As the adage goes “behind every successful man, there is a strong woman,” stands tall and true. Read ahead…

‘Mr Universe Natural Bodybuilding Competition’ winner, Willbur Glenn Colaco talks about his interest in bodybuilding, the preparation and more:

 Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a former Environmental Scientist, with undergraduate qualifications in environmental science and law, and post-graduate qualifications in environmental management and environmental health practice.

I currently work for Local Government Council as an Environmental Officer & pursue my passion of Fitness Modeling part-time after work. I am also a co-author & international speaker on topics related to spirit, mind & body.

How did you get interested in Bodybuilding and Fitness?

Since childhood, I have always been an ardent fan of Lord Shiva’s Physique & always wanted to look like him with a 6 pack physique and muscular arms etc and it was only in early 2016, that I decided to take my fitness passion to a whole new level & challenge myself by competing in South Australia’s prestigious Natural Bodybuilding & Physique Championships, where I participated & won in not 1 but 3 State Bodybuilding Competitions (INBA, WFF & ANB) consecutively.

For me, ‘Natural Bodybuilding’ is more of a spiritual expression that allows me to sculpt my body, mind and spirit in gratitude to God. I know it sounds a bit weird but that’s true. I enjoy the grind, the process, the karma, and the action of training and disciplining the mind more than the results or trophies I have won.

So, what was the preparation like for the State & Mr. Universe Competition in 2018?

To give you a brief insight into number of hours and effort it takes in preparing for a competition, lets see the following:

I invested:

  1. 54 Hours (1 hour everyday for 22 week’s) of Precise Posing Practice & coaching lessons to learn how to pose correctly on stage.
  1. 264 Hours (1.5 Hours each day for 22 week’s) of Kitchen Time including meal preparation, cooking & packing in containers etc; (Excluding grocery shopping every week).

There is a saying ‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’.  Planning and preparing your meals for each day / week is the single most important factor of bodybuilding.

  1. 462 Hours (3 hours everyday for 22 weeks) of Sweat and Tears of Training (weights & cardio);
  1. 924 STRICT Meals with exact Macro’s

6 meals each day = 42 meals per week.

Do that for 22 weeks in a row & you get 924 meals.

All of those meals have to be weighed on a scale to know the exact amount of Macros (protein, carbohydrates and fats) your body is consuming. There is no If’s or But’s about it. Hence there is a saying “Abs are made in the Kitchen, not in the Gym. It is a diet that separates the Men from the Boys & the Shredded from the Toned

  1. Over $5500 spend, inclusive of various fees in coaching, federation membership, training, photography, tanning, travel for nationals etc (does not include supplements & food yet). YES!!!…Bodybuilding is an EXPENSIVE hobby & sport.
  1. And last but not the least, Almost ZERO Socializing & Constant sacrifices & struggle of food temptations.

One is literally living like a hermit inside a cave, working on one’s body. It is not what you do inside the gym, but what you do outside the gym, that makes your Body. Consistency, dedicated discipline & self-motivation is the key to playing this sport of Natural bodybuilding.

The Marines have a saying “Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but Nobody wants to Die’.

Similarly everybody was a good body or to win a show but nobody wants to go through the baptism of blood, sweat and tears.

My Coach says “Bodybuilding is indeed an Art & Disciplining practice for the Mind that is displayed in your Body”

PLEASE NOTE!!

And after all of the above hard work and sacrifices for 5-6 months, you get only 3-5 minutes on stage getting compared to other ripped and chiseled bodies that have worked as hard or even harder than you. There is no guarantee of winning or placing in the top 5 inspite of all that hard work.

How is INBA/ICN different to other Bodybuilding Federations or competitions?

INBA (International Natural Bodybuilding Association) & ICN (I Compete Naturally) are federations that promote Natural Fitness & Bodybuilding unlike other world bodybuilding competitions.

In other, bodybuilding competitions, Athletes take ‘Performance Enhancing Substances’ popularly known as steroids or various drugs, unnatural Fat burners etc that aid their performances in the gym & recovering ability outside the gym. This provides a very unfair advantage over a Natural Athlete.

(Please note, that steroids don’t give you muscles without putting in the hard work. If you sit on your butt all day eating donuts, you will eventually get fat. One still has to train hard 7 days a week in the gym, strictly diet 24*7 outside the gym and do all the basics requirements first.)

