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Archives for July 2009

Zhanna Rotar Heads to The Bikini Division

July 31, 2009 by

IFBB Figure Pro Zhanna Rotar tells me she has decided to officially announce she is making the transition to bikini. Earlier this year we told you Liza Kampstra would be doing the same thing. Liza has yet to compete in figure, while Zhanna has competed a number of times in the division. If Zhanna can tone down the muscle she brought to the figure stage, she’ll fair well in the bikini pro division. She has the sexiness and stage presence that is better suited for bikini than figure. Here’s a recent photo of the lovely Zhanna, taken just a couple weeks ago. I’d say she’s look’n good. Don’t you?

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Zhanna Rotar making the switch to bikini in the pros.
Photo by: Lycurgo Querido
Filed Under: Uncategorized

NPC USA Photos Available for Purchase

July 31, 2009 by

Looking for photos of yourself or ones you love as prints? Visit the official photographer’s site to purchase photos from last weekend’s NPC USA contest.

Filed Under: NPC

Jacksonville Pro Figure Prejudging

July 31, 2009 by

The prejudging for the IFBB Jacksonville Pro Figure will take place tonight at 6pm EST. Check back here for updates from the event. I caught up with Erin Stern who tells me she is ready to rock. Erin has steadily moved her way up in the placings and cracked the top 5 at the Orlando Pro. Krissy Chin makes her way back to the stage and shared that she’d never felt better. Working under the watchful eye of Kim Oddo, she said her body is where it needs to be. Can Jenny Lynn return to the winner’s circle again? What about Jessica Paxson-Putnam… Will she qualify for the Olympia again? Alicia Harris made more than a few people take notice in California and could be on pace to qualify here is she toned down the muscle. Might there be a surprise that no one is expecting to do well in this show? We’ll find out this evening as it all goes down in Jacksonsville.

Filed Under: IFBB

Rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio

July 31, 2009 by

Gotta love Kings of Leon. This is “Fans” by the kick ass group.

Homegrown
Rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio
You ain’t got the slang but you got the face to play the role
You can play with me

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Updated Jacksonville Pro List

July 30, 2009 by

This is the last and final list for the Jacksonville Pro Figure contest. The competition will go down this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida. You still have time to cast your votes for the TOP FIVE IN EXACT ORDER and win. See the previous post for details, you can leave your guesses here or on the other post.
The new additions to the line up are, Tina Marie Bloomfield, Karen Mularkey, Jessica Putnam & Michelle Theison.

Tina Marie Bloomfield
Tivisay Briceno
Krissy Chin
Melody Clere
M.J. Fox
Alicia Harris
Alana Hernandez
Jacqui Jarrett
Candice Keene
Jenny Lynn
Amanda Marinelli
Petra Mertl
Karen Mularkey
Marcy Porter
Jessica Putnam
Sandra Simons
Amy Stephens
Erin Stern
Sabrina Taylor-Gibson
Michelle Theison
Siobhan Tewari
Sue Upson
Julie (DJ) Wallis
Tessa Wood-Thomas

Filed Under: IFBB

Adele – Hometown Glory

July 30, 2009 by

Adele’s Hometown Glory is pretty mellow but a decent, relaxing tune. Check it out…

Filed Under: Uncategorized

MMA Fitness Training

July 30, 2009 by

Check out this video with won of the top strength and conditioning coaches, Jonathan Chaimberg. Jonathan trains a number of top UFC fighters and in this video he shows a MMA Fitness workout with Rashad Evans and fitness model Amanda Carrier. Remember Amanda showing off her guns here?

ESPN’s MMA fitness video:

Let us know if you try any of this workout and how it goes.

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features

Stern Looks Sic

July 29, 2009 by

“Sic” is a good thing for those of you who aren’t up on your hipster-dufus lingo. The newest FLEX magazine features the rookie hardbody, Erin Stern, in their Women Are Back section. I love the hardcore, raw images that this feature has to it. Check out more photos like this as well as video on FLEXonline.com.

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Erin Stern in the gym with FLEX.
Erin will look to qualify for the Figure Olympia this weekend at the Jacksonville Pro. Watch out for this hardbody as she has a very good chance of cracking the top three. Props to FLEX for continuing to feature the women.

Filed Under: News & Features

Warning Letter Issued to American Cellular Laboratories Inc.

July 29, 2009 by

Another supplement company has been warned by the FDA.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

The agency also issued a warning letter to American Cellular Laboratories Inc. for marketing and distributing body-building products containing synthetic steroid substances. The FDA said that although these products are marketed as dietary supplements, they are actually unapproved and misbranded drugs.

