NEW SURGE OF LIFE

Simon Joyce has always been a guy that needed the benefits of fitness in his life. However, following the news he could not pursue his dream of fighting ‘no rules’ due to arthritis in the knees, he became depressed and demotivated, reaching 130 kilos. After committing to the BodyBlitz Challenge he lost 30 kilograms and gained renewed outlook on life.

Here's his story...
“Two years ago I injured my knees in a fight while I was working as a bouncer. The exploratory surgery showed a form of arthritis and the doctor informed me I would no longer be able to train in martial arts. This was a devastating blow as I had been training six days a week in the hope of fighting in a local ‘no rules’ competition. I spent six months off work, going through painful physio, and another 12 months feeling sorry for myself and coming up with excuses not to get back into the gym. When my mum came up on holiday in January she told me she was worried about my health, she had never seen me out of shape. I started back in the gym but was only half hearted, until I met my current training partner and good friend Rhommel Pardilanan. After we began working together we decided we would also train together. One day in the gym he said, “ You know you’ve probably got a good physique under all that fat”.



The next day at work he dropped a copy of Ironman on my lap, and opened it at the BodyBlitz Challenge and said, “I think you could win this.”
It was exactly what I needed – it gave me a clear goal. When I weighed myself for the contest and tipped the scales at 131 kilos I nearly died! I’d always weighed around 105-to-110 kilos when I was fight training.

Unfortunately, half way through the 12 weeks my good friend and mentor Bob Hardy, owner of Muscles and Curves Gym, died. I was devastated. I ate McDonald’s, pizza and chocolate all night after I heard the news. Losing Bob was the single most difficult hurdle to overcome. He was such a great guy who always had a smile on his face and a crappy joke to tell. I remember one day I was heading upstairs where all the cardio equipment is kept and he called out, “And don’t come back down until you’re skinny!”
Bob would always stir me up, he’d stand next to the treadmill while I was walking and go into great detail about how good the pizza and ice cream was that he’d had for dinner the night before. I gained four kilos in two days after his death and had almost given up on training when I realised Bob would be furious if he knew I was using him as an excuse to stop. I became more determined than ever to do well. I used Bob as my motivation, and as a four time Mr Australia Masters, he knew his stuff. Anytime I’d feel like missing a workout or cheating on my diet I’d remind myself that Bob would never cheat on his diet or miss a workout.

TRAINING SPLIT

Monday – Quads and hamstrings, 2 hours cardio Tuesday – Chest and calves, 2 hours cardio Wednesday – Biceps and triceps, 2 hours cardio Thursday – Back, 2 hours cardio Friday – Shoulders and traps, 2 hours cardio Saturday – 1-to-2 hours cardio Sunday – 1 hour cardio

DIET

5:30 200mg of caffeine, 1000mg vitamin C, Multivitamins, Multiminerals, 1 tbsp flaxseed oil, B complex, 500mgVitamin E, 4 x Hydroxycut Magnesium complex. 5:30 Train: 1hr cardio (walk, stepper bike). 7:00 Meal One: 1 cup of oatmeal with water and 1 scoop protein powder, 6 egg whites and 1 yolk, and 2 cups of green tea. 9:00 Meal Two: Protein shake with 50g of protein mixed with water. 10:00 Meal Three: Grilled or steamed chicken breast with broccoli, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, crushed garlic, lemon juice and 2 cups of green tea. 12:00 Meal Four: Protein Shake with 50g of protein mixed with water, 1000mg of vitamin C. 13:00 Meal Five: Grilled or steamed chicken breast with broccoli, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, crushed garlic, lemon juice, 1 cup of brown rice or sweet potato. 14:30 Meal Six: Protein shake with 50g of protein mixed with water. 5g of creatine, and 4 x Hydroxycut. 15:00 Train: 1hr weights and 1hr of cardio. 17:00 Meal Seven: Protein shake with 50g of protein mixed with water. 5g of creatine, 1 tbsp of flaxseed oil, 1000mg of vitamin C, 500mg of vitamin E and until week eight, 1 banana. 17:30 Meal Eight: steak or mince, broccoli, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, crushed garlic, lemon juice. 18:30 Meal Nine: Protein shake with 50g of protein mixed with water. 19:30 Meal Ten: Grilled or steamed fish broccoli, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, crushed garlic, lemon juice and 2 cups of green tea. 21:30 Meal Eleven: Protein shake with 50g protein mixed with water, 6 egg whites, 2 cups of green tea and one clove of garlic. 22:00 Bed

My training partner Rhommel was also amazing through the whole 12 weeks; he used to meet me in the park at 5am to do cardio. As we’d walk we’d talk about how my diet was going and how I felt I was progressing. He was incredibly encouraging and is a true friend. He’d always find a new way to motivate me in the gym. He'd keep reminding me that of all the competitors there is only one winner in the competition. It would only take him to say, “There’s only one winner,” and I’d be ready to go. He really learned how to psych me up. If I looked exhausted he’d just say to me, “You know if it’s too hard you can go home.” This would get my blood boiling and I’d pump out another set. “Yeah, and I think I’ll stop at Macca’s on the way. I could do with a burger,” I’d reply before picking up the weights and pounding out another set.

Overall I have lost 31 kilos thanks to the Challenge and I feel fantastic. I have recently been cast in a commercial and plan to look for more acting and modelling work now that I have a physique I am proud of. I am also looking at becoming a personal trainer so I can help others do what I did. This time next year I hope to be competing in natural bodybuilding.

My last and most important thing to do is thank the people who supported and encouraged me: Bob Hardy for believing in me, encouraging me and kicking me in the ass when I needed it. I know he’s looking down on me now and I know I’ve done him proud. Todd Rose of Sporty’s Health for all his supplement advice and help with what works and what doesn’t. Rhommel Pardilanan for his diet and training advice without which I would have been lost. And last but certainly not least, Chanelle, my fiancé, who never once ate junk food in front of me and who walked with me so we could spend time together without it interfering with my training schedule. IM

TIPS

Seek help from professionals wherever possible (personal trainers, nutritionists, athletes). Stick your before photo’s up on the fridge to inspire you. Try cheating on your diet with that kind of inspiration. Involve your partner in as many activities as possible, walks, bike rides, etc. It will give you plenty of time together and stop them from feeling left out. Eat lots of food. Eating every two hours will kick start your metabolism. If you starve yourself it will be harder to lose weight, your body will store fat. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio! There is no easy way out. You have to create a caloric deficit to lose body fat. If it were easy everyone would have a good physique.