Episode #6 | David Langsdale on Conquering Natural Bodybuilding and Finding Balance Beyond the Muscles

Welcome to Harry’s Gym Chat, we’re in my gym and we’re going to chat! This is a podcast powered by USN; we’ve got some exclusive offers for you that we are going to be giving away a little bit later in the episode. At the same time we are on YouTube so make sure you subscribe, we’re going to be talking about all things health and wealth and fitness. But, also all things positive because I’m a positive guy and we like to keep it fun and friendly.

From the football field to the bodybuilding stage, David Langsdale (https://www.instagram.com/davidlangsdale_/) has journeyed through sports with a natural spirit that's as rare as it's impressive. When he joined me to share his story of resilience and the triumph of snagging his pro card in the Men's Physique category with the WNBF, it was clear that the road to muscular glory is paved with unwavering commitment. As we unravel the fabric of natural bodybuilding, from the patience it demands to the impact of social media on self-image, you're guaranteed to find nuggets of wisdom that resonate beyond the gym.

Imagine mastering the craft of bodybuilding, down to the last detail of spray tanning and stage posing. Our conversation weaves through the mental labyrinth of a competitor, balancing the art of observing rivals with the crucial task of honing personal performance. David's insights into the transition from competing to coaching, and possibly judging, will inspire anyone looking to elevate their game in any field. Moreover, we delve into the life lessons gleaned from competitive highs and lows, underscoring the importance of support systems and the often overlooked emotional toll of a sport that's as solitary as it is public.

Wrapping up, our chat takes a turn towards the personal, embracing fears and joys that extend well beyond the weights and protein shakes. We tackle topics like the desire for children, the anxieties of aging, and finding happiness in moments of full engagement. David's candidness about the challenges of balancing a disciplined lifestyle with indulgences like a good In-N-Out burger adds a dash of humor to our profound explorations. So, whether you're eyeing a bodybuilding trophy or seeking a fresh perspective on personal growth, our exchange promises to fuel your next steps with sincerity and a hint of laughter.

Harry Aikines Aryeetey is an Olympian having represented Great Britain in the Rio Olympics as well as the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and European Championships earning him medals, including 5 gold medals, in 4x100m relay and 100m events. Harry is also a well-known fitness influencer where he shares his passion for sport and fitness with his audiences on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. 

For more from Harry visit:

Instagram: @aikines https://www.instagram.com/aikines/

TikTok: @harryaikines https://www.tiktok.com/@harryaikines

YouTube: @aikines1 https://www.youtube.com/@aikines1

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Harry's Gym Chat. We're in my gym and we're gonna chat. Now is a podcast powered by USN. We've got some exclusive offers for you that we are gonna be giving away a little later in the video, but at the same time we are on YouTube, so make sure you subscribe. We're gonna be talking about everything health and wealth and fitness, but also all things positive, because I'm a positive guy, I'm a big guy. We're keeping it fun and friendly. So, look, jump in, turn the volume up, let's do this. What's happening? People, harry, double A here, your GB 100 meter sprints are, and guess what? We are on a podcast with myself and David Langsdale, a good friend of mine, obviously a little USN ambassador bodybuilder who has a pro card. Can I say yeah? I mean yeah. This is obviously someone that I'm excited to talk to and I think it's quite important that we, you know, put the volume up. Listen as intently as possible to what this amazing man has to say. David, how you doing.

Speaker 2: 1:08

I'm very good, thank you. What an intro as well. So thank you very much for that. It's a pleasure to be here.

Speaker 1: 1:12

Thanks for having me on. I mean, we're just scratching the surface, so look, are you excited to be here? Firstly, of course.

Speaker 2: 1:18

We always have great chats, right, so to be on here doing this with you.

Speaker 1: 1:22

This is more of a I would say a less private chat, because there's gonna be a few people listening. So for the listeners out there who may not know too much about yourself, let's give them a little rundown. So you compete in bodybuilding? Yeah, what category?

Speaker 2: 1:37

So I'm Men's Physique with the WNBF, so the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation and, as you touched on there, just term pro. So yeah, it's an exciting time, and what does that actually mean to term pro? So now I basically go into the pro ranks, so there's prize money and you're up against the best right.

Speaker 1: 1:54

Well, you'll be balling now? Yeah, be balling. I like to think so. Yeah, getting out those little coins. But so look, so, in a certain sense, when you term pro, what does that mean to you? Like, let's say, for example, someone just wants to start bodybuilding right now. How long is that gonna take them and what's the process involved in that?

Speaker 2: 2:13

I feel like it's gonna be different from person to person because bodybuilding is a genetic sport, so some people will have a different starting point to others. So in terms of the time it would take someone to term pro could be a longer process based on their starting point, especially in the natural bodybuilding world. You know everything's down to training, diet, recovery and just learning to master those basics. So it can take as long as it needs to and you just have to be patient along the way.

Speaker 1: 2:40

Right, so let's talk about how patient you've been. Tell us a little bit more about where you started, how you started and how you've ended up where you are.

Speaker 2: 2:47

So I started off playing football as a young lad and, believe it or not, I was actually a goalkeeper.

Speaker 1: 2:54

So yeah. So Bear in mind, look, we're similar height, right yeah, so I'm like 181.

Speaker 2: 3:00

I wish I was close to that. So I'm very much way below the six foot mark. So being a goalkeeper, that's not ideal, right? So the first thing I needed to do I can't make myself grow any taller. So I was like, right, I need to get in the gym and create a little bit more presence for myself. So that's where my journey started in the gym, from the football in background, wanting to do the plyometrics, wanting to build the broader shoulders. And then it was later on down the line when I got a bad knee injury that I couldn't play football. But I've grown this passion for the gym that then I started to get more and more into the bodybuilding.

Speaker 1: 3:35

And obviously, like you've just touched on, you're a natural athlete. Now, we're gonna hit this topic quite early on. You know the bodybuilding world, people do take some form of performance in hearts and drugs, and obviously you've taken the conscious decision to stay natural. Now, firstly, I'm gonna ask you why you've decided to stay in that category and then, secondly to that is, how difficult is it for you, as a natural bodybuilder, to prove that point?

