That means only FOUR hardcore, intense, heavy Dorian Yates style workouts left before I hit the World Champs! That’s only 4 opportunities left to improve!
Man! For over 25 weeks myself, Andrew Hudson and Greg have trained our a** off! Why stop now?
This is when the other guys with whom I’ll be competing against will be getting worn out and their intensity will start to wane. They’re hoping by magic that the last few weeks they will somehow get harder and in better condition. This is where I beat them! My willpower will be stronger!…they’re getting more negative by the day, complaining about how hungry and tired they are, they dream about what they are missing out on, the food etc….their intensity in their workouts is going down the toilet…
Not me … I’m just the complete opposite
Because in these final few weeks I’m loving it! I’m gonna make the most of every day take it up a notch to another level that they can’t imagine.
Somehow, someway I will stay positive and find a way to train even harder in these last weeks. I’m gonna show my body who’s boss around here!
It’s time to drop the hammer! Train my f***ing a** off for the next 28 days, because I will never forgive myself if I don’t!
This time will pass, this pain is temporary….but what I am left with after this is all over, will remain with me forever!

Well it’s been a few weeks since the Samson’s Classic and I must say I’m enjoying the few extra calories.  I say “few” because Chris Fitzpatrick & I have an upcoming trip to India where we will be hosting a few seminars & training sessions to promote our SSN brand, which is being marketed & distributed there.  It’s always good to be able to play the part and represent your brand…..so hopefully I’ll still have an ab or two to show in two weeks time!

As far as this year in review goes, I have to say that I’m pretty happy with how things went.  I think I really made some decent progress from last year and stepping into the heavyweight category was never going to be an easy task first time out.  However next year I will no longer have that excuse will I!!!

With that in mind I have taken the conscientious decision to really make 2010 the year for me….not that I have ever not taken my training seriously…..it’s just that the time has come now, after 10 years – 1999 to 2009, of consecutive top 3 finishers at the IFBB SA Champs, to take things to the next level.  2nd & 3rd places have been acceptable up to now because quite honestly I have never felt that I was at a level to be a real SA champion contender…..that was up until now.  I honestly feel that the groundwork has been done and at 37 years of age, the time to capitalise on it is now…..no more 2nd’s & 3rd’s!!!…..from now on my goals are simple – “Win KZN & SA’s in 2010 & place top 6 at Worlds”

Whilst I have always competed against myself rather than for a placing, my mindset is a little different right now in that I honestly believe that with another good year under my belt and if I’m at my very very best, I should be able to achieve those goals I have set.   I have never been more determined, more focused and more committed to a goal than I am right now!  I am so fortunate in having such a great support structure (from my wife, family, friends, staff & fellow SSN team mates to friends such as IFBB pro’s Gary Strydom & Francis Benfatto) that I really need to capitalise on these fortunes. In that regard I recently met with Francis Benfatto (for those who don’t know who Francis is….shame on you!  IMO one of the top 5 physiques ever to stand on a bodybuilding stage – see www.francisbenfatto.co.za ).  After some discussion we reached an agreement where Francis will work with me over these coming 12 months with the sole goal of bringing up my weak points and bringing a level of refinement and conditioning to my physique which I’m yet to achieve which will allow us to achieve the goals of winning next years provincials, nationals & placing top 6 at Worlds!

As a result I recently had Francis and his long standing girlfriend Adele, spend a few days here in Durban conducting a series of evaluation tests with me from which he has derived my first training program.  He will work with me (via e-mail, phone & in person where possible) on almost a daily basis and modify and adapt my plan when needed.  I am really excited about this as Francis has demonstrated a level of passion and commitment to this project beyond what I could have expected.  Not only that but he brings a seriously unique and interesting approach to bodybuilding that has really ignited my passion and enthusiasm for the coming year.  His approach in terms of diet, nutrition and supplementation is really pretty far from the norm and after only a few workouts “Francis style” I am more confident than ever that 2010 is gonna be my year!

