Andy Bolton, record breaking powerlifter, keeps strong and healthy on CNP Professional protein supplements
Powerlifting doesn’t look to be the most attractive of sports. The competitors weigh around about 160kg (26 stones) and can be seen straining every sinew to lift the heaviest weight possible. Even powerlifters themselves admit that it can seem a bit ugly.
“When you look at someone lifting these heavy weights it can look a bit gruesome,” says Andy Bolton, Britain’s champion powerlifter, and a man who knows all about lifting heavy weights. His achievements are impressive – the second biggest ever powerlifting total, of 1,273kg, and the biggest ever deadlift, of 457kg.
“Nose bleeds are common,” he says. “And the sheer effort and grim determination of the powerlifters can be frightening to a casual observer. They seem to be about to burst.”
But all is not as it seems. Powerlifters are actually extremely fit and if they take good care of themselves their bodies stand up to the punishment remarkably well.
Recently Andy Bolton had a thorough medical check up and his doctors were amazed to report that his heart function was exactly what they’d expect for a 40year old and had suffered no damage from 20 years of powerlifting. The rest of his body was in good shape as well.
“I put it down to good diet,” says Andy. “I always make sure I eat properly and have been taking CNP Professional protein supplements for years. I use just about everything in their product list – Pro MR, Pro Tect, Pro Fuel, Pro Creatine E2 and Pro Peptide to name just a few.
Andy drinks five or six Pro MR protein shakes a day. These are a convenient and tasty way of boosting his protein intake. Pro MR is made from high quality, undenatured proteins. This means they have not been subjected to the damaging heat treatment that cheaper supplements are subject to, are easy to digest and quickly absorbed into the body to build and repair muscle.
“I make them all up in the morning and put them in the fridge,” says Andy. “Then they are ready for whenever I want one and they taste great chilled. They’re so good for you as well, they’ve got loads of essential nutrients as well as the protein.”
Andy’s training regime is so intensive that he needs to be taking large amounts of protein supplements to stop his muscles breaking down under the pressure. On Mondays he does 2-3 hours of bench work and then is back in the gym on Wednesdays for more heavy work.
“There is no way my body would recover in time to do this without protein supplements,” he explains. “It not only helps my aching muscles but I don’t get tired so quickly which means I can train for longer and keep building up my lifting power.”
For general health Andy uses CNP’s Pro Omega – a blend of omega 3, 6 and 9; Pro Vital – multivitamin and mineral supplement; and he has just started Pro CLA – a lipolytic blend of CLA isomers. These are all designed to keep him fit for competitions and to boost his immune system.
Although there are no actual weight limits in the 140kg and above class, there is an optimum weight for a powerlifter, which is why Andy has to watch his calorific intake.
“If you get too big you can’t actually reach the bars,” says Andy. “That’s where the careful balancing act with nutrition comes in, lots of protein and lots of calories – but not too many calories!”
Last July he set the biggest powerlifting total ever done in England – 1220kg – and plans this year to see if he can do even better. He will do a bench and deadlift exhibition at the BodyPower Show in Birmingham in May, then in September he will attempt a world record for deadlift at the September Olympia . Finally he will be in Finland in November for the World Powerlifting Championships.
Also while at the BodyPower Show, 22 and 23 May 2010, Andy will be visiting the CNP Professional stand.
CNP Professional is one of the UK’s leading sports nutrition specialist companies. For more information visit www.cnpprofessional.co.uk, or call +44 (0) 161 368 0942 for sports nutrition advice and +44 (0) 161 368 3850 for sales.
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Notes for editors
Additional CNP supplements used by Andy Bolton
Pro Glutamine – Supplementing with Pro-Glutamine could help assist with the catabolic action of cortisol (breakdown of muscle) created by intense exercise. Also Glutamine has been shown to elevate growth hormone production. Growth hormone is a hormone the body produces that aids muscle growth and reduces bodyfat.
Pro HMB – HMB is a metabolite of the branch chain amino acid (BCAA) leucine. Pro-HMB is of the purest natural source and research has shown that HMB may assist in preventing catabolism (muscle breakdown), which can often occur when performing intense forms of exercise.
Pro Solo – Pro Solo is an ergogenic all in 1 formula with beta alanine for increased muscle size and strength.
Pro GF – Pro-GF (Growth Factor) containing Nitric Oxide enhancers is a unique product containing natural ingredients for improved performance and recovery.
CNP Professional is a leading supplier of sports nutrition supplements including protein shakes, protein bars, creatine supplements, meal replacements, mass gainers, weight loss supplements and post work out shakes, all designed for the ultimate in sports nutrition.
Kerry Kayes, the founder of CNP Professional, is a former national bodybuilding champion. He has been involved in sports nutrition for many years and his dietary expertise has established him as ‘the man in the know’ to a wide variety of sportspeople worldwide such as the Ericsson Round the World Yacht Team, boxer Ricky Hatton, darts champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, international strongman Glen Ross and Sean Long of Hull FC.
CNP Professional supplements are carefully formulated to ensure that the body is able to make best use of the nutrients. Unlike many nutritional supplements, CNP Professional’s products are easy to drink.
There are several articles explaining protein nutrition supplements on the CNP website – go to the home page and click on ‘nutrition’ under the articles section.