Speaker 2: 4:05

So first of all, for me personally, like I say, I came from a football background, so it was never about like, how quick can I get from A to B? I was just looking at myself and I wasn't gonna be competing against other people. It was just like, right, here's my start point, I wanna get a little bit bigger. So there was no quick fix to that. I was just comparing myself to how I wanted to get so. And also back then social media wasn't as prominent as it is now, so it wasn't on the palm of my hand every day on my phone looking at other people thinking I need to get like that as quick as possible. So from that it was just a slow, constant progression.

Speaker 2: 4:42

And then when I went into bodybuilding, obviously, like you say, it is quite prominent, but for me personally, if I'm just comparing to myself, then I just want the next step. And when you do your research into this stuff and you see the negative side effects and all the rest and I've learned over the years what I can actually achieve, naturally if I apply myself fully to it, yeah, for me personally the negative side effects just are not worth it. For me it was literally like I wanna go down this route. I wanna be natural, and now I've come this far, I wanna show other people that it can be done.

Speaker 1: 5:16

Yeah, no, you're an advocate for it. I can see the passion in your face, literally.

Speaker 1: 5:19

It's like you're sat there talking and I can feel it. I mean from my own experience. What I often find is the amount of Reddit pages I've seen on myself where people will say, oh, this guy's on juice, he does this, he does that. And I mean, everyone has choices in life. They can do what they wanna do. But obviously I take part in an Olympic sport where I do actually get regularly drug tested, and throughout my whole life. I remember getting my first drug test when I was like 16, something that I always struggled with is proving the point that I've not failed any drug tests and I haven't taken any performance in heart and drug. How do you make a point of letting people know that you are where you are because of what? The decisions that you've chosen?

Speaker 2: 5:56

So exactly the same. We'll get regularly drug tested, so that'll be urine samples. It's lie detector tests, so that's a new one, yeah, so we've had to do it.

Speaker 1: 6:05

A little lie detector test, yeah.

Speaker 2: 6:06

So quite a funny story behind that as well. The night before the competition you're doing that and you're doing this polygraph and you've got your chained up and everything. You've got heart rate monitor, you've got sorry blood pressure monitors on and you just sat there on a chair and it's like, yeah, you feel a bit under pressure and it's like I didn't sign up for this, but it's what you gotta do, right? So yeah, the regular drug testing is obviously massive as well.

Speaker 1: 6:28

Yeah, that's new to me. I would not have thought that at all. I think we need to bring that into like was it wider?

Speaker 1: 6:33

We need to bring that in over there because, like something that's so embarrassing for me as an athlete that does get regularly drug tested, it's you know you could be chilling at home doing whatever you want. So, from the athletics perspective, we have, let's say, we have a calendar that you have to fill out. You give one hour every day where someone can just turn off at your house or turn off whatever location that you give them and they can drug test you. Now, in most circumstances it tends to be in the morning, but they can also turn up whenever they want. There's been times where I'm playing FIFA and there's some doing that and in what comes worst too, it is a point that you do have to show them everything They've got to see whether urine is coming from.

Speaker 1: 7:08

So, then when I'll get all these people telling me look, harry, yeah, look, you're traps. You're definitely on something, you're this, you're definitely on something. It takes away, it strips away a lot of my pride and passion for what I do and I mean for you in that category. Are there ever times where you thought, oh, what's the point, why not go the other way?

Speaker 2: 7:24

No, definitely not, because, like going back to my original point, it's from my personal decision. I don't want them negative effects, and when people do their research into the side effects that can be caused, why would I want to do that? I can get results naturally and be patient and work hard and get what I want out of it naturally, so I'm not gonna go any other way.

Speaker 1: 7:43

That's what we like to hear. That's what we like to hear. So, on that basis, though, you've got to supplement yourself, yeah. So what is your nutrition and you know your diet plan? What, what, what is that routine looking like?

Speaker 2: 7:54

So it'll change throughout the year. So, whether I'm looking to gain size or whether I'm looking to cut body fat for a competition, the amounts that I will eat will change, but what I eat pretty much stays the same. And going into the supplementation as well, I'll use the regular things the protein powders, the creatine, the pre workouts. Obviously we've got to get that caffeine in and I'm in a privileged position where I feel very lucky to have the support of usn. And now what I would say with their products especially I've touched on the protein powders there this is something I'm gonna use year-round, right. So if we've got high quality flavors, it digests well, if I can get the protein fast, do you?

Speaker 2: 8:33

exactly, exactly. So I want products that I can use year-round and incorporate into my lifestyle. So if they're, if they're convenient and they taste great, then we're onto a winner. So you touch on.

Speaker 1: 8:43

Obviously you touch on usn. Now I've turned into a bit of a mixologist. Being at usn, you know, I'm mixing my creatine, my, you know, my anabolic muscle mass, all of this sort of stuff I'm mixing together. So are you taking your ea a's, your BC a's? Are you taking everything all at once? So you, you know, stretching them out over a certain period of time? So, quite, straightforward.

Speaker 2: 9:00

My protein powder is in two meals of the day to get my protein content higher, so one of them will be usually in the morning and one post workout with that. In terms of the pre-workout, as it says, pre-workout straight before I train, 15 20 minutes before, so that kicks in when I start my session.

Speaker 2: 9:16

Yeah, exactly, and then during my workout I'll have the ea a's and the creatine mixed together. So that will be while I'm cutting for a competition, while I'm looking to gain. We've had, we've got some high quality gainers which have very good ingredients in, so I can up my carb content with those. So I've been using the whole food gainer for a mouth season as well.

Speaker 1: 9:35

What about the vitamin wise that you take in ZMA at all? Yes, I'm a gun down, anything like that.

Speaker 2: 9:40

There you go. Spot on those two before bed at night. Work a treat. Yeah calm me down, you know, and and they can help. And again, there are. These things become, I feel, more important for a natural bodybuilder. Hmm, because you're gonna. These are the only things we can take for the natural supplements, so I'm gonna make sure I get them in right.

Speaker 1: 9:57

So with ZMA and myself right, I get like the most vivid dreams. There's been times where I've actually Drenched, I've run a time in a race and I've woken up mid-sleep and I've checked the internet and power of 10 Ranking results to check if I've actually done that raise. Have you had any mad dreams whilst being on ZMA?

Speaker 2: 10:16

Not to that level.

Speaker 1: 10:18

I would like to get.

