Brrrr!

Is it just me or is it ridiculously cold at the moment? Some quick tips about training in the cold. Go to the gym dressed in layers, do at least 5 minutes cardio and 5 minutes stretching before you even look at a weight or take off any layers. Then peel them off as you begin to sweat but make sure that you put them back on as soon as you are finished or you WILL catch a chill. OK, that's my Dad talk finished. Now,thanks to Gary & Julie Walsh I have a new video on Youtube from the British Openhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcsEfvQV5HI it's them that you can hear shouting encouragement throughout! Finally, here's a pic from Saturday of me posing very happily with my medal, more are available at http://www.nac-international.com/

No place like home

Home from Hamburg now, I officially placed 11th and I have to be pleased with that considering the opposition. I'm already back to normal off season life which means being able to eat well again at last! I had a fantastic time in Germany, the place is clean and impressive and the people were all lovely (I mentioned the war once but I think I got away with it!) Seriously though, it really is a great place to go. A few quick thanks, to Eugene Laviscount for making me so welcome at the NAC, to Neale Cranwell for all of his help before and after the trip and to Rob Reinaldo who gave me a lot of advice in Germany. Rob placed 4th in the class 1 but still found time for me. Like I said, a brilliant weekend!

It's over - please feed me!

Just got back to the hotel after a long day competing in my first Mr. Universe and what a day it has been. As expected I didn't place in the top 6 and I won't know exactly where I came out of the 20 finalists until the official results are posted in a few days time but it has been a fantastic experience. The quality of the competition was incredible, a huge step up in class for me; so was I blown away? Definitely not. Outclassed? No certainly not that either. Well beaten by some of the best in the world? Absolutely, and there is no shame in that. It is an honour to compete at this level and a great place to learn more about competing. After all, I've only been doing it for 18 months so getting my first Mr Universe medal so soon is an achievement that I am very proud of!

Live from Hamburg!

Blogging today via my iphone from my hotel room in Hamburg! Just got back to the hotel after checking in and having a look at the venue. The quality of the competition is incredibly high, there are 19 of the worlds best in my class alone. The venue is superb too, in fact everything since I've got here has been very impressive. What a ride this is!

Germany beckons

As you can imagine it has been a very busy week but the final preparations for Saturdays Mr. Universe contest are almost complete now. It's a strange situation, preparing for a show where you know that you are likely to be outclassed but I’ve never competed at anything in my life without giving it my all and this will be no exception. In fact, as my expectations are to come back with nothing more than an education I am feeling no pressure and I am really going to enjoy it whatever the outcome. Just a quick word about the mighty Tottenham after they destroyed Arsenal on Saturday. I'm sure that result affected Arsenal last night and Tottenham tonight in their respective champions league games, this could be the season that the balance of power finally shifts in North London, it’s about time too! Here's another pic from the British open.

6 Days to the Universe

So here we go again then. I took Sunday off to rest and eat but then this morning it was straight back on to the depletion diet and full training, doing things this way I'm hoping to look even better for the Universe on Saturday. As anticipated, my body is complaining, I was supposed to be back to my off season diet today, which is more than twice as many daily calories as the depletion diet, but the thought of competing in my first Mr Universe is more than enough to take away the hunger, aches and pains and keep my motivation sky high. Here's a picture of me with David Foo who narrowly beat me at the British open a couple a days ago, as usual, I will let you be the judge.

Second, but no complaints

Well I had a brilliant day at my first British open finals yesterday. I came second to David Foo who is a very well known and highly accomplished bodybuilder. I must at this point say a big thanks to Gary Walsh for all of his help in the run up and on the day. The result was incredibly close, David thought that I had won and so did most of the crowd, I'll get some photos on here tomorrow and you can judge for yourself. It was so close that the judges, who had to choose one of us to compete in the Mr. Universe contest next weekend actually chose us both, it was that tight. As I said last week, I'm so tired and hungry, another week of contest prep is going to be so hard, but obviously I can't turn down an opportunity like this!

3 Days out

Very close now to the biggest show of my life so far and I can’t wait. Not just because I'm excited about getting on stage at such a big event but also because I’m very tired now and badly need some rest. I’ve been dieting for 8 of the months of this year so far, I'm fed up with my house smelling of fish and broccoli and I’ve had enough of drinking so much water that I have to get up to pee 4 times a night. Maybe I should have had that bag fitted when I had the chance! Funny to think that was almost 3 years ago and my career was “over” and now I’m trying to win the British Open title! Anyway, my gorgeous Princess Lilybelle now has 4 teeth and here she is showing them to Granddad last night!

Remembrance Sunday 2010

So, as predicted, Audrey Harrison bought one last bit of shame to British boxing before disappearing with his retirement fund. He is a disgrace, the BBBC should withhold his purse and David Haye shouldn’t be forgiven either for sanctioning the joke, at least not until he fights the Klitchko’s anyway. It doesn’t always bring me pleasure to know that I was right about something, sporting or otherwise, although I was overjoyed with the rugby on Saturday. Every single person associated with that victory deserves all the credit in the world; they all made me feel very proud to be an Englishman!

Friday 12th November

As I have no water until later thanks to a bunch of workmen damaging the main I find myself with some enforced spare time so here's another blog! Firstly, thanks to Gaz & James for looking at me this morning, they reckon that I look much better than I did at Nottingham, we will see. Secondly, good luck to Julie Walsh in the "Stars of tomorrow" show at Hayes on Sunday. Julie is trained by her husband Gary who is very knowledgable and he has been giving me some good advice me since I decided to go it alone and coach myself. Finally, maybe the diet is making me crazy but I have backed England to beat Australia in the rugby tomorrow, watch Ben Foden (pictured) he's a very exciting full back and could make all the difference!

Armistice Day 2010

I do hope that you wore your poppy with pride today and also that you gave a decent amount of money for it rather than just some odd change. The money raised by the poppy appeal is for the brave soldiers not just from the 2 world wars but also from more recent conflicts like The Falklands, Iraq & Afghanistan. Im not really one for charity, I believe that it begins at home, but I always give £5 for my poppy and I also support 2 other related charities which I will give you website links for here http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/ and http://www.marchforhonour.com/ If you feel like I do about our brave soldiers please give generously to these charities

Thursday 4th November

Just over 2 weeks out now and all is going well. My friend Ritchie Goodwin, who placed 5th in his class at the UKBFF finals had a look at me today and said that I already look better than I did for Nottingham so I was pleased about that. Steve has got the photos from the show on here now, so please just look in the gallery section and judge for yourself, bodypart for bodypart, including the guy who placed 4th despite only having one bicep! Finally, what a week for us Spurs fans! Firstly that goal at Old Trafford, I blame Gomes, not the ref, we play to the whistle in this country. Secondly what a performance to absolutely destroy the champions of Europe! The glory glory days are back!