HARDBODY Female Sports, Health & Fitness News
A Love for Sport Life.™
These videos are from a couple weeks ago but it gives you a look at how one of the rising fitness stars trains. IFBB Fitness Pro Erin Riley is a machine in these videos. This is FOUR weeks out from the Fitness International and not her off-season. Check out the strength in the second video where she is climbing the ropes and tossing around a big ass tire. Impressive.
We’ll see how her training pays off in a few days. Best of luck Erin.
IFBB Figure Pro Lenay Hernandez took the competitive figure stage by storm in 2008. She entered the NPC JR USA as her first national show and left with the overall crown. A few months later she was on the Olympia Figure stage knocking on the door of a top ten finish. Now she heads into the Arnold Classic to compete in the Figure International. I caught up with Lenay as she heads into one of the most prestigious shows in the IFBB.
This doesn’t really have much to do with females of fitness but hey it is funny. There have been close to 5 MILLION, yes MILLION, views to this youtube video. Check out the skit from the folks at Saturday Night Live but be sure not to have your speakers too loud if you’re at work or easily offended. The Lonely Island’s I’m On a Boat is comedy. This is a real CD you can purchase.
Do you have your flippy floppies?
If you watched the Oscars last night you may have heard this song playing during the presentation for action flicks. The Hives’ Tick Tick Boom is a pretty groovy little tune. Give it a listen.
The ad agency Grabarz & Partner from Hamburg, Germany recently launched “The Jesus Treadmill”. The campaign is for DJK, The Christian Sports Club.
From the campaign statement:
Their mission: “To create interest in the wide variety of sports on offer at DJK Hamburg e.V. – the Catholic sports association.”Target Group: “People keen on sports.”
Solution: “A promotion in fitness studios – where people mostly train alone and anonymously. Here, we prepared treadmills with a special cover which lets the athletes run on water. And invites them to train together with others in the DJK in a humorous way.”
Result: “Creation of awareness.”
Fitness professionals in New Jersey may have a few changes coming their way in ordered to be licensed trainers. Senator Paul A. Sarlo introduced the Fitness Professionals License Act in New Jersey on October 23. The new requirements to be licensed would be:
• Complete 300 in-person classroom hours.
• Serve a 50-hour unpaid internship under a licensed professional.
• Be of good moral character.
• Have a high school education or the equivalent.
• Pass an examination.
• Possess an associate or bachelor’s degree in physical education, exercise science, exercise physiology or adult fitness.
I’m all for personal trainers being required to know what they are doing. I see too many trainers at large chained fitness clubs pushing products that garner them the highest commission and clearly don’t practice much training themselves. The requirement of “Be of good moral character”. Who decides that one and what morals are deemed good or not? I don’t agree with that. Many people are becoming licensed personal trainers by online classes and it large part because it fits their schedule.
Check out the entire article. What do you think? Should the government be passing stricter guidelines to become personal trainers?
U2 rocks. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” has been around for awhile but is one of their best songs, in my opinion.
Industry expert Lonnie “The Swami” Teper recommends today’s song of the day. We gotta cut him a little slack he just celebrated his 40th Birthday for about the 13th time this month. Lonnie once wore an Elvis outfit while emcee’n a show. Speaking of emceeing you can hear The Swami at the mic again in Columbus as he calls the action for the Arnold Classic. Enjoy Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock and if you don’t well let Teper know about it.
Those of you who follow the bodybuilding scene know by now that Muscular Development magazine fired two of their primary contributors, Dave Palumbo and John Romano. Romano had been with the magazine for 18 years and Dave a number of years as well. I have nothing personal against either of them and get along with them fine. I haven’t always agreed with them and have happily discussed it with them when I didn’t. This is another one of those times. Since the two are no longer part of the magazine world they’ve set up shop with their own web site. I give them props, they’ve done a great deal in a short amount of time. That aside, John is a bit off base in his latest writing.
Dave and I believe the women of our sport have been left out in the cold for long enough. Our commitment to them will not waver because the women physique athletes make up a very large contingent of our community and, currently, no one is serving them. RX Muscle has a place for all the women of our industry; and then some. We believe in the women and their cause and we intend on showcasing them in every way possible. After all, we love women!
