My Year Long Journey: A Physique Story: July 4th 2018

As I contemplate whether to compete in the Muscle Beach Bodybuilding and Physique competition in Venice Beach California again; I thought it would also be a good time to share my story or should I say my Year Long Journey to last years July 4th competition.

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 4^th, 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 4^th 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