Masters: Check in and speak up!

**esplendido** · 02-10-2009, 12:45 PM

To all the Masters here, speak up, let us know who you are and if you compete or not. List your intended shows this year or tell us about your journey in training if you're not a competitor!

I'll start; I'll be 52 in May. I started back into bodybuilding in 2004 after a 14 year absence from the gym following a 14 year bodybuilding journey. My best showing in my previous career was 2nd in the tall class in the '86 AAU Jr. USA. I won the tall class in the '90 Mr. Midwest, then quit to return to college and finish raising my family.

I waited to enter a show on my return until I turned 50. I've competed 4 times; the '07 Muscle Mayhem (2nd, 50-over), the '07 Central States (50-over Champion), the '08 Flex Wheeler Classic (3rd in 40-over...no 50 over class), and the '08 Masters Nationals (6th superheavy).

I intend to compete in August in the North American BBing Championships and perhaps one yet-to-be-decided show.

My wife is also a bodybuilder and competes in the same shows I do. She's much better than I am!

**Asmolenski** · 02-10-2009, 02:12 PM

Thanks Esplendido for taking the lead. I think this new forum is going to be great and I'm really glad Dave and John broke loose from MD - this way they can do what's in the best interest of the bodybuilders and not be tied to some 130 lb control geek.

My name is Allen Smolenski and I work as an emergency physician here in Myrtle Beach, SC. I will be 45 this May. I am married to Donna who is planning to do her first figure show this year and I have 4 kids aged 17, 12, 10 and 7. Before medical school I served in the Navy as a nuclear surface warfare officer - doing a combat tour in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. I've lifted weights on an off my whole life but didn't get serious until about a year and a half ago when I topped the scales at 232 with about 30% body fat. I started lifting again just for the exercise but then last year decided to do my first bodybuilding show after some encouragement from friends.

I entered the NPC Natural Northern USA October 2008 and placed 3rd out of 13 in the open Middleweights and 8 out of 9 in the Masters Heavyweights. I did better in the open because at 174 lbs I was in the top of my weight class while in the Masters I was at the bottom of my weight class. I have a lot of respect for the Masters - most of those guys have been competing for 20 or more years and it shows.

I am up to 190 now in the off season and I am trying to put on a few pounds of muscle while keeping the fat to a minimum. My next show is in October - I am going to take 1st in the open Middleweights and move up the Masters ranks at the NPC Natural Northern USA - my long term goal is to be competitive at Team Universe and the NPC Masters Nationals. I have been natural so far and it will be interesting to see how far that will take me in bodybuilding. For me this sport is a perfect way to keep aging at bay and competing motivates me to keep going the course.

Bodybuilding.com did a transformation article on me recently if anyone cares to see it here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/allen_smolenski.htm

Allen

**Mr. Shoulders** · 02-10-2009, 02:50 PM

Good to see you guys here also...This is gonna be good...BTW, I will be 52 in May, 6'1", 236lbs @ 7% bf. Started bodybuilding when I was 26 and weighed 187lbs. Competed in 2 shows placing 2nd in one and 7th in the other...Plan on competing again this year although it has been about 20 years

**gman** · 02-10-2009, 09:08 PM

Mike here. 47, lifting for 3 and a half years now. Wish I had started sooner, and am just glad I finally did. The best is yet to come. I hired Dave P for diet coaching 2 weeks ago, and am trying to get down to 10% bf and see whether I have abs. I hear we all have them, but I am not sure I do, since I have never seen them! lol

Once I make it to 10% bf, and see what's there, I will decide whether to compete, or just keep lifting.

I look forward to the company here.

**Sledge** · 02-10-2009, 09:53 PM

44 this year.
maybe first (and only) show towards the end of the year. 178cm about 100kg and 12-14% (though maybe a little more after 3 weeks in the US with Girlymuscle).

**Bryan Hildebrand** · 02-10-2009, 10:54 PM

bryan, 41yo former powerlifter and strongman. several injuries, most notably a C 5/6/7 fracture and trapezious tear. bought some bone graft and hardware for that injury. started lifting again and went from 330lbs, 23%BF and a 47" waist to a current 39" waist at 17%BF at 312lbs. working on tightening abs currently, one more bulking cycle and then time to drop BF to 10%. i'll have my umbilical hernia fixed and then start dropping weight. not sure where I will do my first contest. have a great local trainer working with me. I just want to step on stage more than 250lbs and have people ask: where the F*** did this guy come from?

**esplendido** · 02-10-2009, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by attila

bryan, 41yo former powerlifter and strongman. several injuries, most notably a C 5/6/7 fracture and trapezious tear. bought some bone graft and hardware for that injury. started lifting again and went from 330lbs, 23%BF and a 47" waist to a current 39" waist at 17%BF at 312lbs. working on tightening abs currently, one more bulking cycle and then time to drop BF to 10%. i'll have my umbilical hernia fixed and then start dropping weight. not sure where I will do my first contest. have a great local trainer working with me. I just want to step on stage more than 250lbs and have people ask: where the F*** did this guy come from?

How tall are you, bro?

**Bryan Hildebrand** · 02-10-2009, 11:17 PM

almost 6'. I used ot be taller. deadlifts shrunk me!

**esplendido** · 02-10-2009, 11:25 PM

250 will put you in the BIG category!

**Bryan Hildebrand** · 02-10-2009, 11:32 PM

thats the goal. my wife wants to see me at 270. I havent been below 300lbs since maybe 1989/90?

Mouse · 02-11-2009, 07:27 AM

Hey guys. 41 here so I'm not as "master-ish" as some of you farts but I guess I qualify. Currently weighing in the low 190s @ 5' 8". Not sure of bf but fairly lean....not below 10% though for sure. No "HRT" for this youngster at present

**fitbody** · 02-11-2009, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by esplendido

To all the Masters here, speak up, let us know who you are and if you compete or not. List your intended shows this year or tell us about your journey in training if you're not a competitor!

I'll start; I'll be 52 in May. I started back into bodybuilding in 2004 after a 14 year absence from the gym following a 14 year bodybuilding journey. My best showing in my previous career was 2nd in the tall class in the '86 AAU Jr. USA. I won the tall class in the '90 Mr. Midwest, then quit to return to college and finish raising my family.

I waited to enter a show on my return until I turned 50. I've competed 4 times; the '07 Muscle Mayhem (2nd, 50-over), the '07 Central States (50-over Champion), the '08 Flex Wheeler Classic (3rd in 40-over...no 50 over class), and the '08 Masters Nationals (6th superheavy).

I intend to compete in August in the North American BBing Championships and perhaps one yet-to-be-decided show.

My wife is also a bodybuilder and competes in the same shows I do. She's much better than I am!

Dawn Alison from the Vancouver Lower mainland,
BC, Canada.
I'll be 45 on November 25th of this year.
I made my big comeback last year at 44.

Came in the best shape of my life to take
the BC Provincial Championships in the Masters, Heavyweights, Overall and Overall Best Poser
I came back after a 9 year competitive layoff.
Since I last competed in 1995, I...
cleaned up from hardcore drug addiction, now 13 yrs clean
had a beautiful son I named: Storm

got divorced again...

and finally got all my ducks in a row in order to put it all
together again to come back RELOADED !!!!!!!!!!!
and this year i'm gonna be at my all time best
GUNNING for CANADIAN NATIONALS
WHICH LUCKY FOR ME

ARE GONNA BE HERE AT HOME
IN VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA
AUGUST 22, 2009
let the games begin !!!!!!!

**GirlyMuscle** · 02-11-2009, 09:23 AM

Masters....yeah, guess I am. 44 here. First show in Oct/Nov...NPC Mountain Valley Classic in Reading PA.

**esplendido** · 02-11-2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by fitbody

Dawn Alison from the Vancouver Lower mainland,
BC, Canada.
I'll be 45 on November 25th of this year.
I made my big comeback last year at 44.

Came in the best shape of my life to take
the BC Provincial Championships in the Masters, Heavyweights, Overall and Overall Best Poser
I came back after a 9 year competitive layoff.
Since I last competed in 1995, I...
cleaned up from hardcore drug addiction, now 13 yrs clean
had a beautiful son I named: Storm

got divorced again...

and finally got all my ducks in a row in order to put it all
together again to come back RELOADED !!!!!!!!!!!
and this year i'm gonna be at my all time best
GUNNING for CANADIAN NATIONALS
WHICH LUCKY FOR ME

ARE GONNA BE HERE AT HOME
IN VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA
AUGUST 22, 2009
let the games begin !!!!!!!

Looks like you've been through a lot and have come out strong! Congrats and best wishes on the Nationals. Keep us in the loop on how training is going. Pictures, pictures, PICTURES!!!!