Name Del Honeyman
Age 32
Gym you train at and location: Tower Gym, Whitburn
Q.1 Why did you start training and did you have any goals of competing to begin with?
I started Training for many reasons and there would be no one single reason I can think of that got me into the gym. But if I had to name one it would be to lose fat and get fit.
As for competition NO WAY! I never dreamed of competing. I only ever started to consider bodybuilding after being injured as a powerlifter. But even then I would much rather have continued to lift heavy weight. Bodybuilding for me at that time was not something I wanted to do, but I am now glad that I did.
In hindsight I am glad my career in bodybuilding happened this way as the 2-3 years power training helped give me a solid foundation before I even heard of NABBA, lat spreads or concentration curls. The foundations laid down in powerlifting has translated into my bodybuilding strengths. Which just happen to be Legs, back and chest. It is no coincidence that as a powerlifter I loved squats, deadlifts and bench press. The Powerlifting environment also shielded me from many of the things that can be a distraction within the bodybuilding world.
Q.2 What is your current training schedule like? How does it differ between pre-contest and off season? Do you do much cardio work?
Current Training schedule is 5 sessions over a 4 day week (Meaning each muscle is Trained once every nine days).
My contest Training and offseason Training cycle do change but not in the traditional manner of more reps and less weight.
I continue to lift as heavy as I can throughout contest training but rotate and vary my training from slow reps to fast reps, compound moves to isolation (As I do in offseason). Then every 8 weeks or so we change things up again (Pyramids, supersets, circuits etc).
It is my belief that your muscles very quickly adapt to the environment and circumstances placed upon them. It is therefore imperative to change these variables and place a different stressor on them frequently.
By doing this maximum stimulation is assured. I will very easily stop doing a particular lift if I think it is no longer stimulating the muscle. To many people believe you MUST bench press to have a great chest, or deadlifts are the only way to a thick back. Other myths are one must complete 8 reps to gain muscle. That is nonsense in my opinion. Muscle cannot count! It only knows resistance and failure. If you stop counting and instead focus on training to failure your muscle WILL grow.
Q.3 How long have you been competing?
My first bodybuilding competition was in 2007 but I have been competitive from inside the womb.
Q.4 What are your main competitive achievements?
2007 NABBA Scotland First timers 3rd
2007 Mr Caledonia First season 3rd
2007 NABBA British First timers 7th
2009 NABBA Scotland Novice 1st
2009 NABBA British Novice
Q.6 Who are your main sources of inspiration in your training and whose physiques do you most admire?
I draw inspiration from many sources and the source changes almost daily, sometimes it is my friends or family, other times I can be inspired by my failures or success. Even those who love me and those whom hate me can inspire me. Most of all though I am self inspired to just change the way I look and be the best that I can be.
Physiques I admire (for different reasons) include Dennis Wolf, Frank Zane, Sergio Olivia and Branch Warren but number one of them all has to be Lee Labrada. He is just about as perfect as one could ever be or wish to be.
Q.7 What are your current competitive goals?
I am now offseason until 2011. I have a very detailed path mapped out to help me achieve my short, medium and long term goals. When I return to the stage I will be aiming to place in the NABBA Mr Class 2.
Q.8 Why do you feel you have been able to make continuous gains over the years?
Simple answer is I want it and I am hungry for it. The more complex answer would be my approach to the subject of physical improvement. To make improvements one must know first what he wants or needs to improve. Then armed with this information he must set out a clear path required to reach that destination.
I am very analytical about my approach to bodybuilding and utilise several proven statistical methodology’s, technology’s and measurements to ascertain if things are improving or not and therefore increase my chances of getting it right. I am a big believer in Mike Mentzers approach to bodybuilding as he has some of the best theory’s and principles I’ve came across in this sport.
Bodybuilding is not an exact science, but it IS a science and as such can be measured and set up for predictability and probability through application of known standards. Through taking this approach I don’t hope for continuous gains, I am assured them!
Q.9 What supplements do you use?
Supplements for me vary throughout the year but I keep things nice and simple.
- Extreme Whey Protein
- Build and Recover (Offseason only)
- Extreme Mass (Offseason only)
- Extreme Kre-Evolution
- Vitamins and minerals
Q.10 How much do you feel supplements and sports nutrition help your training?
There is no doubt that proper supplementation makes a difference in my performance, condition and ability to improve (In-fact I can prove it!).
Recently I did a self experiment where I had 4 weeks of one particular brand of protein, then 4 weeks later I consumed another brand. This was the only thing that changed in my diet, training, recuperation and lifestyle. Suffice to say the results were dramatic and the difference in bodyweight and performance were substantial (Over 6lb weight difference and 10% strength difference). I highly recommend anyone to try this same experiment themselves and observe the results. Just because a product is more expensive, looks good or is well advertised does not mean it actually produces tangible results and results is what I am interested in, not the hype!
Q.11 What is it that motivates you through a hard session?
Undoubtedly my Training partner (Ian Mckeating). He is the best partner I could ever wish for, he knows my threshold, capability and body perfectly. He knows when I am slacking and when I am beat, knows when to push me and when to pull me away! He is my best friend and he wants me to succeed as much as I do him, what more motivation does one need than that?
As serious as I am about bodybuilding me and Ian can most often be found in the gym having FUN. Without which things can get to serious too quickly.
At times we have been literally rolling around the floor, tears pouring laughing at each other. I think too many people take the sport to seriously and forget that life is more important than titles and we must enjoy what we do.
If I had to have one picture that encompassed ALL that bodybuilding was and means to me, it would be taken offseason with both me and Ian standing next to the squat rack, 300kilo loaded, looking at each other, smiling and shitting ourselves!
I’d like to say thanks to a few people:
WAY to many to list here in detail but some people deserve a special mention:
Ian McKeating, My Family and friends, James Llewellyn, Paul Scarborough, Dougie Black at Extreme Nutrition, ALL the Tower Gym members and anyone who has listened, answered or spared me a few minutes of their time to chat.
Oh and GASP for making the best looking clothes in the world!
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