Feature Friday: David's Best Physique Ever at 50 Years Old

This week we’re shining the spotlight on David Samuel, an inspiring athlete, coach, and seasoned bodybuilder who has demonstrated exceptional resilience and commitment throughout his fitness journey.

Early Beginnings

David began bodybuilding in his late teens, but life's twists and turns took him away from stage several times. By age 50, David was focused on coaching and thought his competitive days were over, when two of his competitors urged him to compete again. After some encouragement, he began his most recent competition prep. 

Partnering with Morphogen Nutrition was a natural choice for David. He trusted his friend Ben Hartman, Morphogen's founder, and knew that each supplement would deliver on its promises. "Knowing Ben’s commitment to quality, I knew that each supplement would contain exactly what it claimed and deliver the promised results," he says. 

David needed an effective plan that fit his lifestyle. Here's how he approached it:
  • Flexible Diet: David focused on macros and calories, allowing him to enjoy occasional non-diet foods while considering their nutritional impact. As his calorie intake decreased, he naturally gravitated towards more filling foods with high micronutrient content.
  • Early Start to Prep: He began his prep at 24 weeks out, allowing plenty of time to monitor his body’s response. Starting with a slight caloric surplus supported muscle growth, avoiding the pitfalls of beginning a cut while already in a deficit.
  • Cardio Strategy: Instead of starting with intense cardio, David counted steps. Towards the end, he might use the treadmill but avoided exhausting himself with high-intensity runs or long sessions. 
  • Progressive Weight Training: Training to gain muscle, not just maintain it, improved fat loss and even helped him gain some muscle.

David’s Supplement Regimen
  • NUTRIGEN: This was his foundational health supplement, far more than just a "green drink," and it tastes so good that it felt like a treat.
  • OMEGA: Essential fatty acids (EFAs) supported cardiovascular health. Additionally, nattokinase and vitamins K2 and D3 further supported heart health.
  • ALPHAGEN: This supplement was key for enduring hard workouts after long days.
  • SYNTHEGEN: It supported recovery from high-intensity sessions and minimized soreness.
  • CREATINE: This product improved gym performance and offered cognitive benefits.
  • LEAN: Added halfway into prep, it helped boost fat loss and energy as fatigue set in.
  • PROTEGEN: This high-quality, great-tasting protein made dieting easier.

David’s Go-To Low-Calorie Treat
  • 170 grams fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 1 scoop of any PROTEGEN flavor (he used DIRT PUDDING with one crumbled Oreo on top)
  • ½ pack of sugar-free cheesecake pudding
  • 1 tsp vanilla
"Just stir and enjoy—easy and delicious."

Training Routine

Before prep, David alternated between DC training and Dorian Yates HIT, training 3-4 times a week. During prep, he increased volume and used a double progressive system, training 4-5 times a week with varying splits. Towards the end of prep, he was training 3 days on, 1 day off.

Example of a Quad-Focused Leg Day:

- Seated Leg Curls: 4x8-12 (3 warm-up sets)
- Pendulum Squat: 3x8-12 (3 warm-up sets)
- Leg Press: 3x8-12 (2 warm-up sets)
- Leg Extensions: 3x10-15
- Abduction Machine: 2x10-15
- Adduction Machine: 2x10-15
- Leg Press Calf Machine: 4x10-15

Cardio Routine

David focused on tracking steps for his cardio. Towards the end of prep, his steps reached 25,000 daily. He walked and worked on his property, making it easy to hit his goal while keeping busy. Three weeks before the show, he reduced his steps to 10,000 and stopped counting 10 days prior. His fat loss continued, and his physique actually improved.

The Result

David placed 2nd in the Open Welterweight class and 4th in the Masters. Even more importantly, he achieved his best look ever. Competing against people half his age and in a large Masters class with no weight classes, his performance was commendable. With the competitive bug back, David is planning at least two shows next year, relying solely on Morphogen Nutrition to help him achieve another personal best, hopefully with a first-place trophy and maybe even a pro card.
 
In addition to competing, David is the founder of a coaching business, Team Doberman Bodybuilding.
 
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Stay tuned for more customer spotlights and success stories.
 
Have a story to share? Reach out to us! Whether you’re a new IFBB pro, set some new strength records, or got in the shape of your life for a wedding or anniversary, we want to celebrate you. 🎉
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