To understand the difference between a Natural and Enhanced Athlete, imagine running 1km distance barefoot naturally versus someone who racing against you on a bicycle or car.

The enhanced athlete may achieve a sculpted body much quicker and bigger than a Natural Athlete, but in the long run, the use of such substances has drastic side effects on one’s physical and mental health. In today’s quick fix world, everyone seems to want short cuts especially in the show biz industry of Hollywood, Bollywood and Hip-Hop etc. End of the day it is a choice with bearing consequences.

People need to know that those actors and actresses have a team of doctors, nutritionist, trainers, and cooks etc that look after them like a baby. Everything is served and monitored 24*7.  They get paid huge $$ to look a certain way. And hence can afford the ‘Short-Cuts’ and minimise the side effects of drug use.

In the real world, where you have a regular job & family life, this is not possible and advisable. People should not be influenced by social media and movies, and must firmly remember that Natural Bodybuilding is a slow & steady journey that takes patience & perseverance. Your body is not built over-night.

I have written in my upcoming book “People are rewarded in Public, what they practice for years in private. It takes the hammer of persistence to drive the nail of success

So what was the scene & result @ the Mr. Universe 2018 Competition?

At the INBA Natural Universe 2018 competition, we had Athletes from all over Australia, America, China, Singapore, New Zealand, England, UAE, Korea etc. (More than 30 countries participated).

The Venue was a spectacular colosseum with over 200 people attending the show worldwide. Sharing the stage with other 22 athletes worldwide in the ‘Open Men’s Fitness’ division was very nerve racking and intimidating to say the least.

While I was on stage, seeing the crowds screaming, cheering etc, I closed my eyes for a while, reminding myself of what an honour it was that I am representing Australia.

The 9 judges kept interchanging athlete’s positions on stage for comparisons and made us pose for a very long time.

From 22 athletes, 10 were selected to stay back on stage.

From 10, 5 were selected to stay back on stage.

And from 5, the final 3 were called out to come forward on the winning podium.

AND THIS HAPPENED!!! –

I was called out Placing 3rd @ the INBA NATURAL UNIVERSE TITLES for the “Men’s Fitness Open” division beating various top qualified athletes from other Countries.

~~ There are absolutely no words to express the feeling when my name was called upon representing ‘AUSTRALIA’!!

~~~ My partner & myself, both came to this amazing country with only 2 bags of clothes to pursue our Post graduation studies.

~~~~ From being immigrants to proud citizens and then finally representing the Country that gave us all what we have today.

We humbled in proudly saying: “Thank You All. Thank You Australia!!!

 What role did your partner Dr Mahima Singh play in this Mr. Universe Competition Win?

Dr Mahima was my backbone in this Mr. Universe journey. She prepared all of my 924 meals. This would include cooking over 50 kgs of basa fillet, chicken and vegetables.

She would pray together with me at each evening meals, thanking God and motivating me to push harder each day.

She waited for me late nights (sometimes 2-3 a.m.) after training, making sure I have had my meals, slept properly, was not stressed out. Dr Mahima would keep the home environment always peaceful and serene with flowers and small surprises, gifts etc. When I use to complain about my hurting feet and body after a tough week of hardcore training and cardio, she would book surprise massages for me to recover.

Dr Mahima sacrificed all social commitments and outing for 22 weeks as she knew that I needed to train for 2-3 hours every day as well as eat all of my 6 meals on time.  Even backstage, she was there helping me tan up, pump up before getting on stage right till the end.

It’s truly said that a ‘Trophy’ is earned in the hours that no one is watching, when it’s just you, all alone, grinding, while no one hears a sound’

I want to whole-heartedly ‘Thank You!!!’ Dr Mahima, for being there in those silent moments, patting my back and hugging me with your unconditional support throughout this journey.

The adage “A man with dreams needs a woman with vision” & “behind every successful man, there is a strong woman,” stands tall and true in our case.

The Mr. Universe Fitness Title belongs to you!!!

What is your exclusive message to our readers who want to transform their bodies or take up such a massive challenge?

The Greek Philosopher Aristotle said ‘You are what you repeatedly do, Excellence then is not an Act, but a Habit’.

Discipline and persistence in one’s regimented weight and nutrition program under the guidance of an experienced Coach is the key to body transformation.

Always remember this that  “Winning isn’t getting ahead of others, it’s getting ahead of yourself

Mahi & Me Wilbur Colaco_45_Web

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