Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 17
  1. #1
    Managing Dir., Rx Muscle Forums Curt James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Big Jeff's Family Restaurant, 815 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA
    Posts
    50,069
    Rep Power
    2149335

    Default Mobster is Rx Muscle's July 2015 Member of the Month!

    Steve "Mobster" Gardener has been a member of Rx Muscle Forums since the very beginning, February 2009. He's member 785 if you look at his profile @ http://forums.rxmuscle.com/member.php?785-Mobster

    The number at the end of your profile URL indicates the number assigned to you as you registered. More importantly, he is 4x British champ and 2x European Grip champion!




    You can find Mobster in his training journal @ http://forums.rxmuscle.com/showthrea...ther-stuff-too

    Let's learn more about Mobster, Rx Muscle's July 2015 Member of the Month!




    What’s your general location?

    South Wales in the UK.

    Height and weight?

    6'3" and 274 this week.

    How did you learn about Rx Muscle Forums?

    When MD let the guys go and they set up RX I joined asap.

    What’s your favorite part of Rx Muscle Forums?

    Muscle Central. I should visit more often.



    What would you do to improve the site and the forums in particular?

    Get the members more involved. There are a number of issues with ALL forums and I’ve been around long enough to see good and bad. But where the core group actively care about each other and the sport it can be awesome.

    Do you have any suggestions to get members more involved on the forums? Training journals seems to have a lot of discussion and participation. I agree, it’s magic when you have a group of like-minded people encouraging and motivating each other!

    This is the thing. I'm the kinda guy, especially in the gym, that if I've not got my own head down and am trying to tear myself a new one lifting crazy ass weights would be shooting the shit and yelling 'another rep!' when I see you grinding out yours from across the gym.

    I also know that forums, like gym members, are a hugely transient and changing group. Most gym members rarely last a year. Forum members are the same. Once you get a core group with a few years under their belts driving the group you've got something very cool. What I've seen work is actual real life meets between members.



    Can you share about Britain's Most Powerful Hands charity event?

    The charity side was associated with ARNI and Dr. Tom Balchin - worth a Google. He's one of the best stroke rehab guys in the UK outside of NHS care. Him and a buddy put together the event... I'm told very much with me in mind. We had the event as part of a festival so the crowd was 2,000 strong and I beat a World's Strongest Man competitor (Rob Frampton) and a Britain's Strongest Man athlete Lloyd Renals among others to take place.

    I won an Inch Dumbbell replica which I had to leave behind as I'd arrived on the train and the additional 172 lbs. would have destroyed my rucksack. lol

    Awesome! And I'll definitely Google Balchin and the event.



    How were you introduced to the weights?

    Via a newsstand magazine and at school.

    You just mentioned a newsstand magazine. The one that knocked my socks off was an issue of Muscle Builder Power from the 70s with Arnold, Franco, and Zane on the cover. Any titles you recall, Health & Strength was a UK mag, wasn't it?

    Still is. Roy Edwards publishes it by subscription only. Over 100 years old. I've an issue from 1950 and owned older ones before (since lost).

    What is your favorite part of the iron game – strongman, bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Bikini, etc.?

    Strongman / strength. I've competed in Grip competitions and put on both grip and strongman / woman events, too. I enjoy the freakier side of the game. So less male physique and more The Mr O.


    "I'm 6'3 and 18st or so in this image. Seb and Les were 105kg competitors.... then there's Brian"

    How many years have you been training?

    36 years this August.

    What's your favorite thing about bodybuilding?

    The training.

    What's your least favorite thing about bodybuilding?

    Male Physique. I'd also say the piss poor handing out of pro cards here in the UK.

    Seems there’s been a lot of criticism over the seeming ease with which athletes have been getting their pro card with the advent of the new divisions? What’s the situation in the UK, too few or too many cards?

    Too few in the bodybuilding classes (1 a year I think) and with the advent of the newer classes, fine athletes I'm sure, the wanna-be pro bodybuilders here in the UK must feel it's harder still to make a mark.

    What is your goal so far as the weights go?

