NBFA Open – Larvik

Posted in Results on October 26, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

As the only athlete in the 60+ class I got my second Norwegian Championship.

Official photos will come but here are a few pictures taken by the newspaper Østlandsposten and posted at their website the same evening. Athletes from different classes were on stage at the same time. The “blue” guy is 40+:

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IBFA WC Rome

Posted in Results on October 21, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

 

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From right to left: Me, the winner, 2.place and 3.rd place:

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Half of the line-up:

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The IBFA WC in Rome was a real downturn. Not only for me but for many athletes. In my class I came 7 out of 8 competitors in the Masters 55-64 years old. Six athletes were far better than me. Old, experienced bodybuilders. Smaller and bigger than me who still is reckoned as a debuting athlete. Also by my self. I have a lot to learn about posing, precontest preparation and building mass.

In my line-up the second place should be first place. The winner was an Italian guy and the reason is that the president is Italian and the contest also is an Italian Championship. And with only three judges, including the Italian IBFA president, the Italian guy became the winner.

I was placed at the far left side (right to the judges) at the stage and the judges was in front of the right half of the lineup of 8 athletes. The president only spoke Italian and on several posing’s I had the judges behind me. And when they told us the next position in Italian I did not understand nothing. I had to look over my shoulder to see what was happening.

I came 7th. But after a while I had to admit that they were better than me.

Later that evening Martyn Yates, who came 3.rd said to me that he was impressed by my progress from my debut in Menton in 2007. And both Tommi Torvildsen and Charlie Abboh, who was may room mate, told me that they was impressed. So, I am happy after all. And I have learned a lot. Especially from Charlie who taught med lats spread and gave me a feeling of being big.

Later that evening we did some sightseeing in Rome and me and Charlie gor some fine pictures in front of Colosseum. Remember that Charlie is a pro bodybuilder and amateur world champion.

Now I am preparing for NBFA Open Norwegian Championships in Larvik on Sunday.

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Don’t try this diet if you don’t have a goal

Posted in Diet with tags on August 28, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

I can tell you. This diet is a mental hell. But it works. This diet is the difference of winners and loosers. In my second week (five more to go) I can tell you: IT WORKS LIKE H…

Fat burns at 500gr perweek. But, as I already told you. It is a mental h….

New diet an new workout routine

Posted in Diet, Training on August 16, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

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I am half way in my three months preparation for IBFA World Championships in bodybuilding 55-65 years in Rome 18th. October.

Progress is as planned and I am between 6-7% in body fat under the skin. My plan is to be ready between 4-5% by 1st. October.

I have been on new diet and new training routine for one week. I goes like this:

MONDAY

Diet:
1980 kcal (225gr proteine, 180gr carbohydrates, 40-60gr fat)

Training:
Cardio training with moderate intensity

TUESDAY

Diet:
1620-1800 kcal (270gr proteine, 54gr carbohydrates, 40-60gr fat)
No creatine.

Training:
Full body workout on all muscle groups.
Two sets with 20 reps
15 minutes rest with proteine drink
Full body workout on all muscle groups
Two sets with 20 reps

WEDNESDAY
As Tuesday

THURSDAY
Diet as Tuesday
No workout. Only cardio training with moderate intensity.

FRIDAY
Diet as Tuesday until training

Training
Time for emptying glycogen and preparing carbo uploading
Full body workout with two sets and 8-12 reps.
I include morning cardio as well.

(I was really really empty last friday after workout. What kept me going was the carbo uploading waiting for me)

FRIDAY AFTERNOON – SATURDAY EVENING
Diet (Carbo uploading):
6500 kcal (170gr proteine, 1200gr carbohydrates, 40 fat)
Just to mention. 1200gr carbohydrates equals 1.5kg dry raw rice: Try this for your self.
Creatine uploading and a spoon of creatine for every meal..

Training:
NO training. JUST EATING

SUNDAY
Diet:
2000 kcal (200gr proteine, 300gr carbohydrates, 45 fat)
A spoon of creatine for every meal.

Training:
HARD training. Full body 3-4 sets with 4-5 reps

After 5 weeks on diet

Posted in Motivation Videos with tags on August 6, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Ten weeks to go. I plan to be ready by October 1.st.

DISCUSSION THREAD ( in Norwegian) is updated continuously.

Progress is according to plan and here is some pictures and videos from this week:

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VIDEOS:

And here is some of the guys I will meet in Rome. This is the winner lineup from IBFA Universe in Sapri in June class 55-65.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE ALL 7 COMPETITORS:

One week before start of diet

Posted in Training with tags on June 25, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Pictures are taken one week before I start the tough part (read: diet & cardio) and 14 weeks before I will be on stage in the 55-64 class of IBFA WC in bodybuilding in Rome.