I guess it would depend on how you define “serving them”. Last time I checked there are a number of web sites devouted to the women in the industry. The industry magazines feature the women as well, admitedly not as much as the men but I’d hardly say women are left out in the cold. Their site is starting yet another “radio show” and it’s devoted to the women. Krissy Chin and Colette Nelson are set to host it. Cool. Great. Both are good embassadors for the women and the more exposure for women the better. I don’t have an issue with anyone who supports the women of the industry but let’s keep it real. There are a number of people who are giving the women a voice in the industry and if RX Muscle wants to be one of them, great. Don’t insult those of us who do and the women in it by saying NO ONE is serving them.
It’s been a few years since we last heard from the 2004 USA Fitness Overall champ, Bethani Terrell. I caught up with her recently and she had some exciting news to share. Bethani is considering competing again but before that is expecting her first child. When asked if she knows the gender of the little one she shared, “No, I don’t know yet. I don’t think I want to know. I kind of like the element of surprise. Although my gut feeling is that it will be a boy.” Bethani is expecting a delivery date sometime in July.
Congratulations Bethani!
There’s been some chatter on where the Olympia would be held this year. That noise can be silenced now as the 2009 Olympia will return to The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The event will take place September 24-27, 2009. For complete details visit mrolympia.com. Special room rate are now available.
The Orleans Hotel & Casino is the official host hotel of the 2009 Olympia Weekend. For special rates call Orleans Hotel Reservations at 1-800-675-3267. Mention “Mr. Olympia Event Spectator Block†for special Olympia rates: $45 midweek / $115 Fri and Sat.
Huong Arcinas is headed to her first Figure International contest. She’ll be giving an update for all of you on a regular basis going into the show. Anyone care to guess how much Huong is weighing right now? I’ll give you a hint it’s below 100lbs. This was what she had to share today:
“I’m feeling ready and confident…about a mere pound away. I know I’m going to do more than people think.”
Check back for more updates from Huong leading into the show.
I’ve received a few inquiries about yesterday’s post regarding the NPC Bikini qualification.
“All 2009 National Bikini contests except the 2009 Junior USA Bikini Championships, an athlete must have competed in an NPC Bikini event prior to entering a national contest.”
Just to be clear for 2009 ONLY… NPC Bikini competitors only have to prove that they entered a NPC Bikini contest in order to compete in a National Level Bikini event (aside from JR USAs). It doesn’t matter where they place or if it is a national qualifying show as long as it’s an NPC show. NPC Bikini competitors do need to have proof of having competed and is why the contest info will be asked for. Again this only applies for this year.
See the post below for the complete NPC Bikini Regulations.
Top NPC competitor and rising fitness model star, Monique “MoMo” Minton was spotted on the UFC web site. Ok, so it was a banner ad for the new Girls of BSN calendar but don’t under estimate MoMo’s fighting skills. She’s been taking up MMA training lately and tells me it’s an awesome workout. Monique will be at the Arnold Classic next weekend working the BSN booth. Stop by and say hello but don’t question the toughness behind the pretty face or you may find yourself getting choked out.
Rev Theory is a group to keep an eye on. They continue to increase their popularity and have ties to the fitness industry. Lead singer, Rich Luzzi has been seen at numerous bodybuilding events. Why? He’s been dating fitness model, Jamie Eason for awhile. Their song “Hell Yeah” is pretty bad ass and you’ll be hearing a lot more of it in the weeks to come. Definitely worth a listen and adding to your play list.
Jamie Eason and Rich Luzzi.
Changes for the new bikini division. This news comes directly from the NPC.
Please note that for all 2009 National Bikini contests except the 2009 Junior USA Bikini Championships, an athlete must have competed in an NPC Bikini event prior to entering a national contest.
The following must be provided with your entry:
• NPC Bikini Contest Name
• Date Of Contest
• Contest Promoter
• Your Height Class & Final Placing
This includes:
• NPC JUNIOR NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC USA BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC TEAM UNIVERSE BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• IFBB NORTH AMERICAN BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
The folks at Tight Curves are looking for people have what it takes to inspire others. The web site Teamtightcurves.com is looking for health conscious, fitness orientated women who have a passion for fitness. If you have the desire to make a positive change and have what it takes, contact Tom Richardson. The “Team” has a goal of bringing awareness to the issue of childhood obesity.
A pretty kick ass song for getting you moving. Check out All That Remains – Two Weeks.
It’s just over two weeks before the Arnold Classic is upon us!