The FDA has received five adverse-event reports, including serious liver injury, in men taking products marketed as dietary supplements by American Cellular Laboratories including TREN-Xtreme and MASS Xtreme. Acute liver injury is known to be a possible side effect of using products that contain anabolic steroids. Some of the cases resulted in hospitalization, but there were no reports of death or acute liver failure.

“Products marketed for body-building and claiming to contain steroids or steroid-like substances are illegal and potentially quite dangerous,” said Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg. “The FDA is taking enforcement action today to protect the public.”

It looks like things could become more challenging for supplement companies as the FDA is paying close attention. Don’t be surprised if you hear about more companies getting warnings from the FDA in the coming months.

Filed Under: News & Features, Supplements

Muscle & Fitness Hers Covers the USAs

July 29, 2009 by

Props to Muscle & Fitness Hers for showing some love to the ladies in the competition world. The popular women’s magazine recently covered the NPC USA contest on their web site. Check out reports and galleries on muscleandfitnesshers.com. Those of you who are tweeters follow the mag on twitter @MandF_Hers.

Filed Under: NPC

Know Your Enemy

July 29, 2009 by

Get the head a-bobbin with Rage Against the Machine’s Know Your Enemy.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Got No Milk?

July 29, 2009 by

Most of you are familiar with the popular supplement line Muscle Milk. It’s been around for years and a staple in many competitors nutrition plans. Now the folks a Nestlé have taken issue with Cytosport, the makers of the popular supplement, and say that their brand is misleading.

The New York Times reports:

On June 9, Nestlé USA filed a petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to revoke Muscle Milk’s trademark for being “deceptively misdescriptive.” In response to questions from The New York Times, representatives for both Nestlé and CytoSport issued statements.

“Nestlé USA strongly believes in the nutritional benefits of milk,” the company stated. “Consumers looking at Muscle Milk, marketed as a ‘Nutritional Shake,’ are likely to be misled into believing they are purchasing a flavored or supplemented milk product, when, in fact, they are purchasing a water-based product that contains no milk.”

That’s all fine and dandy Nestlé but you’ve been aware of this company and you just now want to take issue with their trademark? Come on. You had no problem with them when they were the little company in the bodybuilding and fitness industry but now that the Muscle Milk products are showing up in grocery stores and convenient stores, you have a problem. I hope Cytosport shows their muscle and prevails over this bogus claim.

Filed Under: News & Features, Supplements

Amanda Latona & Kat Holmes on You Desktop

July 28, 2009 by

Click on over to bodybuilding.com and download one or both of the new Wallpapers of The Week. I had the pleasure of shooting Kat Holmes and Amanda Latona over the weekend and both were great models. Kat placed fourth in the NPC Bikini division and Amanda won her class. Amanda now joins the IFBB ranks and look for lots of big things on the horizon from her. Kat shared with me she just signed a lease on a 6,000 sq ft dance studio in Florida.

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Kat Holmes in Las Vegas.
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Amanda Latona poolside after turning pro.

Check back for more photos from these both of these shoots.

Filed Under: NPC

Go Backstage at the NPC USAs

July 28, 2009 by

Check out some of the scenes you’ll only get if you are a competitor. Our West Coast man with a plan, Ron Avidan was backstage capturing all the action. Check out all the photos here.

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Backstage at the NPC USAs.
Filed Under: NPC

Hardbody Shot of the Day – April Curry

July 28, 2009 by

You’ve seen her here before and here’s another look at one of our favorite NPC competitors, April Curry. Watch out for her to rock the stage this fall.

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April Curry taking the bikini stage by storm.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Consequences are a lot, but hey

July 28, 2009 by

A little rock’n from Offspring with “Hit That”.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How did I fair in my predictions?

July 27, 2009 by

I wrote my thoughts and predictions on the NPC USA Bikini prejudging on Friday night. So how did I fair? Let’s take a look…

My picks:
Bikini A
1) Michele D’Angona
2) Angela Harrell
3) Alicia Meza

Actual Results:
Bikini A
1) Michele D’Angona
2) Angela Harrell
3) Alicia Meza

————-
My picks:
Bikini B
1) Michelle Gullett
2) Jacquelyn Geringer
3) Sheyla Solano

Actual Results:
Bikini B
1) Michelle Gullett
2) Sheyla Solano
3) Jacquelyn Geringer

————-

My picks:
Bikini C
1) Kristal Marshall
2) Toby Tokunaga
3) Andrea Taylor

Actual Results:
Bikini C
1) Kristal Marshall
2) Toby Tokunaga
3) Kelly Willis
** Andrea placed 4th

————-
My picks:
Bikini D
1) Amanda Latona
2) Mary Jarmolowich
3) Kat Holmes

Actual Results:
Bikini D
1) Amanda Latona
2) Mary Jarmolowich
3) Tisha Des Marteau
** Kat Holmes placed 4th

————-

My picks:
Bikini E
1) Jaime Baird
2) Dianna Dahlgren
3) Maysa Quy

Actual Results:
Bikini E
1) Jaime Baird
2) Dianna Dahlgren
3) Maysa Quy
** Dianna placed 4th. She tied with Maysa with 15 points and Natalie edged both out with 14 points. Very close!