    To get a few more British, European and World records in grip before I get too damned old.

    How old are you and what do you count as “too damned old”? :-D

    50 (51 in August) and too damned old when my stomach plays up and my back and joints ache - usually in the morning and more so in the last few weeks before a big competition.

    Have you competed?

    Yes, many times. To the point where I've been 4x British champ and 2x European.

    4x British champ and 2x European champ? What was your most cherished or most hard-fought victory?

    Ahh... don't ask me the years cos I forget, but I came 2nd one time by less than 3 points. That pissed me off, it being so close rather than losing, so the following year when I won (beating the guy I'd lost to the year before - David Horne) by just shy of 21 or so points... oh, that was sweet.

    Better still was seeing him figure out half way through that he couldn't beat me - I got to see the look on his face. A good friend outside the platform but on it... I'll try and fuck you up.

  2. #2
    Managing Dir., Rx Muscle Forums Curt James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Big Jeff's Family Restaurant, 815 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA
    Posts
    50,069
    Rep Power
    2149335

    Default



    Did you emulate anyone when you first became involved in the iron game?

    A few. Before I got into grip, Arnold, Dorian, et al. inspired me, but I followed Mike Mentzer's ideas.

    You favor Mentzer's Heavy Duty or HIT approach over volume then?

    I'm very much of the The KISS / short and sweet / basics first school of thought. Too many of my competitors throw everything into their routines and still don't beat me. Why do more than I need to to win?

    What has been the most effective workout you’ve followed?

    Short, sweet and basic. Work the compounds hard then add fluff. For competitions I’ll write out a planned cycle working the percentages and stick to it. It focuses what I want.

    What supplement company or brand does it right?

    I rep for two and the one that gets it right is Bulkpowders.co.uk. It’s very similar to the US based True Protein.



    I also like DY Nutrition.

    Favorite TV show?

    I've just got into Game of Thrones and am fast playing catch up.

    Have you binge watched all the way through Game of Thrones? Never watched any, but heard there were a lot of angry viewers.

    Angry... why? It's epic! And I'm binge watching at the moment. I've nearly finished series 4. When the 'Mountain' crushes that guys head... oof!

    Do you enjoy fiction or non-fiction for your reading? Any favorite authors?

    Not as much as I used to or should. Looking at my non-bodybuilding books I see Michael Crichton but other than that it's varied.

    Pick three things you couldn't live without?

    Other than the actual essentials (water, air, food, heat, etc.) I’ll say books, ice cream (the good stuff) and Viagra ha ha.

    What’s your favorite ice cream? (And does Bulk Powders sell Viagra? Haha)

    Haagan Daz and Ben & Jerry do some great flavours. I'm with Rich Piana in that I'd have a freezer drawer full if I could. ha ha No Bulkpowders don't - more's the pity cos as I rep I'd get them in my allowance. :-D

    What is your macro or food breakdown? Do you count calories, do calculations, and weigh your food?

    In a word – no. My bodyweight is ‘heavy’ for my competitions, so I don’t need to weigh less nor do I want to. But I keep half an eye on my protein and it’s around 300g a day.


    "Competing with the big league: Brian Shaw chats with Les Wiltshire, Mark Higgins behind and Mark Felix to the right."

    Other than hitting the iron, what do you enjoy doing the most with your free time?

    Date, answer questions, and post online and walk the amazing scenery where I live. We’ve some great hills and awesome views nearby.

    Sounds fantastic.

    Do you have a favorite movie?

    I’m hard pushed to pick a No. 1, but Leon, The Abyss and Aliens are very close contenders. There’s others.

    Can you say anything about your occupation?

    Yes, it's boring and doesn't define me. I’m negotiating to get a sales job and hope to kick ass and make bucks as opposed to minimum wage. I also rep for two supplement companies here so I get a very nice allowance for ‘repping’ on two UK based forums.

    What currently drives you nuts?

    Women, usually. And piss poor service for my internet (sometimes their helpline seems like anything but). Recently, they couldn’t find my address – the building's been here a 100+ years!! Argghh!

    lol

    What motivates you?

