Archives for April 2008

FLEXonline.com Bikini Model Search Round 2 – Voting now Open


Holy smokes! 127 contestants have entered round two of the FLEXonline Bikini Model Search. There are a few familiar faces as well as a number of fresh faces. You may vote as many times as you wish for the next two weeks. Cast your vote today.

Who do you like? Any hardbody.com visitors in the mix? Good luck to all the women who entered.

WARNING – clicking on the link to this contest may result in excessive time staring at your computer screen.



Kristal Martin goes bowling with Howard Stern Tv


East Coast diva, Kristal Martin has put down her NPC figure heels and picked up her bowling ball. Is she looking to go pro on the bowling circuit? Nah, but she is looking to cash in on Howard Stern’s Bowling Beauties. Sixteen beauties will bowl it out in hopes of claiming the title. Check out the video and more photos of Kristal on the official web site.

Height: 5’8″
Weight: 135 lbs
Measurements: 34D-25-35
Self-described as being “built like a brick house,” this dark-haired, part-time fitness model spends her days working in construction and aspires to be parole officer. Kristal absolutely hates to lose. A former high school English teacher, don’t be surprised if the well-read Kristal sheds her homebody nature for her more competitive side – as she’s quite capable of using her extremely athletic build to roll over the other beauties.

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Kristal goes bowling. Can’t say I’ve seen this bowling… ever!

I’ll have to find the video where Kristal demonstrated for Ron Avidan and I how to eat ice cream at the Arnold Classic. I think Ron is still dazed and confused from it.

** Click here to view the food porn video Ron filmed with Kristal.



Happy Birthday to Ana Tigre


Ana Tigre celebrates her birthday today and like many competitors will have to do so without a Birthday cake. She’s currently prepping for the NPC JR. USA which will be held in Charleston, SC in a couple weeks. Ana tells me she will celebrate her birthday after that show. She recently shot with top fitness photographer, Terry Goodlad, and from the looks of the photos Ana is on track to looking her best at the show.

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Photo Courtesy of Terry Goodlad – Bodysport.com ©TerryGoodlad

Check out more with Ana on Bodysport.com



Oksana and Boris hit the Big Apple


I caught up with World Champion fitness competitor, Oksana Grishina and her husband Boris today. They are going great and reported a change in their lives. The two decided to leave Las Vegas and call Long Island home. Oksana isn’t sure when she will compete next but she is enjoying some time off until her next show.

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Oksana Grishina.

I’ll report more on our favorite Russian couple after the New York Pro, where they tell me they’ll be spotted next.



IFBB Pro Figure – Competitor Athlete’s Meeting this Friday


The pros who will be competing in the PA Pro Figure this weekend please note the meeting date and time:

ATHLETE MEETING FOR ALL PITTSBURGH PRO FIGURE COMPETITORS
When: Friday, May 2, 2008
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MEMORAL HALL
4141 FIFTH AVENUE
PITTSBURGH, PA 15213



Adela Garcia and Sonia Adcock aka IRON SIRENS a hit at Comicon


The two IFBB pro divas made their way to Pittsburgh to attend their first comic book convention. They were helping promote IRON SIRENS a comic book produced J.M. Manion. The third series is set to be released this summer which pits JEN vs JENNY. The following bulletin was recently posted on the IRON SIRENS myspace page:

IRON SIRENS attending their 1st ever comic book convention at the Pittsburgh Comicon on April 25th, 26th & 27th. Appearing all 3 days was star of Issue 1 & Issue 2 – Adela Garcia plus the villain of Issue 2 – Sonia Adcock along with writer Ian Ascher & Issue 2 cover artist Uko Smith dropped by as well! Executive Producer J.M. Manion attended on Sunday only.

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Adela, Darth and Sonia at the convention. Photo by J.M. Manion.

