Published: Thursday, 28th September, 2006 10:51
Charlie's shot at glory
By Rachel Lamb
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A PERSONAL trainer is preparing to strut his stuff at a top bodybuilding competition.
Charlie McKee, from Helensburgh, will be competing in the finals of Britain’s Greatest Natural Body Building Championships in Edinburgh next month.
He has already impressed regional judges, coming third in the Scottish finals in May.
A delighted Charlie told the Advertiser: `I just can’t believe I’m going to be competing with the best in Britain. When I first qualified it didn’t really sink in.
`I’m looking forward to it and I’m quietly confident. I’ve just started getting the nerves but you need a bit of adrenaline going through your body or you can’t perform.
Charlie, who works out of Racquets Gym on East Clyde Street, added: `I’ve got about 30 people coming to support me which is absolutely fantastic. It helps a hell of a lot.`
A win at the big event could change Charlie's life. The competition winner earns a professional bodybuilding contract which involves work around the globe — including the lucrative American circuit.
Natural bodybuilding is strictly drug free. Charlie and his fellow competitors will all be hooked up to a lie detector to make sure they are not using steroids before being allowed to compete.
All competition winners will also have their urine tested for performance enhancing drugs.
Charlie said: `When people think of bodybuilding, they immediately think of steroids but the Natural Body Building Federation has been running for seven years now.
`As far as I’m concerned it’s a lot healthier for your body. Although using steroids is cheating, you still have to work hard to get the muscle but what those drugs are doing to your body is irreparable.`
Charlie, who is the team physio for Helensburgh Rugby Club, has been following a rigorous training programme and sticking to a strict diet in the lead up to the competition.
`Your diet is one of the most important things. If you don’t eat the right food then no matter how hard you work you won’t get anywhere.
`For the last seven weeks I have been on the chicken and broccoli diet, that’s scrambled egg white for breakfast then nothing but chicken and broccoli five times a day.
`Next week’s diet is crucial, for three days, I will be cutting out carbs altogether and eating a protein only diet, then from Thursday to Saturday it’s a baked potato every hour.
`At the same time, you have to gradually dehydrate your body by cutting down your liquid intake.
`I’m really looking forward to going out for a Chinese after the competition!`
Britain’s Greatest National Body Building Championships take place at the George Square Theatre in Edinburgh on Sunday, October 1.
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