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.

101 days to go

10th of May is 101 days away, that's how long I have before stepping on stage for the Nabba Mr Wales! Now I'm not one to leave things to chance, I have my music, my routine is almost finished, my trunks have been made (3 different pairs), My cardio began on the 2nd January and my training is going better than it ever has, but I haven't stopped there. I'm actually going to enter a competition in England called The Hercules Olympia in Colchester 5 weeks before the Wales, why would I do this? Well first off it's 22years since I last stepped on stage so leaving nothing to chance I need to test the package I have put together.

My training partner will be in the audience, we'll check the tan, the way I stand, the way I pose, my posture and so on. From this we'll be able to iron out out any glitches, of course I'll still be 5 weeks away from tip top condition so it will also give me a measure of how tough the last 5 weeks are going to be and what diet adjustments I need to make.

Don't get me wrong although I won't be in 100% condition I'm still going to give it my all on stage, apparently many athletes from all over Europe will be there so its going to be tough and the organisers have almost hit there quota for entrants, it's that popular.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether you think I'm making a mistake entering on April 5th, of course I currently have tunnel vision and total focus so I might have missed something, so please share, I really do appreciate all your comments and feed back, thank you and 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!

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!

The way it is

Competition training if done properly is completely different to your normal run of the mill workout, for many reasons really, mine has just one focus, to be the best I can be on the day. More than that really, I want to be the best, that's it! The last thing I want on the day is a judge approaching me and saying "your competitor was better than you because". That's what makes it all different, nothing can be left to chance, every body part suddenly becomes a priority which means every workout is a priority. "Oh my legs are good so I don't need to hit them as hard cause they grow easy" heard that one before? I have and then it's panic stations 3 weeks out, too late! Similarly some guys work outstanding body parts even harder given their physiques an unbalanced look because they believe that their good parts will disguise their weak ones.
Winning comes from creating a muscular, ripped, balanced physique and then having the ability to present the months of training and dieting to 7 beleaguered judges waiting with baited breath to unburden their responsibilities for just a little respite. Judges go through hell "you wuz robbed" is a sound that all to commonly rings repeatedly through their ear canals eventually crushing all sense of reality, Brainwashed is the word I was looking for.
look give the judges and the partisan crowd a break and be a stand out winner from the moment you step on on stage. That's the way it is. 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.