Speaker 2: 10:19

If it can help my visualization for how well I'm gonna do in competition, and then I want all the help I can get.

Speaker 1: 10:25

I think I've got my dosage All right. So, like you just said, talking about on stage right. So I compete in Some very high-level competitions I have done for my life and most of the time Prep. Wise people always ask me what's your prep like? And the prep to me doesn't necessarily matter as much. You know, talking about that last week or intercom decision, I'm all about being in the moment. So you know, I'm gonna guess it's slightly different for yourself in terms of that last week being very vital before you get on stage.

Speaker 2: 10:57

Yeah, it is because the diet is gonna influence how we look going into a show. So the muscles want to be full of glycogen, so we need to carb load to make sure we filled back out.

Speaker 1: 11:06

Does that include some Haribo?

Speaker 2: 11:09

I don't usually go Haribo, but I could, so some people like to get their sugars in before. I usually go with honey myself. Yeah, a little bit of squirt of honey in the mouth if I need it, yeah, so getting what I need? So yeah, that last week is vital, and that's something you learn more and more about over the years of competing as to what you need Yourself personally so then, once you're then on stage, once you're then in the air is like I know you're gonna get your spray tan, yeah, in the morning.

Speaker 2: 11:33

Yep, so we'll do a spray tan the morning of the show, but also the day before the show. So two layers trying to get my tone. Yeah, exactly I definitely, yeah, on the pale side. So I look forward to getting the tan, as much as it can feel a bit sticky on the skin. Yeah, I like to get the time on. The look horrible after yeah, definitely like they, especially the night before the competition. You can't shower it off, you end up sleeping in a bed and yet destroyed many.

Speaker 1: 11:57

A whole house must know you guys are coming, man. They must be like look, the bodybuilders are in.

Speaker 2: 12:01

Yeah, it's giving the terrible sheets, yeah, so actually now I'll pack my own sheets and make sure that I'm not destroying anything, because I don't want to be getting the fines for destroying the you can get a fire yeah so say for competitions. Got a host hotel. They might put in those in the rules, sometimes, like people who do do that, they will get fine.

Speaker 1: 12:21

We are learning today.

Speaker 2: 12:22

Yeah, here's me just thinking you're being a nice guy, Exactly so any night bodybuild well, bodybuilders in general if you get in a tan pack, your bedsheets number one, tip number one Today, pack your own bedsheets.

Speaker 1: 12:34

In athletics is pack your own pillow. Okay, bodybuilding, pack your own bedsheets, love it. So, all right, you turned up your preps, you've had your honey, you got your time, yeah, yeah. Now, in terms of your category, how many people will be competing in? You know quite a large event where you can get a pro card.

Speaker 2: 12:52

Yeah, so it can change. I think there was 19 in my category at Worlds last year when I won my pro card. Some of the British finals I've done they've been up to 30 people in a class.

Speaker 1: 13:02

So are you looking for, like, any sign of weakness in others? Let's be real, because obviously when you're competing you can't help, but look who's around you. Now, everyone always would say to me stay in your own lane, think about going forward, but look. If someone's in front of me, I'm taking note of that. If someone's behind me, I'm taking note where I am, if I can tell that. You know, sometimes I look for weakness in others. You know you can. There's a head gamer, there's a head game happening. You know someone might come up. Do you say made a best man winning? You're thinking well, actually, you know there's a chink in your arm. Why aren't you thinking you're the best man? So are there moments like that?

Speaker 2: 13:30

I'd like to sit here and just say I'm focused on myself. But, to be honest, you will have a little glance round and, for example, if someone's got shoulders like yours, right, I'm gonna make sure I'm getting a good pump on my shoulders. So you have to have a little look around and just, yeah, have a little comparison and think, right, what do I need to pump up before I go on so take you back to when you won your pro card.

Speaker 1: 13:49

Yeah, was there anyone else that day that was close to beating you in that position?

Speaker 2: 13:54

Yeah, so I'd actually done the British show a few weeks before and someone had flown over from Spain to do that show. He actually came third and I came first, but I did feel it was a lot closer than what the scorecards probably said. So he was in my category then at Worlds as the Spanish champion that he won before that and, yeah, I was a bit worried about him, to be honest. So you have to be on your A game all the time look over your shoulders.

Speaker 1: 14:16

So when you're getting your pump on in between, you know going up on stage, because what you up twice.

Speaker 2: 14:20

Yeah, so it can be different in different shows, but generally you'll go on for a pre-judging and then go back on for the finals and the results do you get to do get a pump on in between those two performances. Yeah, so you'll get enough time to pump up twice and make sure that everything's on point and your routine per se.

Speaker 1: 14:35

All right, let's just. Let's just talk about this, because I don't feel like people actually understand, like we see people. You know posing a mirror. You know Instagram is Instagram. You'll take note of people with their pants round their ankles in the gym. Pull their shorts right up, might be wearing white fronts and they're posing, right, but that's hard. Yeah, I tried it once and I started cramping in places. I didn't know how to do myself. What's going on? So how do you get conditioned to pose and how are you regulating your routine?

Speaker 2: 15:02

So I just practice it year-round, whether I'm off-season or prep or close to the show. I'll just keep working on it because, like I said, came from a football background. Right, you won't go into a football match without training. Well, the only thing I need to do on stage is pose. So what's of the utmost importance is to making sure that my posing is on point. So just regular practice year-round.

Speaker 1: 15:21

Have there been any embarrassing moments like you've nearly passed out?

Speaker 2: 15:25

Not passing out. Luckily, I have had a very dry mouth and struggled to smile at times. That's as bad as it goes.

Speaker 1: 15:32

Because that's the thing you got to fake it at the same time as tense in life.

Speaker 2: 15:35

You're not really happy, you're not really that smiley, are you Like? Let's be real, you know like you could potentially put your pants any second, exactly and what I say to people all the time, especially now, getting more into coaching is even if it is a fake smile, just just do it, because you're gonna look more confident with your teeth showing than if you're not smiling.

Speaker 1: 15:52

And since I've seen you host a few events you know I've seen you on the mic, so would you consider judging at a certain point yourself?

Speaker 2: 15:58

I would but I really enjoyed being on the mic, on the stage, you know. So I feel like if I'm enjoying this, I want more of that.

Speaker 1: 16:05

I want to stay there and being a judge in that position, how, being a competitor is something that I couldn't necessarily do is do a Sport where someone judges me and I give my all and it's their opinion that changes my position. Yeah, because obviously I do a sport where you cross the line. If I finish first, that's it. Yeah, I finish second, I'm second. You know how much trust do you put into these guys.

Speaker 2: 16:29

A lot of course, but what I've come to learn is there's a lot of mental strength that goes behind that because, like you say, naturally as an athlete I feel like we love to be in control right Massively. And I'm not in control of their opinion. So because of that, I've just learned to just have a trust in what is meant to be, will be be in the moment on stage and let's see what happens.

Speaker 1: 16:53

So have there been any scandals?

Speaker 2: 16:55

I've had a. I'll be very honest on this because in the last few years I've had a lot of success winning multiple times. Before that not so much so, and I'd say it's worked both ways for me. I've had results where I've looked at it and thought I've got a bit of a gift there. It's a smile, yeah, but I've also had it where I feel like I should have been placed better. So it works both ways sometimes to be honest To be no.

Speaker 1: 17:16

I appreciate the honesty because that's obviously why we're here to talk. We're being honest. I think of the. There's this one video I remember seeing online and it was this guy who had been. I think first place had been stolen from him and he was, he was foreign and he just wouldn't leave the stage. And I often think of moments like that similarity to athletics, when John Drummond wouldn't leave the track cause he didn't full start all that hard work that you put into in that moment taken away from you in terms of what would be a bad decision or something that I don't know, just out of your control. So, across the board, look, everyone appreciates the judges, but I've heard that some of the judges could be coaching people.

Speaker 2: 17:51

That has happened in a lot of competitions, but definitely now, like in the WNBF, going into the worlds and stuff like that, there's different federations and I feel like it's being monitored a lot better now because they get a bad rap when that does happen.

Speaker 1: 18:05

So you also coach, right, yep, do you coach specifically bodybuilding in that perspective, or is it also across the board in just functionality of life and fundamental?

Speaker 2: 18:12

Yeah, so I have like people who just want to lose a bit of weight and or put on a little bit of muscle. But then I do have a strong passion for coaching those that do want to get on stage, because I'm at a point now really want to give back to people. So the experience I've been through, the things I've learned along the way, the emotions I've got to feel on stage, I want to give that to other people now.

Speaker 1: 18:32

So would there be a point, potentially, where you could be coaching someone that you're competing against?

Speaker 2: 18:38

No, probably not, Because I think by the time my guys are moving up to the pro ranks I might be retired by that point.

Speaker 1: 18:46

So what's a retirement age for bodybuilding, would you say?

Speaker 2: 18:49

Well, the current world champion in men's physique, pro world champion, he's like 39 and he's still going. So I feel it's very person dependent, right? So you can keep progressing. For me personally, I don't see myself competing in my 40s. You know it's feet up time by then.

Speaker 1: 19:05

And that's what we're talking about. So let's talk about the value of living life right. Let's talk about the fact that, for me personally, I find that life is all about some nice form of balance. You know, I'm dedicated, I'm committed to the ultimate goal of success and I enjoy success. However, there has to be a balance to it, because I equally have got a life that I want to live. Now. The highs and lows that you experience when you're on prep, when you're bulking, when you're doing this what's the highest peaks and what's the worst? What's the highest highs and the lowest lows?

Speaker 2: 19:34

The highest highs has been the winning on stage, the lowest lows at times during prep. It can be a very lonely place. You know you're so focused on this goal. Not everyone's going to understand it. Not everyone's done what you've done. Not everyone's achieved the things that you're aiming to achieve, so the amount of people that can fully understand it can be low. But at the same time you appreciate all the support you can get. But it can be a lonely place, so that can end up being the low points. I guess.

Speaker 1: 20:02

So do you align yourself more with people within that same sport to kind of fundamentally get an idea that you're all in the same place?

Speaker 2: 20:08

Kind of, yeah, I do like to mix with those people you know, so you can talk about your rice and fish cakes, exactly, we can talk about it passionately and understand it. But then I feel it's good to mix with athletes from other sports and stuff and feel their energy for what they do, because that can be inspiring in itself as well, so it's good to get a mixture.

Speaker 1: 20:27

I'm going to normally, to be fair, when we have our USN link up days, everyone expects me to be a type of way and I'm definitely lost it. I'm the one pulling out the facts of Harry Byer, definitely not on the prep meal plan that everyone else is on. So if you were to think about where you are, let's say, talking to your younger self, what advice would you give to your younger self right now? Because if we're talking about balance and how you're going to balance out, you know you've got your social aspects and often I would say to my younger self like look, kid, don't worry, you're on the right path, type thing Is that? Is that something you would say to your younger self, or what advice would you give?

Speaker 2: 21:02

to your younger self. Absolutely, You've hit the nail on the head straight away there. Because, my younger self, I was probably impatient. You don't realise how long it takes to achieve some things that you want to achieve. You want success overnight. It takes time and if I could speak to my younger self, it would be to just trust myself and to trust in the timing of things happening for me, like when they're meant to be.

Speaker 2: 21:25

Yeah, yeah, and just keep doing the right thing, day after day, whereas my younger self would get a bit more anxious, a bit more impatient.

Speaker 1: 21:30

Were you really like that as a young man?

Speaker 2: 21:32

Yeah yeah, you want everything like in your early twenties, when it might take a bit longer than that.

Speaker 1: 21:37

So what would you say didn't work for you as a young athlete?

Speaker 2: 21:40

Well, obviously I was playing football back then and I had a bad knee injury and I thought it was the end of the world, right. So that put me to a low place when I had that injury, because I thought I had to be successful in something like I say at that age, what that I ended up being because I got more and more into the gym, I've had more success through bodybuilding was actually a blessing in disguise, massively. So if I go back to my original point of trusting in your own personal time in well, if I'd had a known that at that age, I wouldn't have got so disheartened by that injury, because it was actually a blessing in disguise.

Speaker 1: 22:09

And do you think that's taught you a lot about yourself through going through those periods of time of some form of stress, feeling anxious, not knowing what you're doing?

