Articles(newyorkdiary)

02:30am - What the *~&$! Oh it's the alarm clock. The day has finally arrived, the final journey of my comeback year and what better way to end it than competing at the INBF World Championships, in the big apple, New York City! To say I'm excited is an understatement.

I spring out of bed (yeah right!), ok fall out of bed muttering to myself, and make my final breakfast at home, turkey, broccoli, half pack of rice cakes and brown rice (yes I've started carbing up!). After 9 months of dieting I can still say it tastes good!

As soon as we are at the terminal we check-in, off load the luggage and make our way through to the departure lounge where I get a call from WNBF World Champ Rob Hope! He's just checking in and we arrange to meet up. Here he comes, looking big and very lean. World Champ 2005 I think!

08:10am - We board the plane, make ourselves comfortable ready for the seven and a half hour flight. Steve reads out the list of films that are on, he knows I'm a massive film buff, so I'm now in my element! If you ever want me to shut up just sit me in front of a film! Batman Begins, Cinderella Man, The Island. Stress!!! What do I watch? As many as I can I tell ya!

10:00am - Well what did I watch? Think about it. I'm a bodybuilder that's dieted the best part of the year, haven't eaten junk in a long time, hungry.......give up..... Charlie and the Chocolate Factory of course, what else! Well it started off brilliant and then....well, I kinda fell asleep! Damn, just have to watch it on dvd when I get home. Plenty more to watch, I'll just try again.

12:00 midday - I'm writing this in my diary while listening to Alanis Morisette, Jagged Little Pill Acoustic. Soon time to eat my next meal of turkey and broccoli. We are currently 38000 feet, travelling at 508 mph, it's -46 degrees outside, 4.45 hours to go and 3735 Km away from Newark airport. Handy these little screens in front of you!

It's a great flight so far, very smooth and relaxing. Think I'll have a read of my car and dvd magazines now while I'm waiting for another film to start. It's fatal reading car mags, seeing all the cars I can't afford, just have to go into my little Chownland in my head where anything is possible! Then back to reality and finding ways of making my dreams a reality! So far with what's gone on this year, my dreams coming true, I know that all my dreams will come true. Anything's possible now!

12:00 midday - Landed safely and after checking through customs we jumped on a train to another terminal to meet Vicky McCann and the BNBF gang. After our hello's we jumped in a mini bus and headed off to our apartments.

First impressions.....er....well basic would be a good word, functional is another. I have a bed microwave and grill so that's all I need. All three beds are in one room and I know two out of three of us snore and it's not me! Sorry Tim and Steve! But I wouldn't of wanted anyone else with me.

4:00pm - Felt better now so decided to have a wander. I bumped into Tim and Steve rolling down the road after there massive blow out ( a few days time and that'll be me!). Steve decided to go back for a sleep so me and Tim had a walk around Time Square, got some supplies from GNC and had a couple of double espressos in the Rockefeller Centre and a good chat about the forthcoming show and my new future as a personal trainer which I will be pursuing once back from NYC. Can't wait for that! We headed back for my next meal. It was hammering it down, but I didn't care, I was in New York! Life couldn't get any better. Walking around New York is like being on one huge film set!

8:00pm - Tim and I decided to have another walk around while leaving the sleeping machine that is Steve, in the land of nod! We had a proper look around Time Square taking in a few shops. Seen a few pairs of trainers that I want. I think my credit card is going to take a beating, spending money I don't have! Wherever you walk there are places to eat. Damn show! Only a few more days then food here I come!

8:00am - Didn't have a bad sleep considering Steve's snoring measures 9.0 on the Richter Scale! My bed wasn't the most comfortable, my back is killing me, nothing like your own bed! Had my breakfast of chicken and sweet potato and had a shower after being hit on the head with the broken shower head a few times

11:00am - Tim and I had a walk to check out the venue of the show. Doesn't look too bad. Had my food by Central Park and then had to steam down to the New York Hotel for signing in. It was good to meet up with the whole British team. Found out that there's 11 in my class which is a nice size. Hopefully I won't come eleventh!

3:00pm - We leave the hotel and wander on down to Greenwich Village, check out the Hudson River then head back into Greenwich Village. Looks like we just missed some filming, there's camera equipment and trucks galore. They had been filming down a side street that looked just like the streets you see in the gangster films! By this time I was frozen, so we decided to have a coffee in one of the 15 million Starbucks on Manhattan, to warm up and have a good chat. We then cut across to 5th Avenue and worked our way up, stopping off at a few shops while on our way back to our apartment. Now I started to feel pretty awful, very shaky! My blood sugar obviously taking a nosedive! So that meant a stop off at GNC for a pack of rice cakes. Much better now! I wish home was like this, wherever you look you will find health food shops on every corner. On the opposite side of the coin you have food joints every 10 yards! The smell of food is everywhere and I'm finding it quite hard to deal with. But only a couple of days to go then I'll be sampling all of this food every ten minutes. I can see myself putting on some serious weight after the show, but it'll be well deserved I tell myself!

