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.

Supplement and Training update.

January's prep for the Nabba Wales in May I would say is easily on track, training has never been tougher especially the 6am power walks in this awful weather; when my alarm rings at 5.30am I can't say I'm overjoyed by the thought but my motivation is visualising myself on stage in front of friends and family, no way am I going to be mediocre, I have to win!
I'm currently training 5 days out 7 in the gym, with legs being hit twice a week and 6 days of morning cardio and with just over 2 weeks into my diet changes are already occurring, I'm also half way through my posing routine before fatigue sets in during the evening practice.
I was asked recently why I take supplements, my answer is simple, "which of the following produces the quickest gains in performance or body composition
1. Training
2. Diet
3. Supplements
4. Or all of the above work equally well
Answer - supplements! Training and diet can take weeks or months for things like performance or body composition to change, supplements on the other hand can show an instant benefit to performance therefore actually speeding up bodily changes. Take caffeine as an example, taken before training acts as a stimulant therefore allowing you to perform at a greater level of intensity instantly which in turn improves performance which then leads on to bodily changes sooner. See my logic?

Anyway with around 16 weeks to go a lot can happen, staying focused on the goal ahead is selfish I know but I have great support from a great team, my wife Julie, advice coaches Neale Cranwell and Dave Nelson, animal training partners Sean Brown and Sean Mathews, great training facilities at Peak Physique gym,  mind blowing Music mixed by Niko Algieri and fantastic sponsors in Muscle Finesse, Browns Office supplies and Iconx Clothing, all in all one hell of a team, I absolutely have zero excuses not to win, speak to you soon.....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.

Target

With the increased load in training intensity and changes in diet I'm growing better than ever before, I set myself a target weight up to Christmas and happily I'm only 4lbs away from that. I've also begun to incorporate 3 x 40 minute gentle cardio sessions at 6am each week and will continue this until December to maintain a decent amount of definition, so I know my gains are quality muscle only. From December I'll be power walking up to an hour each morning for 6 days a week. A big thanks to my training partners Sean "the mountain" Matthews and Sean "Arms" Brown for their consistency and encouragement. TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!