Speaker 2: 22:16

Yeah, definitely, Because when it becomes a belief that things will work out for you maybe not exactly when you want it, but over the long run, when the challenging times do come, it gives you the resilience to keep going because you know within yourself right, if I keep going, this is going to work out. Maybe not now, maybe in a year, maybe two years, but you've just got to stick to those basics and keep going, mate you've got me feeling pumped, ready to go.

Speaker 1: 22:37

Now let's go. Let's train. We're in my gym, let's train. Let's get it in. So, like we're talking about the past, we're talking about balance. How, what does you know your future sort of look like right now. What's the plan? What are we doing? Where are we going?

Speaker 2: 22:50

So I'm preparing for my first pro show now. So I'm literally coming up to 13 weeks out from that. So the diet starts to become more and more strict. So my goals are set around that for my first pro show and then my first pro world, and then we'll see how that goes, how does it feel?

Speaker 2: 23:04

saying that it feels amazing because it was years in the making. Like I say, it's took a long time to get to that level that I want to be at. So now I'm just trying to soak it up and live in the moment and make sure I fully enjoy the process of leading into those shows as well.

Speaker 1: 23:18

So goals wise. In those moments, what you know, we've got realistic goals. Yeah, We've got dreaming goals.

Speaker 2: 23:25

Yeah, what are they? So for me personally, what I've learned over the years is just set your goals high, because if you feel like you can handle anything thrown at you, like you become a lot more confident in yourself and it's like, right, I'm going to that world, I want to aim to win, because I feel like whatever the outcome is like we've spoke about, it's not in my control. What the outcome is, that's up to the judges. But I can control how much I put into this prep.

Speaker 2: 23:54

And if I put everything into it and on the day I don't get what I want, okay, well, now my challenge is to deal with that outcome. Right, so I'm getting a challenge drive away.

Speaker 1: 24:02

Yeah, that excites me. No, that's what we're about. So, in terms of having that actual perspective of you know, you know, sky's the limit, right what happens when there is some form of disappointment, you know, I'm exactly like you. I'm so much more the need to achieve as opposed to the need to avoid failure. Right, I want to be able to go out there and do everything I can. I tend to always try and find a silver lining within those moments, but then sometimes you have to remind yourself that there is a silver lining. Is that something that you would say that kind of relates to yourself?

Speaker 2: 24:34

Definitely, and I think we've dealing with disappointment. The way I break it down in my head now is who's the person I want to be right? So it's not always about the goal Like who do I want to be as a person? Now, if I want to be the person that can take disappointment and continue to work harder, then that will stand me in good stead in life. So you have to revert back to who you want to be, how you want to be in the public eye, and you know in these situations you're not always going to get your own way.

Speaker 1: 24:59

I'm here for that, because I often think to myself sometimes you need the worst to happen, because what you ultimately come to understand is you're still alive, you're still good, you've still got an opportunity to do things that you need to do and the way that you need to do it. So, being in that position where you're backs up against the wall and you fail or you're disappointed, look around you and take note of the fact that I've still got another opportunity to be great and you know, just prepare for success, because it's going to come your way. There's more than enough success to go around, and that's what I really, really like to hear from myself. I'm like, I'm pumped. I'm pumped, ready to go, and it's not the kush that I'm drinking right now.

Speaker 2: 25:35

That helps, I think the key word there is opportunity. So let's say I do a competition, I come second, for example. Well, now I've got an opportunity. Where have I been beaten? What can I improve on? So there's my opportunity. My opportunity is to go back to the gym and improve something and become better. So, whatever the outcome, the opportunity is there. You just have to seek it and follow that path.

Speaker 1: 25:59

Look, you've got your ProCard opportunities out there, limitless, right? So give people a little bit more understanding of once you are ProCard. Now you said there's prize money at hand. Is that? Is it something that's life changing? Is it something that you can do? Quite frequently, and often, is there a circuit around it.

Speaker 2: 26:15

To be honest, there's not a lot of money in natural bodybuilding and that is something that I would like to see grow over the years. Common people bring the cash, bring the cash and just the profile of the sport as a whole, because then that in turn will make people want to chase that natural path. But so the money's definitely not life changing but, like I say, it gives opportunities and I also feel that this ProCard now gives me the opportunity to give back to people and encourage people, inspire people that want to take that same path. So it might not be about the financial reward, but the reward for me is to give back to others and use my knowledge and my path that I've been on to help those other people.

Speaker 1: 26:56

So I didn't know that. So you're bringing light to my mind about what these sort of parameters are in place. So, choosing to be a natural bodybuilder, you're actually making the choice to cap yourself in one instance, but obviously there's other aspects where you feel like you're growing and there's much more growth.

Speaker 2: 27:12

Yeah, exactly that. It becomes a lifestyle and it serves you in ways away from the stage. For sure, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 27:18

Yeah. So if now we're talking about we've gone through your past, gone through your present, talking about balance, right, if you're talking about the mindset and you know how do I put this we live in a world where, obviously, mental health is quite a big factor. Yeah, a lot of people within the bodybuilding world might, you know, struggle with certain things or they come from a place where they struggle with something. Is there sort of quite a similar alignment amongst the majority, where the control around their diet is too much of a factor as opposed to, you know, feeling in a good place with it?

Speaker 2: 27:54

I feel like it's person dependent and everyone's going to go through their own journey and I've been to that place, not through bodybuilding itself, where I've been in the lows and I've had to focus on my mental health and stuff like that, and that has led me on a good path long term. I focus on it a lot now, doing different things, you know, to make sure that I stay mentally in a good place. But yeah, I feel like the diet aspect is very, very person dependent.

Speaker 1: 28:18

And, from the mental health perspective, how do you deal with? Like you said, you've been to certain places, what does that look like? And then how do you get yourself out of it?

Speaker 2: 28:27

So for me personally, like I say, I ended up in a low position years ago and then this lifestyle helped me with that right, because it's the small wins that you can focus on daily. Now, if I've got a lifestyle that makes me sleep at night, makes me want to go train the next day, you know, get there, feel good. Indoor things go in, focus on my diet, so I'm eating the right foods. I feel like all of that's going to stand me in good stead from a mental standpoint. Those small daily wins.

