Sometime in April 2017 I was talking to my cousin Clint
Johnson and he challenged me to find and compete in a California bodybuilding
competition. He said, he and his wife
Paulette would make it a California bodybuilding vacation. He wanted to show
his younger cousin “How to do it”, he was feeling very confident after placing
in a few East coast events; I could hear the bravado in his voice. So, I didn’t say yes at that moment; I needed to think about it. I knew what
challenge lied ahead for me if I accepted his challenge! The weight training
wasn’t going to be the hard part, I’m a health coach a marathoner and trail
runner! Training and working out is part of who I am! But to lean down into single digit percentage body fat to show case
lean muscular development was going to be the bear; the all-encompassing
commitment day in day out to deprive yourself, to sacrifice. That was going to
be the hard part; was I willing to go through that; in the past I had tried and
failed. So, I said let me think about it and I will get back to you. Participating in a bodybuilding or a physique
competition was a bucket list type of event for me, so I started looking for
events and began talking to Tanya about it.
Tanya was of course in right away, she told me she would
help me and support me if I stayed committed. If you didn’t already know my
wife Tanya was once a competitive bodybuilder, earning the title of Miss Bermuda. She knew
what it was going to take and how to get there! After a short search we chose
the date of July 4th, 2018 the Venice Muscle Beach competition, the
Mecca, the Birthplace of bodybuilding.
I called Clint and told him “I am in! let’s do this!” The
date of July 4th gave us both just over a year to prepare, so no
excuses, put up or shut up! We made a friendly wager, whoever placed higher had
to buy the other dinner at a spot of their choosing.
BEFORE
July 2017 the Journey begins :Weight 215 lbs. 19% Bodyfat
AFTER
July 4, 2018 Competition Day: Weight 164 lbs. 9% Bodyfat
Master’s Physique (Over 45)
Master’s Physique (Over 45)
Clint and I about to get "Pumped" in the staging area.
Feeling the Heat
Morning Preliminaries
Afternoon Finals
What a day! What an experience! In my category there where six competitors; in the end I placed sixth, the top five were awarded. That of course was a little disappointing but it is all about size and peaking at the right time. I was as they say in bodybuilding a little "Flat" in the prelims. After eating during the break my body seemed to peak and "Tighten" up for the Finals; but my competition had a little more size and development.
Clint competed in a different category and age group than I. He was in the bodybuilding category (Over 50) with five competitors ;he walked away with fifth place.
Post event sporting our hardware..
The next day we headed to a resort in Palm Springs for some fun and relaxation; which was well deserved. Clint paid for dinner 😄 wink wink. Vacation time!
The Ladies showing off their stuff pool side!
I couldn't have done it without Tanya's support, she is my Rock!
Time to get back to the drawing board. Work, train, eat, sleep in that order, then do it again.
MJ