Adela & Sonia also got to have their photo with Darth Vader himself – David Prowse! There were plenty of other characters as well & it was a great time. Adela & Sonia had outfits designed to match what their comic alter-ego’s wear in the Iron Sirens pages. They were the talk & the hit of the convention. We will be looking to do future comicon’s in the future.



Kim Lyons partners with Crest


IFBB fitness pro and celebrity fitness trainer, Kim Lyons has partnered with Crest toothpaste. You can check out her tips as well as a quiz on the Crest web site.

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Below is the press release announcing the partnership:
Shape Up and Get a Healthier and Whiter Smile in Four Weeks
When it comes to getting in shape and looking your best, celebrity fitness trainer Kim Lyons, who also appears on The Biggest Loser, knows it all! Kim has partnered with Crest to incorporate new Crest Healthy Radiance toothpaste system into a daily routine for a smile that is beautiful inside and out.

“I partnered with Crest to launch new Crest Healthy Radiance toothpaste system to show how effortless it is to achieve outer beauty via health from within. I often tell my clients that it can take a long time to see major changes in their weight and appearance, so it is important to stay motivated by adopting smaller, easy habits, such as improving their smiles, that give them the reward of feeling healthy and beautiful along the way,” says Lyons.

To stay focused on a daily routine full of healthy habits, consumers can log on to Crest.com and take Kim’s very own fitness quiz! Answers to the 10-question quiz will reveal your fitness knowledge. In addition, Kim’s tips accompany each answer which will help anyone reach their fitness goal.

ABOUT CREST HEALTHY RADIANCE
Available at mass retail, drug, and grocery stores nationwide, Crest Healthy Radiance is Crest’s first and only daily paste and weekly strip system, designed to strengthen enamel below the surface and deep clean to whiten for teeth with healthy radiance. Crest Healthy Radiance Toothpaste System provides a healthy, strong and more beautiful smile from the inside out and when used as directed, whitens up to four times better than the leading whitening paste.

The toothpaste helps remove extrinsic stains using a patented stain prevention polyphosphate technology combined with a gentle silica that whitens teeth and prevents stains from forming.

The deep clean hydrogen peroxide formula, found in the strip diffuses into the enamel and helps eliminate impurities embedded deep under the enamel surface leaving the teeth cleaner and whiter on the outside. The four upper and lower intensive deep cleaning strips are formulated for weekly use, 30 minutes a session.

Together, when used as directed, the Crest Healthy Radiance Toothpaste System strengthens enamel, fights tartar, prevents cavities and removes stains for whiter teeth.

Availability
Crest Healthy Radiance is available at mass retail, drug and grocery stores nationwide. The system includes a 4.1 oz tube of Radiant Mint fluoride toothpaste for daily use and eight Deep Clean Strips (four for upper teeth, four for lower teeth) for weekly 30-minute treatments. The suggested retail price is $11.99.

ABOUT KIM LYONS
Known best for her role on The Biggest Loser, celebrity fitness trainer Kim Lyons has provided support and encouragement to millions of people looking to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Her new book, Your Body, Your Life provides simple tips and techniques that motivate people to reach their goals and change their lifestyle for the better. Kim graduated from Colorado State University in 1995 with a degree in Human Development
and Nutrition. For more information, visit http://www.kimlyons.com.

ABOUT CREST
A trusted leader in oral health, Crest was the first oral care brand to secure the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a clinically proven fluoride toothpaste. Since first introducing fluoride toothpaste 50 years ago, it is estimated that Crest has helped prevent more than half a billion cavities in the United States. In addition, Crest created Crest Healthy Smiles, a national outreach program designed to help improve the state of oral health in America. Each year, the Crest Healthy Smiles program provides education, tools, and increased access to dental professionals to underserved children and their families nationwide. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Crest is owned and distributed by Procter & Gamble.



