Name Lee Blyth
Age 29
Gym you train at and location:
FitZone (Northumberland) and Morgan’s Powerhouse Gym (Tyne & Wear)
Q.1 Why did you start bodybuilding and did you have any goals of competing to begin with?
I’ve been training since I was 17, but at first I just joined the local gym as I wanted to improve my fitness and try and look a little better (I was very skinny at the time). After a few months training I realised it was something I really enjoyed doing, but still did not have any aspirations to compete or even look like “one of those bodybuilders”. I soon became addicted to trying to lift the heaviest weights I could each week and trying to push myself further every time I trained. Within a couple of years I started training at a more hardcore gym alongside those bodybuilders, but still the thought of a contest diet was not something I was interested in for many years to come. A few years ago I decided to take the plunge and compete, initially I don’t think I was prepared for just how much hard work and dedication is needed both mentally and physically but after a while I found that I enjoyed the discipline just as much as anything else.
Q.2 What is your current training schedule like? How does it differ between pre-contest and off season?
My current training schedule is 5 days per week split as follows:
Monday – Day Off
Tuesday – Shoulders & Traps
Wednesday – Day Off
Thursday – Quads
Friday – Back and Triceps
Saturday – Hamstrings and Calves (this is normally only a 30 minute session)
Sunday – Chest and Biceps
This can change quite regularly as I have two young children so all my training is arranged around my time with my family. The exercises I do change frequently (quite often on a week to week basis) but I generally try and stick to free weights wherever possible and training is always intense.
I currently train calves most workouts as I’m trying to bring them up and improve them and have found this usually works for me when a muscle group is lagging behind slightly.
I also like to do cardio 3-4 times per week even in the off season as it helps keep me leaner and wakes me up in the mornings.
Pre-contest my training stays pretty much the same, I may add in exercises I would not normally do to target specific areas where I may want to add extra detail to the muscle shape, ill also train abs pre contest too. For abs I do 2 sets of hanging leg raises and 2 sets of cable rope crunches 2-3 times per week and I feel that’s all I need.
Also pre-contest my cardio goes up to twice per day (30 min sessions) 5 days per week.
Q.3 How long have you been competing?
I have been competing for 3 years now and look at myself as being at the lower end of a very steep learning curve.
Q.4 What are your main competitive achievements?
The contests I have competed in are:
2005 EFBB East of England, First Timers – 3rd Place
2005 Mr Wigan, Novice – Did Not Place
2005 NABBA UK, Novice – Did Not Place
2006 NABBA North, Novice – Did Not Place
2006 SPF Mr Scotland, u70kg – 1st Place
2006 UKBFF North West, u70kg – 3rd Place
2008 EPF English Open, u75kg – 1st Place
2008 UKBFF North West u70kg – 3rd Place
Q.6 What weight are you off season and contest time?
Off season my weight is normally between 13 stone and 14 and a half stone. By contest time my weight will be down to u70kg class (11 stone). At my last contest I pushed myself too far with my diet and made a few mistakes which led to me coming in way too flat and much lighter than I should, so I’m not 100% sure where my body weight will be for my next contest – I just now I will be heavier!
Q.7 What are your current competitive goals?
To place top 5 in my weight class at this years UKBFF British Finals. I’ve always had problems maintaining my off season size and fullness up to a show as I tend to flatten out a lot so for my next show I hope to be able to fix this to some degree.
Q.8 Why do you feel you have been able to make continuous gains over the years?
I think a lot of this is due to being able to assess my physique honestly and see where I need to improve and also see the mistakes I have made and make the correct choices to rectify these things. Also positive mental attitude counts for a lot and I know that physically and mentally I can work harder and push myself further than most people.
Q.9 What supplements do you use?
The main supplements I use are Protein Powders (Extreme Protein and Performance Whey), Creatine (Extreme Kr-Evolution), Glutamine and ZMA (I find this improves the quality of my sleep – something I never get enough of). Other supplements I may include in my diet are:
Glucosamine (to help prevent joint and tendon damage)
Cissus (same reason as above)
Extreme Aminos (to help ensure my body uses all the protein I take in)
Extreme Liquid Fury (gives an amazing pump)
Q.10 How much do you feel supplements and sports nutrition help your training?
I think supplements play a major role in any bodybuilder’s diet. Diet and nutrition are key to success in many different ways. The current supplements available to bodybuilders and sports people alike help us to push the boundaries of training, nutrition and our physiques in general to levels which not too long ago were not possible.
For me personally I work a full time job in an office, trying to eat 7 solid food meals a day is virtually impossible for me year round, so supplements help me combine my bodybuilding goals with my work and home lives and give me the ability to ensure my diet and nutrition is where it needs to be conveniently and without having a negative impact on my work or my family.
I also believe that the quality of the supplements we use are important, I’ve tried many discounted brands in the past and a lot of the “cheaper” brands available in bulk and just have not had the same results I have had whilst using Extreme Nutrition supplements. The Kr-Evolution creatine is something which I have recommended to many people in the past whether simply for building muscle or to help improve their performance in their chosen sport.
Q.11 What is it that motivates you through a gruelling workout?
I think at a basic level, it takes a certain type of person to pursue bodybuilding, for most of us the pain of lifting the weights and the after effects of the training sessions is something that we thrive on and enjoy so motivation is rarely needed and gruelling workouts are a way of life.
But there are those times when you know its important to push yourself harder than what your mind thinks your capable of, for these times I make sure I have something in my mind that is important to me that I know I have to work hard to achieve, I like to focus on something that I want more than anything, but know I cant have it. That usually gets me really angry and frustrated on the inside and I can then channel that aggression into my training! Mind over matter I think is the phrase!
I’d like to say thanks to a few people:
My wife Louise and my boys Nathan and Dan, there are times when I’m dieting that getting up from the sofa seems like climbing Everest and holding a conversation politely is beyond me! They never flicker in their support and encouragement of me and that makes me really proud of them and makes it possible to pursue my goals as a bodybuilder, without their support I couldn't do it all!
Ian Morgan, for helping me with my diet each year, and being nothing but honest! He does so much for so many lads in our area and the success we have all had is in large part down to him!
Dougie Black and Extreme Nutrition. Again, a man and a company who do massive amounts for bodybuilding and someone who always has the time to help out. Not to mention some fantastic supplements – that work!!!
There are countless more people who all know who they are! Thank you all very much!
