Liam Armstrong success

Q.1 When did you start weight training and what inspired you to start?

I started general weight training shortly before my 16th birthday as a means of becoming stronger and more muscular to remain competitive whilst playing rugby, my chosen sport at the time. I had played rugby since I was 8 years old and size had never really been an issue until around the age of 15; I remained dwarf like in stature whilst all my peers surpassed me in height and body mass in general. My initial foray in to weight training was quite camp, I trained hard but trained wrong. My routine wasn’t conducive to building anything like the strength and physique I aspired towards, think Ronnie Corbett rather than Ronnie Coleman and you get the picture. Seriously though, I ran cross country, rock climbed, played rugby and remained very lean and wiry until I got myself sorted and began to read up on nutrition and devote time to learning about serious training. At this point, I joined what is probably still the most hardcore gym I’ve trained in and started my iron apprenticeship proper (can’t beat a good cliché). This was just after I turned 17 and when things really started going somewhere.

Q.2 Did you have any goals of competing initially?

My goals initially were to become bigger and stronger for the sole purpose of being big and strong. I had always been fascinated by feats of strength and physical endurance, but would have much rather shared the physical characteristics of a strong man than an iron man. After getting a years training under my belt, I developed an interest in competing in a bodybuilding show to test myself, see what my hard work in the gym and at the dinner table had achieved and because I had a thing for shiny pants and stage lights. Shortly after my first year as a competitive bodybuilder, I took the inclination to test out my unequipped Powerlifting abilities. I have since devoted a lot of training hours to both. It is a case of one or the other, Powerlifting or bodybuilding, as I don’t feel that it is possible to take both to a high level simultaneously, the training for one contradicts the training for the other.

Q.3 What is your current training schedule like?

Training is now 100% geared towards my Powerlifting goals. My weakness for Guinness and fear of dieting pretty much dictate that I am better suited to this than Bodybuilding. I train 3, 4 or 5 days per week dependant on which phase of my training I am at. My sessions are relatively simple, with the split being based around the 3 main lifts and the assistance exercises that best compliment them. I don’t do as much conditioning work as I should which is something I am addressing this year and I am also focusing a lot of attention on my Bench Press currently as this is an area I want to improve.

Q.4 How long have you been competing and what are your main competitive achievements?

I first competed as a bodybuilder in 2003. My first powerlifting comp was 2004.
2003 BNBF Scotland Junior 1st
2003 BNBF Britain Junior 2nd
2004 BDFPA Scottish Junior 90kg 1st
2004 BNBF Central Junior 2nd
2004 EFBB North East Junior 1st
2004 BNBF Britain Junior 2nd
2004 EFBB Britain Junior 6th
2005, 2006, 2007 BDFPA Scottish Junior 90kg 1st
2005 BDFPA Britain Junior 90kg 1st
2006 BDFPA Britain Junior 90kg 2nd
2006 WDFPF European Junior 90kg 2nd
2006 WDFPF Worlds Junior 90kg 2nd
2007 BDFPA Britain Junior 90kg 1st
2007 WDFPF European Junior 90kg 1st
2008 BDFPA Britain Open 100kg 2nd
2010 Scottish Nationals 100kg and Overall Best Lifter
2010 WDFPF World Championships 100kg 1st

Current WDFPF 100kg Unequipped World Champion
WDFPF World Record holder in the Squat (Junior category)

Q.5 What differences if any are there in your training in the off season and prior to contest time?

There is no ‘off season’ as such in powerlifting, strength is a continual progression so even if you back off slightly after a meet to let your body recover the general training parameters still apply and the goals are the same. You do peak to an extent at competition time but if you are training right you should never really be more than a few weeks away from your biggest lifts.

Q.6 What are your current competitive goals?

I want to total over 700kg this year. I also want to nail my 250kg Squat in competition in the first half of this year as that should have been done and dusted and nearer to 260kg now. If I stay injury free both of these things are well within my capabilities. There is always room for plenty more weight on the bar.

Q.7 What motivates you to put yourself through the training every day over the years?

I love it. I can’t handle not being in the gym. Whether I’m on holiday, extremely busy in other aspects of my life or whatever I’ll always make time to train. The prospect of being a hambone with an average physique and strength is unappealing enough to me to keep me committed to my goals. It’s just become part of who I am, I think I need it to keep me balanced.

Q.8 What supplements do you use and why do you see them as being important to you?

Ironically enough, despite working for a supplement company, I am unable to utilize supplements as much as I’d like as I have stomach problems. That being said I always use Extreme Whey, the Banana tastes awesome and is ideal first thing, Kr-Evolution and BCAA’s. I also use Pro-6 when I am unable to get a solid meal and Liquid Fury when I am training with higher volume. If it weren’t for the fact that I eat like I do and supplement religiously then there is no way that I would be able to recover from my training sessions as quickly as I do. It is also unlikely that I would be able to continually progress in my training without getting injured or burnt out. Supplements are invaluable, I really don’t think you can train to any level without them and I am not just saying that because I sell them!

Q.9 What else do you do when not training? What would you do to relax?

I am one of these people that can’t sit still so am always on the go doing something. I am a big music fan, love a good film, eating, drinking and enjoy being outside in the hills when I can to them; since moving to the south of England though they seem to be somewhat lacking.