Close to three years ago the first episode of Hardbody Radio launched with legendary IFBB Pro Lenda Murray as the guest. The show, hosted by Larry Pepe, was one of the first female only shows. I was happy to be part of it and there is still a chance Hardbody Radio could be resurrected. You may have a better chance at winning the lottery than that happening so don’t hold your breath. Whether you’d like to call them radio shows or podcasts doesn’t really matter to me, I lump them in the same category. Technology has come a long way and now anyone with a computer and a telephone can have a “radio show”. Even with a couple hundred bucks you can put the same show on an AM radio station. When polled here 60% of you said you don’t listen to online radio shows and those of you that do listen said it depends on the guest.
Do I think online radio shows are a good idea? Yes and no. The person being interviewed gets a platform to share their story, which is great. If that helps to motivate and inspire others, I’m all for it. Personal trainers can talk about their services, diet gurus can share their thoughts on nutrition, competitors can tell others a bit about themselves personally and the list goes on. The hosts can benefit by using it as a self-promotion tool. It’s one more way to get their message out to an audience. Some hosts don’t need advertisers because their model is geared towards promoting themselves or their services. Other shows rely on advertisers in order to make it worth their time.
Anyone can put out a podcast. Creating a quality one that people are interested in, is not easy. Just because you have a radio show doesn’t mean it’s good and people will listen. At the end of it all, it’s still a business. Sure it may start off fun and money isn’t the object but the novelty eventually wears off. When hours of time are being devouted each day/week and there is no financial return it only lasts so long.
It’s ultimately up to you, the listener, to decide if the show is any good.
Check out the comprehensive list of peanut products being recalled because of the Peanut Corporation of America. There is a growing list of bars and snacks that many people in the fitness industry use on a daily basis. The complete list is available here.
The maker of the popular Detour Bars has filed for bankruptcy due to the tainted peanut recall by its supplier.
Reuters reports:
Forward Foods, which makes high protein, snack and meal replacement bars primarily under the Detour name, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware, saying that a significant amount of its inventory must be condemned.The company had voluntarily recalled all Detour bars that contained roasted peanuts from Peanut Corp on Jan. 29 on worries the supplier had distributed peanut products contaminated by salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and the elderly.
Sales of Detour products containing peanut product from Peanut Corp made up about 75 percent of Forward Foods’ protein bar sales, the company said in documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Well here’s a story I haven’t heard before. Model-turned-boxer, Sarah Blewden has been told she cannot fight due to having fake breasts. Tony Attwood, the chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of England, said “International rules forbid anyone with breast implants continuing to box because of risk of damage to the breast tissue.” He goes on to say, “We had been hoping to do a study on breast protection so people like Sarah could box in the future but the International Amateur Boxing Association withdrew funding for it.”
Way to protect women from busting their breasts. I guess it’s okay to get your nose broke but not a boob. Errkay. Read the full story here.
Chew on “Forty Six & Two” from Tool.
Check out the video with MMA bad ass and American Gladiator, Gina Carano. It’s not the newest piece but still worth checking out.
Check out the latest interview with Fitness Olympia Champ, Jen Hendershott on bodybuilding.com. In the interview Jen sounds off on a number of things and you can tell she has a fire lit under her ass to win the Fitness International. Jen responded to one question with, “I feel sorry for those who have to witness this craziness on stage cause its an ego crusher for most of my fellow competitors. They think I am nuts and I really don’t care.”
Hendershott goes on to thank Michael Phelps for the motivation in 2008. She says, “I am my own driving force and Michael Phelps, THANK YOU for reminding me of things I have forgotten. U Rock!” An amusing response to thank the multiple gold medal winner for what she had forgot, given that he was recently seen taking a hit from a bong.
Maybe she is a little nuts but as she says, she doesn’t really care. Check out the entire interview here.
Happy President’s Day! In honor of this holiday it seems only appropriate that today’s song of the day comes from The President’s of the United States of America. Give “Lump” a listen. It’s a catchy lil’ number from years ago.
She’s Lump. She’s Lump.
Mixing it up a little bit. This is the song UFC fighter Chuck Liddell played as his entrance song. He didn’t fair too well but it’s still a cool song. Today’s song is from DMX’s album “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot”.
Happy Valentines Day Hardbody readers. Today’s a reminder to Shower the people you love with love. James Taylor sings it best with today’s song of the day, “Shower the People“. I’ve seen him in concert a few times and he is still my all time fav singer/songwriter. Simply put he’s the man. This song is great but pay particular attention to the 3:20 mark in the song. Gotta love it.
What’s your favorite love song?
