Sean Tierney from Hull, England started eating more protein to up his gains like any bodybuilder naturally would but unfortunately, it didn’t quite turn out the way he planned. He was new to the competitive bodybuilding scene back in April 2017 when he became severely affected by abdominal pains which left him hospitalized with what was thought to have been appendicitis.
But, he got more than appendicitis when he found out his bowel was twisting which caused Doctors to have to perform emergency surgery on the 34-year-old.
According to Hull Live, Tierney explained that he became inspired to start training after seeing other people who were in great shape. He asked for advice from Mr. Universe where he also learned how to meal prep and eat to build muscle…
“I used to go just for fitness for a couple of times a week and saw people who were bigger and stronger than me and I wanted to look like that. I asked the current Mr. Universe to train me – he is the best bodybuilder in the UK – and he gave me advice and told me about meal prepping all online. He came to the show in Hull and I placed fourth in the British Finals.”
But Tierney knew he had to lower his protein as his Doctor had warned him…
“The doctor said the protein was an issue because I needed to increase my fiber. It was to do with the amount of protein I was having and the fact I was on a strict diet for the first time in my life and my body was not used to it.”
Sean Tierney placed fourth at the British finals but not without some serious discomfort…
“After the competition, I was having really bad contractions and pains in my stomach and I had to call an ambulance. They thought I had appendicitis and said that because of all of the bodybuilding they could make a small cut above the appendix and when they put me to sleep they found out I had a twisted bowel.”
Tierney says he was very, very lucky that the surgery went well, but he needed 43 staples and thankfully no colostomy bag.
Now, Doctors told him he can’t work out for 6 months but it wasn’t long after that he started training again…
“They told me I wasn’t allowed to do any heavy lifting or go to the gym until after six months. Before it happened, I was in the best condition I’d ever been in in my life and I didn’t like the way I felt and I was body conscious so I started doing a bit of light exercise.”
But his determination proved to overcome his circumstances and he competed in Strongman just six months after his surgery. Although he wasn’t at his best, Tierney just wanted to get back to the competition…
“I wasn’t where I wanted to be but I needed to do that for myself. The doctors thought I wouldn’t be able to compete again but I wanted to do it for myself. I was stubborn and wanted to be back on stage because I felt so rubbish in myself.”
Sean Tierney is planning to compete again in a few weeks and is ready to keep going despite his disheartening setback…
“I’m hoping to place in the top three and if I do I will get to go to the British Finals two weeks later. I’ve also entered a strongman competition in July in Hull which requires different training and food which will be difficult but I’m looking forward to it.”
Tierney has decided he’s not giving up and was already planning his comeback while he was in the hospital. And right now, it seems he’s sticking to his passion despite what Doctors might say.
We wish Sean Tierney the good health and the best of luck moving forward with his bodybuilding endeavors.
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