7:00pm - We meet up with Steve back at the apartment who has had a great day. I had another meal and Tim and Steve headed on out for a slap up meal. I waited in the apartment waiting for someone to come round and unblock the toilet, nice!!!! $40 poorer and it was done. Damn!

While Tim and Steve are out piling on the pounds I'm going to chill for a bit reading my bodybuilding mags to stoke up my motivation, maybe even catch a short nap. I have walked miles today so I deserve a little rest before hitting the town again!! I'm loving this city, such a buzz wherever you go! Can't believe I haven't bought anything yet only supplies. I'm sure I'll soon rectify that. Seen a few things I want!

10:00 - We went to the Empire State Building to check out the night time view. And what a view! Stunning, amazing seeing New York in a sea of light! Well worth doing. We then headed back for my next and final meal of the day, not before stopping at Foot Locker to buy a pair of trainers!

8:30am - Not too bad a nights sleep. And it's also the day before the big day! Today I'm not going to wander too far from the apartment as I have a bit of preparation to do, shaving down, practice posing, plus drinking a lot of water so don't want to be caught short, I know where the loos are near the apartment!

11:00am - Off I set to do some shopping! I'd thought I'd go to 5th Ave. and see what I can see. I stopped at the Rockefeller Centre where they are putting up the Christmas tree ant to take in the ice rink. Probably a good idea not to have a go myself, I'll go arse over tit and break my leg or something then show over! Then I saw Trump Tower and had a look inside. Well very 80's, full of gold marble but good to see. Then I bumped into Niketown. Fatal, my credit card got a bit of a hammering! Time to head back for my next meal.

4:30pm - Just chilling out in the apartment with Steve, drinking a load of water waiting for my next meal, then I will be off again to spend some more money. Got to make the most of it here and I'm only buying stuff I need. Oh by the way I haven't forgotten about the show! All this walking just seems to be hardening me up nicely. So far I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm still very focused and looking forward to the day!

9:00pm - Been chilling out most of the evening, which has been nice and going through my routine a few times. feeling confident in my routine and am enjoying going through it! Off out now for a glass of wine. Only a glass mind you, had a few too many in Scotland for the British! Just had a nice text chat with my friend Nikki which was cool! Anyway, quick shower and then off out, see ya!

10:00pm - Had a glass of wine in Planet Hollywood then went to the Marriot complex for one more glass. If you have never been in the Marriot, do so. It's an incredible building inside! Starting to feel really tired now.

6:00am - Show time!! Slept ok, feel very calm, no nerves yet. Looking pretty dry but I'm still having the usual last minute paranoia, I've smoothed out, I'm fat, I'm flat, I look crap! But I'm assured by Tim and Steve that things are fine. I have some more steak, sweet potato, rice cakes and bananas.

Tim and Steve are off out for breakfast while I get myself ready for the World Championships! Hard to believe the day is here, 8 months of dieting, training and sacrifice have all been for this one day! I'm the best I've looked and can honestly say I could not of done anymore. I'm the best I can be at this moment in time.

12:15pm - Well I've been here a few hours now and still feel nice and relaxed, even though I have no idea what's going on! I've just watched the pro classes and there are some lumps up there! Although not many in great condition and many with very smooth legs. The exception being Rob Hope, amazing! It's nice to meet up with the rest of the team and have a chat. Everyone seems in good spirits. Met up with Wes Clarke, had a good chat, great to see him, top guy!

Well I've been on stage and it felt great, we were worked really hard up there, took a long time. I got the first callout and then was moved straight to the centre. Oh yes, just what I wanted! I came of stage feeling great, and nice and confident. I'm getting good feedback from people saying I should do real well and could be up for the pro card, but I think I'll have to wait and see for that! Anyway the figure class is on now so must go!

11:00pm - Well the show went quite well. Felt good on stage, and it all paid off. I won! PETER CHOWN, HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION! How cool is that! It's like a dream come true! I've now got the overall and a shot at the pro card. But to be honest I've done better than expected. Before coming over my goal was to get some exposure, be noticed, then my mum said to me 'I'd be over the moon if you came in the top three' so there it was , my goal, top three. But I won!

12midnight - I was off stage and then straight back on again for the overall. By this time I was knackered! Totally fatigued! My main competition was the light heavy winner and one of our boys Brandon Greenwood! A totally top bloke, real nice guy. Well it looked like it was down to us two. And the winner is.......Brandon! And it couldn't of happened to a nicer person. Obviously I felt disappointed, only natural, as it was real close, one point in it. But that's the way it goes! But what a great year for Brandon, becoming a WNBF Pro! Well done matey!

Well what a night for the British team. We had I think five World Champions, including Rob Hope, pro World Champ. Also a couple of seconds , a third and other really high placings. Vicky and Guy must be really proud!