————-
Bikini F
My picks:
1) Monique Minton
2) Brendy Scheerer
3) Tricia Montoya

Actual picks:
1) Monique Minton
2) Brendy Scheerer
3) Tricia Montoya

Toot toot goes my horn. Not too shabby in the predictions for this show. Check out the full results from the NPC USA bikini here.

Filed Under: Contest Results, NPC

Smokin’ Hot Andrea Taylor Cools Off

July 27, 2009 by

Looking for hot & sexy? Look no further than Andrea Taylor. Andrea competed last weekend in the NPC USA Bikini division and finished fourth in her class. This lil’ lady knows how to pose and take great images. She’s not only great in front of the camera but also super funny and cool to be around. I had a great shoot with Andrea yesterday in Las Vegas and here’s a quick look at what we got.

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Andrea Taylor cools off in Las Vegas.
Thanks to my trusty assistant on this shoot, Lonnie “I’m about to have a heat stroke” Teper. Lonnie assisted on the shoot poolside and nearly passed out. It’s not clear if it’s because of the heat or because of bikini women like Andrea around.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

IFBB Jacksonville Pro Competitor List

July 27, 2009 by

Here’s a look at your IFBB Jacksonville Pro Figure competitor list. Post your predictions in the comments field below. If anyone correctly predicts the TOP FIVE in exact order we’ll hook you up with a sweet goody box of supplements. You have until Friday at noon to cast your votes. I believe Jessica Paxson-Putnam is doing this show but I don’t see her name on the competitor list.

Tivisay Briceno
Krissy Chin
Melody Clere
M.J. Fox
Alicia Harris
Alana Hernandez
Jacqui Jarrett
Candice Keene
Jenny Lynn
Amanda Marinelli
Petra Mertl
Marcy Porter
Sandra Simons
Amy Stephens
Erin Stern
Sabrina Taylor-Gibson
Siobhan Tewari
Sue Upson
Julie (DJ) Wallis
Tessa Wood-Thomas

Filed Under: IFBB

You Can Run A Red Light

July 27, 2009 by

Top of the Monday morning to ya! A little Jonny Lang’s Red Light for you today.

You can run a red light
Give up at a red light
You break the mold
When running through the toll
Speeding through your whole life

Filed Under: Uncategorized

NPC USAs Continues to Heat Up

July 26, 2009 by

Hold tight Hardbody peeps. It’s been a busy weekend in Las Vegas and the action is about to heat up one more day. We’re headed poolside at the host hotel for the winner’s photo shoot. Check back later today to read my full report of the show, my thoughts on prejudging vs. the finals and more. Congratulations to all the new pros. Many of which you’ve seen here on Hardbody.com the last few months.

Filed Under: NPC

NPC USA Photos

July 25, 2009 by

Check out photos of the men’s bodybuilding, women’s bikini and a variety of candid photos on bodybuilding.com. The women’s bodybuilding and figure will be posted shortly. Check back for continual coverage tonight and throughout the weekend here and on TWITTER @hardbodynews.

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Filed Under: NPC

NPC USA Prejudging Report

July 25, 2009 by

The NPC USA kicked off last night with the men’s bodybuilding and ended with the women’s bikini. Many who hadn’t seen the new bikini competition were fairly impressed. Over 80 women took the stage in hopes of leaving a pro. Six fortunate women will do that tonight. I saw more “scrunchy” bottom suits, more white suits and better posing. All in all it was a great show. I’d say there were only a few that looked like they needed to hit the cardio a bit more. Here’s my quick breakdown of how I saw the classes. This is just MY OPINION from the press seat.

Bikini A – Small class and lackluster. Only three competitors total and pretty good odds on turning pro if you’re in this one.
1) Michele D’Angona
2) Angela Harrell
3) Alicia Meza

Bikini B – Good class and Michelle looked to be the clear winner on my scorecard.
1) Michelle Gullett
2) Jacquelyn Geringer
3) Sheyla Solano

Bikini C – Very, very good class. Kristal has a smoken phyisque but so does Toby and Andrea. Whoever wins this one has a solid chance at the overall title.
1) Kristal Marshall
2) Toby Tokunaga
3) Andrea Taylor

