Biography

I have always been an observer, a thinker and a dreamer.
Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Wayne Wilson and I was born on the 21st November 1962 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I and am very happily married to my beautiful wife Janine and have two sons Ben and James.

As a child, I played most sports a normal Aussie kid does, football, cricket, and later on golf. I can remember that I could not wait to get home from school just to get to the park – truly a great and innocent time of life as it should be. Whilst I was reasonably good at all of these sports and with a some what natural talent, I had a desire to excel at something even back then.

I recall really enjoying primary school up to Grade 6, where I was about 11 or 12 years of age. High school did not leave the same impression on me, and to say I dreaded it would be an understatement. I now realize that even back then I was a little different. I guess in my case I had the odd bit of sand kicked in my face, nothing out of the ordinary. I just think that as a child it affects some more than others.

Even back then I was asking many questions of the different ways of the children around me, and of course at that age, I did not have the answers. What I have come to learn is the compassion I showed towards my adversaries was there from an early age.

In regards to study, I felt many subjects to be totally irrelevant, and found it nearly impossible to learn a subject I had no genuine passion for. This has remained with me all my life to some extent, and the irony is, that if I am passionate about a subject then the sky really is the limit. I will research and learn everything I can about the field. The qualifications and advanced knowledge I have gained in regards to diet, training, biochemistry and physiology attest to this.

As the teen years passed it was my goal to get out of school as soon as I could, so I attained an apprenticeship and at just, sixteen I was out of there. Teen life was eventful to say the least, and as one of my friends would describe me, I was definitely a rebel without a cause. Those years were in one aspect a total party, but in retrospect a very difficult time as they can be for many teenagers.

Well there I was twenty one enjoying too much of the good life, and not in shape at all. I had always admired those with great builds – the Rocky type of body, but was more intimidated by them than most. I couldn’t even get enough courage to join a gym, but in 1983 I joined my first gym.

When starting out in bodybuilding, I guess as many do, I thought a coat of muscle would hide my insecurities. To say I had pretty poor genetics for the sport/art of bodybuilding would be an understatement, but determination and drive, along with persistence which I had more than enough of.

After a few years I started training at the famous Findlays Gym in Melbourne, the home of bodybuilding in Victoria at the time. Not only was I committed to my training, but the passion to learn everything I could about developing the physique had begun. In earnest every magazine or book I could find, many of which I had to send away to the USA for, I read from cover to cover, and remember this was before the home computer!

1987 competitive career begins

In 1987 I decided to give a competition a go, and picked out what was a regional show – Mr Ballarat which is a country town in Victoria. As it turned out that year, there was a line up of 15 in the open!! I was very athletic looking, in great shape and symmetry, size wise I was just not as big as some guys. At the time this was something I was quite annoyed about, but as my career progressed, the shape and symmetry I possessed would be one of my greatest assets. Weighing around 76kg I placed around 8th and the bug had bitten. I loved the whole experience, but I must say that the first diet nearly killed me, as it was really quite a change from my average eating routine. This was the start of a great love of competing, although in hind sight, maybe not for all the right reasons.

I was very active competitively up until about 1992 and through dogged persistence began placing better in shows. The late eighties and early nineties was a very competitive era in Australian bodybuilding. As you may have guessed, I am not one of these guys who won every competition they entered. I had to train very hard and struggle for the slightest of improvements – one must learn every trick in the book when this is the case and I have always said genetics is as much between the ears (your mind) as anything.

My bodybuilding had become a way to block out other issues in my life that I had no idea how to deal with. Eventually these problems caught up with me. As the breakdown of my first marriage unfolded, I knew it was time to get some help. It was also the start of a very long journey to educate myself physiologically, and from that point I have made an effort to spend equal time developing peace of mind and body.

1993 Illness

Being a competitor had taught me many things including discipline, dedication, commitment and perseverance, all of which I have had to call on in everyday life to overcome extreme adversity. In 1993 I was diagnosed with a (brain) pituitary tumor, the diagnosis of which took six months. For that period of time I didn’t know what the future held or in fact if I would have one. Fortunately it was found early enough and treatment was successful, however it is something I still have to take medication for and monitor to this day. If it were not for how in tuned I was with my body through my experiences in bodybuilding, I am certain this would have ended another way. Initially it was suggested that my complaints were paranoid but I knew after numerous blackouts and other symptoms that there was something quite wrong.

After my medical situation was under control and my personal issues behind me I was in a much better state of mind. I decided it was time to compete again, this time in the INBA a natural federation which later which I later became heavily involved in, as a competitor and an international accredited judge.

