Health overhaul reaps rewards and awards

Read about James in the Pine Rivers Press newspaper.

What started out as a casual weight loss experiment for Kallangur’s James Powell resulted in a win at the world’s oldest bodybuilding competition.

After sustaining paraplegia in a motorbike accident in November 2009, James was keen to get back into regular gym visits and a healthy lifestyle.

While he now uses a wheelchair and has to approach some of his exercises a bit differently than he used to, James said he makes his six visits a week to his local gym work for him.

“If there’s a particular exercise that I want to do I simply find a way to do it,” James said.

It’s this commitment that saw him lose 25 kilograms and decrease his body fat to just 9%, which is a phenomenal result that would rival an elite athlete’s measurement.

Last year James’ then fiancée Megan (the pair have since married), decided she wanted to train and compete in natural bodybuilding competitions.

Convenience around meal preparation and eating together rather than a burning desire to become a bodybuilder started James on his new journey.

“She supported me so much during my stay in hospital (following the spinal cord injury), that I wanted to support her with this,” James said.

“It wouldn’t have been very good for me to be enjoying chocolate while she’s on a strict diet.”

Strict is an adequate assessment of the pair’s food while preparing for their first bodybuilding competition, the 2011 FIT Natural Universe Competition.

It encompassed six meals a day – five of which involved broiled chicken! Breakfast was a protein shake made with water.

James found the toughest part of the diet was ignoring his favourite food cravings (a big juicy steak), but that since his radical diet overhaul he has noticed his taste buds have changed and he is still enjoying protein shakes for breakfast.

However, the Powells will more than make up for their restrictive diet when they travel throughout Europe for two months, leaving in April.

“My coach is keen for me to do a (bodybuilding) completion over there but I want to enjoy the food and relax, so we’ll see,” James said.

Working in the engineering department of Alliance Airlines, James juggles his intense training with work, family and social commitments.

Just nine months after he started training, James won his division at the FIT Natural Universe Competition in October.

“It keeps me healthy and out of hospital,” he said.

“When I started doing it, I noticed that the diet and exercise were very beneficial.

“I used to get a lot of skin infections that put me in hospital but the exercise helped that.”

Looking ahead, James’ next goal is to complete the 7,500 kilometre APC Rally over 14 days next year on his quad bike.

Spinal Injuries Association Chief Executive Officer Bruce Milligan said James was one of many examples of members of the organisation who continued to pursue their hobbies and interests after sustaining a permanent injury.

“A spinal cord injury is of course a traumatic injury that requires a huge amount of adjustment,” Bruce said.

“However, with the right supports, services and attitude, there is no limit to what can still be achieved.”

Read more about James in the Pine Rivers Press newspaper.

Issued 7 February 2012.