Gunnar Bråthen (61)

Name: Gunnar Bråthen
Born: 11th November 1947
Married: Since 1974
Living: Lørenskog, Norway
Hobby: Gardening
Profession: Search Engine Expert. Open and In-House lectures and courses on how to make top ranking in the Search Engines.
Professional websites: e-guiden.no and seoforum.no
New / Next Profession: Personal Trainer. I will be certified Personal Trainer from the Norwegian School of Sports Science by spring 2009. I am working part time as training supervisor at the gym Condis-Stovner. Special interest in strength training for seniors at age 50+ who is willing to train hard and make sacrifices to reach goals.

About this Project

I have been training strength 3-4 times a week from about 1996 but without focus and without thinking about what I eat. Until November 2006 when this project emerged in my mind.

My plan was to make my BB debut in the Norwegian BB Championship in October 2008
I managed to get my good friend and former Norwegian BB Champion, Rune Sørlie as Coach. With his help I changed my diet and started focusing om my weakest areas which was outside shoulders and Lats.

As you may already know I made my debut already the same year. In the Norwegian Championship of NBFA in October and in IFBA WC in Menton in November. Both with heavy pressure from the Norwegian NBFA president Roar Innlagen and from the Menton BB community through Eric Orrao. My other coach and inspirator.

Background
Most people at my age beleives that BB is something for much younger people and that it is dangerous for old people. Old (senior) people should do Cardio and Jogging.

I completely disagree and want to prove that seniors live longer by strength training and that it is possible to be really good in BB at senior age. and even win titles.

I was instructor in gymnastics in the 60ties. Thereafter I had a career in Bicycling long distances. I participated three following years from 1970 in the long bicycle race from Trondheim to Oslo (in Norway). The distance was 570km and on my old heavy iron bike i did the distance in 24 hours.

In the late 70ties I was a pretty active tennis player but the heavy work in business took over and there was no more time for training. This went on for 20 years until I reached the age of 50 and my body told me that it could not take any more workloads and long stressful working days. I hit “the wall” as we say in Norway.

I had to quit the way I worked and I started my own business as internet consultant. I lowered the need for money and made room for a social life and better health.

At this point i started training in a health studio, lifting iron. This became a routine 3-4-5 days a week and I became stronger and stronger.

Then, in 2003, a friend at the gym won the Norwegian Championship for veterans at age +40. That was Rune Sørlie who is helping me today.

The other person that gave me the kick was Eric Orrao. Eric was 46 years old at the time and owned the Gym I uses in Menton.

This blog is dedicated to my project of proving that seniors can set themselves very tough goals in strength sports. i will also use the blog for educational purposes because I believe that what I do can inspire other seniors.

Startphoto from january 2007: