Bodybuilding: Hamilton flexes to second in world

A great body doesn't happen overnight, especially when you are on the cusp of middle age.

At 40, Langley's Neal Hamilton has naturally built one of the world's best physiques - and he wants to be a role model for men and women who may feel their best years are well behind them.

"For anybody who's 40 and over, it's not too late to get in the best shape of your life," the personal trainer and bodybuilder said. "Anybody can get in good shape if they really want to do it. It takes hard work, dedication, and sticking with it, healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle."

At the FAME World Natural Bodybuilding Championships June 10-12 in muggy Toronto, Hamilton flexed to second place in both the masters (40 years and older) and advanced divisions.

"I was pleased with being second in the world," said Hamilton, who competed in the 180 lb. and under middleweight division at the World Natural Sports Organization event. "For the masters, I thought I should have won. All the other competitors told me that I should have won, but it's up to the judges."

On stage, Hamilton was part showman, part strongman.

His routine in Toronto opened with a not-so-subtle nod to a bodybuilding icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"I like this federation because you are allowed to use props on stage," Hamilton said. "This year, I did the Terminator theme, with the leather jacket and the glasses. I walked out like a robot. Then, the lights went out and I took out glow-in-the-dark Nunchucks. I did that for about 40 seconds and then it broke out into a rock and roll KISS routine. That brought down the house. The fans went crazy."

Providing inspiration in the audience were Hamilton's mom Bessie, his wife Susan, his daughter Chantelle, 16, and his son Brandon, 10.

"Without their support, this couldn't have happened," Hamilton said. "

While Hamilton strives to appear as though he's having fun on stage, his sport is extremely gruelling.

"Posing is really hard," Hamilton said. "You have to flex every muscle in your body and make it look like it look relaxed."

Placing second among a field of athletes from as far away as Australia, Egypt and England was the culmination of months of sacrifice and hard work for Hamilton, who lost 57 pounds for the event.

Over a four-month period, Hamilton went from 235 pounds to 178 pounds, and lived on strict diet of chicken, fish, brown rice, and potatoes while drinking the equivalent of several swimming pools full of water.

"It was a toughest thing I've had to do in my life," Hamilton said. "But I wanted to be world champion. It was my dream."

Hamilton said meditation helped him to stay focused and avoid cheating, as he trained six days a week, two hours a day, mixing weight lifting and cardio to sculpt his physique. When he looked in the mirror days before the world event, Hamilton knew all of his sacrifices were worth it.

"I was really happy with the way I looked," he said. "It was the best I've ever looked for a competition. I got my body fat down to four per cent."

A 23-year veteran of bodybuilding, Hamilton has learned volumes about his body, and its limits, as the years rolled past. And he isn't ready to retire from the sport he loves.

Hamilton is considering entering next year's FAME event, but only if he feels he is ready to contend for a world title.

"If I think I've improved enough, I might go next year, otherwise I'll take a year off. Then I'll be well prepared to win it," Hamilton said. "I won't stop until I'm world champion."

Motivator

Hamilton is a motivational speaker who visits high schools to warn students about the dangers of steroids.

"I want to tell the kids that you can train and get big without the use of enhancing drugs," he said.

Hamilton can be reached at 604-603-2874.