September 08 - Bioflex

Member of the Month - Bioflex

Name: Ben Crowley (though most don't realise my full name is Benedict James Crowley)
Nicknames: Bioflex, Animal, Reptile, Hansel, Chigger, Grogan, Barnes (I may as well list all of them over the years)
DOB: 13/12/1979
Birthplace: Hobart, Tasmania
Currently Lives At: Sandfly - We bought a great place on 20 acres in March this year, I love it.
Height: 176cm
Weight: 80kg (I was up to 85kg, may well be less than 80kg now haven't weighed myself in ages).
Marital Status: Engaged to marry in November
Family: Father, Mother, two brothers and two sisters - I am the second youngest.
Pets: A goat called Mini Bits, a duck Duncan, and a miserable abused cat that we rescued called Frankie. We have since got 12 chickens, all of which Julie, my fiancé has named.
Most of our animals came to us rather than us coming to them. The cat had suffered miserably with it's last owner, the duck just turned up to our new place when we arrived. The chickens were given to us also.

Occupation: Owner of Bioflex, however I also work for the Government a few days a week looking after high needs kids. I have done this job for three years, and it really has it's moments. Basically, we look after the most difficult ones, the ones that have just come from youth detention and can't be placed in foster care. Kids with the worst parents, people who probably should have been castrated IMO - the fact these kids are this mucked up is a direct result of their parents violence, abuse, drug addictions etc.
It can be extremely rewarding, yet very intense at the same time. Getting used to random acts of violence and abuse for seemingly no reason takes a little getting used to.
I am hoping to phase this out soon though as it's getting very tough doing this 48 hours (2 full days a week) while running Bioflex.

Hobbies: Lately I have had little time for hobbies. Generally though I've been doing lots of home improvements, but I really like riding my motorbike, driving cars and hanging out with friends. I also love watching boxing, reading up on fighters etc. Friends to me are the most important thing in life. Having a group I have been close to for over 10 years is great too.
I love travelling too, my favourite places being Thailand and Japan (where I lived for 12 months), early next year I am heading to Laos and Cambodia though which should be fun.

Started training: I used to be right into boxing and was an absolute fitness fanatic. Running 10km was a breeze and the closest thing to weightlifting was push ups, sit ups and chin ups. I used to be able to do 4 sets of 100 push ups at my best and 6 sets of 20 chins without too much trouble. Can't quite remember how I made the switch, it was an eventual thing that started after adapting some more heavy resistance training into the boxing routine. Things went from there and over time I was hooked.

Reason for starting training: I needed a focus after boxing training and resistance training did bring very satisfying results in terms of strength and size improvements.

Effects training has had on your life: I love routine and structure and I always appreciate those who can dedicate themselves to something. Training has obviously made me stronger which was always important to me. Training has been very tough lately, in fact in the last 6 months it has been far more off than on.
I (like many people) have used the excuse of being too busy, it's time I set the days and times for it and hit it once more.

Gym currently training at: Xtreme Gym and my home set up. This is an old pickers hut with some equipment I have thrown in. My best results in the past have come from home training so when I rededicate myself, I want to hit some goals again.
I don't have a squat rack at the moment, however The Blob and I will be onto it soon.

Favourite Lifters: Any Olympic lifter and of course our powerlifters. The Blob and Park Monster of course, two of the stongest guys in Australia in their respected federations.
Favourite bodybuilder: Troy Alves for being ever so cool and wearing the Bioflex T shirt. I like Toney Freeman too, very chilled and easy to talk to. Locally, Darren Smith is a monster but I am most supportive of all the guys I sponsor, Xavier and Luke in Tas who are both great ambassadors for Bioflex. They train hard, get on with everyone and make me very proud.

Your best and worst bodyparts: best bodyparts: Everything is miserable at the moment, but when in the swing, delts and back would be my best parts. Perhaps chest a weak point.

Short term goal: Get back into training regularly and really protect myself from injury (as I have had some troubles with my back, shoulder and particularly my knee in the last 12 months)
Long term goal: Get my strength back to what it was, bench 1.5X my weight, squat 2X my weight and deadlift 2.5X my weight ( I was very close to these goals). I want to maintain a good bodyweight and look decent all year round. Sub 12% constantly, preferably 10% or so.

Favourite exercise: Chin Ups/ Pull downs

Least favourite exercise: Deadlifts, well I love them but they kill my back.

Exercise everybody should do: Deadlift, Squats and Chins. Throw in bench press and you could make a very impressive physique with these alone.
Favourite way to relax: Having some beers with my mates, watching boxing or reading a book.

Favourite music to train to: Never been a listener of music while training.
Favourite music to relax to: All kinds of things, from old school funk, early Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jurassic 5, to AC/DC. I like a lot of electronic stuff too, really depends on the mood.