Ad Watch: Nintendo Targets Women for their Wii Fit


Earlier this week the Wall Street Journal ran a piece about Nintendo’s Wii gaming console. The popular system is coming out with Wii Fit, an add-on that it hopes appeals to women. Their new advertising and marketing is looking to captivate women who want to lose weight. Today, I was reading my newest issue of FORTUNE magazine and there is an article that speaks about the growth of women interested in gaming. Nintendo might be striking at the right time with the new addition to their popular product.

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Nintendo’s new ad.. “How will it move you?”

I’ve played the tennis and boxing games on the Wii and I felt like a kid at the first day of Fat Camp. It was a helluva workout. While it might seem like a gimmick, I don’t see it that way. I think it’s a great idea that entertains people while getting them off their ass – men and women. What do you think ladies, would you buy the Wii Fit as a way to help you keep the pounds off?

Nintendo’s Wii gaming console introduced sedentary gamers to the idea of moving off the couch. Now Nintendo is coming out with the Wii Fit, an add-on to the gaming system designed to appeal to women looking to lose weight.

The $90 attachment, dubbed the “Balance Board,” expands the range of games that can be played on the Wii to include activities such as yoga and push-ups. The Balance Board — which resembles bathroom scales — also tracks a user’s weight and body-mass index.

The Wii Fit is a daring move for Nintendo, aimed at broadening the gaming market — dominated by younger men — to women. To get their attention, the company plans a massive marketing campaign ahead of the product’s release in the U.S. May 19, including a public-relations effort under way. Television, outdoor and print ads begin the week the product becomes available. Ads via Omnicom Group’s Goodby Silverstein & Partners will carry the tagline: “How will it move you?”

As part of the PR push, “Good Morning America” host Diane Sawyer tested the exercise game on the air last week. “It really does make you work,” Ms. Sawyer told viewers. Since its release about 18 months ago, the Wii has been a smash hit — so much so that it’s still difficult to buy in the U.S. In Japan, where the Wii Fit is on the market, it has also proved hugely popular. Still, the new product is something of a gamble, moving Nintendo away from core young-male gamers, who could be turned off by the fact that Mom and girls think the Wii Fit is cool.

Check out the entire article here.

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IFBB Pro Jessica Rohm & NPC New Jersey


This weekend an East Coast NPC show will honor Jessica Rohm, Bethany Wagner, Erin Riley and Carlo Filippone for reaching IFBB pro status. All four hail out of New Jersey where the 2008 NPC Xcalibur show will be held. Today a local newspaper highlighted the event and some good-will the promoters are doing for the school.

BRIDGEWATER: Bodybuilding competition is Saturday at high school
By SUSAN LOYER, STAFF WRITER

The 4th annual 2008 NPC Xcalibur Bodybuilding and Figure Championships will be held Saturday at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, 600 Garretson Road.

The event, a national qualifier, will begin with weigh ins at 10 a.m. Prejudging will be at 1 p.m., with the show beginning at 6. Registration may be done at the weigh-ins.

In the past, the event has raised money for the Steeplechase Cancer Center at Somerset Medical Center, as well as an individual who was stricken with cancer at a young age, said Jessica Rohm, a Bridgewater-Raritan High School teacher, who will be judging the event. Rohm also will be presented an award acknowledging her accomplishments and contributions to the sport.

This year, in appreciation to Bridgewater-Raritan High School for their generosity in allowing the organization to use their school, a portion of the proceeds from the show will be donated to the Project Graduation Fund, a community-based tradition intended to prevent hazardous and harmful activities often associated with high school graduation celebrations, she said.

A check presentation will be held at 7 p.m. in the school gym.

Project Graduation is an all-night, alcohol-free and drug-free celebration held every year for the graduating class. Each year, a committee made up of parents hosts various fund raisers throughout the year to support the project. The group depends largely on the community to help support its efforts.

Anyone interested in contributing to Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s Project Graduation can call Lynne Bray at (908) 500-8810 or e-mail her at zkbray@aol.com.

Props to the promoters of this show for doing something positive for their area. More promoters need to take note on various was to get good PR and bring attention to their events.



