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Jamie Neal | Maximuscle Life changing stories
Real Motivation by natural bodybuilder Jamie Neal
I played a lot of sport when I was in High School. I did Track & Field, football, basketball, hockey, You name it, I did it. I was pretty good at some of them as well, but I could have been compared to a bamboo cane. Yes, I was that thin, and at 6' 1 " tall, it really shows.I didn't really care that I was thin, to tell you the truth I didn't even notice! When I turned thirteen, the realisation came. I saw some photos of myself and I couldn't believe how skinny I was. This was the time that my friends started to tell me of that fact as well. So, I decided to do something about it.
I started with dumbbells...
I bought myself a set of dumbbells, and like most ignorant teenagers I didn't really know what I was doing. I tried the exercises that came with the weights and only did the ones that were easy. I trained Monday to Friday, doing all the exercises I liked and ate, on average, two meals a day. Understandably, I didn't make any gains and I had a little self-confidence problem with my weight, or lack of it.
I persisted with my program and started to read some bodybuilding magazines like Muscle & Fitness, Flex, etc. I started to learn why I wasn't making any gains. I rectified the situation as soon as possible. I started training twice a week, training my whole body each workout in a different way to 'condition' my body for the demands I was about to make on it.
I told my parents what I was trying to do and neither of them approved. My mum didn't want me to hurt myself, and my dad didn't want to see me looking like a bodybuilder. But I did want to look like that, and I was going to do it, whatever they said.
Results were slow in coming...
I did 'said' regime for a month then switched to training three days a week with a rest in between, whilst simultaneously increasing my meal intake to four meals a day. I did start to see a difference in my body. I was getting more toned, but not really gaining much weight. I upped my meal intake to five meals a day and, over time, I gained weight. But I didn't want to stop there, so I purchased a popular weight gain drink of the time, which said to mix with whole milk to gain weight quickly. I did what it said and yes, I did gain weight quite quickly, but it was around my stomach. My abs had disappeared faster than a formula one racing car when the lights go green! It was then that I discovered Maximuscle, bought some of their products, and read all that Zef and his team had to say.
I then upped my meal intake to six/seven quality meals a day and reduced my training to three days a week. I made rapid gains, and continued to make these gains through proper training and nutrition supplemented with products that work and plenty of rest.
From under 10 stone to 12 1/2 in a year and a bit..
.Let me also stress the importance of a training log. If you want to continue to get stronger, and with the extra strength, more size, you need to keep an accurate training log. It allows you to see how good that new routine your trying is, and also enables you to set your goals. Setting yourself goals is very important. Write them down on paper, and then formulate an action plan to achieve them by a specific date. But remember, set goals that are challenging but attainable, and the same goes for your target date, make it tight but not impossible.
I went from a scrawny 6' 1 " and just under ten stone, to 6' 2" and twelve and a half stone in only a year and a bit. I have kept my weight stable up to now because of my cashflow, but I am now ready to get bigger.
Before I continue, let me tell you what tools I use for my training. You may think I train at an exclusive gym around other bodybuilders, but I don't. I train at home. Not with an enormous home gym set-up that could rival Gold's Gym, but just a plain old barbell and dumbbell set. I haven't even got a bench. For bench presses and incline I use a scientific array of pillows to raise my body and set it at different angles.
I wouldn't recommend this set-up for anyone. If you can afford to go to a gym, do it. It will really help your progress. The only reason I train in this way is that I have a limited amount of money to devote to my training (this is changing now, I'm now a member of a local gym that is really well equipped!) But, it does serve to illustrate a point. If you really want an amazing body, you can get it. All you need is the motivation, discipline and correct knowledge.
I have no spotter to 'bail me out'
Also, training in this way really gets the correct form of the movements down straight away, because if I make a mistake at any point in the movement I have no frame or spotter to bail me out.
This does mean I cannot go really crazy on an ultra high-intensity last set, which does restrict me. Both my parents now support my goals.My mum doesn't think much could hurt me now, and my dad, despite not liking muscular physiques, is always showing me off to his friends, saying how dedicated and strong I am. The only strain I have is still my parents. They aren't pro health & fitness. I've tried since I was ten to get them to stop smoking, and they still do. (I just kick them outside anytime they want a fag!) My next goal is to try and educate them on healthy living and getting them fit, for their own sake.
You'd be amazed at what good a healthy, fit body can do for you. I ooze self-confidence without (hopefully), being too cocky. I have improved my sprint times and vertical leap immeasurably. I am also more extroverted now. I will go up and chat to the beautiful woman that caught my eye, instead of just ducking for cover like I did in my earlier days. I can honestly say, this is the best thing that I have done, and I shall continue until I'm six feet under.If you train properly, let your dedication and discipline (not to mention your new self confidence) transcend to the other aspects of your life. If you pursue your career, social life and any other hobbies that you have with the same enthusiasm, you will succeed in anything you turn your mind to.
In Conclusion,
If you are on the scrawny side and desperately want to gain muscle, do it correctly and you will achieve your goals. There may be obstacles in your path, but nothing worth getting is ever easy. The only thing stopping you will be your own, personal limit. It just takes time and dedication. You can do it!
Jamie Neal
