March is no exception to the ranks of our Fit Crush athletes; not only is he handsome, with a great smile and we don’t even need to mention his physique, but the passion, ambition and knowledge he has for his sport really make him the full Fit Crush package.
The FaceOfFitness team was delighted to be joined earlier this week by the amazingly talented Stevenson Belle, who throughout his short career in the fitness industry, only competing for 5 years, has really made a huge dent in the business; taking home various titles with even more to come. He took the time to sit with us after one of his gruelling training sessions to speak about how he manages to stay on top form, get ready for competitions and what his training sessions are really made of.
Q.What got you started on your fitness journey?
A. I actually got started in 2009, when I met a trainer called Ariel Johnson. He was into body building back in the 80s and 90s and was also a world aerobic champion. I had gone to the gym with the intent of strengthening my body for football, because I played for the national under 19s team at that time. He saw my potential and said I had good genetics, said he would give me a free membership if I did a competition.
Q. How do you handle keeping so fit with having a full time job?
A. I’m in the military, the military teaches you time management, you have to have it. So what I do is write down everything that I have to do, I try to prep my meals at night so when I get up n the morning I’m ready for my day.
Q. What is your diet like?
A. My diet varies, I have a fast metabolism, so off-season I can take in at least 5000 calories a day. But when I’m in a fat burning mode, I tend to prefer carb cycling, because it helps you to maintain muscle mass without losing it. So for 3 days I would have 100g of carbs and about 300 g of protein on a low carb day. And on a high carb day I would cut back protein to about 150g and take in 300g of carbs. That way you keep your body in an anabolic state- you wont go catabolic.
Q. What keeps you so motivated to continue with your fitness?
A. I love to be in good shape, really helps my confidence, if I eat crap I feel like crap. Once I eat healthy and clean, I feel great.
Q. What about supplements, do you take supplements?
A. Yes, the only supplements I use are Allmax Nutrition, but my favourite supplement of all from Allmax is the Amino Core and Isoflex. The amino core is really good for catabolism; it’s for your work out so you can take it during your workout because it keeps a steady flow of amino acids going to the muscles during the work out and the Isoflex is your protein to take after the workout.
Q. Do you have any inspirations, or anyone you look up to in the body building industry?
A. Yes, when I first started looking through the magazines, I didn’t really like the bigger guys. I like the guys like Shawn Ray and Frank Zane because I prefer aesthetics over the freaky look.
Q. How many days a week do you train?
A. I tend to work out around 4 or 5 days a week, for my body type recovery is very important. I can’t train 4 days straight it would be way too much. So I would do 2 days on and one day off, but during competition I would probably do around 3 days on and 1 day off.
Q. What does a typical training session comprise off?
A. My training actually goes through phases, I have some phases when I would do volume for about 6 weeks, then there are different phases when I would cut back and focus on intensity, its all about what phase I am in. Sometimes preparing for competition when I’m taking in fewer calories I wouldn’t do much volume I’m more interested in getting in and out. But on season I tend to do more volume because I’m taking in more calories. I’m currently in off-season but still eating pretty to clean to keep myself within striking distance.
Q. How long before comp do you start training?
A. I never stop training, but during competition time I start preparing for dieting- I could get ready for a show in 8 weeks, even 6, but so I can have a peace of mind I do 10. So I’m ready for competition 3 weeks before it starts and then just maintain. I don’t want to get to a place where competition is around the corner and I’m still not ready, its not good for the mind, because you know whatever the mind is going through it reflects on the body.
Q. What do you enjoy about fitness the most?
A. Seeing the transition in my body when I change my diet. I enjoy if I have a weak body part I enjoy the challenge of trying to bring it up- implementing new workouts, trying different techniques, different angles, seeing how I can stimulate the muscles, it’s a journey.
Q. When is your next comp?
A. Hoping to compete in June, there’s a show that I’ve never done before because I only started competing in 2010. It is Mr Saint Michael- I’m really ecstatic about doing that show because I’ve never won it before because it was never there when I started competing. And after that is Sports World Classic 16th July and then National Championships.
Q. What is your favourite body part to train?
A. I like bigger body parts, like legs and back always harder and challenging. I don’t like arms, I always find that smaller muscles always hurt more, and arms are pretty much only curl and that’s boring. I like the variation of bigger body parts.
Q. What is your proudest moment in fitness?
A. My proudest moment was when I 1st won national championships in 2011, that was the 1st time I ever did nationals and only my 2nd year competing, I was still a rookie. I didn’t even expect to win, but then Roger Boyce, my coach told me 3 weeks before the competition that I could be Mr Barbados; he said that I have everything to win. So from the time he told me that, I really gave it my all. I have won bigger shows since that, even CAC championships and divisional championships but they didn’t mean more to me than that.
Q. Do you have any advice for anyone coming into the fitness industry?
A. Yes, anyone coming into the fitness industry whether they are competing or just for a lifestyle change, the most important thing to have is consistency with your nutrition and training- consistency is the most important thing.
Now you can see why he definitely deserves the Fit Crush title, Stevenson truly shows what hard work, dedication and a love for his sport can really do, managing to effectively juggle two full time careers, and still come out on top. Mr Belle doesn’t make any excuses when it comes to his health and fitness, and it shows. His incredibly captivating personality whilst talking about his sport really inspires you to start on your own fitness journey.
With his strong physique, vast knowledge on training and the passion he has for his sport, it really makes him a force to be reckoned with. So make sure you are watching out for Mr Stevenson Belle on the international arena in the near future. The FaceOfFitness team wishes him all the success for the future on his upcoming competitions, but we know he will kill it!
