Competitive Bodybuilding 2015

Last year was an incredible year for me, I came back from a 22 year lay off and ended up placing second in the world! Couldn't grumble about that could I and so the thoughts ran through my head that maybe if I gave it one more go I could win a world title, this was around October time.

After all the squabbling amongst federations I decided I would try my hand with the IBFA and start with the Saxon Classic in April. My prep started in earnest in January, hell bent on winning everything again as I had done the year before, however I was not prepared for the mental turn around so soon into my prep.

Within weeks of starting I knew I had made a catastrophic mistake, I just didn't want it anymore but me being me, I had to continue, just because I said I would compete again, you see, my word is my word!

I'm still not sure what did this to me, maybe I hadn't recovered from last years rollacoaster or maybe I had just lost my love for the competitive stage, or maybe I just didn't have it in me to commit everything again for a plastic trophy, after all my poor wife had such a tough year last year and here I was putting her through it all again, how selfish of me, although Julie never complained once!

In any case my heart wasn't in it and I hated every rep of every set of every muscle group, I was on auto pilot all for the wrong reasons.

Come competition day I wasn't at my best and lost, deservedly so but I had qualified for the British, bring on the second catastrophic mistake, I decided I would get retribution at the British, I just couldn't imagine another 55 year old with my shape or conditioning being there, once again I was proved wrong. 

Looking back I could have easily won both my qualifier and British title, taking nothing away from the other great athletes in my class but had I prepared with the mindset of 2014 I really don't believe anyone would have beaten me but I was just kidding myself, I really didn't want it.

Things happen for a reason, my job at Muscle Finesse would come to an end after 5 great years and here I was in great shape, unknowingly I had just created the perfect formula to start up a PT business and as it happens it has gone really well.

I doubt I'll ever grace the stage again, my clients give me that fire now, I just want to get the best out of them and for me that's as satisfying as winning a competition, I love each and every one of them and it's just great seeing the enjoyment they get from working out with me. 2015 is turning out just great!

Current progress Re - Saxon Classic

My last update was on the 9th of Feb and it somewhat reflected my fears and insecurities during my prep, I gave an honest account of how I was feeling at the time, but you all sent kind and positive messages which seemed to lift me out of a dark place.

Well it's amazing how things change so quickly, I trained harder, did cardio harder and kept my diet on point and right now I believe that I have not only caught up but am ahead of schedule, my physique has changed dramatically over the last couple of weeks and I'm carrying more muscle than at the same point last year.

All positive stuff with only 8 weeks to go for one the UK's toughest shows, The Saxon Classic: Ryan Alexander the promoter has posted pics on face book of some of the competitors and they are as good as any Fed in the UK. 

Thanks all again for your support "Train with Purpose"

Saxon Classic update

Training and dieting is going well with just under 10 weeks to go for the Saxon Classic, it's now become evident that I am carrying more muscle than last year but paranoia has gotten the best of me condition wise. I just don't feel I'm coming in quick enough at this time, of course this has lead me to try drastic measures in terms of diet and training to correct this issue. It could be all in the mind and I could be right on track, I'll give it another week to see what happens.

My posing routine will once again be unique, I have a brand new piece of music which should raise a few eyebrows to say the least. Of course it was mixed by the maestro himself, Niko Physique.

It's all hotting up and I hear that this will be one of the toughest shows in Britain this year,

I'll keep you updated on my progress in due course. Thanks for following me and of course all the continued support. "Train with purpose"

Preparing For The Saxon Classic

I decided to compete in the Saxon Classic the early part of December. My main aim for this show is to come in great condition with an extra 4 or 5 lbs of muscle compared to year's competitions. I think the added muscle will add to my symmetry and balance.

I'm taking a slightly different approach, in that I believe I did far too much cardio last year wasting valuable  muscle in the process; I'm currently adopting low intensity cardio for 30 minutes am fasted and pm post-workout.
Although I currently don't feel I'm more muscular than last year, I'm most definitely stronger - the extra muscle will come to light as body fat levels drop further.

All I can say for now is that my aim is to win the over 50s at the Saxon Classic which will then qualify me for the IBFA British Championships in June - although I will be in the over 55s category by then where I think my real strength lies.

I'll keep you posted. Thank you for all your support. 

Back to it

It seems so much longer than 4 months ago since my very successful world championship bid. Looking back at the pics, I find it hard to believe that I achieved so much in such a short time and the conditioning I attained was beyond anything I had hoped for when I began the journey.

Anyway that was then, the past! Crisps and wine have comforted and consoled me for the last 16 weeks and to be honest I have quite enjoyed it. Of late my face book page has been swamped by a plethora of great athletes preparing for this weekends UKBFF finals and I wish them all the very best, it's the toughest sport on the planet and I salute you.

Your constant posts of dieting and training have been like a powerful advertising campaign and my love for the sport has been re-ignited, I have had a great week of training and my vision is beginning to tunnel, I'm sure something will trigger a chosen path for 2015 sometime soon.

If you get a chance listen to my latest video blog, kind of a part 2 on supplements although it shows I'm a little rusty speaking on camera but I am going to continue them and I will get better, I promise, I hope you like it and remember TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

Renzo

Fat In Fat Out

The very word Fat invokes a vision of scariness when it comes to food intake, largely down to the press and in part by some nutritional companies pushing there fat busting supplements, however fat alone isn't a bad thing, in actual fact it should form an essential portion of anyone's diet especially if it involves any type of training.
Body builders can actually get leaner using the right fats, Vince Gironda, also known as the iron guru, pioneered fat diets in the early 70's to get his body builders and athletes super lean, so all of the current so called Guru's claiming your right to the fat insurgence, sorry to knock you off your perches but good old Vince was decades ahead of you.
Let me tell you when fats become bad for you, when you combine them with sugars and carbohydrates, why? because sugars reduce fat oxidation and this reduction leads fat to be stored,so certain fats don't make you fat sugars make you fat!

But we need carbohydrates and sugars for energy I hear you shout! fair shout I guess, yes you do need them but your body synthesises about 200g of carbs per day anyway, so why not use fat as an energy source, I do and I feel great on it. Here's a list of fats I use daily to provide me with all the energy I need.

• Salmon
• Flaxseed
• Coconut oil
• Macadamia nut oil
• Almonds
• Peanut Butter
• Olive Oil
• Avocados
• Fish Oils
• Unrefined Animal Fats

In any case, carbs provide energy but that's really it, they don't really have many benefits after that! On the other hand fats have numerous health benefits and some very important roles within the body like

• Hormone Production
• Improved Metabolism
• Neurological Health benefits
• bigger muscles
• Stronger Bones
• Stronger Immune system
• Circulatory health
• and much much more.

So next time don't be afraid of fats, embrace them and get the best out of them for you! good luck and remember "Train With Purpose"

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