    Winning and kicking ass. I’m the guy over in the corner chewing myself out for not lifting like a maniac and bleeding. I do this so I can get my grubby if strong paws on the gold medal or shiny trophy and, if but briefly, look smug. I’ll also use crazy-ass metal tunes, old videos and the like. Whatever works today gets used today.

    Would you name some of those crazy-ass metal tunes? Any favorite groups or singers?

    Hatebreed and Slipknot feature. Limp Bizkit - I especially like Rollin.





    What frustrates you?

    Many, many things. But that's cos I'm turning into a grumpy old man (50+) ha ha.

    What about hobbies or pets?

    Does dating count as a hobby lol. Four cats.

    Do you meet your dates online or do it the old fashioned way at pubs, church, or work?

    It used to be via work and indeed could still be but for the fact I'm doing ok at the moment. Let's just say Plenty of Fish was a HUGE help after a lonnngggg dry spell. lol

    And, yes, dating does count as a hobby! Would you name your four cats? Which one’s your favorite?

    Ginger (the mum) and her two boys (of five in a litter) Bully (cos that's what he is) and Jerry (as in Ben and Jerry) and the newest addition and not at all related, Pixie.

    Favorite?

    Hmm probably Pixie lol


    Bully playing snooker


    The mum finds a spot on the end of the bed.


    Mobster's Millennium dumbbell! 228 lbs. and a thick handle. Steve was the first to pick it up one handed. Mark Henry was 2nd. There's been a few since.

    Thank you for sharing more about yourself with the readers and fellow members, Mobster! Wishing you success on and off the platform. Looking forward to reading more about your competitions in the future.

  3. #3
    OLYMPIAN The Solution's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Erie, PA
    Posts
    15,366
    Rep Power
    2148163

    Default

    Huge CONGRATS!
    2013 & 2014 RX Member of the Year
    2014 RX Muscle September Member of the Month


  4. #4
    Administrator Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    9,662
    Rep Power
    2147984

    Default

    Congrats Mobster.

  5. #5
    Managing Dir., Rx Muscle Forums Curt James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Big Jeff's Family Restaurant, 815 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA
    Posts
    50,069
    Rep Power
    2149335

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Curt James View Post
    Do you have any suggestions to get members more involved on the forums? Training journals seems to have a lot of discussion and participation. I agree, it’s magic when you have a group of like-minded people encouraging and motivating each other!

    This is the thing. I'm the kinda guy, especially in the gym, that if I've not got my own head down and am trying to tear myself a new one lifting crazy ass weights would be shooting the shit and yelling 'another rep!' when I see you grinding out yours from across the gym.

    I also know that forums, like gym members, are a hugely transient and changing group. Most gym members rarely last a year. Forum members are the same. Once you get a core group with a few years under their belts driving the group you've got something very cool. What I've seen work is actual real life meets between members.
    "What I've seen work is actual real life meets between members."
    — Steve "Mobster" Gardener

    Dave Palumbo's RxMuscle.com is providing an opportunity for an actual real life meet on July 18 at the grand opening of Unique Fitness Xtreme, 78 McGraw Street, Shirley, NY 11967 starting at 11 a.m.!

    Bros V Pros takes place at the same time with $2,000 in prize money and a special appearance by Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler!



    More @ http://rxmuscle.com/2015/24-shirley-...s-pros-24.html

    Quote Originally Posted by Curt James View Post


    Can you share about Britain's Most Powerful Hands charity event?

    The charity side was associated with ARNI and Dr. Tom Balchin - worth a Google. He's one of the best stroke rehab guys in the UK outside of NHS care. Him and a buddy put together the event... I'm told very much with me in mind. We had the event as part of a festival so the crowd was 2,000 strong and I beat a World's Strongest Man competitor (Rob Frampton) and a Britain's Strongest Man athlete Lloyd Renals among others to take place.

