[Ben]

Your mindset is that you are ‘Deeply motivated, driven and passionate about the routine’ and you want to see how much you enjoy the process. So go for it, give it everything you have, step on stage and then make a decision as to whether you want to continue competitively or just bodybuild as a hobby/way of life. Don’t overthink this.

Absolutely.

Ive not been thinking about whatll be the end product both mentally and emotionally in a repetitive way. Just day by day actions! Yeah ill do my absolute best not to overthink the bigger picture.

[/quote]
Don’t mistake my comment for “you must win at all costs”

I simply responded to what you asked. Should you try and enjoy it? Absolutely! You’re already a realist. Do you HAVE to enjoy it? No. If you go through this and find it isn’t your thing, no biggie. You’d never know if you didn’t try it.

Like you say, it didn’t shake you off, and that’s the place I’m coming from above.[/quote]

100% man, I think it may be the awareness of all avenues to this game. If im loving it at the present, then may aswell give it my best shot!

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Your mindset is that you are ‘Deeply motivated, driven and passionate about the routine’ and you want to see how much you enjoy the process. So go for it, give it everything you have, step on stage and then make a decision as to whether you want to continue competitively or just bodybuild as a hobby/way of life. Don’t overthink this.

Absolutely.

Ive not been thinking about whatll be the end product both mentally and emotionally in a repetitive way. Just day by day actions! Yeah ill do my absolute best not to overthink the bigger picture.

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Hiya Ben, are you working with a coach for your prep? More time is better than not having enough. Ask your coach about timelines and they should be happy to explain the reasoning behind that duration. Preps can be planned out a number of different ways and so seeing a longer duration isn’t alarming imo

Yes !
We discussed and was similar to what I was speculating.
It’s not to bury ourselves into the ground and be ready without being tight on time

Agree with both of you two 👍

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

83.2kg this am.

7am-10am PT floor and attended a mate compete in a Fitness race

Fantastic Upper session yesterday and really good lower today. Todays RDL set was quite meh but is what it is. Rest of lifts was progressed and improved.

sleep was great overall, Appetite is still great, licking all bowls clean haha.

Back is in bits after yesterday haha, the small cues i added worked immense.

A good rest day needed.

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Hi Ben. Good to see you on here documenting your first prep. You’ll learn a lot from this experience, and hopefully, if you get the bug, you’ll keep progressing and improving over the years to come. Any questions, then post them in the forum, otherwise I’ll keep following along.

Thanks alot Clare! 🙂

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Morning!

83.2kg this am followed by 3 rounds of vacuums.

6-2pm shift today followed by an Upper sesh.

Well needed rest day and ready to attack. 8h sleep last night with feel of great energy at waking.

Have an online pose coach session booked on Monday which im buzzing about.

Details.

Pec Dec, 1×8-10, 2×12-15

Flat Smith Press, 1×8-10,1×10-12

T Bar , 1×8-10, 1×10-12

Lat Pulldown 1×8-10, 2×12-15

DB raises, 3x

Cable curl 3x

Tricep 3x

Hanging Leg Raises (before workout) 3×12-15

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Hey Ben ,
Here just to say hello and follow your log as you approach your first prep . Must be exciting. Also just a reminder, If you need anything you can always ask on the forums

Thanks for popping by man , will do 🙂

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Whats good.

83,1kg/183.2lb this morning. Rest day today with a great 3 days of PPL this week. Progressing well and execution in great spot. Recovering great so still aiming to always push better.

Got great feedback with this weeks check in so i am chuffed. Filling Up Nicely.

We have actually got our Official Prep date start. 26th Feb 2026.

Another week of greatness. Lets go

Hi Ben, was wondering if you have an instragram / tiktok – might aswell post there and not just on the forum if you’re not already doing that.[/quote]

Hey bro, yes I do!

I post daily on my instagram with prep, tips, my journey/routine.

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Whats good.

83,1kg/183.2lb this morning. Rest day today with a great 3 days of PPL this week. Progressing well and execution in great spot. Recovering great so still aiming to always push better.

Got great feedback with this weeks check in so i am chuffed. Filling Up Nicely.

We have actually got our Official Prep date start. 26th Feb 2026.

Another week of greatness. Lets go

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

I personally always kept the same food sources off season and prep, only the amounts varied. Did this for literally 10+ years lol.

If the foods you’re eating digest well for you and you’re seeing progress then there’s no real reason for change.

Thanks everyone !
Yes the foods all sit great with me and made a great system of it.

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Happy Monday!

82.5kg this am with fasted 3.5k steps.

Push Day today and always ready to attack. Well needed revovey day yesterday as lats and legs were in bits. Im always pushing how much more my body can tolerate with the new cues and execution I have gained. T minus 5.5 weeks till prep starts.

Push Details.

Hang Leg raises 3x

Lying cuff raise 2x

Pec fly machine 2x

Incline Press 2x

Machine flat press 2x

Dips 1x

Tricep pushdown 3x

Cross cable tricep 3x

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Thanks everyone !!

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Morning Guys!

82.3/181lb this morning.

Filling up nicely with the food push. Had a great rest day and have Upper on the cards today.

Just had my meal 1 there with fasted 4k steps.

Training Day Food.

M1. 125g Oats, 15g almond butter, 40g whey, 200g raspberries.

m2. 100G banana, 180g 5% mince, 150 dry bas. rice, 75g veg.

M3. 150g Bas. rice dry, 180g chicken breast, 75g veg, 20g raisins.

m4. 300g Potatoes, 180g 5% mince, 75g veg, 100g apple.

M5. 250g 0% greek yog, 10g whey, 70g cor, 30g dark choc 85%, 100g mixed fruit

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

82.0kg This morning
Had a well executed pull day yesterday so I’m very happy with that !

Got my check in feedback this morning and very happy to hear what he has said . All moving well !

I restocked all my supps just so I won’t run out when it’s closer to me moving country.
Slept great last few days . Had about 8.5h last night and weirdly woke up wide awake at 11.45pm which was odd but went sound asleep after

Leg day today so I’m ready to fully attack this!
Session

Hanging leg raises 2x

Ham curl lying 2x
Quad ext 2x
Hack squat 1x
Leg press 2x
Calves Standing 2x

Let’s go ! Another new day to progress
Everyday is the same but everything is happening too

insta - benmongey.pt

[Ben]

Happy Monday!

81.8kg/ 180.3lbs this morning. 3x 30s Vacuums.

Well rested rest day. Sleep was under 7hr due to last min work changes but is what it is.

Have Push Day on the cards today!

Will be at a different gym too, so be interesting how itll get on.

Ready to attack the week, lfg.

PUSH DETAILS.

1. lying cuff 2x

2. Machine Fly 2x

3. Incline Smith 2x

4. Machine flat press 2x

5. Weighted Dips 1x

6. Pushdown 3x

7. Cable cross body ext. 3x

insta - benmongey.pt