Contest achievements:
2009: NZFBB CNI 1st place under 70kg novice and NZFBB Nationals 1st place under 70kg novice.
Contest weight:63.2 Kilograms off season weight: 82 kilograms and it won't be happening again, promise! ;)
What's the highlight of your BBing career so far?
Honestly, I guess just winning the nationals? I mean the day itself wasn't special, I hated it for some reason. I think it was due to being way too dehydrated and I couldn't get a pump. I won't be cutting water out this year.. But to be proclaimed Mr New Zealand under 70kg bodybuilding champion that is priceless to me. I still reminisce sometimes haha. Gym wise, repping 140kg full range squats! None of this half way nonsense!! 180 next year hopefully!
How often are you aiming to compete?
Well I've only done two shows since I only started to consider competing due to peer pressure from my good friend Matt Cook (Thanks bro!). Kept bugging me to compete even though I was against going up on stage being tanned in a speedo.. My first time I went to a body building contest was in 2008 CNI's where I saw and got inspired by a friend Ben Mills who was competing in the juniors and I remembered how small he was before he started.
right: Ali looking a little scared at NZFBB CNI 09 |
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That to me was really inspirational and I passed some on to my cousins.. This sport inspires people, isn't that lovely?
Anyway, me and some physiques gym buddies Elliot and Hamish also decided to give it a shot the following year. But to me personally, I think that competing too often won't allow you to change your physique and bring in a new package to the stage... I made reasonable progress in 2010 by taking the whole year off and just focusing on growth and lagging areas (I hope I managed to fix them!) so for me, I just want to do a regional show and win my class and then challenge the other regional winners at the Nationals.
May'09 Sept '09
For me that makes sense, not saying anything different is wrong. But that is just my theory. Though I do know how tempting it is to compete all the time... In the future I will take more than a year off for growth and strength development. Not to mention also to have some time for my friends and family! (My bad guys!)
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How do you manage to eat like a bodybuilder on a student budget?
My lovely mother and father support my passion and help me out as much as they can, especially when I won the NZ nationals in 2009! Also I had a job as a security guard at farmers thanks to Jhoon and Jay Law! Honestly, if you eat the right food then it's cheap!! You can get a loaf of bread and 30 eggs and that is roughly the same price as a burger king combo or something. I also try to save as much money as I can and avoid spending it on unneccsarry things, unless ofcourse I feel like I deserve to reward myself!
Can you afford the supplements and what are the basics you use?
I can afford the supplements! Just gotta be smart where you shop and what you get! I only bother with whey protein and flaxseed oil, which sometimes I don't take and switch to another fat source since I can hardly stand the taste *shudders* - Otherwise, honestly I have tried most of the supplements and I really don't like them.. I am a very skeptical guy and I want proof in the pudding before I believe anything. I always question things unless I have scientific peer reviewed journal proof. That's how I am, it sucks I know.
What areas of your physique have you been focusing on and how have you gone on to developing them.
I have been focusing on my legs a lot more through my mind by having a connection with the muscle. Breaking through the pain barrier and going until failure. My legs weren't really lagging by any means (from my point of view) but I want what ever illusion there is to make my waist as tiny as possible and I think I have accomplished that through genetically having a tiny waist (Thanks dad!) and also by getting as wide as I can through deltoid and lat development. I want to give more attention to my arms though, they have always been my weak point. My focus isn't as great when it comes to arms as when it comes to squatting, but I am hungrier than I have ever been to succeed. My motivation for improvement is that, if you only workout a body part once a week... Well, then you only really have 52 times a year to make a difference... And that doesn't sound much at all! So every workout since 2010 I have been pushing myself until I know in my heart I can't do more.
  
Ali, far left, at NZFBB Nats 09
Did you let yourself go in the off season. How much weight did you put on above your contest weight and were you happy with being that weight and not seeing lines on your physique.
Sadly yes I did let myself go in the off season!! (some don't agree but through my eyes I did) I got up to 82 kilograms. The day after the nationals, my family and I went to celebrate in the gold coast. And winning the Nationals was such a big hype for me that I didn't care what I did or what I ate. All I could think of was "So? I am the under 70kg mr New Zealand!" *eats a handful of peanut M&M's* though mind you I also ate pretty well in the off season, I think my portions were just TOO much for my frame and structure. But I was definitely leaner than the first time I bulked. And to answer the second part of your question; I wasn't ‘happy' but I didn't really mind. I don't usually flaunt my physique believe it or not. I usually wear baggy sweat pants and an extra large t shirt so I look like someone who has never picked up a weight in their life. I like it better that way! ... I won't lie though, I take a lot of pictures and sneak a few poses at the gym hahaha.
You've been on a diet since before Christmas? Why such a long pre contest and which comp are you dieting for?
That's right! Since November 11. I believe the longer and SLOWER your diet is, the more muscle you will retain and will give you enough time to not rush things and plan things ahead. So far it is working great for me. I have not lost any strength, I don't feel like I am in a diet what so ever. If all goes well I want to do a show in my home town which should be around July.