The cat’s out of the bag – Monica Brant on Bodysport Radio


IFBB Pro competitor and fitness icon Monica Brant visited with Terry and Elaine Goodlad recently on their radio show. She is still undecided as to whether fans will see her compete again and busy with her F.E.M. Camps. Monica shares a couple of items at the end of the interview regarding her immediate plans. Mo says she stopped one thing in her life at the ARNOLD and is about to start another. Check out the interview to catch the news.



Five more Fab Figure Competitors added to the Cal lineup


Confirmation from five more IFBB Figure competitors to the 2008 Cal figure Pro show today.

Heather Green, USA
Yamanaka Kiyoko, Japan
Anna Larsson, Sweden
Nicole Pitcher-Scott, UK
Rosa-Maria Romero, Australia

This is shaping up to be another great show in Cali.



New York Pro Female Bodybuilding Competitor List


The New York Pro will bring back the ladies this year. The event will take place on May 10, 2008 in New York City. See below for the list of competitors to date.

1. Fabi Antoine, Belgium
2. Mercedes Bazemore, USA
3. Debbie Bramwell, USA
4. Sarah Bridges, USA
5. Kim Buck, USA
6. Maria Calo, USA
7. Giusy Caputo, Italy
8. Tina Chandler, USA
9. Angela Debatin, USA
10. Heather Foster, USA
11. Aurelia Grozajova, Slovakia
12. Rosemary Jennings, USA
13. Debi Laszewski, USA
14. Cathy LeFrancois, USA
15. Elizabeth Gomez Meza, Mexico
16. Colette Nelson, USA
17. Jeannie Paparone, USA
18. Annie Rivieccio, USA
19. Saskia Salemink, Netherlands
20. Antoinette Thompson, USA
21. Dena Westerfield, USA

Visit IFBBpro.com for more information.

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IRON SIRENS hits comic book convention


IRON SIRENS will be attending their 1st ever comic book convention at the Pittsburgh Comicon on April 25th, 26th & 27th. Booth E094.

Appearing all 3 days will be a star of Issue 1 & Issue 2 – Adela Garcia plus the villain of Issue 2 – Sonia Adcock along with writer Ian Ascher. Executive Producer J.M. Manion will be attending on Sunday, April 27th only.

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Adela & Sonia will be available to autograph copies of both issue’s & will have their own photos to sell,

For more information about the Pittsburgh Comicon, visit http://www.pittsburghcomicon.com



Still time to enter the next round


The Flexonline.com bikini model search is heading into round two. You have until midnight tonight to enter round two of the contest. Visit FLEXonline.com for more details. Ladies this is your chance to shine. Kyla won round one and will be featured on Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Radio tonight as an unexpected perk. You never know what being seen on FLEX’s web site will do for you.



NY Pro Fitness Routines


A few photos of the ladies from the NY Pro Fitness are now up on IFBBpro.com. The photos are shot by JM Manion.

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Chrissy Burton continues winning ways with Emerald Cup Title


Chrissy Burton had a stellar 2007 competitive season and it looks like things are on track again in ’08. She won the 2007 Contra Costa and today she added the 2008 Emerald Cup overall figure title to her impressive competitive resume. The Emerald Cup, promoted by Brad and Elaine Craig, has grown into one of the best NPC National qualifying events.

Congratulations Chrissy.

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Chrissy and her trainer Kim Oddo.


Ask Ana: Avoiding Burn Out, Stay Motivated and More…


One of our resident NPC Figure competitors, Ana Tigre, lends some insight on how to avoid burnout, motivation and more. If you have a question for Ana feel free to email her and she’ll respond to your questions here on HARDBODY.com

Ana,  I have done 2 competitions and I am burned out. I don’t even feel like training. Plus all of the weight I lost to compete came back and now I am depressed. How do you deal with your off season? Why do you compete? And what keeps you motivated to keep going?

