After Michael's mother passed away, he knew he needed a hobby to get through the tough times. Find out how Michael pushed himself to achieve his fitness goal and shed 25 pounds to get ready for a competition!
Vital Stats
Name: Michael Twydell
Email: mike@mjtfitness.com
BodySpace: mjtfitness
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Before:
Age: 43
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 168 lbs
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After:
Age: 44
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 143 lbs
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Why I Got Started
At the age of 39 my mother passed away from a glioblastoma brain tumor. She had been diagnosed on the 5-year anniversary of being declared "cured" of breast cancer. That same week the scans from her headaches revealed the unrelated cancer. She lived another three years; impressive for that kind of cancer. However the last year and a half was not fair to her as she virtually became a vegetable from the spread of the cancer in her brain.
At this point I needed something more than the current lackluster training I had been doing.
I had competed back in my mid 20s. Through my 30s I became more focused on athletic training as opposed to bodybuilding. I had been playing hockey and training a lot of my friends for the sport. I definitely lost a good portion of my muscle mass and the regimented diet I had known as a bodybuilder. As I was approaching my 40th birthday I wanted to prove to myself that I could go through the whole "show training" process and come out looking better than I had ever looked before.
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I Wanted To Prove To Myself That I Could Go Through The Whole "Show Training" Process And Come Out Looking Better.
I set my sights on the Capital City Bodybuilding Championships two weeks before my 40th birthday and got back into the regimen. I could not believe how good I felt (and looked). The diet had me not feeling bloated anymore and up until the last few weeks I had more energy thanks to the high protein diet. I competed in that show and took 2nd place.
To step on the stage and hear the people cheering you on ... the smell ... it is such a distinct smell ... of the "hot stuff" that every contestant lathered on before their moment on stage along with the camaraderie of all the contestants who all shared that common bond of sacrifice that few others ever experience made me realize what I had been missing.
Would I be the next IFBB Pro? I doubt that a 137-pound, 5-foot-2, 40-year-old man could break through the already next to impossible odds to reach that pinnacle but I knew I had found my hobby to grace me through my mid-life crisis.
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I Knew I Had Found My Hobby.
How I Did It
The key to obtaining the physique I needed to compete came through a cycled program through the preceding year. Beginning with a higher calorie Power Rep-range Shock program I set out to gain size. I ballooned up to 168 pounds. which was the heaviest I had ever been and unfortunately carrying a bit more fat than I was used to. Since the show was in March, I had planned on starting a progressive diet down at the start of the year.
I had to diet a little harder than I wished to and ended up at 137 pounds. I was pretty ripped but lost some valuable muscle in the process. That learning experience would set me up nicely for the following year's competition. Starting my diet a little earlier and taking a slow and easy approach I was able to take first place in both the Masters and Bantam weight divisions of the Michigan Novice.
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The Key To Obtaining The Physique I Needed To Compete Came
Through A Cycled Program Through The Preceding Year.
Supplements
My supplements vary a little over the year but for the most part it follows this pattern.
Note: Supplement dosages and schedule listed below in Diet section.
Diet
Meal 1: Meal 2: Meal 3: Meal 4: Meal 5: Meal 6: Meal 7:
When I can, I have a Turkey Burger or Chicken Breast in place of the Dymatize Whey Protein for the mid morning and mid afternoon meals with a 1/2 of a Granny Smith Apple.
Training
| TERMS YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW |
Superset - Two exercises are performed consecutively without any rest.
Triset - Three exercises are performed consecutively without any rest.
Giant set - Four or more exercises are performed consecutively without any rest.
Drop Set - Also known as strip sets, drop sets involve the immediate reduction of weight between sets with no rest. This will thoroughly burn out a muscle.
Negative Rep - One or two partners help you lift a weight up to 10-50% heavier than you would normally lift to finish point of movement. Then you slowly lower weight on your own.
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Day 1: Shoulders/Biceps
Day 2: Abs/Interval Cardio
Giant Set: Superset: - 20 minutes of Interval Training with 30 sec Sprints and 1 min Jogs on the Stairmill
Day 3: Back/Forearms
Triset: Triset:
Day 4: Abs/Interval Cardio
Giant Set: Superset: - 20 minutes of Interval Training with 30 sec Sprints and 1 min Jogs on the Stairmill
Day 5: Chest/Triceps
Superset: Superset: Superset:
Day 6: Rest or Light Cardio
Day 7: Legs Warm-Up Superset: Superset:
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Mike Twydell 1,200lb Leg Press!
Check out Mike Twydell pushing out 1,200lbs on the Leg Press.
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As the competition gets closer I may add evening light Cardio sessions to shed the last bit of fat along with circuit training and/or plyo-cardio leg workouts.
Suggestions For Others
Do not take yourself too seriously. Train hard, eat smart and set goals but remember there is a life outside of training. I see guys (and girls) go
"living the bodybuilding lifestyle" shutting out their friends and family, turning down invites to parties and dinners as well as weekend camping and canoeing trips all in the name of training and then one day they wake up and realize that they have no life or friends anymore.
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Train Hard, Eat Smart And Set Goals.
There must be a balance with everything.
Go enjoy that weekend of beer drinking and hot dog eating with your friends.
Set that date as a goal date to get ripped then let go and enjoy yourself for a few. You know you will get back on track as soon as you get home.
Your relationships are the most important thing. As a matter of fact the healthy lifestyle you lead may rub off on someone you care about and that is what making a difference is all about.
As a bodybuilder you should not be saying "Look at me!" You should be saying "Look what you can do for yourself if you try."
When someone says "You look great Mike," I say "Thank you ... anyone can do it if they want to. You just have to make that choice."
over40transformations@bodybuilding.com
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