London’s James Hollingshead is within the house stretch to the 2022 Arnold Traditional UK, scheduled for Sept. 23-25, 2022, in Birmingham, England, this weekend. “The LDN Bodybuilder” just lately accomplished one last rigorous leg exercise and supplied his fast-growing base of YouTube subscribers with some insightful commentary earlier than he hits the stage.
The 33-year-old hopes so as to add the 2022 Arnold Traditional UK title to his current haul, which incorporates the UKBFF Junior British Championship, UKBFF Heavyweight Championship, and the Europa Professional Bodybuilding contest honors. Now honing his physique for the highlight of the IFBB, Hollingshead is leaving no stone unturned. Take a look at his physique replace and last leg exercise within the video beneath:
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Bulk As Lengthy As Doable
For a lot of bodybuilders, bulking is halted a number of weeks earlier than the competitors date to depart time to chop — when the main target is dropping physique fats and sharpening muscle definition. Hollingshead likes including to his physique weight for so long as attainable to proceed so as to add strong muscle.
“A few days in the past, I had a refeed day,” he says. “I pushed my weight as much as the heaviest I’ve been for fairly a while. I received my weight again as much as 280 (kilos). Going to be, most likely, three or 4 days till I can shift the surplus weight [and] get again down into baseline.” Hollingshead can maintain his weight down the wire, figuring out he can reduce comfortably.
“Any of you guys that know me that observe me know that I’ve subsequent to zero problem with getting physique fats off,” says the IFBB Professional. Hollingshead has achieved success in competitions with simply six weeks of prep. “My physique simply loses fats actually fast, however on the similar time, it has an actual problem with retaining muscle.”
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Sustaining Muscle
“I’m not meant to be an enormous chap,” laughs the man-mountain, who believes his physique to be extra suited to his different athletic endeavors, akin to skating, operating, and swimming. “Power shouldn’t be an issue, I’ve at all times been robust, however my power isn’t actually one thing that correlates to dimension.”
Hollingshead says his critics, akin to those that touch upon YouTube, have questioned why he places a lot emphasis on consuming relatively than leaning within the run-up to a contest. The Londoner says that his gigantic meals consumption is critical to keep up and add to his muscle mass.
“In case you go on stage, you could possibly be shredded to the gills, however if you happen to don’t have a certain quantity of dimension, you’ll not place high three,” says Hollingshead. “Musculature is the principle, first goal in bodybuilding. That’s why [they call it] bodybuilding as a result of it’s a must to construct muscle. The Olympia is the very best present to see that. In case you have a look at the highest 5, they’re probably the most muscular individuals within the line-up.”
Prioritizing Energy Over “Clear” Meals
“I don’t benefit from the consuming,” laughs Hollingshead. “It will get to the night of the day the place I get to eat (or refeed), and I actually really feel trash, but when I don’t do it, and I simply bump energy in through the use of my current meals, clear energy, it simply doesn’t do something. And, the quantity that I’ve to eat in clear meals; the quantity of, say, rice, the quantity of potato, or something like that, it’s a lot that it actually stresses my abdomen out as a result of these meals simply aren’t calorie-dense. So, when the target is simply to get as many energy as you’ll be able to with meals that doesn’t essentially take up probably the most house, then that’s why it’s a must to use meals that aren’t sometimes on plan.”
James Hollingshead’s Leg Exercise
Hollingshead likes to start his exercises with hamstrings as a result of he finds that quad workouts can tax him to the purpose the place he can’t give his hamstrings the eye that they deserve if labored final.
The bodybuilder follows the five-set rule for this exercise, executing 5 units on his hamstrings, quads, abductors, and calves earlier than throwing in 5 units on his biceps for good pre-contest measure. The 5 units for every physique half are blended and matched between workouts relying on how he feels.
James Hollingshead’s Recommendation for Aspiring Bodybuilders
“I simply want for them to have wonderful experiences and don’t take it too severely like I do typically,” Hollingshead shares. “… keep in mind that you’re with a very elite bunch of nice individuals, and when you’re round them at these reveals, take it in, discuss, talk, have enjoyable, snigger, smile; it’s a brotherhood. Generally at these reveals, you get so caught up in what’s anticipated of you and the placings [that] you overlook that you’re all individuals who have labored extremely arduous to get there. Use the expertise as an enjoyment.”
Suppose Hollingshead is victorious on the 2022 Arnold Traditional UK. In that case, he says he wouldn’t draw back from future contests in preparation for a shot at Mr. Olympia, as a substitute opting to construct his confidence on stage and hold busy. Hollingshead says that staying out of his consolation zone is vital to his continued progress, and with a successful perspective like that, who can get in his manner?
Featured picture: @hollingshead89 on Instagram