I am sorry you are going through such a hard time. What you are experiencing is called the Post Contest Blues and it is a part of competing people don’t talk about very much. When you go through a competition prep your body will be pushed to the limits. You are asking your body to go above and beyond what it is used to doing. Training for competition is not only physically demanding but it is mentally demanding. Also, the more weight you have to shed, the harder your prep will be, and the more likely you will get overtrained and burned out. When the competition is over, we can feel lost and we can’t find the reasons that make working out and eating right a priority anymore. We talk about a lot of those issues on my board, so the girls don’t feel so alone anymore.

I am a firm believer that every new competitor should do a pre-prep prep. By this I mean, take your time to go from your current fitness level to a competition prep level. Get used to the consistency of dieting and working out. Start shedding a few lbs and increase your muscle mass. All of those factors will help tremendously when it is time to get ready for a show. Plus, you will find out what your weaknesses are and how to avoid slips on the diet. You will basically find out if competing is actually for you.

You can look great and never compete. However, you can also diet and workout hard for 3 months, lose a lot of weight, look your best for one day on stage and then, go back to your old habits. I like to keep a balance between the two. I love to compete. I love pushing myself to the limits and I love being on stage looking my absolute best. But when I step off the stage, I don’t feel like my work is over. Fitness has become a lifestyle to me. From the start, my main goal was to build a healthy and strong body that will be the foundation for the rest of my life. I want to look good in 10, 20, 30 years from now. Everytime I go to the gym, I think of it as an investment in my future. Strong muscles will protect a women from osteoporosis, and a healthy bodyfat will prevent a number of diseases. I am not saying I will not enjoy some treats in the off season. I do and I think it is part of a balanced life. However, my overall focus is always to nourish my body with the healthiest food and be consistent at the gym, so I can keep improving. I compete against myself and everytime I step on stage, I want to have made some improvements. That is what keeps me going. That is what motivates me.

My advice to you is simple: take competing out of the equation for a moment. Start thinking about the reasons you started working out in the first place. Not just to look good, but how did it make you feel when you were done with a hard session? Did you like feeling strong and powerful? Add to that, the reasons why you should nourish your body with healthy foods instead of fueling up with junk. Do your skin, hair and nails look better when you eat healthy? Do you have more energy for daily tasks? Do you think you will be a healthier person if you take care of yourself and therefore be around to watch your kids and grandkids grow up? My advice is to go back to the basics. Find a workout plan and a nutrition plan that are realistic and that you can work into your daily life. Focus on health and well being. The looking good part will come as a bonus. The pounds will melt and you will feel better about yourself. At that point, you have balance. That will be the time to decide if you should give competing another shot. If you decide you want to try it again, find a trainer that will help you get in competition shape slowly (sometimes we need more than 12 weeks to achieve a stage look). And get mentally prepared to refocus on health and well being once the competition is over. I promise your whole experience will be a much happier one.

Ana Tigre
Creator of FIZEEK BRAZIL
www.fizeekbrazil.com



California Dream’n IFBB Figure Style


The smell of tan and hairspray will soon be in the air again for the 2008 California Pro Figure. Many women will take the stage with dreams of making it to the Olympia stage but only three will prevail. Culver City, California will play host to the action on May 24th.

The list of competitors to date are:
Huong Arcinas, USA
Darlina Brown, USA
Stacy Clary, USA
Meriza DeGuzman, USA
Andrea Dumon, USA
Maria del Figueroa Consuelo Rojas, Mexico
April Fortier, USA
Celese Gonzalez Leandro, Spain
Nancy Georges, USA
Michele Mayberry, USA
Petra Mertl, USA
Leslie Morris, USA
Hazal Nelson, USA
Felicia Romero, USA
Zhanna Rotar, USA
Tammy Strome, Canada
Masae Tagami, Japan
Angela Terlesky, USA

Hardbody.com will be at the show capturing the competition and since it’s Memorial Day Weekend it is sure to be a festive time. Visit promoter Jon Lindsay’s web site for complete details on the show and how to get your tickets.

