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.
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Blast from the Past

We can all get caught up in the frantics and stresses of today's body building lifestyle and all the hype associated with it through our modern day media channels like Face Book and magazines but sometimes it's good to look back and reflect on the what I call the "the good old days".

I would like to take you back, way back in fact haha, the year was 1986, the UKBFF was then known as the WFBB and was headed by then my mentor, the late great Paul Grant, in those days one had to qualify for the Mr Wales, this ensured that every finalist was of a high standard for the big one at the end of the year.
Anyway the previous years finals were smashed into shock with the emergence of the enormous Gary Taylor, over 18 stone with an eight pack, he swiftly moved through the ranks winning the British Intermediates by a mile, no weight classes for inters in those days so he emerged as champion via a huge class of entrants. The rules were that only once you had placed in a intermediate show were you able to migrate to the misters!
Again in Wales we didn't have weight classes, every mister went against every mister regardless of height or weight, at that time I lived in Haverfordwest which happened to be one of the qualifiers and I was expected to enter. Having gone through a divorce and unemployed training and dieting were far tougher than anything I have ever experienced since, my nutrition consisted mainly of eggs, tuna and rice, all cheap commodities at the time but they seemed to work well, there were no good supplements around either!
As the day approached I'd heard the monster Gary Taylor was using this show as a qualifier and so realistically I had resigned myself to placing below him naturally, however I stepped up my cardio and cut my carbs even further, perhaps too much as I resembled a zombie walking the streets of Haverfordwest, but boy did the fat come off, I carbed up the day before on potatoes and used brandy and raisins on the day, crazy stuff eh?
Pumping up was a scary prospect too watching those vascular 21 inch arms swelling before my very eyes, I just did my thing, my abs were deeper than ever and my face resembled that of prisoner of war from a concentration camp. Gary was the favourite though but I was fighting for 2nd, Gary and I were the first call out, which I thought was strange, they were comparing a 12 stone 7 pounds guy to an 18 stone plus monster. I noticed the judges were looking back and forth at Gary and I through out the judging which became a blurr in the end, I think exhaustion saw to that.
ladies and gentlemen in first place................Renzo Algieri, my jaw dropped, Gary sportingly shook my hand and embarrassingly took my trophy, I couldn't believe what had happened but many people said I deserved it, I'll never really know, only two people ever beat Gary Taylor, Dorian Yates was the other, then Gary went on to win the worlds strongest man.
The memory is etched deep in my mind and heart as one of my greatest wins, to this day I fear no one regardless of size, believe in yourself, do your best and TRAIN WITH PURPOSE,

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.

Turning Tide

177 days to go! sounds a long long time to go doesn't it but I'll need every single day to bring that winning formula to the stage next May. Today I trained legs, nothing unusual in that but I did feel different today more so than I have felt the last few months, my muscles felt denser and thicker than they ever have and this gave me a new focus and enthusiasm for things to come. I know I'll get my down days, who doesn't? But staying on track with the end goal in sight will be my motivation to keep going. 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!