    I won an Inch Dumbbell replica which I had to leave behind as I'd arrived on the train and the additional 172 lbs. would have destroyed my rucksack. lol

    Awesome! And I'll definitely Google Balchin and the event.
    Mobster, Balchin and Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury (ARNI)... what a great story!



    "In 1997 I had a major brain haemorrhage that paralysed the left side of my body. When I came out of hospital I was still in a wheelchair and weighing roughly 9 stone. There was only one way to go though, and that was upwards!"
    — Dr. Tom Balchin

    More @ http://arni.uk.com/dr-tom-balchin.html

  6. #6
    OLYMPIAN Ibarramedia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Maryland & Virginia
    Posts
    12,389
    Rep Power
    2148079

    Default

    Congratulations Mobster! Cheers!
    "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry" -Dr. David Banner

    “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart” - Anne Frank

  7. #7
    Moderator Mobster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Wales, Great Britain.
    Posts
    4,528
    Rep Power
    2147817

    Default

    Cheers guys and gals

  8. #8
    RX MEMBER Mr. Immensity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    KC
    Posts
    77
    Rep Power
    44511

    Default

    One of the strongest grips of all time! Here's to you.
    Last edited by Mr. Immensity; 07-01-2015 at 12:32 PM.

  9. #9
    Moderator Mobster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Wales, Great Britain.
    Posts
    4,528
    Rep Power
    2147817

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Immensity View Post
    One of the strongest grips of all time! Here's to you.
    You're too kind but if the winds blowing right I'll try and be one who gets a mention lol

  10. #10
    IFBB PRO carrie ann simmons's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    285
    Rep Power
    1419814

    Default

    congrats! And those kitties are super cute

  11. #11
    Moderator Mobster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Wales, Great Britain.
    Posts
    4,528
    Rep Power
    2147817

    Default

    Hi Carrie, apart from when they jump on the bed in the morning I'd agree lol.

  12. #12
    OLYMPIAN Granite-Dawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    2,729
    Rep Power
    1673019

    Default

    Congrats Brother!!! Well deserved.
    DON'T BE AVERAGE!!!

  13. #13
    Moderator Mobster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Wales, Great Britain.
    Posts
    4,528
    Rep Power
    2147817

    Default

    Cheers G-Dawg

  14. #14
    Managing Dir., Rx Muscle Forums Curt James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Big Jeff's Family Restaurant, 815 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA
    Posts
    50,069
    Rep Power
    2149335

    Default

    Mobster maintains one of the forum's most consistent journals. Check out his training @ http://forums.rxmuscle.com/showthrea...ther-stuff-too

  15. #15
    Moderator Mobster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Wales, Great Britain.
    Posts
    4,528
    Rep Power
    2147817

    Default

    I started keeping training diaries from 18 onwards. Online it's 10+ years at least.
    06, 08, 09 and now 2010 British (4x) and 2008/2010 European Grip Champion (2x)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

X vBulletin 4.2.3 Debug Information

  • Page Generation 0.26580 seconds
  • Memory Usage 7,441KB
  • Queries Executed 25 (?)
More Information
Template Usage (44):
  • (1)SHOWTHREAD
  • (1)ad_footer_end
  • (1)ad_footer_start
  • (1)ad_global_above_footer
  • (1)ad_global_below_navbar
  • (1)ad_global_header1
  • (1)ad_global_header2
  • (1)ad_navbar_below
  • (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_sig
  • (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_start
  • (1)ad_thread_first_post_content
  • (1)ad_thread_last_post_content
  • (3)bbcode_quote
  • (1)bbcode_video
  • (4)block_html
  • (1)block_threads
  • (1)facebook_footer
  • (1)facebook_header
  • (1)facebook_likebutton
  • (1)facebook_opengraph
  • (1)footer
  • (1)forumjump
  • (1)forumrules
  • (1)gobutton
  • (1)header
  • (1)headinclude
  • (1)headinclude_bottom
  • (15)memberaction_dropdown
  • (1)navbar
  • (4)navbar_link
  • (1)navbar_noticebit
  • (1)navbar_tabs
  • (3)option
  • (1)pagenav
  • (1)pagenav_curpage
  • (1)pagenav_pagelink
  • (15)postbit_legacy
  • (15)postbit_onlinestatus
  • (15)postbit_wrapper
  • (3)showthread_bookmarksite
  • (1)sidebarext_temp
  • (1)spacer_close
  • (1)spacer_open
  • (1)tagbit_wrapper 