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Ad Watch: David Barton Gym


An interesting ad for David Barton gym. The gym’s web site is pretty cool and definitely a different approach to marketing a club.

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It’s a Boy!


The little guy hasn’t arrived yet but Kim Seeley let me know that she will be having a baby boy. Mom-to-be reports, “It looks like he’s healthy, growing at the correct rate and all organs are developed like they should. Thank God that things are going well so far.”

Kim promises to share a bit more about her first pregnancy and what she’s going through along the way.



Kyla McGrath wins Round 1


Canadian hottie, Kyla McGrath took round one of the FLEX Bikini Model search. The 29 year old earns a spot in the finals by winning the online contest. If you attended the Arnold Classic last month, you saw Kyla working the bodybuilding.com booth. She definitely turned a few heads there and is certain to do the same on the Vegas stage in September.

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Kyla striking a pose at the booth.

Check out the complete story and more info on her at FLEXonline.com.



NY PRO Fitness from The Pit with J.M. Manion


Most shows the best seat in the house is in the press pit, second only to where the judges are sitting. I caught up with J.M. Manion who is a long time photographer and has seen countless NPC/IFBB events. He was kind enough to share his thoughts on the 2008 NY PRO Fitness.

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Front view from the press pit.

Ok. so I’ve been home a couple of days & had a chance to reflect on the contest. Here are my thoughts. Please note that I have seen all the American girls come through the NPC & was there when they all placed in whatever contest to turn pro.

First & foremost, no matter what, the physiques played a major part in who placed where. That was never more obvious than with Trish Warren. The judges said that Heidi Fletcher had achieved the perfect balance with her physique between last year’s Fitness Olympia & Palm Beach Pro Fitness where she was told she was too soft in Las Vegas & too hard in Palm Beach. Heidi is always known for innovative routines & after having played the bridesmaid the past 2 years at this contest, it was nice to finally achieve her first IFBB win. This is the reason she sat out of the Arnold Classic. Now she moves on to the Houston Pro Fitness. I also have to give MAJOR props to Heidi knowing that before she went on stage to perform her 2-minute fitness routine, she was not feeling 100% but she pulled it off because she just wanted it that bad & dug down deep to do it!

Nicole Wilkins in her pro fitness debut proved she will be successful in both aspects of IFBB Fitness & Figure. I realize she didn’t place well in her pro figure debut at the Arnold, but look at her Round 1 & 2 scores here. Those are the physique scores. I don’t think I’ll be going out on a limb to say she will get a Figure Olympia qualifying placing in the upcoming Pittsburgh Pro Figure. So the girl is for real. Nicole has already made improvements all around since she last stepped on this stage to make NPC history. So now she’s already qualified now for the Fitness Olympia. The question will then be… which contest does she enter in Las Vegas?

Back to Trish Warren. Where have you been hiding that physique girl? She must know a good person to train her! (That is a joke people! She is married to IFBB PRO Branch Warren) Anyway, in the 2-piece Trish blew them off stage. I knew the tide had turned when the final comparison in that round was just Heidi & Trish. And honestly, Trish was not always well known for her routines but in N.Y.C., she nailed it. I felt her overall performance of her 2-minute routine was much more fun & entertaining than her 45 second routine & feel that she should give a go at the Houston Pro Fitness as well if she hasn’t already planned on it.

Some major surprises? Nicole Duncan & Kendra Elias. Duncan along with Fletcher easily had the best 2 minute fitness routines hands down. Having seen Nicole D. compete last year, the knock against her was her physique. Well, she made some drastic changes to warrant first call-out in both physique rounds! If she continues refining her physique & with the mad routine skills she has, look out because she’s going to be a threat. I was also impressed with Kendra Elias. The transformation she made with her physique was noticable. Without a doubt, the best she’s ever looked on an IFBB stage. Her dance background showed through in her 2 minute routine & the only critique I would have is she needs something in the routine to make everybody go WOW! Look for these 2 on the Fitness Olympia stage this year.