More on Francis’ strategy (training, diet etc) to follow…..so check back regularly

Train with passion!

Mario

What is that you may ask?…
To me It’s to challenge the limits of my body every day. It is a natural human instinct to test the limits… climb Everest, running the comrades , Cycle the Tour De France…on and on … I choose to challenge myself with bodybuilding in which I’m determined that not one of my competitors will out working me! There are no short cuts. Time, knowledge, consistency and hard work is what gets you there! To be extraordinary I must do EXTRA ordinary things!
I have always had a fascination with the ability to manipulate my own body. The challenge is to see how far I can take it … maximizing muscle mass, shape, definition and symmetry looking ripped and hard and as close to perfect as I can for a single day … a day in which I am compared to others trying to do the exact same thing!
Everyday leading up to my contest my actions bring me closer to my goal. Every day I am focused on every detail … my rest, every meal and supplements, every cardio or weight workout, every posing practice session leaving no stone unturned… it’s all part of the big picture of what will have been 30 weeks of dieting leading up till the Classic world champs on the 11th of December. The package I present when I step onstage in 5 1/2 weeks is the culmination of all of that. Discipline, focus and sacrifice to be my absolute best for one day … that’s hardcore!

Hey Muscle Junkies! It’s the IFBB Mens World Champs this week. I was selected to go but chose not to because I know the standard is extremely high and I didn’t want to go there and stress about making a weight category(at both our provincials and our nationals I was over 10kg over the weight class limit on the Monday and managed to get below the limit by weigh in.) . So my plan is to try improve more and get better so that I can stand in the superheavyweight class and not worry about weight limits etc. The shows are all over for this year for me, the last 2 goals I have for this year are to support my training partner (Justin Thacker) in his final 6 weeks of preparation for the IFBB Classic world champs and to get a good run into next year as far as training and eating goes so that Lord willing I can make 2010 my best year ever!!!

Justin is training and dieting like a freak, honestly I wish I had a quarter of his discipline! He’s one of the most hardcore dieters I’ve ever met! I think he’s been dieting for 6months now and still has another 6 weeks to go so im trying my best to support and help him to be his best ever come December. Our workouts are off the chart now that one of us is back to normal. I have enjoyed the last few weeks getting all the extra carbs but now its time to keep it clean and tidy… I like to stay a little leaner in the off-season even if it means I feel a little smaller. So from Monday onwards I will resume normal dieting with the occasional cheat meal… I remember hearing someone ask Dorian Yates how long it took him to get ready for the contest he was about to enter. He said it took him 10 years! That’s true, its not just the dieting phase that matters when preparing for a contest, it’s the end result of what you have worked for in your entire training career all the off seasons all the diets, all the times you cheated and ate junk food! So ask yourself this today if you are going to be stepping onstage for judgment next year: is what im doing today productive or assisting me for the contest next year. If you are really serious about competing your answer will be Yes. I know all the SSN Muscle Junkies are already planning for the coming year- things like what bodyparts need to improve, when to start dieting, how we go into peak weak etc etc… anyway my point im trying to make here is that if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. It is so important in this sport and i’ve seen many people at show time saying if only I did this or that I would have won… this year I got on the plane to SA champs knowing I had done everything I could, so even though I got 2nd I was so happy because I knew I was in the best condition of my life, I could have come last and I would have been just as happy!!! If you focus on being the best you can be then you will never be disappointed with your placing at a show. However if you decide that your placing is going to dictate your joy then you are setting yourself up for a big disappointment!

I just want to say a big thanks to all the people who supported me at the shows especially those in team Hudson(you know who you are-haha! ), and to my Mom and Dad for always believing in me and supporting me and also a big thank you to Mario, Carole, Chris, Mel and everyone else at SSN for believing in me and my abilities- here’s to a bigger and better 2010!!!

Eat Big to Be Big!!!