{"id":7165,"date":"2026-01-10T18:22:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T18:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=7165"},"modified":"2026-01-10T18:22:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T18:22:40","slug":"life-is-rich-for-natural-bodybuilder-who-says-no-to-drugs-or-steroids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=7165","title":{"rendered":"Life is Rich for natural bodybuilder who says no to drugs or steroids"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The ripped 37-year-old Portrush man, known as Rich, is a natural bodybuilder.<\/p>\n

This means no steroids, no drugs – just good eating, cardio and weights.<\/p>\n

The British champion is on a mission to bring his healthy way of bodybuilding to the masses in Northern Ireland after taking up the competitive sport just four years ago.<\/p>\n

Following a second place at the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation’s (BNBF) championship last month, Rich has been invited to compete in the World Natural Bodybuilding Finals in Miami next month.<\/p>\n

A former American football player with the Belfast Trojans and Liverpool Centurions, he is a Forex trader, and also works as a personal trainer.<\/p>\n

Among the elite athletes he trains is north coast-based big wave surfer Al Mennie.<\/p>\n

“People want to be fit and look good and they don’t have to pump themselves full of drugs to do that,” Rich said. “I’ve got an invite to the worlds. I may do it, I may not, because I really want to get my professional card. To do that I have to win the Britains so I might just start training again for next year.<\/p>\n

“There is only maybe 10 natural pros in the UK.”<\/p>\n

Rich told the Belfast Telegraph he works out “a lot less than people think”. “Off season I go to the gym three times a week for about an hour,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Four or five weeks before a competition I will do four or five weight training sessions a week, no more. And I will do two or three weight circuits too.” Rich explained body building was all about proportion and the fake tan used by body builders was a result of competitors aiming to look like a statue.<\/p>\n

“At one of the competitions I was standing in the shower shaving my legs, listening to Lady Gaga, about to paint myself with tan and I laughed,” he said.<\/p>\n

“You spend a fortune on razors and permatan. I can put tan on like nobody’s business!”<\/p>\n

He hopes to encourage young people to go down the natural bodybuilding route and stay away from drugs.<\/p>\n

“I am known for being natural,” Rich said.<\/p>\n

“I came from a sport background rather than a purely weight lifting background.<\/p>\n

“Vanity kept me away too, I liked my hair and I wanted it to stay there.<\/p>\n

“When I moved home from Liverpool I realised Northern Ireland is still playing catch up.<\/p>\n

“When you think of bodybuilding you still think steroid enhancement.<\/p>\n

“I try to get across that natural training is the way forward.<\/p>\n

“There is an alternative. You don’t have to go down the drug route.”<\/p>\n

See NI Naturals on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Food diary<\/span><\/p>\n

Rich Robinson loves his grub. He eats every two to three hours. A typical day includes:<\/p>\n