And here’s another surprise because everybody was touting her to win this show if not qualify for the Fitness Olympia – Oksana Grishina tied for 6th with Michelle Mayberry in the 2 minute fitness routine & placing 7th overall. Do I feel it was justified? Surprisingly – yes! Oksana definitely brought Broadway theatrics & showmanship to the stage but the problem, in my humble opinion, is that she brings a performance which is stunning & great for guest posing, but she needs to add more strength moves to her routine. I feel she placed so well at last year’s Fitness Olympia because the judges had never seen anything like that. Her placings at this show & at the Arnold Classic show that she is going to need to bring up her physique & modify her 2 minute routine if she plans to qualify for the Fitness Olympia this year & hopes to improve upon her placing at the Fitness Olympia. Also keep an eye on Bethany Wagner. She’s a sleeper & with her placing in the middle of the pack in her pro debut, she just might be one to sneak up on everybody & qualify for this year’s Fitness Olympia.

What really stunk was having 2 competitors doing their 2 minute routines & outfits based on The Phantom Of The Opera. It stinks in the fact that the 2nd person waiting backstage hear’s the same music she’s choreographed her routine to & realizes it’s not her! What runs through the 2nd competitor’s mind at that time?

In all, a very entertaining contest with loads of new competitors which is great to see.

Next stop, which isn’t much of a stretch for me – the Pittsburgh Pro Figure.

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Back shot from the NY PRO Fitness.

Thanks J.M.! You can see a few of his photos on IFBBpro.com and FLEXonline.com.



One to watch… Rachel Cammon


Rachel recently competed in the NPC Northern Colorado and won her class. That was her first show and she looked amazing. So much so that I knew I had to shoot with her as she has “the look”. We met up at Colorado Pro Gym, which (as you read here) is run by Dylan and Heather Armbrust. They are cleaning the gym up and making it look incredible. It has some of the best lighting for gym shoots and today was no exception.

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Rachel demonstrating a few exercises in the gym.

Today, I asked Rachel what she does for cardio and she said, “I chase tumble weeds in Wyoming. Those lil’ fauckers are fast.” Not only is she a fresh face to watch in the coming months but she also has a witty personality. This 25-year old rising star works full-time in pharmaceutical sales. You’ll be seeing a lot more of her around and don’t be surprised if you see her in a few magazines.

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Rachel showing off her killer physique on a warm Denver day.


Nicole Wilkins strides to an Olympia Qualification


Nicole Wilkins returned home, well not literally, but NYC has become a home for her competition success. Nicole returned to the stage where she made NPC history (winning the overall figure and fitness titles in 2007) and accomplished her goal – qualify for the 2008 Fitness Olympia.

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Nicole at the 2008 Arnold Classic.

I caught up with the IFBB rookie fresh off her third place finish at the New York Pro Fitness.
Congrats on the Olympia birth that is awesome! You seem to own New York. How did it feel competing in NYC again?
I love New York! I felt great going into the show. I was tighter than at the Arnold and I was confident with my routines. I knew after finishing the two minute routine that the show could not have gone any better in my mind. The rest was up to the judges.

Your first pro fitness show and now you’re qualified for the Olympia! How’s that feel?
It feels amazing! That was my goal going into the show! It makes all the hard work worth it!

Will we see you compete again before the Olympia?
Yes, I will be competing in figure for the next two shows though. I will be at the Pittsburgh pro in less than 3 weeks and then I will be in my home town in August for the Powerhouse Pro.

Thank you to my family and Alan, Kim Oddo, Maggie Blanchard and Cathy Savage!

Congrats!
Thanks Isaac!

Could Nicole qualify for both the Fitness and Figure Olympia? I wouldn’t bet against it.



