Where it all began...

11/05/2009 

As an adolescent I got fed up of my older cousins bear hugging me making me fart...(That actually did used to happen)
But in all seriousness I started going to a local leisure center with friends at 16 so quite a young age. This is where you can imagine all my most egotistical gym sessions took place. I wished to be the one out of all of my friends who could bicep curl the heaviest dumbbells; So that's exactly what I did, and in fact the only thing i did. Which I can be grateful for now in terms of my biceps having a head start over other areas of my physique, however at the time the imbalance in my arms was crazy! I distinctively remember my friend laughing at the shape my arms were starting to form and saying they looked "rectangular". That moment hit a nerve, and after beginning to realize this was true, I was forced to acknowledge my triceps existence. It was then I began to comprehend that an all round effort would be much more beneficial than solely concentrating on my favorite body parts alone. regardless of what my ego was shouting at me!

Whilst in college at around 5'6 I found myself somewhat physically challenged playing Basketball for one of the best colleges in Birmingham. Being one of, if not the smallest player on the team, I had little option but to hit the gym harder and get some weight behind me! However this happened relatively late as it was during my second year when I really decided to make a change.
Studying a Sports performance and excellence BTEC at college, you'd assume I'd have known exactly what I needed to do, but I wasn't really seeing the gains I was hoping for so found myself seeking the college's strength and conditioning coach for advice. It was after the first session I had with him (Strangely enough it was a biceps session) that when I felt the D.O.M.S. (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) I was experiencing first hand what I believed was change happening due to my efforts and had the urge to explore this when working on other areas of my physique.

I've been at my University gym now for 3 years. I'm studying Sports & exercise science and heading into the 4th and final year of the degree this coming September. (I did a Higher National Diploma in Sports science for 2 years which counted as the 1st year of my degree) It's been during these 3 years that I've made the most progress and decided that one day I will step on stage and compete (only in tested competitions) alongside others who share the same passion as I do. Something I made myself aware of from the very start was that, what I wish to look like in the end, the final product couldn't possibly be achieved in a week. Too many people have too little patience when it comes to the gym which either pushes them to take prohibited enhancing products (Steroids) or lose all faith in the gym completely and stop going; one extreme or the other. I plan to reach my peak after at least 10 years of commitment, discipline and hard work. My number one goal is to become the top natural Bodybuilder in the UK. Whilst training to do this I'll be personally training clients and have completed my masters in strength and conditioning, which will hopefully allow me to become a S&C coach for an established premiership football team.

It would be much appreciated if you shared your experiences/support as I partake upon this journey.

Thank you.

10/05/2013