What a Difference a Year Makes!!!

John Tatman

May 16, 2011

“My journey to return to competitive bodybuilding actually started in April of 2009.  I decided to get back in shape after not competing for 11 years & allowing myself to reach an all time high of 240lbs at 5’4”.  I was introduced to Natty Nutrition at the 2009 Cincinnati Bodybuilding show when I saw the condition of the overall winner Joe Daniels and was floored.  He was shredded & full.  I learned then that he worked with Natty Nutrition.  Natty also had some other clients who likewise were in tremendous shape & placed very well.  So I figured go work with the best. 

So I met with Jason & he put together a plan just to get me back in shape & no real hopes of competing at this time.  But as lbs dropped I got more excited & by August 2009 I had dropped from 218 to about 175.  At this point I set a goal to get back on stage at the 2010 Northern KY & Cincinnati.  So we started trying to gain as much wt as possible while keeping my bodyfat under 8% & my AB pinch under 10.  By December I was up to bout 190-195, under 8% & AB pinch around 8. 

Now it was time to start my prep.  We started coming down & was doing great till I hit a road block in Feb & began holding a ton of water & to make a long story short missed the Northern & Cincy when I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure on 4/24/10 & was told I’d need a heart transplant if I lived long enough to get to the Ross Heart Hospital in Columbus.  Well I spent 12 days there, received an ablation to help slow my pulse down (that had been running over 150 beats a min for the last year or so & over 100 since I was in college in the late 80’s), with proper medication, sodium & water restriction, & minor diet adjustments my heart fully recovered by December 2010. 

I was then given the green light to compete again so I set my goal to do the 2011 Cincinnati. I was at 187lbs & 7.9% bodyfat.  Jason put me on my normal Keto diet & 30min AM cardio.  We increased cardio & cut calories about every 2 wks.  When I stepped on stage at the Cincinnati I had been doing 2hrs of cardio/day (3-45min sessions a day – AM/PWO/PM) & was cycling Protein Veggies (PV), PV, Protein Fats (PF), PV, PV, PV, PF days (cals were 1300 on PV & 1600 on PF) & doing 3-4 HIIT sessions a week.  Needless to say it wasn’t easy but Jason had me in the best shape of my life!  I won the Open Middle Wt at 158lbs & placed 3rd in the Masters Over 40 losing to 2 guys who out weighed me by 40 & 70lbs. 

We then decided to do the VPX Derby in Louisville on April 23, 2011, exactly one year to the day I went to the hospital & was told I might not live through the night & would never get to workout like I was accustomed too, needless to say ever compete again.  Well my Dr’s attribute my miraculous recovery to being in such good shape & I owe a gigantic portion of that to Jason & Steph of Natty Nutrition for setting me on a path 2 years earlier that would help save my life.  I can’t thank them enough! 

Well the 4 wks between the Cincy & the VPX was a totally different game plan.  Jason slowly increased my carb intake & calories & as he did I got tighter & leaner & came into that show basically the same wt but in 10x the condition & won the Open Welter Wt & place 2nd in the Masters Over 40, losing by 1pt to the Light Heavy who won the show, again giving up 40lbs, and placing 2nd in the overall.  I received great praises from fellow competitors & judges, who stated I was by far the best conditioned competitor in the show & lost only because of size.  So one year from being on my death bed to competing in & winning my second class of the year & being in the best shape I could possibly be in ( I honestly don’t think I could be better without taking time off & gaining some size) was an amazing accomplishment. 

I give huge props to Jason, Steph & Natty Nutrition!!!!!  They’re the best!  I also give thanks to all my friends & family who have kept me in there prayers over the last year.  Most of all to Sarah, my partner in every aspect of life & an amazing woman who has been there with me in the hospital & everyday along the road of recovery & my return to the stage, without her I wouldn’t be here today.  We FINALLY made in it on stage together!!!!!  Can’t wait to do it again next year, just on a much bigger stage!  So proud of you!

Now it’s time to get to work on gaining some lean mass & stepping on stage a bigger better Welter next year at possibly the Jr USA &/or Jr Nationals, but definitely the Masters Nationals & I’ll be doing it at the guidance of Jason Theobald & Natty Nutrition of course. 

Tomorrow isn’t promised, so make the most of today!!!!!  No Regrets!!”

John Tatman

Comments

Dan said on November 20, 2012 - 11:22am:

awesome story and congrats

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