winning the Nabba Over 50's next May, TRAIN WITH PURPOSE.