Favourite food: Mexican food, or a great pasta
Favourite treat food: Beer, Mint chocolate
Favourite place to eat out: Amigos, for take away probably Nando's
Favourite tv shows: Gladiators was awesome, I enjoy a lot of stuff on ABC and SBS these days though.
Favourite movies: Blues Brothers, Saulte of the Juggers, any comedy with Ben Stiller or Owen Wilson, Dodgeball and Zoolander are classics.
Favourite actor and actress: See above. I reckon Lorenzo Lamas is pretty cool, for some reason he never made the big time....

What other sport would you liked to have pursued? Boxing, car racing all the macho sports are generally my favourites.

Nutritional supplements you use: Bioflex, I suppose one of the best things about manufacturing is that I never run out myself!

How you stay focused and motivated? This is a real weak point at the moment. Given my schedule and series of injuries my motivation is low. Generally, charting my improvement, and seeing my lifts go up really motivated me!

Do you train with any partners? I used to train with The Blob occasionally many years ago, however I have traditionally been someone who prefers training alone.

Hints or tips you'd like to pass on? Be consistent! This doesn't mean train every day, pick what you can manage whether it is 2 or 5 days a week and stick to it. So many people have spurts of motivation and the fizzle out as they set their goals too high initially. I gained 6 kg's a year from 4 years training (with the large majority being lean mass) going from 59kg to 84kg, sticking to a very regular training pattern.
Of course a focus on progressive overload is essential too, don't do the same 3 sets of 8 on the same weight for months on end as many do.

Advice you'd offer to anyone beginning bodybuilding? Just be consistent with what you do. Don't give up and don't get slack. Read as many books as possible and set goals, both short and long term. Also, although change is good - don't think about giving up a particular training method unless you have done it for 8 weeks minimum. Of course if something is clearly not working then it can be dumped sooner. Too many people never get anywhere as they throw in the towel early.

Who has helped you in your lifting journey? The Blob is a big one here, seeing someone lift consistently, always shoot for targets and almost always make them is great motivation. His application of research and proven methods and his own success should be evidence enough for anyone wanting to implement successful strength based training.

How do you think the ordinary man on the street views bodybuilding?
Hmmm, it really depends. I think we all lose touch with how freaky most bodybuilders are to the average person. When serious bodybuilders think average size they think of a 90kg competitor, when the average person thinks "big" the think Brad Pitt in fightclub (about 65kg's at best) - yes the disparity is that huge!

People don't like the obsessive lifestyle and the focus on aesthetics, especially women who perceive the men who do this as extremely vain. That's why I have a huge amount of respect for those who can manage all of life's challenges, with bodybuilding. Mitchell Ng (who is perhaps one of the best amateurs in Australia and someone I sponsor) is a great example. A well rounded guy, with wife and kids a professional job, yet an absolute monster when he ripps off his shirt.
To him bodybuilding isn't his life, but a very important part and due to this balance I think he will be extremely successful. All the guys I support do this very well too, stand up guys.

Typical Training Split: (It's been a while but my last one was)

Day one: Back and Bi's
Day two: Chest and Tri's
Break
Day three: Shoulders and Legs
Break

Continue

Training Strategy: My best training results have come when I had no spotter and I just hit my groove so to speak. Progressing from week to week just a little bit at a time.
Over time the emphasis of my training changed from muscle groups to "lifts" although not a powerlifter, strength is definitely a large focus of my training.

Disappointments: Injuring my shoulder on my motorbike badly then after getting back into things rupturing my ACL. After years of being injury free my body had started to fail. I am convinced it will just be more strict technique and consistent training that will get me back on track though.
Please note, none of these injuries were done in the gym - rather acting like a banana out of it!

What you like most about bodybuilding: I love watching everything come together on that one moment. All that hard work and discipline finally paying off. I can't wait to see all the guys this year in the state show and the Nationals.

Best Lifts
All Raw lifts (I can't even remember if these are correct they were a while ago)

Bench 115kg
Squat 160kg
Deadlift 195kg

Would you ever go on stage?: Probably not, however - I have said from the start that as the owner of a sports nutritional supplement company I should be a great ambassador myself. So, while I may not get on stage it shouldn't be out of the question. Whether it be flashing the 6 pack or jumping on the bench - posting a respectable display is essential!

Cheers
Bioflex

A special thanks to everyone that has supported the company during it's phases. The attitude of trying something different, giving something new a go and appreciating something that is local from all of you is what has made Bioflex what it is so far.
My promise is that I will endeavour to support people as much as I can, hopefully increasing the benefits for all the loyal guys as the company progresses.
This year the goal is 20 stores and gyms by the end of the year, by next year it will likely be 50+.

I will truly be happy when I can start employing people and sponsoring people to a higher level. Not just in bodybuilding but MMA, Powerlifting and general sports too.

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