Zachary Belknap WNBF Pro Bodybuilder

I wish I could actually count the reps between these photos, 6 years apart. It would have to be in the millions, right? The concept of maintaining healthy habits over the course of a lifetime is not as “sexy” as the idea of taking a pill, but good behaviors have a compounding effect.
All you have to do is start, and don’t stop.

2016 versus 2022. Natural bodybuilding is all about maintaining the proper habits and having the patience to see results.

Plant based and drug free throughout the whole process. ✌🏽 ❤️ 🌱

Friendly reminder that you’ve been misled. You do not need to consume meat or dairy or eggs to build muscle. Every single gram of protein on this planet originated from plants, and I prefer to get my protein direct from the source 😎
Left: 2015 just before going vegan
Right: 2022 after 6.5 years of being vegan

What is natural bodybuilding? What defines a truly natural bodybuilder? Different federations draw the line at different spots. The INBF/WNBF has the most stringent line - it’s the same line that the WADA/USADA has drawn. No substance/method will be allowed, “if the substance or method meets any two of the following three criteria: It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance. It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete. It violates the spirit of sport.” This includes anabolic/androgenic steroids, diuretics, hormones, pro hormones, and even some supplements such as DHEA. Basically anything you couldn’t otherwise get from food (I.e. protein and creatine supplements are allowed because they are naturally occurring in one’s diet).
If competing against true naturals is your mission than make sure the federation you’re competing in doesn’t allow for any “super” supplements and that they actually drug test their athletes.
I enjoy competing against anybody because I love the game, but at the higher levels it’s nice to know that we’re on a level playing field.

☮️ ❤️ 🌱

Why Peloton’s Robin Arzón is Vegan and Thinks Balance is “Bullsh*t” Robin Arzón is the definition of a powerhouse: an ultramarathoner, VP of fitness programming at Peloton, a New York Times bestselling author—and she does it all completely powered by plants.

Off season update. Current BW is between 220-225 lbs (height 5’ 10”), strength is continuing to go up but at a slower rate now.
My body weight goal was 215 by this June so I definitely blew past that, but I was making great progress and still looking decent enough that I decided to ride the wave to 225. Then I finally decided enough was enough lol the plan now is to maintain weight and recomp as much as is possible between now and 2025. Then it’ll be a shot for worlds 😎

Soyboy AF 😎

There will be some extremely valuable information at this seminar! You will definitely want to attend

Our Annual Bodybuilding Seminar Date and Speakers are OFFICIAL!

February 26th, 2022 10am - 2pm at Genuine Fitness Personal Training

Andre Scott will be leading posing instruction.
Mark Delp will be letting you know exactly what judges want to see.

You don’t want to miss this! All federations and skill sets welcome. Venmo Aaron-Orton ($40) to register and you will have a seat. 40 Seat maximum! Please pre-register.

We will see you in four weeks 💪

Purpose drives dedication.
When facing adversity and overcoming challenge, knowing one’s purpose is the only way forward.
From the beginning of my journey with bodybuilding my purpose has been to disprove commonly held beliefs about nutrition. Bro science advocates want to claim that vegans can’t build muscle, be strong, compete in bodybuilding, etc, etc and my purpose is to prove undeniably that they are wrong. Not only can I compete, but I will best non vegans and drug users alike. And I’m not alone! There’s a wave of cruelty-free athletes joining the sport. Our current WNBF figure WORLD CHAMPION is none other than Maddie McConnel 😎

Are you familiar with Ahimsa? It’s the ancient Indian principle of non-violence which applies to all living beings.
We, as intelligent and moral beings, have the option to live healthy and happy lives without harming animals and therefore it is our moral obligation to do so.
In avoiding animal products we can protect “farm” animals and the animals that are losing their habitat due to agriculture, the environment as a whole including land, ocean, and atmosphere, humans who are subject to all forms of mistreatment and psychological distress in the slaughter industry, and we can prevent future pandemics and antibiotic resistance.
I urge you to consider adopting the principle of Ahimsa today …
☮️ ❤️ 🌱

The key to my success - rinse and repeat. Find what works, track the data, ensure progression and then repeat!
3x8 on the big lifts this week. Today was 215 on seal rows and 100 on incline bench press. Repeating the 100 lbs on bench this time because they got a bit sloppy during my last micro cycle.
Body weight is at an all time high and strength is coming up. Here we grow!

When feedback is given to athletes that says “add more muscle” that does not me “get fatter for your next show.” Adding muscle means taking an extended growth season (like, a couple years at least) while eating in a calorie surplus and being sure to lift progressively.
Then diet back down and get stage lean and the muscle will be there.
Too frequently I have heard fellow competitors talk about coming in “fuller” or “bigger” for their next show of the season while at the same time already not being lean enough.
Adding muscle is long-term feedback to apply to the next contest season - it is not an excuse to stop dieting in the present season.

Make sure to register for thE INBF Cecil Phillips' Classic this week or face late registration fees!

Attention!!!
This is our LAST WEEK before Registration costs increase to Late Registration Fees. If you have been waiting to sign up for our show we heavily recommend that it gets completed this week!

All information can be found at CecilPhillipsClassic.com

Sign up today and commit yourself to excellence.

Are you tracking your data?? I can not stress enough how important it has been in my journey, and will be on yours, to gather all the data I possibly can. What your scale weight and skin folds are doing, how many exercises/sets/reps are you performing each session, whether your weight/volume is increasing or decreasing, how many hours of sleep you are getting and how much water you are consuming are all important data sets to indicate whether your prep is on track or not.

The backstage photos are always my favorite ones. Natty bodybuilding has a great community 😊

Just keep chippin’ away 💪🏽

Jan 22 —> May 13
What will this look like at the end of the season in July? Stoked to find out.