Last Day to Vote for the FLEX Model Search


Tax Day have you sporting a frown? 🙁 Turn the puppy upside down by hanging out on the FLEX model pages. 🙂 If you haven’t done so, or even if you have, stop by the FLEX Model Search and vote for your favorite. Today is the last day to vote for the April contest.



Five Questions with NPC competitor – Kayla Hugoboom


Michaela “Kayla” Hugoboom is one to watch this weekend at the NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic this weekend. She’s still a relative newbie to the competitive stage but she’s no stranger to the winners circle. Kayla, who hails out of Memphis, Tennessee, has competed only once and found the winner’s circle. I caught up with her five days out from her show and fresh off a shoot with top photographer, Lisa Brewer.

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Kayla and Jamie Eason at the bodybuilding.com booth.

You’re competing this weekend in the Ronnie Coleman Classic, how are you feeling going into the show?
I am very excited!! I have waited so many weeks for this weekend to be here! Lots of sweat and dieting, but it’s worth it! I am on the smaller side, so I am a little nervous about getting blown away, but I pray I will impress the judges and show them I am here to stay!

What previous shows have you competed in?
I competed in my first show last year, The Battle on the Bluff. I won!! That was the best feeling!

What have you been eating this week?
Chicken, Orange roughy, asparagus and tuna. My body is starved for carbs, and I cant wait to carb up!!

Where can people see more of you?
Please vote for me today on www.flexonline.com for the FLEX model search! It is the last day and I would be so grateful for your support! You can also see me in upcoming ads for ABB/ON who I am sponsored with, and www.myspace.com/kaystentz

Any parting words going into the show?
Good luck to all the competitors this weekend and God bless!

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Kayla striking all smiles with hopes of making it to the FLEX Finals.


NPC Figure Girls and TAPOUT – Battlequest 8


Last weekend the crew from TAPOUT made it’s way to Denver, Colorado for Battlequest 8. TAPOUT has established itself as one of the premiere clothing lines in the MMA world and also has a popular tv show. Two NPC figure competitors were tapped to be ring girls for the event. Liza Kampstra and Shawna Wittrock sported outfits from Camobooty and I’m told grew quite a crowd.

The show airs on the VS. channel – check local listings for show times.

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Liza and Shawna ringside.
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Liza sporting the camobooty apparel.


American Gladiator’s Season 2


I caught the new commercial for the next season of American Gladiators tonight and gotta say… I’m impressed. It was MUCH more creative and hit on the Gladiator’s being larger than life. I haven’t found a link to it online yet but when I do I’ll post it up. The American Gladiators season two is being filmed now and we’re getting some inside info on the show. There will be some familiar faces missing in the Gladiator lineups.



Photos from IFBB New York Pro Fitness on IFBBpro.com


Photos of the one and two piece rounds are now featured on the IFBBpro.com web site. Most of the women in this contest looked great and definitely a tough show for the judges to decipher who would prevail in the physique rounds. The IFBBpro.com web site will feature a few routine photos as well. Thanks to J.M. Manion for the photos and coverage on this event.

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Ad Watch: Figure Competitors & GETFITclimbing.com


IFBB Pro Figure competitor Jessica Steffens and rising NPC Figure star Jamie Meade are featured models with Brendle Climbing Systems. Brendle Climbing products are changing the face of climbing and fitness. Jess and Jamie are prominently featured on the web site, GETFITclimbing.com. Check out the site and learn more about these kick ass products.

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Jessica Steffens scaling one of the revolutionary walls.

It’s great to see companies using figure competitors in their ads and proof that there is main-stream appeal if presented correctly. As you can see from these photos and the web site these women show you can be buff and beautiful. Learn more about Jamie on the Performance Ready website where she is this month’s featured athlete. Keep an eye on her as she heads to the NPC national level stage this year.

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GetFitClimbing advertisement.


Disclaimer: Reader discretion advised, please consult your physician before beginning any exercise or diet program.