Speaker 1: 28:52

So let me interrupt you there. I did promise you a little something special, and here it is a little discount code for you, powered by usn. We got to do it big, so type in this code. Harry's, jim, david and I got a little surprise for you there. Go type it in, see what happens. But let's take things back. For me, personally, I always make a point of going to bed. Before I go to bed, even I'm sat there and I go. You know, have I smiled enough today? I say this quite frequently because you know a day's to be enjoyed the fact that we, we won the literal race to be born against you know, quite a few other little sperms. We won that race right. So you know the chances of being born is like one trillion to one's. Every day should be celebrated and I think within that, you know, I do sort of have my own little mantra. Is there anything that David says to himself quite frequently?

Speaker 2: 29:42

Very similar, to be honest. So I have a journal. I write in there each day and it's just to keep me on that same track embrace and enjoy each day. I'll say enjoy each day. Some days are going to be worse than others, but there's always a little bit of joy in each one, right? And if you can mindfully take the time to just focus on that, you're going to keep yourself in more of a positive place. I love that you do that as well.

Speaker 1: 30:04

I mean like, look, a happy athlete tends to be a successful athlete because you know there are a fair few. I remember a footballer I think he was called a Sirocoto, played left back at Tottenham. He hated playing football. But look, I'm getting paid P right? Yeah, exactly, I'm getting paid the money, so I'm going to support my family. But you know, the majority of people, when athletes that excel, tend to be the ones that just make a point of enjoying what they're doing or making the best out of the situation they're in.

Speaker 2: 30:30

right, Exactly that, and that's where I look at other sports and I become inspired. Right, because I'll use Cristiano Ronaldo as an example.

Speaker 1: 30:39

Fellow man United fans, right.

Speaker 2: 30:41

So we're going to go there. Go on. You have to have a passion, a deep, deep passion for what you do, to keep doing what he's doing throughout the years for such a long period of time. He's earning all the money in the world, right, he's got all the money he could stop. He could stop playing, but no, he wants to still continually get better, and I think it is. It comes down to being grateful for the position that you're in.

Speaker 1: 31:04

So sometimes I think the term that we forget to use is being obsessed.

Speaker 2: 31:08

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 31:08

You've got to be a little bit obsessed with what you do and the way that you do it. It's okay to be a little bit obsessed. It's okay to be a little bit selfish. Are there any tips on that basis that you would sort of pass on to anyone within that motion of achieving some form of greatness?

Speaker 2: 31:22

I think exactly that you have to have that deep passion and just be a little bit obsessed by it, to the point where, if you know what you want to achieve, just focus solely on that right, because there's always going to be judgments from other people, whether they're positive or negative. But if you want something bad, just fully apply yourself for it. And along that journey as well, you're going to learn so much about yourself and the character that you've got. Like we said before, that it's going to stand you in good stead in other areas of your life.

Speaker 1: 31:51

So look like this isn't a personal question for you, but the general scene of bodybuilding. Right Now, when you're a little bit obsessed with what you're doing and you're doing it to the fullest that you need to. Like you said, you're faking weeks out from prep. You know you're cutting down on your calories and whatever else. The diet's changing a little bit. What happens with your social life? Look, I want to go out for a drink. I want to go out for a bit. I want to go out for something. Or someone wants to take on a little date. They want to go to cinema, get some popcorn, what's that looking like?

Speaker 2: 32:16

So I'll be honest, that's where the balance goes out the window a little bit. But what I will say about that is I feel that balance is person dependent, so some people might have that balance year round right. For me personally, if I'm on a competition prep, I'm on a competition prep, but outside of that time, especially this past six months gone in my off season I like to travel, so I get my balance across the year because I know that comprep time is time to knuckle down, and those who are close to me they understand that as well.

Speaker 2: 32:47

Yeah, that willing circle that ethos of the willing circle.

Speaker 1: 32:50

Because obviously your support in that aspect. What does your winning circle look like? Who's in there? Who does what? How do they help you?

Speaker 2: 32:57

Friends and family, but I'm a bit stubborn as well. I like to do everything myself, so I don't need people doing stuff for me. As such, I like to cook my own meals. I like to train on my own sometimes, but then I have a friend here and there who will train with me. But yeah, I do like to do things for myself.

Speaker 1: 33:16

So what does your favorite meals and your worst meals look like?

Speaker 2: 33:20

In the diet or outside?

Speaker 1: 33:21

of prep Both.

Speaker 2: 33:22

Okay. So during the diet, I'll be honest, I love my oats some way. And with the USM way it changes because there's so many good ones, right? So I love the caramel popcorn.

Speaker 1: 33:36

Are you having your oats cold? No, yeah, nice and warm. They've got to be boiled, yeah, so you're not overnighting it?

Speaker 2: 33:41

No, nice and hot, get that caramel popcorn way in there. And then I might switch it up from time to time. Go to the raspberry ripple, you know.

Speaker 1: 33:49

Raspberry ripple's me.

Speaker 2: 33:50

I'm a raspberry ripple guy Contrasting flavors, but both great. Then, outside of prep, a nice burger and chips. Yeah, are we?

Speaker 1: 33:59

talking like you know couple stacks? Are we talking like you know medium? What are we going? What are we going down in that? What direction?

Speaker 2: 34:06

Luckily I won my pro card in LA. I could go straight to in and out, in and out and you've got the four by fours, you've got everything going on. You've got the loaded fries. So yeah, you're going for the lot.

Speaker 1: 34:16

I got to experiencing it out for the first time because I normally would only travel to the East Coast and, yeah, being able to, there was just one in Texas. I managed to find one in Texas and I picked out man. Yeah, it was so enjoyable.

Speaker 2: 34:28

And it's so simple so simple, it's just simple but quality ingredients taste great.

Speaker 1: 34:33

And the fries were airy as well. I actually get a bit obsessed with food sometimes, because when you pick up a burger and it's just a nice amount of weight to it, you know what I mean and the warm feeling you bite into it and you just spend your time looking at it. I actually did a vlog on it. I've watched it, I've vlogged my experience, anything in and out burger.

Speaker 2: 34:51

Yeah, I'm watching that.

Speaker 1: 34:52

All right. So look, if we're talking about food, right, I'm coming round. Yep, come down with me.

Speaker 2: 34:58

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:59

Start our main dessert.

Speaker 2: 35:02

You want me to cook it. What are you cooking? I'm terrible at cooking. I did a full day of eating video for my YouTube yesterday and people can see how basic my cooking skills are. So we've got chicken in the air fryer. We've got the rice in the microwave. I'm not the best at cooking, so it's going to be something real basic.

