Muscle Sherpa is a thirty something year old, ex-competitive natural bodybuilding, software developer from Australia. I have a partner, a couple little kids and live on a small farm with lots of animals. Life is good but very busy. Despite this I still work hard to keep in shape. With such little spare time this means applying bodybuilding practices that provide the best bang for your buck. I call this No Frills Bodybuilding. Through this blog I want to be a “Muscle Sherpa” to others sharing what I learn and apply in my own life.
Muscle Sherpa Muscling
Pre-whipped
Now if you crossed me on the street you might ask, “So what? This guy clearly trains but he’s not even that big. Why does he have a blog?”. To that I would say you’re right. I’m not a genetically gifted athlete or champion bodybuilder. But I’ve been training hard consistently for over 15 years, competing in multiple competitions, learning a few things along the way. The other thing is that over the last several years there’s been no significant increase in my lean body mass.
This is because there is a thing called your natural (drug free) Maximum Muscular Potential (MMP). It is fairly well established among a bunch of experts who have gathered data from many many top level champion natural bodybuilders. Consistently over and over again there is a limit (based on height and other factors) as to how large you can get as a natural bodybuilder. For me, I’m pretty close to that maximum.
Muscle Sherpa Relaxed
Post-whipped
In 2012 I met my girlfriend just after competing in my last bodybuilding show. It was time to settle down with the bodybuilding and focus on more important things. Obviously I was never going to stop training or watching what I eat. I just had to make it fit in with everything else and eliminate the stuff I was doing that didn’t really matter all that much.
These days I’m pretty much the same size and strength as when I was more serious. Again this is due to the MMP where I’m at a point of diminishing returns. The amount of effort it takes to get to get to an advanced or elite level just isn’t worth it for me. So despite not being able to devote as much time to bodybuilding these days, the effect on my physique has been negligible.
And that’s what my blog is all about. No Frills Bodybuilding and making bodybuilding work in with your life instead of vice versa. Working towards your peak physique, realising you won’t ever be Mr. Olympia. It’s about achieving the best physique practically possible. This is achieved by improving your training productivity and efficiency. And most importantly, improving your nutrition but with minimal tupperware containers and antisocial eating behaviours.
I hope to motivate the unmotivated and give some perspective to the obsessed.