DOUBT WHOM YOU WILL, BUT NEVER YOURSELF

Hi my names Gary Thornton co owner of Aktiv Bodz Muscle & Fitness Store and i'd just like to share with you a brief story of my bodybuilding journey if you're interested. I started training in 1976 aged 16, yep i am that old! I began training using a Bullworker, now some of you out there will know what i'm talking about and there'll be some of you who haven't got a clue what i'm going on about, well the one's who haven't got a clue you can google it if you're interested. Anyway i worked really hard for a full 12 months using the Bullworker with very good results before going to a gym to lift weights.

I trained for another two years before having a motorcycle accident in 1979, motorcycles,fishing and my partner Tracey being my other passions!!

Well this accident left me on cruches and walking sticks for 12 months but that didn't deter my enthusiasm for training, in fact i used to hobble on my crutches about 2 miles to the local sports centre and still do a bit of upper body training and a bit of swimming before hobbling the 2 miles back home.

By mid 1980 i was fully mended and back to training properly again. I have to admit the first 4-5 years of training  i paid little attention to eating properly and subsequently gains were very very slow, i then joined a gym which was focused more on bodybuilding and after chatting to some of the bigger guys in the gym i realised i wasn't eating enough in terms of amounts and certainly not enough protein if i wanted to build and get bigger.

So if i wanted to build more muscle  i had to change my diet, so change my diet i did and after 12 months of eating properly and consistently i had gained more strength and muscle than the previous 4-5 years put together, so eating properly is the backbone of making gains and this is where my focus on bringing out these Muscle Meals comes from its to make it easier for you guys out there to make better gains by eating right without all the hassle and hard work.

The Muscle Meals will definitely help especially if you're busy or you're just a lazy sod, either way the Muscle Meals will mean you can keep gaining.

Now then where was i, oh yes i then started entering and competing in a few local club shows, in fact the first show i entered i placed last!! but that didn't put me off, to be honest it made me more determined and stronger.

The path to building a good physique is a long and sometimes emotional journey especially when you're not blessed with the best of genetics for building muscle but when you've got someone like my partner and soulmate Tracey by your side it makes it that much easier, i know its that old cliche but i really couldn't have got this far in everything i do without Tracey, she is my rock and long may it continue.

Anyway the bodybuilding journey i continued training hard and staying consistent with the diet, i entered more shows with some success along the way, winning a few titles here and there (Lathams 80kg Class, Mr Novice York, Mr Yorkshire,Mr North East Class2, Mr North East Over 40's and numerous others) but to be honest its not about the trophys its about the journey in bodybuilding, its about competing with yourself, its about focus, dedication, motivation, discipline, hard work, consistency and above all a PASSION for bodybuilding.

PERSEVERANCE MAKES IMPOSSIBLE MEANINGLESS

SCOTT RHODES

For those of you who don't already know me, my names Scott and i've been a proud member of the Aktiv Bodz team since late 2007.

I got into weight training almost by accident. It was 2005 and the Sunday League football season had finished so my plan was to put on a bit of weight and come back stronger in the 2006 season. Let me tell you, it was never much fun being nine and a half stone at 20 years old trying to compete with guys who seemed twice my weight and double my height!

The first gym i trained at was a tiny school gym five minutes from my house, it was small but well equipped, and the staff working there were very helpfull and encouraging. It gave me the confidence to pursue weight training and for the next year or so i toiled tirelessly in that little school gym. Very soon i wanted to speed up my progress, so i moved to a much larger gym and was told about a place called Aktiv Bodz and told to speak to Gary.

So one Saturday morning i called into the shop and asked to speak to Gary, well there he was big, bald and bearded, talk about intimidating, i wanted to leave and forget i went in, but once we got talking he explained to me the importance of my diet and pointed me towards the supplements best suited to my needs.

Since then Aktiv Bodz has always been my port of call for the latest supplements and advice, and in 2007 i was fortunate enough to be offered a job here.

Through Aktiv Bodz i studied towards an Advanced Diploma in Optimum Nutrition which i received in March of 2009, and i plan to further my knowledge of sports related nutrition in the coming months. i also plan to compete in the near future as a natural athlete.

Like many of you i am on a huge learning curve regarding training, diet and supplementation and am more than willing to share with you my experiences, so if you have any questions, please ask.