Diskusjonstråd på treningsforum.no

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The toughest part starts next week

Posted in Results on June 22, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

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Believe it or not. I am only 12 weeks behind my friends Eric and Patric

My Wife and my two friends

Posted in Uncategorized on June 22, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

My two friends Eric Orrao (48) and Patrick Viel (56) is preparing for the IFBA Universe competition in Sapri, Italy, in two weeks. The last time Patrick competed in Sapri was in 2006. Now he is a retired police officer with time to train for a comeback. My wife could not resist joining in this posing :-)

Low Chest training

Posted in Uncategorized with tags on June 18, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Training in Menton

Posted in Training on June 17, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Two weeks training at Univers Gym in Menton.

Personal Trainer this Autumn

Posted in Uncategorized on June 6, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

I have signed up for the Personal Trainer course at The Norwegian School of Sports Science this autumn. I just wanted you to know.

On track after one week back injury

Posted in Training on June 6, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Monday previous week, quadriceps day, hack lift, without warming up, first set 20kg no problem, second set 20kg (still warming up), gluteus touching my heels (too low I know), lower back moving 5cm forward when starting upward movement, SHIT, My lower back goes to hell!!!

Ever experienced something like that?

Did some more workouts that day but ended the workout session thinking that this was the beginning of two weeks hell and no training.

That evening I got to bed with my lifting belt on. Lucky me because that saved me through the night. I don’t know if you have been on low carb diet but for me it has the effect that the water keeps flowing (read: have to piss every third hour) so the lifting belt helped med get out off bed during the night.

Made Thursday a training free day, kept my lifting belt on during the day and the following night.

Wednesday is normally a training free day but I got to the gym and did my Tuesday training. On Thursday I was back on track. This had not been possible for a normal person. I’m not normal.

This week I changed from 4-days a week to 5-days a week workouts.
I have the same 4-split but skip resting on Wednesdays. On Friday this week I redo my Monday workout and so on. Saturday is FOOD day and the weekend is for avoiding workout except for gardening.

I still do not do cardio (fat burning) training. The diet is low on calories and carbohydrates and that keeps me on the planned track to 7 % fat under the skin 1.st July.

My Coach tells me that I am on track and that I will be below 5 % on contest day.

On track towards BB World Championships in Rome

Posted in Training on May 15, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

I have said it before and I say it again:
The main goal this year is to get ripped to the bone when I’m on stage in Rome for the World Championship title in BodyBuilding 55-64 years.

If I start the last heavy 3 months workout and diet 1.st July at 7 % bodyfat under the skin I will be below 5 % on stage. Stone hard and best in class. You can bet on that.

Today my weight is approximatly 93 kg and bodyfat under the skin is 7,4 %. Workout is done at 80 % intensity to avoid injuries. I feel I’m in really good shape and is comfortable with the low carb diet. I don’t do cardio training for the moment because it is not necessary. I save it for the tough months from July.

7.4 % bodyfat under the skin

Posted in Results, Training on May 1, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

During my almost three weeks eastern holiday in Menton I managed to rip more fat. Unbelievable. My goal was to keep the weight and the fat percent I had come down to before the holiday. My plan was to have good dinner and wine every night. We have an apartment with a good Kitchen and I love to make good of all the fresh vegetables and meat you find in southern Europe.

From breakfast until dinner at 19:00hrs I followed a strict diet on low carb.

In this way I feel I missed nothing of the good life. And still I managed to reduce weight and almost 1% of under the skin fat which means I have 7,4 % at the moment.

So what the h… do I do now?

  • I continue with the same diet.
  • I skip cardio training
  • I train with more reps and only 70-80% of maximum.
  • I eat good from Saturday evening until Sunday lunch.

In this way I will continue fat reduction, hopefully without loosing mass.

I don’t know at what point my body will resist ripping more fat. And my original plan was to start the three months contest preparation 1st of July wit 7 % fat under the skin.

Just now I don’t know what status will be at 1st of July. I have never been lower than 7 %. Last year it was hell to reach 7 %. This year it feels too easy.

Pictures are taken early morning on low carb:

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If I get ripped enough I can win

Posted in Results, Training, Uncategorized on April 14, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

I am training with Eric Orrao in Menton and Eric told med today that I I get ripped enough I can win the IFBA World Championship in bodybuilding October 18th. My class will be 55-64 years.

“Every time I you come to Menton you are bigger than before” he says. “Incredible”.

6 more months to go. I keep going with hard training and a strict diet. Slowly my under-the-skin fat is going away and by July 1st I will be slightly below 7%.

Do I train as hard as Bjørndalen ?

Posted in Uncategorized on April 9, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Well, I really don’t know. He is a professional and sponsored to train, eat, sleep and compete 24 hours a day. The question arised last night, playing card with very good friends. I train to win the world Championship in Bodybuilding and I have only one sponsor. I train for free at Condis.no and I buy nutrition directly from manufactors.

What I can confirm is that any sport is extreme if your goal is World Championship.

I don’t think I train as hard as Bjørndalen in common sense. Bjørndalen is training for  hard cross country and shooting. I am training for being the fittest man on earth, two minutes on stage, once a year.

The main difference is not the basic preparation training, but the three months ahead of the yearly competition(s). Most of the todays top athletes, football player, weight lifters etc, would not stand the effort.

I know. I have been there and I am going to to do it again. Preparation for tyhe bodybuilding world championship i Rome in October has started long tine ago.

