RobertUniverse.com
Intl. Natural Weightlifting Case Study

S
ponsored by Flora Health

For Athletes Who Push to the Limits of Their Performance

Back to Gallery



MIKE JOSEPH
Competitive Powerlifter & Benchpress Record Holder

 

Baseline Profile


Study Start Date:  Dec. 7, 2002



STAN'S GYM
Upminster Essex
 

Residence:

 England

Age:

31

Occupation:

Insurance Broker

Height:

5'8"

Weight:

182 lbs.

Bodyfat:

  17.7%

Neck:

15"

Shoulders:

49"

Chest:

40"

Waist:

32"

Bicep:

16.5"

Thigh:

24"

Calf:

14.5"

Mike is 31 year old Insurance Broker who is also a British, European & World Bench Press Champion and a Bench-Press and Powerlifting Total World Record Holder.  He has weight trained for eight years.
 

Fitness Goals: 

Mike's goal is to break the all time bench press world record (197.5 kg).  His best in competition for his bodyweight is 193.5 kg.  He hopes to one day achieve a 650 kg powerlifting total and currently has the world record total of 610 kg. 
 

Nutrition

Mike eats three meals a day along with some fruit in between meals and protein drinks.  He notes that he usually eats fairly healthily including white meat, vegetables, rice and pasta.  He uses Soya or skimmed milk and drinks decaf tea or coffee.  He admits to the odd takeaway every three weeks or so.
 

Supplementation: 

 Creatine, Protein drinks and sometimes carbs energy drinks. 
 

Hobbies and Special Interests:

Mike represents his country in powerlifting and enjoys watching the West Ham United Football team.
 

Reason for Participating in the Study:

"I am very much into promoting the natural drug free side of my sport.  I am keen to try new natural supplements for my own benefit and to prove to the doubters that you do not need to use drugs."
 

Weightlifting:


 

 

 

Mike trains four times per week (split routine) and his workouts last two hours.  His workouts are medium to high intensity to increase strength and muscle mass.
 

 

 

 

WEIGHTLIFTING WORKOUT INFORMATION
Level of Training:  Advance

Exercise

  # of Sets    # of Reps    Poundages

Flat Bench

9 1 to 10 40 to 400

Incline Bench

4 4 to 10 140 to 300

Squats

8 1 to 10 40 to 400

Leg Curls

4 10 100

Tricep Push Downs

3 10 to 20 30 to 50

Close Grip Press

4 6 to 10 150 to 270

Overhead Tricep Press

3 10 to 20 bodyweight

Seated Rear Shoulder Press

5 5 to 10 20 to 220

Front Lateral Raises

2 10 35 to 44

Shrugs

4 10 full stack on machine

Seated Front Shoulder Press

3 6 to 10 110 to 220

Chins

5 10 bodyweight

Health and Fitness Background by Mike Joseph: 


I am 31 years old and have been weight training for the past 8 years, I originally got into weight training because I was like many youngsters fascinated by Arnold Schwarzenegger and all that he had achieved.

About 3 years ago I was approached at my gym by a guy who was a competitive powerlifter and he said that he had been watching me and that I was strong enough to have a chance of doing well if I entered a powerlifting competition, so I joined the "British Drug Free Powerlifting Association" an affiliate of the "World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation". The reason I joined this organization was because although most of my Idols were using drugs I felt that I only ever wanted to be natural and to show people what can be achieved drug free and the BDFPA are avid drug free and always drug test 10% of lifters at every meet as well as out of competition tested (which I have been subjected to) and to date I have been tested on about 10 occasions.

My 1st competition was March 1999, a regional event in the north west of England, I entered the bench press category at 75KG (165 pounds) bodyweight and broke the British record, this win qualified me for the British championships which I also won and then onto the European & world bench press championships, I also during that year broke the European Record with a bench press of 172.5 KG (380 pounds) over twice my bodyweight.

The following year I retained my titles & moved up to a heavier weight class (82.5KG / 181 pounds) and also started competing in powerlifting (all three power disciplines Squat, Benchpress & Deadlift combined total). In September 2000 I participated in my 1st power comp which I won and again qualified for the British championships (unfortunately I came 2nd, my first taste of defeat), 2nd was still good enough to qualify me for the internationals and I put my disappointment behind me by winning the European championships & setting a new world record total 602.5KG (1325 pounds), I have since retained all of my titles and also broken my own total record by totaling 610 KG (1342 pounds) as well as setting a new bench press world record of 193.5 kg (426 pounds).

Not content with my powerlifting exploits I also was part of a nine man team in February this year that broke the "Guinness Book Of Records" 24 hour bench press record, we beat the existing record of 10 million pounds, achieving 11 million pounds with 4 hours to spare and are now officially in the famous book of records.


 

Mike Joseph during lift at the
WDFPF Championships held in Capiago, Como, Northern Italy on November 23rd & 24th, 2002

 




Courtesy of LA Muscle


 

Mike later appeared on the podium after managing to bench  press 180 kg (in spite of a shoulder injury from the 24 hr. bench press competition last Feb.) and
won his class as well as the overall best lifter title.

Congratulations!


Courtesy of LA Muscle

My ambition is to continue competing and hopefully powerlifting will become an Olympic sport, as I dream of an Olympic Gold Medal.  I hope that what I have achieved drug free will be a great example to others to stop them from taking steroids etc. , my motto is "Drug Free the way to be".

BACK TO THE PARTICIPANTS' GALLERY

www.RobertUniverse.com 2001
All Rights Reserved