Phrase Groups Available (6):
  • global
  • inlinemod
  • postbit
  • posting
  • reputationlevel
  • showthread
Included Files (37):
  • ./showthread.php
  • ./global.php
  • ./includes/class_bootstrap.php
  • ./includes/init.php
  • ./includes/class_core.php
  • ./includes/config.php
  • ./includes/functions.php
  • ./includes/functions_navigation.php
  • ./includes/class_friendly_url.php
  • ./includes/class_hook.php
  • ./includes/class_bootstrap_framework.php
  • ./vb/vb.php
  • ./vb/phrase.php
  • ./includes/class_facebook.php
  • ./includes/facebook/facebook.php
  • ./includes/facebook/base_facebook.php
  • ./includes/functions_facebook.php
  • ./includes/functions_bigthree.php
  • ./includes/class_postbit.php
  • ./includes/class_bbcode.php
  • ./includes/functions_reputation.php
  • ./includes/class_block.php
  • ./includes/block/html.php
  • ./vb/context.php
  • ./vb/cache.php
  • ./vb/cache/db.php
  • ./vb/cache/observer/db.php
  • ./vb/cache/observer.php
  • ./includes/functions_notice.php
  • ./includes/block/threads.php
  • ./packages/vbattach/attach.php
  • ./vb/types.php
  • ./packages/skimlinks/hooks/postbit_display_complete.php
  • ./packages/skimlinks/hooks/showthread_complete.php
  • ./mobiquo/smartbanner.php
  • ./mobiquo/include/classTTConnection.php
  • ./mobiquo/smartbanner/head.inc.php 

Hooks Called (77):
  • init_startup
  • database_pre_fetch_array
  • database_post_fetch_array
  • friendlyurl_resolve_class
  • global_bootstrap_init_start
  • global_bootstrap_init_complete
  • cache_permissions
  • fetch_threadinfo_query
  • fetch_threadinfo
  • fetch_foruminfo
  • load_show_variables
  • load_forum_show_variables
  • global_state_check
  • global_bootstrap_complete
  • global_start
  • style_fetch
  • global_setup_complete
  • showthread_start
  • cache_templates
  • cache_templates_process
  • template_register_var
  • template_render_output
  • fetch_template_start
  • fetch_template_complete
  • friendlyurl_clean_fragment
  • friendlyurl_geturl
  • fb_canonical_url
  • fb_opengraph_array
  • parse_templates
  • fetch_musername
  • notices_check_start
  • notices_noticebit
  • process_templates_complete
  • showthread_getinfo
  • strip_bbcode
  • forumjump
  • friendlyurl_redirect_canonical
  • showthread_post_start
  • showthread_query_postids
  • showthread_query
  • bbcode_fetch_tags
  • bbcode_create
  • showthread_postbit_create
  • postbit_factory
  • postbit_display_start
  • reputation_power
  • reputation_image
  • bbcode_parse_start
  • bbcode_img_match
  • postbit_imicons
  • bbcode_parse_complete_precache
  • bbcode_parse_complete
  • postbit_display_complete
  • memberaction_dropdown
  • pagenav_page
  • pagenav_complete
  • tag_fetchbit_complete
  • forumrules
  • showthread_bookmarkbit
  • navbits
  • navbits_complete
  • build_navigation_data
  • build_navigation_array
  • check_navigation_permission
  • process_navigation_links_start
  • process_navigation_links_complete
  • set_navigation_menu_element
  • build_navigation_menudata
  • build_navigation_listdata
  • build_navigation_list
  • set_navigation_tab_main
  • set_navigation_tab_fallback
  • navigation_tab_complete
  • fb_publish_checkbox
  • fb_like_button
  • showthread_complete
  • page_templates