Author Archives: Matt Elson

Last week was a fantastic ride of emotions, not least the incredible amount of support and well wishes on my bodybuilding journey. It’s been a fantastic, humbling and in so many many ways, a positive chapter. I was surprised, humbled and above all thankful for such a reaction to my segments about the steps I’mContinue reading “The Continued Journey AND a Thank You…”

I took the decision a while back that to reach my potential on both sides of my body I needed to try and drop my self consciousness about the reality that I build muscle much faster on my right then on my left due to hemiplegia and the sheer difference in muscle fibres. It hasContinue reading “The lop-sided man in my mirror….”

What we do with it is down to us… As I look to explain and describe living with hemiplegia – one essence that always dominates how I get around things is the deep understanding of what each side of my body can do. Physically, the biggest difference is the size and movement – in particularContinue reading “We are all dealt a different hand…”

So here is the 2017 plan, put into action as from this week… You could say I’m in prep already, however, 7 months away from a potential disability bodybuilding show it’s more a structure in which to achieve my ultimate goal. By my own admission I had been a tad woolly when stating a timeContinue reading “The Game Plan to the Stage”

I hated that part of the song 20 years ago! 🙂 But I did it, I didn’t care, it was part of the song, that arm was being used…Same goes at the gym, my left arm is part of my body, it’s gonna grow, one way or another!! Recently, as I sat for a fewContinue reading “You put your left arm in….”

The reality is this – I haven’t got on stage and competed…yet. BUT…. As I continue to face different challenges about the possibilities ahead, the mind is always there to make or break a session, a week or even a vision. Are you good enough? can you actually do this? My mind is the sameContinue reading “Disability Bodybuilding: Preparing for Reality – The Mindset Shift”

Last weekend I embarked a road trip, it would take in a drive North, to the South and back home to Bristol again – for 4/5 key hours. I’d be invited to attend a “Reaching out to Inspire” Seminar at Steve Johnson’s Tops Gym in Wakefield, a wonderful fitness & rehabilitation centre. Now yes itContinue reading “500 Miles, 1 Million priceless reasons to feel inspired by Hero’s…”

So next Sunday I’ll embark on a little stroll around Southampton with a bucket in hand, dressed as a moose. Sounds bizarre at first, but as you may have spotted on my social media, I’ll be running for a great charity, Hemi Help. I thought I would use this piece to explain the background &Continue reading “The Great Moose Bake Off Charity Run”

How do you see challenges when they arise? When faced with a monster task, is the first thought ‘No Way’ or How? It dawned on me reflecting back when I first got a gym membership – when I did the notorious intro tour (here’s the cardio area, machines, free weights etc) I took the viewContinue reading “Limitation or Adapt?”