Bikini D – Another very competitive class and like the C Class the winner will have a great chance at the overall title. I’d give the nod to Amanda because of her hardbody booty. In fact, I’d say she has the best booty in show. Mary is very good though. Kat looked great but not as good as I’ve seen her in previous outtings. Her presentation was great and I have her in a solid third.
1) Amanda Latona
2) Mary Jarmolowich
3) Kat Holmes

Bikini E – It’s a tough call on this one and will come down to a matter of personal preference. Jaime and Dianna both have killer bods. Jaime sports brown hair and a larger bust. Dianna has a very cute look with blonde hair. Jaime has a bit more fullness to her muscle but if Dianna wins I wouldn’t argue too loudly. Maysa also looks very good in this class.
1) Jaime Baird
2) Dianna Dahlgren
3) Maysa Quy

Bikini F – This class was good but not great. It looked like the class belonged to Monique Minton with Brendy Scheerer and Tricia Montoya giving her a run for her money.
1) Monique Minton
2) Brendy Scheerer
3) Tricia Montoya

Again these are only my opinions. There are a number of women who I didn’t mention but look very good. The bikini division continues to improve. We’ll have to see how it shakes down tonight. The bikini women will take the stage first and awards will be given out right away. You’ll know who the new bikini pros early into the finals.

It’s off to the big prejudging of bodybuilding and figure this morning. Check back for more info later on here or follow at TWITTER @hardbodynews.

Filed Under: NPC

Viva Las Vegas

July 25, 2009 by

How do you not smile watching this? Sing it Elvis. Word is Lonnie Teper may give us his rendition of Viva Las Vegas to start tonight’s NPC USA contest off.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Felicia Romero 9 Weeks Out

July 24, 2009 by

Arizona’s Felicia Romero is in Sin City for the NPC USAs. Three years ago she made the trip to Vegas as an amateur and left as a pro. Since that time Felicia has established herself as a top figure competitor as well as one of the industry’s leading models. I had a chance to shoot with Felicia this morning and she looks great. Felicia reminded me what a model can do when they practice and become comfortable with their poses. She’s taken the time since the Arnold to work on her legs and bring up her booty. Look for a new and improved set of wheels on her come Olympia time.

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Felicia Romero – 9 weeks out from the Olympia.

I wouldn’t be shocked if come September, you hear Felicia Romero called out in the first round of comparisons for the Figure Olympia.

Filed Under: Olympia

First IFBB Bikini Pro Shelsea Montes in Vegas

July 24, 2009 by

The first IFBB Bikini Pro Shelsea Montes made the trip to Las Vegas and here showing her support for a few friends. Check back for more photos of a few of the hardbody women in and around the NPC USAs. You’ll also want to check back for photos from our photo shoot that’s set to go down this weekend.

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Shelsea Montes in Vegas!
Filed Under: NPC

NPC USA Report – Day II

July 24, 2009 by

There will be one more check-in for competitors and then thing will get started. There are a total of 467 competitors registered for this event. The final breakdown isn’t in but is sounds like 83 women will be in the bikini division with over 200 women in Figure. The bikini prejudging will take place AFTER the men’s prejudging tonight. Tomorrow morning the women’s bodybuilding will go on and then the Figure.

Stay updated on TWITTER @hardbodynews for all the action as it goes down today.

Filed Under: NPC

Zivile Opts Out of The Figure Olympia

July 24, 2009 by

A few women will breathe a sign of relief. Why?

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The reigning Figure International champ, Zivile Raudoniene informed the folks at WEIDER that she will NOT compete at the 2009 Figure Olympia. This is big news as she was third in last year’s Olympia and from my vantage point was on pace to be one of the biggest threats for the title. This leaves the doors wide open for the Olympia. We haven’t seen Jenn Gates compete since last year’s contest and Jenny Lynn is looking to find her stride. Who might we se step up? Gina Aliotti, Sonia Gonzales, Felicia Romero, Kristal Richardson, Heather Mae French or someone else?
There’s talk that the reasoning behind Zivile not competing in the Olympia is because she’s headed to the WWE.

Read more about this story on FLEXonline.com.

Filed Under: Olympia

Shut Up and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is

July 24, 2009 by

Keeping with the Vegas theme for the NPC USA contest, here’s Katy Perry’s Waking Up In Vegas.



Don’t be a baby
Remember what you told me
Shut up and put your money where your mouth is
That’s what you get for waking up in Vegas
Get up and shake the glitter off your clothes, now
That’s what you get for waking up in Vegas

Filed Under: Uncategorized

NPC USA Check-in

July 23, 2009 by

The check-in for the men will take place first and then the ladies will make their way into the host hotel’s designated room for their turn. I’ll be there covering the event and you can stay updated faster by following out Twitter account @hardbodynews or check out the box on the upper right.

It’s cloudy and overcast in Las Vegas which is keeping the temperature down outside but inside things are heating up.

Filed Under: NPC

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