1997 Injury and accident

In 1997 life took another unexpected turn. I suffered a major work accident and was paralysed down the entire right side of my body. Once again things were looking grim and there was a 60/40 chance of surgery being successful. After having major spinal surgery C5/6 discetomy and fusion and struggling through grueling rehab with dogged persistence, I competed again a mere 18 months later. I realize now that I pushed my body way too hard at the time. Even though training was very restricted, I was ripped, but a shadow of my former self. But where there is a will there is a way.

Three years later after constant severe pain, I was convinced there were still serious problems with my neck. Finally the doctors started to agree and in 2000 I found myself back in hospital having more surgery on the same area. Once again another test was in front of me. This time I had some floating disc removed that was left from the original surgery and basically some of the spine cut away and drilled/ground away to make way for nerves to run through as some nerves deadened through extreme heat. I was told that I should not train again and give up many of the activities that made my life enjoyable, basically the doctors wanted to keep me wrapped in cotton wool. I tried not training at all for six months and my pain levels were the same as if I was training. In fact in some aspects worse, so I thought if I am going to be in constant discomfort I may as well look good!! Again I would need to apply all of the knowledge I had learn’t from bodybuilding and training, and do even more specific research, modifying many exercises and paying a lot more attention to recovery issues (see Training FAQs). I started on the road back to competing, and in 2001 placing second in the Masters Southern States. That perhaps is my greatest achievement in the sport.

It was during the time of my accident that I experienced the benefit of conventional physiology first hand and the beneficial effects of this which then has led me to conduct my own research, eventually exploring eastern spiritual physicology. I am sure this will be another endless road for me to travel as the more you look into it the more it reveals.

You never fully recover from the type of injury I have, but you learn to live with it. Although some of my experiences with accidents and adverse medical conditions may sound terrible, the person who has more experience of hardship can stand more firmly in the face of problems than the person who has never experienced suffering. From this perspective some suffering can be a good lesson for life.

2001 and the WFF

As 2001 rolled around I had pretty much decided I had achieved all my goals in bodybuilding. I was always going to suffer at the hands of the really big/genetically gifted guys. They were just not rewarding my type of physique as I feel it should be. Guys were winning that had poor symmetry and shape, and were just massive and cut. That’s just not what this sport/art is about to me, so I am thinking I might do a show once in a while but pretty much retire.

I then found myself sitting in the audience at a the Southern Hemisphere Bodybuilding show in 2001 and a new division was launched called the Athletic Physique section, which is exactly what most would describe my build as. So I thought that’s me! and I went home and spoke to my wife and decided to enter the next show – the athletic division of the NABBA WFF Mr Australia. Once again it turned out there was twelve in an open line up (yeah I know how to pick them). At the end of the day I placed second and my career as a competitor was set to go to new heights in this organisation the World Fitness Federation (WFF), where the very things I possessed as a competitor namely shape and condition were rewarded.

Since those early days of the WFF there have been many highlights. I have won many national level shows particularly after the Masters Division was introduced, a 3rd place and two runner up positions at the WFF Universe in Germany which is the WFFs showcase event.

I have also finally found myself at a point where the experience of getting ready for a show and just participating in it, is way more enjoyable and rewarding than any placing I may receive, particularly as I carry numerous limitations from my accident. All the great people I have met and the far away places I have seen are reward enough alone. Don’t get me wrong, it would be great to win a Universe title but it’s not the reason I compete anymore. In fact in recent years I have placed very well, and a number of people have commented on how I accepted my placing as they thought I should have won, and that I accepted the placing with little to no fuss. I once placed such importance and much of my self worth on where I placed in a show, or what trophy I got, it is great to finally have arrived and through experience I can now help others and hopefully pass some of this insight and knowledge on.

The Road Ahead

What started out as a genuine desire and wish to help some of my fellow competitors to excel themselves, has now resulted in quite a strong interest in some of the expertise I have in the fields of diet and training. There is now a need more than ever for sound education in this area. This also led to my current sponsorship with Next Generation Supplements. From the time I entered the bodybuilding/fitness arena over 20 years ago, I have pursued with passion the knowledge to excel in this field which is something I continue today.

Acknowledgements

People come in and out of our life at different times for different reasons, and I am fortunate to have many who are long time friends and have been of great support. Janine my wife who has always been extremely supportive and understanding – truly my soul mate, Ben and James, Stephen Mumford, Norman Howe (former Mr Australia) who has been a support from the start. Graeme Lancefield, World Vice President NABBA /WFF who has been a fantastic support since I decided to focus my career with the WFF. Eddy and Diana Tannourji owners and friends www.nextgenerationsupplements.com. All the fantastic people I have met in the industry over the last 20 years have a special place in Wayne’s world.