Success Story: How I Powered My Way to Powerlifting Victory - Part 1
We welcome guest blogger Geraint Llewellyn.
[caption id="attachment_118" align="alignnone" width="235"] Geraint Llewellyn[/caption]
Being a 34 year old full time Manager of an independent health food and supplement shop means I’m a busy man. I’m also Dad to two boys and engaged to be married this May to the beautiful Carlene who has an eleven year old son. As you can tell, I’m a man with his hands full! Finding time to get to the gym can be tricky, so that’s why I've been exercising at home for the last few years – and getting myself ready for Powerlifting victory.
In mid-December 2013, I became a member of the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association (BDFPA). Taking part in my first competition in January this year, I came away victorious, setting a new bench press record. So let me tell you about my journey and how I managed my success…
Why powerlifting?
When I turned 30, I’ll admit I was pretty out of shape. I’ve always been attracted to the world of weight lifting, so I decided it was time to stop watching and start doing. I thought it would be great to actually get to competition level, so for the last few years I've been weight training pretty much daily.
Creating my ideal home gym space
I knew that to get into the shape I wanted, I needed to be dedicated. So I’ve spent time building up my home gym. As a working parent, I find it's more convenient than finding time to go to the local leisure centre or gym.
To ensure I was well equipped, I spent last year upgrading all my home gym equipment to heavy duty, full commercial stuff, all of which came from Fitness Superstore. My older bits of kit were limiting my progress and were no longer suitable - or safe!
Here’s some of the equipment I use:
- Bodypower Heavy Rubber Gym Mat
- Body-Solid - Flat/Incline/Decline Bench (Full Commercial)
- Body-Solid - Commercial Multi-press/Squat Rack
- Bodypower - 185kg TRI-GRIP Olympic Weight Set
- Bodypower TRI-GRIP Cast Iron Olympic Disks 20kg (x2)
- Flat Bench: 12,10, 8, 6, 4, 1, 1 reps per set
- Incline bench, decline bench, decline dumbbell flyes, flat dumbbell flyes, incline dumbbell flyes: 3 sets x 10 reps each.
- 8.45am: Oats, muesli, milled chia seeds, cranberries, blueberries, wheatgrass powder, Sci-MX Ultra Whey Protein, all mixed with water just before I demolish it! Solgar VM75, 1000mg Vit C, Quest Forte 4000iu Vit D, Solgar Full Spectrum Omega Salmon Oil Capsules.
- 11.15am, 1.30pm, 3.45pm: 180-200g skinless chicken breast seasoned with herbs, basmati rice, mixed seeds, cranberries, beetroot salad.
- 700ml Green Tea between each meal, plus loads of water throughout the day.