Tim Martin’s BodyBlog

I’ve always been very suspicious of supplements and the claims their manufacturers make.  Personally I limit my use of supplements to a short list of proven contenders, including whey, BCAA’s, glutamine, creatine, multivitamin, and B C and E.  Like most competitive bodybuilders I believe diet is the most important component in bodybuilding success.  As disciplined as I try to eat, I admit that my shortcoming is not eating enough fruits and vegetables.  With a busy work schedule, I’m lucky to eat one serving of fruits and vegetables daily, and many days it really is zero.  The USDA recomments 5 to 9 daily servings, and as athletes who tax our bodies much more than the average person I have to believe that more is better in this regard.

As a physical therapist I had the opportunity to attend an inservice this past week about a product called "Mona Vie".  I am more skeptical than most, but I was impressed with the presentation and product, so much so that I purchased it myself and became a "distributor" to get it at a cheaper price.  Basically, Mona Vie is a liquid nutritional supplement containing a blend of "super" foods very high in Antioxidants and Phytonutrients, the chief of these being the Acai berry found in the Brazilian rain forest.  Two ounces twice daily gives the equivalent of 13 servings of common fruits and vegetables, something I know I’ve been lacking in my diet.

For anyone interested in improving their diet, and therefore directly improving their bodies performance and composition, please visit www.MonaVie.com and educate yourself about the acai berry.  By becoming a "distributor" you can then purchase the product at a reduced cost, and if you turn others onto this revolutionary product you will actually generate income, enough to cover your own product and potentially much more.  My sponsor number is 859782, and upon signing up you will be given you own.  Good luck!

Well, it’s been four weeks since my hernia surgery, and I back much more quickly than I had anticipated.  I felt pretty good after about two weeks, and although the doctor recommended 4-6 weeks off, I started a week of light workouts then.  After that two weeks my bodyweight had dropped to 224, but with a few good weeks behind me now I back up to 232.  Starting February 1st I added 10 more minutes to my morning cardio sessions, now doing 30 minutes at 65% MHR.  My strength is back where it should be, and this past Saturday I did walking lunges down and back on the basketball court with 225 a la Ronnie Coleman.  I think one of the reasons training has been so good is because I have been able to rotate training partners in who are competitors.  Chris MacKenzie, Kyle Newell, and Vinnie Galanti are all very good Jersey bodybuilders, and when we get together to train the intensity is definitely at a high level.

My competition plans are still a little foggy, with the only definite being the Team Universe in September.  I also have a goal of competing at a non-tested national show this year, so that may include the NPC USA’s, NPC Master’s Nationals (I’m 40), or the IFBB North Americans, or quite possibly all three!