Speaker 1: 35:19

Oh, okay, I'll take you out for a minute. Yeah, you're taking me out, all right, cool, so flip it then If you could choose, you know, your perfect dinner. Talking about starter, main dessert, what is it?

Speaker 2: 35:31

Oh right.

Speaker 1: 35:33

So we know you can't cook now. So we know you can't cook, so I'm not cooking this right Starter's got to be basic. What are we going for? Seafood?

Speaker 2: 35:41

No, I'm going real basic. Yeah, I love Anandos, pitta and hummus.

Speaker 1: 35:46

That warm pitta is nice. Yeah, I can't lie. The warm pitta goes deep, don't want it to ruin the main. Yeah, it doesn't fill you up too much, get you ready.

Speaker 2: 35:54

And then I'm going to go back to the in and out point, for my main, I'm so basic, get me a nice cheesy burger.

Speaker 1: 36:00

Yeah, and some nice bacon in there. No, I'm not a bacon guy, I'm just very, very simple cheese burger. Four by four, though.

Speaker 2: 36:06

Four by four.

Speaker 1: 36:07

Lots of beef, lots of cheese Dessert.

Speaker 2: 36:09

Dessert. That's a tough one because it changes, but I'm probably going to go for a nice warm brownie.

Speaker 1: 36:15

I knew you were going to say something chocolate.

Speaker 2: 36:17

I'm going to go ice cream with it.

Speaker 1: 36:18

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:18

What kind of ice cream Basic again.

Speaker 1: 36:21

Yeah, it's just vanilla.

Speaker 2: 36:21

The best. Vanilla with the chocolate, a little bit of gelato, yeah, yeah, yeah, got that little nice creamy aspect to it.

Speaker 1: 36:27

Pistachio is good, though, when it comes to ice cream, man's coming out with little different ones there, a little bit more creative now, but yeah, let's go with that, and that's the thing I find. Food is such a good way to get to know people.

Speaker 1: 36:39

Because, like you, said your simple aspects of do you know what I mean? Clean cup, give me what I like and that's all I want, but you're independent with it and I often find myself, sometimes I get a little bit too passionate. I get too passionate about food Because I think you can only eat so many times in a day. Yeah, that's how I live anyway. I'm only really going to have like three meals and they're all going to be different types of meals, so therefore, when I have them, I want it to bang. Yeah, it needs that. You need to come correct. If you're cooking for me, you need to come correct because I'm not coming to your seat.

Speaker 1: 37:12

But within that it's sort of like that's how I kind of foresee how we train and how we live. You know that training session needs to optimize it as best as you can, because you can't really come back to the session later on and be like, oh, I'm going to do it better later on. Do you have many sessions where you're like this is my go to sesh, these are the ones that I need to show out? Or you know, if I is a make or break sort of session for me?

Speaker 2: 37:34

Yeah, I try and get myself in that mindset pretty much every session, to be honest, especially now going into my first pro season. You know, it's like I want to get the most out of this. So every session is going to matter and, let's be honest, we don't feel 100% motivated all the time. But go back to the point we said originally about being so grateful for the position we're in. Well, if I'm that grateful for it, then I'm going to continue to work hard for it, yeah, you're going to turn up.

Speaker 1: 37:57

So, in terms of that mindset of being, you know, grateful for where we are, grateful for what we're doing, you know showing out for those sessions, what's your favorite session and worst session?

Speaker 2: 38:07

Favorite sessions push chest shoulders.

Speaker 1: 38:11

Is that your actual normal split? In terms of how you split your? Yes, I'll do push, pull legs.

Speaker 2: 38:16

So push being the favorite of course, you know you get to see the pump in the mirror and all the rest, yeah.

Speaker 1: 38:23

I flex my pecs, if you were listening.

Speaker 2: 38:26

And I'll say the worst is legs. But I'm not saying that from a standpoint that I don't enjoy training legs, but I mean with men's physique. We've got the board shorts on anyway, so it's harder to get yourself in that mindset.

Speaker 1: 38:35

Are you doing all the car phrases you can?

Speaker 2: 38:37

Oh, I try, but I'm still not growing.

Speaker 1: 38:41

So when you are on your bulk in terms of getting in as much food as possible you know I was just talking passionately about you know, I only get to eat so many times a day. Is there a point where you're just sick of food?

Speaker 2: 38:55

Sometimes, but I'll spread it across six meals across the day and that's where the supplements can come in. So the mass gainers and stuff like that. You want to be choosing foods that are real high in calories, but you know they're a bit more calorie dense so they're easier to get some of them shakes that got like 2k calories, exactly that.

Speaker 2: 39:10

So it makes it a lot easier to get those calories like you're the most amount of calories you've ever had to get in to be honest, I'm not the biggest guy in the world, so it's never been crazy high looking above 3,000 calories a day when I'm looking to bulk, and then it might go down to around 2,000 as well as up in the amount of expenditure and training I'm doing when I'm cutting.

Speaker 1: 39:29

Yeah, so what's? What's the least that you'd ever be on, obviously, when you just said that you're cutting, but yeah, is anything that you know in the last week or so?

Speaker 2: 39:36

that is ridiculously low not really and again, it's person dependent. But I feel like if you've had a good off season and kept your food in an all right place, you shouldn't need to be crashed diet at any point. If you're prepping nice and slow and consistent come the end of the diet, it's still not crazy low, I mean. For some people it might be, but I'm never cutting carbs completely or anything.

Speaker 1: 39:54

Oh, that makes sense. But look, we've spoken a lot about you know the sport that you perform in. Spoke a lot about what goes in and around it.

Speaker 2: 40:01

Let's talk about you.

Speaker 1: 40:02

Okay, oh, david man United fan. Yeah, how you feeling about a season ahead?

Speaker 2: 40:06

I'm feeling good. Yeah, henard started well. Last season there was not so much expectation on them because no one really knew what to expect and obviously they had a terrible start right at the Beginning. But yeah, he seems to have got to grips with things and made some good sign, and so I'm excited for it.

Speaker 1: 40:21

And I could tell the patch cuz look like. You said you're a goalkeeper when you're younger.

