FRIDAY, JULY 13: Store owner Terry Smith is living proof that it’s never too late to regain the strong and toned physique of your youth.
Having lost more than 60 pounds to win this year’s 100-Day Challenge, he’s taken his fitness regime to a whole new level.
Mr Smith, of Clara Bows Boutique on Court Street, will be competing against veteran bodybuilders on August 18 and hopes to do his best in the competition.
And he’ll be rolling back the years — he competed 12 years ago and won his category.
He is training at Mangoes Gym in Sandy’s with Lamone Woods of Bermuda Sports Network.
Asked why he’s decided to compete, Mr Smith, 49, said: “Well, because I said I would do it. I always wanted to do it again before I turned 50.
“It was part of the reason I did the 100 day challenge. It would give me a little head start, preparing me for the competition.”
As far as the training goes, Mr Smith said: “It’s hard — it’s so different from the 100 day challenge. I’m training with Lamone Woods and he is no joke!”
“In the two-and-a-half weeks of really intense training, you can definitely see the difference. I’m not going to be as big as the other guys, but I will be on point.”
Mr Smith took us through his workout and eating schedule.
“I start at 6am at Mangoes Gym. I start with a banana and when I finish the workout, I have a protein drink within 30 minutes. At 8am, I have my first meal — six boiled eggs with no yolk and turkey breast. The next meal is at 11am and that’s just turkey breast.”
Mr Smith said he eats again at 1pm and it’s usually protein and vegetables followed by another protein and vegetable meal at 4pm.
“Jamaican Grill is sponsoring me so they’re grilling my fish while I’m at work. Then I have two more meals at 6pm and 8pm — broiled fish or a protein shake.”
Mr Smith is currently doing one workout a day, but it could be increased when Mr Woods decides to step it up.
“It’s intense from the time we start until we leave”, Mr Smith says, adding that the workouts change daily. Some days he focuses on legs and other times it’s chest or arms.
“Chest I really have to work on — my chest and my torso.”
But Mr Smith has learned no matter how hard he works out, he has to eat well.
“Lamone keeps saying it all comes down to diet”, he said with a laugh.
Mr Smith called the bodybuilding competition “a challenge” and said he is pleased with his progress.
As for his goal, he said: “I think we all go through trying to lose weight. This time, I hope to keep it off.
“Last time I felt really good until the weigh in.
“Everyone says you look good and you’re standing around with these guys who have been doing it for years and you don’t compare to them. “
Mr Smith said the last time he competed, he felt so bad after the weigh in, he contemplated not turning up for the show.
But Major Smith, an organiser in the competition back then whom he knew from his days in the Bermuda Regiment, convinced him to attend.
“He said ‘Smith, you ain’t got nothing to worry about, you’ve done well so come back and do your thing and have fun with it’. He made me feel comfortable.”
As far as maintaining his fitness, Mr Smith said: “People always say ‘don’t put the weight back on’ but sometimes you find yourself in a situation where your focus is directed to something else.
“Next thing you know, you can’t go to the gym or maybe you can’t afford it. It offers some challenges but it comes with rewards.”
• The Night of Champions will take place on August 18.