I like the term “improvements season” – the transition from a pre-contest to post (physical) fitness contest or ‘off season’ is not always as straight forward as I think it will be sometimes…

To elaborate, so much time and energy around the gym is allotted to the season ending finale with often a single focus on that last bodybuilding show, whilst perhaps being beneficial for that event, it brings with it an almost inevitable void thereafter which is not always easy to replace.

Having finished 3rd in my disability category at the PCA British Finals in October, I’ve settled on an improvement year in 2022, before stepping back onto the competition stage in 2023. That being said, whilst initially stating that the focus on a physical level is to improve strength in the gym, it’s good to also turn attention to my mental fitness too.

A start of a different set of occasional podcasts covering life as a “Daddy with a Disability!”

It’s wonderful but there were some questions as I prepared for Fatherhood around my #cerebralpalsy. Tackling potential challenges with being a Daddy with a Disability much like other hurdles in life!

Discussion One:

How will I hold them?

Starting a family was something I had looked forward to for a significant time & finding out I was going to be a parent was a wonderful moment but looking back there were also some previous long held worries about adapting to life as a Father with a disability (cerebral palsy in my case).

With babies, my perception was that the looking after of one came with lots of multi-tasking, involving hands and that brought concerns with how I would cope, potentially on my own times - with feeding, nappies, seat belts, clips or harnesses. In addition to help they would need growing up with hair, clothing, climbing and fixing things.

Saying that, above all else I wanted to be a Dad, to grow a family and to bring along all that experience growing up, together with my amazing wife’s help, we have adapted around my disability with everything else in our lives.

The crucial thing I learnt in the early days is to remain calm and adapt to each situation as you would in any other challenge in your life around you. Each challenge my disability has presented me is an opportunity to fashion a unique solution in life.

We have big goals and dreams. Some will be in touching distance, others maybe so far away that they barely seem reachable....for now.

I try to work and improve on my thinking a little more every year when attempting new goals - from my gym work, my career and wider changes. It’s always a learning process.

#Disability #bodybuilding: Growing Opportunities in 2022”

From Exeter to Motherwell, Birmingham in the UK to Florida in the USA!

Reviewing the huge number of events with a mixed disability category coming up in 2022... Also on disabilitybodybuilding.com

My two little girls have, at various times asked me in that direct, curious way they would with anything that fascinates them “Daddy, what’s it like having one smaller hand?”....

There a number of factors that often make up our “why”

Why do I want to do bodybuilding?

To prove something to myself?

For Current me?

For Past me?

Or Future me?

I’ve often referred to contest prep as stretching an elastic band, experimenting how far it can be pulled without snapping. Extending it a little, holding it steady, maybe relaxing the tension now and again - but always being in control of energy around it.

It’s been a good way to explain how I feel during a prep season!

It was the very end of the World Chanpionships in 2018 and the emotion came at me like a wave, I wasn’t expecting to be sat in the foyer in the Birmingham Repertory Theatre that day tearful. Tearful because the journey was over. I’d done a number of bodybuilding shows that year, to prove to myself I could get better, to help the exposure of the disability class and learn much from the events themselves, but then it was over, now what?

It can get better I know, there so much growth in this space to push and achieve, It’s been too long to turn many issues around on numerous occasions...

HOWEVER!

There is a movement, a number of people and organisations that are spearheading some fantastic opportunities for the disabled community and/or continue to break barriers on a wider scale which reach society further and provide support to bridge gaps.

Yes, there are many gaps, but it is getting better. I say this as I build a social media feed full of positive aspect around people with a disability and the changes that are being made - brilliant organisations and individuals driving things forward. So while Yes, there are difficult discussions and challenges to have today and ahead, there is also so much good being done, action being taken, It’s important to survey the great work driving change right now.

Thank you to everyone making a difference, it means so much!

I’ve been privileged to do a number of shows over the last few years and each present it’s own challenges. I want to try new exercises often, with that brings some barriers to navigate to make them effective and the need to study my approach to some pieces of equipment.

There is a balance I feel between being in a place where everyone has the same availability of equipment in the gym but also having to look at the ways I have to adapt to each piece. It’s quite the conundrum at times but, in quirky way, I love it. It challenges me mentally as well as physically, starting an initial thought process of ‘how the hell can I use this’ to identifying the best use for the targeted muscle area.