put himself through a military style regime of strict dieting and three hours of daily weight training to sculpt the perfect physique.

Dumbarton taxi driver becomes Scotland’s top bodybuilder



A DUMBARTON taxi driver has been crowned the country’s top bodybuilder.

Stuart Bateson lifted the Mr Scotland title in Glenrothes last Sunday after four months of “hell”.

The 40-year-old former army corporal put himself through a military style regime of strict dieting and three hours of daily weight training to sculpt the perfect physique.

After being named the best in body-building, the dad-of-two revealed he enjoyed a special celebration.

“I treated myself to a chicken korma,” he laughed.

Stuart had mainly been eating SIX packs of turkey per day for 16 weeks in the lead up to the competition.

He also meticulously planned his meals, weighed all food, and counted every single calorie.

Stuart trained at Dumbarton’s Marinecraft Gym, which is renowned for producing some of the country’s top strongmen.

He said: “It was 16 weeks of solid dieting and training for the competition.

“I cooked all my meals the night before and took them everywhere I went because I had to eat every three hours.

“It wasn’t much fun. Especially when the wife and kids are munching a McDonald’s and I’m sitting there eating rice and turkey – with no sauce.

“I was basically living on turkey. I needed to take in 400 grams of protein per day so I would have six packets of turkey to give me 360 – and then top it up with a protein shake.

“I would also have oats in the morning and rice cakes but weighed everything up so I knew exactly how many calories and grams of protein and carbs I was taking in every day.

“You can get a wee bit grumpy living like that and my wife put up with a lot but she supported me all the way.

“It is pretty hard going but I think that the discipline I learned in the army helped me stick with it.”

Since leaving the army two years ago, Stuart missed the regimented way of life in the forces and his next mission was to become a champion hulk.

He was also named Scotland’s top muscleman last year in the UK Bodybuilding Federation’s (BBF) contest.

Stuart’s wife Paula and kids, Mia, 14, and Alex, 7, watched in amazement as he developed his incredible physique for last week’s contest and are backing him for success in his next competition.

Stuart said: “I allowed myself two days’ break but now I’m back on the diet and training again for the British NABBA event in Southport on June 2.”

http://www.lennoxherald.co.uk/

If only all the other cabbies were like him instead of being heart attacks waiting to happen munching on kebabs