1:00am - We all, as a team, went for something to eat at the Carnegie Deli, a famous deli in the city. It was great the whole team getting together to stuff our faces after a long hard year. I think we have all become friends after all going through this together. It's been a great experience and one I will never forget. Jason Barnett, Brandon Greenwood, Michelle Gough, Iain Smith and everyone else, thanks a lot! And a massive thanks to the ever faithful BNBF tanners, you done a brilliant job!

5:30am - Up I get! Didn't exactly sleep much also loads of noise outside. This city really doesn't sleep, not one bit! So I decided to fill in my diary eating a protein bar. Might even go out for a coffee if Starbucks is open. Probably will be. When people tell you there is a Starbucks on every street corner, believe them, it's more likely every couple of shops, there's hundreds of them!

6:30am - I have decided to have a wander to Time Square. Time Square at this time on a Sunday morning is strange. It is very quiet, calm and very pleasant. Makes a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the daytime.

I then go and meet up with the BNBF gang, and we all go for breakfast, all on Rob Hope of course. Whoever wins the most money pays, so thanks Rob! I felt honoured to be sitting at the table full of WNBF pros, hopefully I will join them as a pro one day! Also good to see Nigel Davis, a former Pro World Champ and the owner of one of the greatest natural physiques ever! And he's a real nice guy. I didn't say much, bit in awe really! Hopefully next year I can join them for breakfast again and hopefully as a pro!

10:am - We arrive at Synergy Gym for the photo shoot. This all seems a bit unreal. I come to New York, become Heavyweight World Champion and now I'm at a photo shoot. A few other competitors arrive, and it was great to chat to Dan White the guy who came 2nd in my class. He's a real nice guy and said some very complimentary words to me which meant a real lot, thanks Dan! I posed for a few leg training shots and done a couple of poses. Hopefully I will see some shots in the American Natural magazines. How cool will that be, exposure over there, always good!

11:00am - After the shoot I had a slow wander back to the apartment, taking in a market and a few home made cookies off of a stall. Very nice! The rest of the day was spent taking in a few shops and also sending off Steve who was going home. Steve thanks for your support, it wouldn't of been the same without you, I can't ask for a better friend.

Steve's departure meant a new arrival. Iain Smith, our 2nd place lightweight competitor and current British Champion. We hadn't really had a chance to chat yet, and I'm pleased we all clicked straight away. Off we went to TGI Fridays. We had a great night. Iain isn't only a lightweight champ, he's also a lightweight eater! You big girls blouse, not eating all your dinner! As you may of guessed my plate had no trace of food left!

The day was pretty made up of the three of us shopping like a bunch of girls! All three of us said we never really go shopping at home. But over here we pound the streets one shop after another. Iain taught me the art of haggling, which I was going to put to good use hopefully as I'm after a New York Yankee's jacket that's quite expensive!

We find a Jacket shop on Lexington Avenue and find the exact jacket I want. Once the guys in the shop found out I was World Champion I got a fantastic discount and I got treated like a star, I was made to feel really special! Also in the shop is a photo wall with photo's of all the famous people that have bought jackets there. I only got asked to pose for a photo so they could put me on the wall! So off came my top, down went the trousers and on went my new jacket! It was great fun and really made my day, I had a big smile all day long!

1:00pm - Time for Iain to leave for home, back to the Shetland Islands. Tim and I went with him to Port Authority Station to see him off. It was great getting to know you and hope you had a safe trip home. The rest of the day was more shopping!

09:00am - The final day in NYC. A bit more shopping and then off to catch the bus. I didn't realise I bought so much! My bags weighed a ton. I was knackered and sweating like a pig by the time I got to the bus. But was well worth it as I had bought some wicked stuff!

2:30pm - Well we arrived at the airport, my large trophy in hand. We checked in and the lady behind the desk asked what the trophy was for. After telling her, she couldn't of been more pleased for me! We had a great chat and she upgraded us, again I felt like star! Walking through customs I also had a big fuss made of me, this was unreal! If that wasn't enough the lovely security girls came over and made a big fuss of me. Thanks girls, great meeting you all, and Raysa, when I'm back over I'll take you up on that offer of a drink!. You all made my day.

7:00pm - Onto the plane and I was given a glass of champagne by a steward after my trophy was spotted, soon to have it snatched out of my hand by a very rude stewardess, telling me I can't have it! What is it with us British! That really bothered me. American people have been absolutely amazing, they couldn't of been more pleased for me, then come into contact with a Brit to bring you crashing back down to earth! I've learnt the Americans appreciate success, us Brits look down on it. Oh well, I have all the great memories of NY and the people the people to cheer me up again.

I really don't want to go home. I'm sad to see New York disappear in the distance. That place has been good to me and I will definitely be going back again without a doubt. Anyway I have a long journey now. Time to reflect on my amazing trip and the ups and downs of the journey getting there over the past year!