Elite Physique

Q. I’m 5 10" and weigh 180 pounds. I can bench press 185 for 8, squat 255 for 6 and chin 10 times. Ya, brother, and I’ve got 16-inch guns and a set of pecs that shock the ladies. I wanna gain about 10 pounds of muscle and maybe win the Ontario Championships in June. Then it’s off to get my IFBB Pro Card. I haven’t competed before but I’ve got amazing genetics and I dance all the time so my routine will come easy. I’ve enclosed a picture for you to assess my genetic potential for bodybuilding. What do you think? Will you take me on as a trainee and get me to the top?

A. Whoa…slow down there bro. I admire your drive but someone has to inject (LOL) a little reality into your situation. First, let me explain how the tier system works for bodybuilders in Ontario (and pretty much the same throughout Canada). The first show you compete in is a Provincial qualifier. If you place in the top 5 you are eligible to compete at the Provincials. If you place in the top 5 at the Provincials you move up the ladder to the Nationals. The biggest mistake I see competitors make is thinking that just because they are qualified to compete at a higher level, they should. I like to tell my clients that only the top 1 and 2 guys should move on (and sometimes the 3rd place guy should also). If you competed in shape and are only coming home with a 4th and 5th place medallion you most likely need to hold back, reload and work on improving your physique. Realistically, there may be around 3 to 4 Provincial qualifiers so you could be grouped with 3 to 4 other class winners, 3 to 4 other 2nd place finishers, etc. at the Provincials. Not only do you have to contend with the guys coming up but also with the guys who did not place at the Nationals and who are coming back to re-qualify. This is a real eye opener for those hitting the Provincial stage for the first time. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but this should really shed some light on just how good you have to be when you advance to the Provincials and then to the Nationals. For each level you MUST be better than the last.

Competing Costs Lots Of Money

Competing is expensive, so why move forward when you aren’t ready. For example, when I did the Provincials last year I was spending $30 to $35 a day on turkey. That was for 20 weeks! Do the math. And that was just turkey! Save yourself a couple of bucks. Check out the guys at the Provincials and compare them to your pictures. Can you be competitive with last year’s top 5? And remember, just because you are eligible to compete doesn’t mean you should. I’ve examined the pictures you sent and I think you need to focus your energies in the gym and in the kitchen – you need more size. Honestly, you don’t have enough muscle to compete in NPC’s Men’s Physique division. Spend the next couple of years building a solid base. When I won the overall at the Kingston show I was around 211 lbs; at the Eastern Ontario event I was 218 lbs and at the Provincials I was 230 lbs – all at a height of 5’11” and ripped to the bone. You need to have those numbers to progress successfully. And that was when the OPA had 3-tier levels. With only 2 tiers now the competition has become much more advanced. Sure, you may say, “But the top 5 move on.” If you did, you need to start at the top of my reply and re-read what I’ve written. 

Would I Train YOU?

Of course I would! I get more satisfaction helping out newbies than I do with more advanced clients. I enjoy the challenge. I know most bodybuilders judge a trainer by their top athletes but these top athletes tend to be the genetically elite. Now, I’m not taking anything away from Chad Nicholls but let’s face facts. Ronnie could have been Mr. Olympia with Ronald McDonald as his trainer. What impresses me more about Chad are the no-names he gets into shape. Don’t be fooled by genetics. It’s actually the genetically superior client who makes the trainer look good. I’ve seen cherry-picker trainers at shows. They don’t want to work with a client and bring him up through the ranks. Why? Because it’s hard work. They want to grab the guy at the Nationals and get him a Pro card so they can build their resume. If you were to work with me one of the first things I would stress to you is that bodybuilding is a marathon not a sprint. If you are willing to commit to several years of hard work, I know I could get you in the best shape of your life.

If you want to read more by Dan Kennedy, click HERE. If you want to get trained by the man himself, visit ElitePhysique.ca