Speaker 2: 40:24

I wanted to be Peter Schmeichel. Unfortunately didn't happen. And now?

Speaker 1: 40:28

stand on stage with my top off.

Speaker 2: 40:29

Yeah, you needed to eat more bacon.

Speaker 1: 40:33

Is it fair to say football is one of your passions, then Definitely, and that can when we go back to balance.

Speaker 2: 40:38

That is something that I can do during a prep. You know, I can go watch a football game because it doesn't involve eating, it doesn't involve drinking, so football is something now is. I used to be serious about it growing up, playing. Now it's a bit of a switchoff time for me, you know. I can just chill and watch some football.

Speaker 1: 40:53

It's actually that that it's quite stressful watching yeah, it's united exactly. So look, if that's the case, what other passions does David have?

Speaker 2: 41:02

Outside of football and bodybuilding? Not too much. But I do like to know you go to the cinema, watch all the latest films, all that kind of stuff, anything that involves killing. Simple, I like to say traveling.

Speaker 1: 41:11

Yeah, I'm traveling. All right.

Speaker 2: 41:12

Top three destinations go well, I've been Vegas a few times and I'm already looking at going back after worlds to celebrate this year.

Speaker 1: 41:19

What's good about Vegas?

Speaker 2: 41:20

the food it's got an in and out burger and I feel like we're Vegas. It's got a bit of a Not a myth, because obviously the gambling's big out there. But I'll say to people are do you want to come to Vegas? They're like well, I'm not into gambling. The last thing I want to do when I'm in Vegas is being a casino gambling. You know it's got the best of food. You know I'm not really a party goer, but if you're into that, it's got the best of that. If you want to go shopping, it's got the best of shopping. You know this. The weather's great, yeah, so second destination.

Speaker 2: 41:45

Second I was born in New Zealand. I'm gonna throw New Zealand in there because it's home, away from home. Yeah and then I need. I need somewhere different for the third. I'm gonna go Vince Barley, right Barley, that's chilled.

Speaker 1: 42:01

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 42:02

I'm gonna go Barley.

Speaker 1: 42:03

Yeah, I enjoy Barley. Barley's a big vibe for me because, like you said, it can be chilled yeah party yeah. Okay, where would you if we talk about top destinations and top this and top that? Let's talk about fears.

Speaker 2: 42:17

Okay.

Speaker 1: 42:18

Three fears could be anything. Yeah, okay, one of my fears is drowning. I'm claustrophobic. I'm terrible at swimming. Yeah, anything. That's both of us complete that.

Speaker 2: 42:32

We're learning about you.

Speaker 1: 42:33

Yeah, I can sit on the bottom of a ball. So if you've got three fears, what are they?

Speaker 2: 42:39

First one I'm going deep right. I don't want to be on my deathbed with regrets that I live life to the full deep Well, we love it. I'm going straight and with that deep. I can't have city winning more, I'm more champion.

Speaker 1: 42:55

They've won the treble, that was so painful. That was so, but then the worst has happened, yeah. I can't night, it is still gonna thrive, yeah, you know. We were the first to do it. Yeah, it's okay.

Speaker 2: 43:07

But someone made a great point to me man United won the treble with a team that was predominantly homegrown.

Speaker 1: 43:14

Yes, Dennis Irwin was our left back.

Speaker 2: 43:16

Yeah, exactly, and you had the class of 92 come through so my United's travel. I don't care what anyone says was better than yeah, we didn't buy it.

Speaker 1: 43:23

We didn't buy it, we didn't buy the trouble a little bit, but not as much not as much we were. We were a big team back then. Obviously, you know that's when I I got into it, but what I did like about that young team was seeing how many young athletes were able to run the show.

Speaker 2: 43:37

Yeah, and I was quite inspirational for myself.

Speaker 1: 43:39

Yeah, yeah so right third fear.

Speaker 2: 43:43

It's another deep one, you know, and this is getting really personal. I'm getting older, right, I want kids and I'm scared. I'm gonna like pass my, pass my time and not have kids as long as everything still works, you're good to go and there's ways around it.

Speaker 1: 43:56

I'm natural, so.

Speaker 2: 43:58

I'm not Exactly, there we go.

Speaker 1: 44:03

Side effects because I did. I have seen a couple people talk on that basis Not performing because you're taking something else to help you. You're not producing enough testosterone. Yeah, obviously that's what's gonna happen. Yeah, and I mean we talk about mental health aspects. That's got to be a big blow for some people exactly, exactly like as a dude.

Speaker 2: 44:20

You're rocking up, you're lifting whatever you want to lift, but then going home and not being able to do something natural, I'd say, from a mental health standpoint, I Wouldn't be able to deal with the fact that I've come off something and now I'm regressing. I don't feel as good like for me personally in the natural bodybuilding. It's like, even if I feel Like real tired leading into a show, I'm a couple of in and out burgers away from feeling good again and that's it hey in and out.

Speaker 1: 44:45

If you're listening, my guy out here needs a little hookup when he goes to Vegas next year. He's a sort my boy out. Yeah, I Think of you. A century making in and out flavored way.

Speaker 2: 44:58

What are you going for? Well, they should get the in and out milkshakes.

Speaker 1: 45:07

So in you, out, bella. So when you're really thinking about where you've been, upon reflection, are you, are you a happy individual? You know, happiness is obviously what some people you know try to achieve. That's what I think I'm trying to achieve. And if not, what is? What does happiness look like for you? So, david, yeah.

Speaker 2: 45:27

So the answer to that question is yeah, I'm in a very happy place now, but I don't feel like that's come literally as a result of some standalone thing changing in my life as such. It's come through learning, through the hard times, to be more grateful, to seek the positive, you know, and that, in turn, has helped me become more happy and I've also come to learn. Is we talk about happiness as this thing, like walking Around with a big smile on my face or happy moments? So just, I feel that when we're fully engaged in something, whether it's the process of a show, whether we're sitting watching a film, and it's like taking us by surprise, they're the happy moments for me, oh mate you've actually got me so guest and I think you know what I've just got.

Speaker 1: 46:07

To summarize it there, do you know what? It's been a pleasure to speak to you. Thank you for coming on. Thank you, it's another podcast Harry's gym. We're out here rocking it and, david, you've been an absolute gent. Thank you, mate.