Andrew Barber

I first started lifting weights at the age of 16, up at the local rugby club where I played. Two years later, I wanted to start bodybuilding as my chosen sport. It was at this time I joined Future Bodies Gym and met Ian. Not knowing much about bodybuilding or the correct way of training, Ian started me off on a basic routine to make sure I was doing everything correctly. After six weeks, this changed to a more advanced routine for bodybuilding. He also put me on the right track with my diet. One day as I was training, Ian came up to me & said I would do well in ANB competitions. This was when training with Ian really started. In February 2001, Ian started me on a whole body workout which he called 'The workout of your life' (and it was!). I have never been pushed so hard in my life but when Ian's training you, you have no choice. He lets you get away with nothing, he pushes you to the limit whilst keeping you motivated and focused. In two months, up to the day I started dieting for my first show, I had put on 4 pounds of muscle and lost body fat. I continued with this way of training up until the day of the show & Ian devised my diet & posing routine.

The day of the show came & Ian was there to give his support & get me ready backstage. The result was 2nd place in the Yorkshire ANB under 21 competition which earned me a place in the final. Once again Ian was there every step of the way, adjusting my diet to make it better & further correcting my posing. Again on the day of the British finals, Ian was there all the way and I won in the under 21 category. Without Ian's continuing help, support and encouragement, I would not have achieved my goals as a bodybuilder, THANKS A LOT IAN!
Andrew Barber

2004 Update

After competing in the under 21’s in 2001, I decided to have a year off to put some size on, my training consisted of two sessions a week, Tuesday - upper body and Friday - legs.
All exercises were done out of a power rack and performed from a dead start each time. I did this type of training up until June 2003 when I competed in the Yorkshire championships, placed second and qualified for the Britain finals.
the last ten weeks leading up to the final training changed. The first week I would do a non stop workout with bodyparts split over three days. The second week I would do a power workout, split again which consisted of basic movements ie Bench press, squats and deads. Cardio was also done every night for 15 minutes.
I put a lot of size on with this type of training, going on to place second in the Britain finals.

My thanks go to Ian for all his help and guidance throughout 2003 and his continued support.