I started in January. More cardio training and a diet low on carb. 10 months ahead of competition. Please comment on this article if you know of someone training that hard. ( Sure I know some  but not many).

I have to rip 5kg fat and gain more muscle mass from now to October.

Today I did a three hours bicycle training. From sea level in Menton, France, up to 800 meters and down to La Turbie and Roquebrune. Fat burning before breakfast :-) . Please repeat after me.

Do you know someone? If you do, please share the recipe with me. Because I’m addicted to this sport of bodybuilding.

Can you imagine the title line of a Norwegian Sports Magazine: World Champion in Bodybuilding 2009, Gunnar Brathen from Rasta, Norway.

Kuul

8,4% bodyfat

Posted in In Media with tags on April 4, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Yes, 8,4% bodyfat under the skin. I’m just where I planned to be. The last four weeks has been very hard. Not visible hard for my wife but for me Yes. I have learned to hide the tough part. It has become a part of this mission. I have a goal that is beyond everyone else’s goale and the consequence is that i have to hide it.

Today I am much better prepared for a competition than I was last year at the same time. The difference is that last year I competed in the end of May and this year I will compete in september and october. At this time last year i had to promise my Wife not to compete next year (this year). She did not like to see me so tired and exhausted.

The difference this year is that I do the same with less struggle. But I know that from July 1.st the tough part will repeat. But I am confident that I will start July 1.st at 7% bodyfat under the skin. Without any struggle.

Last Thursday I had a journalist from Romerike Blad www.rb.no following me the whole day. He arrived at 9 in the morning. Just before I started my morning cardio training. And he followed me during the day. Through meals and through the periodic two weeks weighting and fat measuring at Rune (my coach), and endig up in the wardrobe after chest and shoulder training at Condis Gym. The newspaper Romerike Blad will publish a story about me preparing for World Championship in Rome.

I am exited :-)

Training for a World Championship

Posted in Results on March 20, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

I am training hard, I do cardio every morning, I eat less cabohydrates (but enough) and I give my body enough time to recover from one workout to the next. The result is what I have planned for. I have ripped one kilo fat the last two weeks without loosing mass. On the contrary, I believe I have gained some mass on my back. The measuring is done by my Tanita body composition monitor.

The progress is coming without much pain. Of course I miss one more meal and of course i miss a glass of wine on weekdays, but the diet this spring is much easier than last year when I competed in the end of May. The astonishing fact is that I can easily reach last years fat percent at 7% at the end of May. I believe that this will be easier year by year.

But from 7% to 5% will be another ballgame. This is not what any body wants to do. And I know that my body will resist going “the last mile”. I both look forward to and do not look forward to the period July-October.

What drives me is the thought of winning. I know it is possible to win the class 55-64 years this year. If, I am lucky with my competitors and if I get hard enough. I can not gain much more mass this year so ripping fat to the bone is my premium goal from now on. If I succeed on this I may very well become IFBA World Champion in bodybuilding this year.

Going strong

Posted in Results on March 6, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

I continue my early morning cardio training. It is necessary for me to maintain this as a routine. The reason is that when the tough diet starts in July it has to be one hour cardio workouts. I reckon that if 40 minutes becomes normal, one hour will only be a slightly modification.

I also continue training hard. Even if I have reduced the daily amount of carbohydrates I have prioritized the meal one hour before workout and the refilling of fast carbohydrates after training and for dinner (within one hour after workout).

This week I broke my record and did 130kg (2×3reps) in upper chest workout (machine).  At last I feel that prioritizing upper chest since last summer is bringing some results. The same goes for deadlift (from knee level) where the last set is 220kg. It is time to move up to 230kg next week. Stifflegged is now 180kg and ready for 190kg.

And the fat? The fat is running away :-)

Will I be ready for WC in Rome in October?

Posted in Results, Training with tags on February 27, 2009 by Gunnar Brathen

Looks like I will be in very good shape and hopefully more ripped than my competitors in the IFBA World Championship in Bodybuilding in Rome, October 2009.
Todays measuring shows that I am in much better shape right now than I was one month later (april 11th) last year when I competed in IGP the last weekend of May.

April 11th 2008:
Weight: 90,1kg
Lean weight: 69,9kg
Bodyfat under the skin: 10,26%

February 27th 2009:
Weight: 93kg
Lean weight: 72kg
Bodyfat under the skin: 9,4%

Bottom line: 2,1kg more muscle mass and on schedule to be very ripped on stage in the IFBA World Championship in bodybuilding in Rome in October.

I have to slow down the the ripping process from what I do just now. It is simply going to fast. I do 5-6 cardio workouts a week, each burning 700kcal. And I have reduced the carbohydrates to 120gr a day.

My coach Rune has ordered me do increase the amount of carbohydrates to a level that gives me good and effective workouts and so that I do not loose any mass during diet. Rune also tells me from his own experience that if I diet too hard already now I will not be able to go through the last months from July.

So, in other words. I will slow down the ripping process, train hard, and plan for 7% under the skin bodyfat by July 1st.