Wednesday 30 September 2009

Wednesday 30th September

Less than three weeks to the finals now and it's all going very well. I'll see Eddie on Saturday and see what he thinks but I know that he will put me on zero carbs as we are doing a long slow depletion and then a big carb up. I'm looking forward to it, I will be in the best condition of my life by far come showtime. The last of the cheat meals was at the weekend, most people go out for a huge curry or Chinese. I prefer to stay home and have Heinz big soup with some cheese sandwiches. Only one person in the world will know why that is my favourite cheat meal.

Monday 28 September 2009

Monday 28th September


Spent some time with Natalie today. She looks incredibly well, the bed rest is doing both her and Colby the world of good and her bump is now enormous! We will find out on Thursday what day Colby will make his big entrance, until then I've told Natalie to get all the rest she can as she will need it! She is such an amazing daughter, here's a picture of us on her wedding day, quite simply one of the best days of our lives.

Sunday 27 September 2009

Sunday 27th September

What did I say last week about Sundays at the gym? Today was awesome! Had a great talk with The Rev. John Lennon (yes that's his real name!) an Irish priest who trains at Atlas gym on Sundays but also goes round the country preaching positive motivation and philosophies like this "Don't just hope to win, simply set a standard that the competition cannot reach" I didn't think I needed motivating but he made me feel ten feet tall. Thanks John, I now wish the finals were tomorrow!

Friday 25 September 2009

Friday 25th September

The doctors have decided that they are keeping Natalie in hospital until baby Colby is born in about 2 weeks time. She is a brave kid and although she is in pain she is happy to stay in pain and in a hospital bed to ensure that baby Colby is fine when he is born. I expected nothing less, when my kids are facing adversity they suck up the pain and meet it head on, I am so proud of both of them. My family have sorted a rota for us all to be babysitting Caden without it affecting my contest preparations, but of course Natalie and Colby are constantly on my mind.

Wednesday 23 September 2009

Wednesday 23rd September

Today was a rest day from the gym, good job too as it turned out. This morning Natalie called to say that she was having abdominal pains so I took her to the hospital. They have kept her in, mainly as a precautionary measure. With baby Colby due in just a few weeks these are anxious times, I’m just so glad that I moved here when I did so that I can be this close to my children and look after them whenever they need it. On the plus side it means that I get to spend even more time with Caden as I am looking after him most of the time while Natalie is in hospital. Since I have lived here Caden and I have developed an incredible bond, being a Grandparent is just an amazing experience, right now he is actually helping me to write this!

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Tuesday 22nd September



OK here is the embarra-ssing picture as promised. Im not posing, Caden kept on grabbing my bandana. Needless to say the silly David Brent goatee and feather earring were removed straight after the party! As my girlfriend couldn't attend, I found myself spending a lot of time alone with the kids, in fact by the end I was sat outside with a group of them telling me what they get up to at playschool. If it's true that the children are our future and this lot are anything to go by, I would say that the world is in pretty safe hands.

Sunday 20 September 2009

Sunday 20th September

Took the day off yesterday for Caden's "pirate" themed Birthday party, embarrassing pictures coming soon! Returned to the gym with a vengeance today though and trained really well. I love training on Sundays, it's usually quiet apart from the really dedicated. Saw my friends Kirk, who I have mentioned before, and Darryl, who has decide to compete in March and I am absolutely positive will do very well!

Friday 18 September 2009

Friday 18th September


Well today is Cadens 2nd Birthday so I am looking forward to seeing him later and giving him the big train set that I have got him for his Birthday. He already has a small train set here and he loves trains for some reason so this seemed a great idea for a present even if it is going to fill up my dining room! Here's a picture of him on his first Birthday, a year ago in Spain, covered in chocolate Birthday cake, we had a fantastic day that day. Life for me has changed so much since then, it doesn't seem like a year ago!

Monday 14 September 2009

Monday 14th September


Feeling good after training exceptionally well yesterday I decided that it was high time I sorted out my posing routine for the British Finals, trying to incorporate all the different poses that people have recommended. It took some time but I'm very please with the result and my good friend Paul Kemal has mixed me a superb track to pose to. The routine looks great even on first practice! Leg training and posing practice with Eddie later too, it's all going exactly according to plan, less than 5 weeks now and I just can't wait!

Friday 11 September 2009

Wednesday 9th September


Having trained hard for five days solid, along with doing cardio twice a day, a day off was called for. Of course that meant spending some time with Caden as it is my favourite way to relax. It helped Natalie too, she will be having baby Colby in about a month so she appreciated an afternoon asleep while Caden and I played together. Here he is on the big swings at the park.

Saturday 5 September 2009

Saturday 5th September


Just a quickie today because after double cardio, a killer shoulders and traps session and posing practice too I'm knackered! Eddie is pleased, we are well on course for October. More importantly, here's the first picture of the Princess!

Friday 4 September 2009

Friday 4th September

Yesteday I took my darling Daughter Natalie for her 30 week scan and baby Colby is doing great, it was so emotional to watch the scan. Then this morning my amazing Son Steve and his gorgeous girlfriend Amy had their 20 week scan and found out that they are having a baby girl. This has to be one of the happiest days of my life. I honestly can't imagine that life can get much better than this!

Tuesday 1 September 2009

Tuesday 1st September

Well Rob unfortunately didn't win but he was a close second and was without doubt in the best shape of his life and his routine was great too. The winners legs were so defined though, that was the difference I think. Rob can at least start eating, I'm now into the middle phase of competition preparations which means dieting even harder, but it is working really well and as soon as Steve is back from holiday I'll get some recent pics put on here.