My friends and family ask me when I will do another show, so this show in Hamilton is for them to come and watch and stop asking!! But if I don't feel like I am ready by that time (Which I'm sure I will be) then I can always do the show in Wellington in September - Whether I'm ready or not, my main priority is to attain a pair of striated glutes... That to me has been haunting me for a long long time, I can't remember since when...
  
March '10 Jan '11
Is your pre contest diet different to your most recent one and why are you approaching things differently?
I don't think any person could have survived my diet in 2009. It was the most depressing diet ever witnessed. I ate nothing but oats in water, taking protein shakes with water... Can you imagine every meal like this for 4+ months? My tooth broke because of no calcium as well, I kept getting cravings for food that I couldn't resist and cheat on my diet. Now I eat what I want. The catch is, I have to track my food and know what I'm eating J so I'm loving it.
What's your typical contest diet now ?
MEAL1 : 2 whole eggs, 3 egg whites, 1 orange, 1½ cup of oats. 200ml of yellow top xtra milk (I think that's the name? Haha)
POSTWORKOUT: 2½ scoops of protein, 1 banana
MEAL2 : ¾ cup of brown rice , 120g of tuna
MEAL3: 180grams of kumara, 100grams of chicken breast
MEAL4: 125grams of red meat, 1table spoon of disgusting flaxseed oil *shudders*
Bed time: 100ml of xtra yellow top, 1 scoop of protein
PS: This is my diet as of TODAY, I will altar it next week and if I feel like going out to eat, I just have to recalculate my food numbers and I will be sweet!
What's your typical pre contest training week?
Day1: Chest
Day2: Back
Day3: Shoulders
Day4: Abs / Calves
Day5: Hamstrings/quads
I didn't give my weight or number of reps / sets because I go on how I feel as corny as that sounds! Haha
Has there been someone who's had a big influence on your bodybuilding career? And how have they helped you?
I have always admired Frank Zane's physique and I think I have some what potential later on in life to look some what like that haha (Shape wise). Though I'm not quite sure which person had the most influence on me... Kai Greene and Melvin Anthony have awesome posing routines. That's how it should be!! I will practice to do stuff like that one day.. Maybe take a hip hop class..? hahahah
Have you had a role model - perhaps a physique - who's inspired you?
Well the physique that I aspire to achieve is something like Sanjeev Narayan's. To me it is an awesome shape. Tiny waist, big back and a lower body to match. I also want some razor sharp conditioning much like Aron Noble's - Also I wanna say thanks to Aron for always being so humble and answering every query I have... WITHOUT charge.. What a stand up guy J - That's how it should be done too! I have come to realize from my experience, there are honestly are no secrets in this sport.. It's just hard work, perseverance, patience, genetics and a mind that will over come any negative obstacle.. People claim secrets I think so that they can make money... Laugh if I was wrong though!
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What advice/tips would you give to some of the young men starting out on their Bodybuilding journey?
I honestly think aside from learning how to set out a proper diet and educating yourself on how calories work so you can manipulate it to how you want to look, is that if you're in the weights room always and I mean always focus on trying to get your mind to connect with your muscles. I can't stress this enough. Proper form is important too. Sure it's ok to have a little swing (not too much!) if the weight is a bit heavy, but always try to use proper form. Don't worry about the number of the weight..
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Hell I can be benching 20kg but if I'm working harder than the guy who's doing 100kg then that's all that matters.
Be honest with yourself.. How much fat do you need to lose in order to look in condition? Is the whole 12 week diet really going to get you where you want if you're 25% body fat? Or is the 20 week diet going to be necessary when you're already sub 10%? What areas are you willing to change in order to achieve a well balanced phsique.. Or are you going to dismiss all the constructive critisim to satisfy your ego? Look at the pro's. You might not be their size or reach that size (who knows) but aspire to their condition, balance and posing..
I also think be as humble as you can be.. Something like Grant Pieterse. He's willing to help a small group of people with their diet without charging them and training with them everyday even though he is busy prepping for his pro show, that's something I admire about a person. Remember that if you manage to make it to the top of the mountain, be a great role model for those trying to climb it. Because I'm sure you knew how it felt when you were seeking out advice but no one was there for you. Never give up, sometimes you might look at yourself and feel down or what ever it is, but believe me you will thank yourself if you continue and push through the hard times. |
What is your ultimate goal in bodybuilding?...and perhaps out of bodybuilding..in career and life
To become a natural pro body builder one day ! It can only be done in America so after the Nationals this year, my sights are set on that goal and I won't compete again until I think I have a worthy enough physique.. This will be a long time away and after I have established my self a secured life style. I want to maintain my weight or add a couple of kg's after contest and try to either do sprinting or powerlifting.. I have taking a liking to them.. I want to compete in them also at some point! Also to be a very successful and inspiring personal trainer with my own gym some day! Hopefully open up across the nation :P
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But in the mean time, find a job in a gym some where and help people reach their goals, it is the best feeling when you help someone out and they see results... So if anyone is reading this and they want to hire me... ;) *WINK WINK WINK*
Thanks for your time Lisa! And thanks for my bodybuilding brothers who always support me, and also thanks to my friends and family who also support me and have to put up with my dieting.. Don't worry it won't be long.. October is just around the corner and I will be eating burger fuel with y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not too much though ;) )
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