HARDBODY Female Sports, Health & Fitness News
A Love for Sport Life.™
If you’re looking for some motivation or inspiration, check out the huge New Year’s guide on Bodybuilding.com. I can’t think of anything they missed, whatever your goal may be. Get back in the gym and lose weight are typically most people’s New Year’s resolutions. Don’t just talk about it. DO IT!
They also have some great supplement specials going on depending on your goals.
This is a pretty cool idea from the people at Kodak. They have a digital billboard in Times Square running an application that allowing people to share their image. According to this site you can control what image goes live.
Get seen in Times Square.
If anyone tries this, let us know how it goes. I know a number of you are in the New York area. For full details on how to upload your photo and have it seen in Times Square visit their web site.
I received an email from the JNL. Inc offices. The email read…
JNL wishes you a Happy New Year, a Happy New Decade & a Happy New YOU! This year, may your wishes, dreams, hopes and goals all come true! Cheers to Your Success!
It was signed with “International Fitness Celebrity – Official Spokes Woman for the Wildy Successful Global Hit, The Ab Circle Pro – Best Selling Author” and a few other titles. Cool. JNL has definitely made a name for herself and having met and interviewed her a few times, she’s definitely full of energy. The image that was sent out with the email is what I found rather, shall we say… “interesting”.
Jennifer Nicole Lee’s New Year/New Decade photo via email.
This kid is HARDBODY. Watching this makes me smile every time. Take your 2009 out on a high note.
Good news for bikini competitors in Canada. The following note was posted on http://www.cbbf.ca.
The CBBF is very excited to announce that an additional IFBB Professional League card will be provided at the 2010 CBBF Natural Physique Championships, being held in Laval, QC and promoted by our good friend Joe Spinello.
At our 2009 AGM it was unanimously passed that an IFBB Pro card be provided to the overall Body Fitness (FIGURE) champion and the overall FITNESS champion. After conversations with the promoter and the CBBF executive the additional IFBB Pro card will be provided to the overall BIKINI champion.
However, it will be up to the provincial associations to determine whether the bikini athletes may enter this event, as some do have qualifying events for bikini athletes.
The bikini division, as of yet, is not an IFBB Amateur Worlds category, so this division is being added to the Natural Physique Championships to provide the opportunity for athletes who are entering this sport to participate for an IFBB Pro card.
I’m not totally clear on how it all works in Canada but with an additional pro card being awarded more women will have the opportunity to become an IFBB Pro.
Companies are using twitter more and more to get feedback from their “followers”. Today Taco Bell asked their 11,381 followers “How do you like my new look? Do I look good in green? http://www.drivethrudiet.com”.
To which I replied… “<– No. Christine is no Jared” and linked to the blog entry posted yesterday. The Bell responded quickly, which I’ll give them props for their attentiveness.
The twitter exchange look like this:
Sorry Taco Bell but myself along with most of the HARDBODY community aren’t buying that “Drive-Thru Diet”. Thanks for tweeting though.
A decade will come to a close this week and a new one will begin. There’s been numerous things happen from 2000 on. Obviously, many things such as 911 had a huge impact on all of our lives and will for years to come. What in the world of female bodybuilding/figure/fitness/bikini, do you think is the top story of the decade?
The top three stories on my list are the inception of NPC figure in 2001, addition of IFBB Pro Figure and the bizarre story around Kelly Ryan’s involvement in the death of Melissa James. Three very different stories but all continue to resonate in my mind. The IFBB pro figure division was introduced in 2003 and has definitely changed things on and off stage for women. I’m hoping there are more positive stories that come to mind than the one of Kelly and Amanda. Post your top story of the decade in the comments or add it to the poll below.
The traffic continues to rise every month here on Hardbody and thanks to all of you for visiting. It’s interesting to look at the web statistics and see how some people are finding the site. Here’s an inside look at the top ten search terms for December.
Last month’s Muscle & Fitness Hers cover girl, Katie Bopp takes home top honors with IFBB bikini pro Missy Coles in second. One of the more amusing terms that isn’t on the list but several hundred people typed in and found Hardbody.com on was “douche bag”.
It’s that time of year when we see all kinds of gimmicks to lose weight and shed the holiday pounds. Many people’s New Year’s resolutions include getting in shape or losing weight. There are fat loss pills, dietary supplements and improved exercises that promise to help trim our waist line. Fast food joints aren’t typically part of this conversation unless it is to avoid eating at them. One of those establishments many would consider avoiding while trying to eat healthy is Taco Bell. Taco Bell isn’t known for their healthy food. Whenever I hear Taco Bell encourage me to “Think Outside the Bun” I think cheap, fast and fairly disturbing food that would taste better in a bun. Now they’re attempting to encourage people to make healthier choices. As their web site, drivethrudiet.com states…
As you know, the Drive-Thru Diet® menu is not a weight-loss program. It’s about making different choices. For me, I didn’t want to cut out my fast food so I started choosing Fresco items from the Drive-Thru Diet® menu and making other sensible choices. I reduced my daily calorie and fat intake by 500 calories to 1250 calories a day, and, after two years, I ended up losing 54 pounds! These results aren’t typical, but for me they were fantastic!
I like how they say “as you know” and “not a weight-loss program”. I guess putting the word “diet” in the campaign and domain name should cause everyone to automatically know that of course this isn’t a weight-loss program. Noooo, when the word “diet” it used it never means that. Come on.
It looks like Taco Bell is trying to be the next SUBWAY. Subway successfully marketed Jared for eating nothing but Subway for a year. Sorry but Taco Bell’s spokeswoman, Christine is no Jared. Christine tells people she’s lost 54lbs by reducing her calories and replacing her usual fast food with the Taco Bell’s Drive-Thru Diet. Errkay.
Is this what America has come to and how we are encouraging people to lose weight? Are diet and exercise, like, so last decade and the Drive-Thru Diet is the wave of the next decade?
IÂ hope not.
There’s a variety of protein shakes on the market today. I’ve tried a few that are awesome while others taste like chalk. Some people love ’em others not so much. What’s your take?
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I gotta admit, being a Chicago Bears fan I’m a little jealous. IFBB Figure Pro Alicia Harris braved the bitter cold with her brothers last night for a Monday Night Football game at Soldier Field. The game was one of the best games of the year going into over-time with the Bears upsetting the Minnesota Vikings.
When I asked Alicia to share a few photos from the game she told me she only had a couple. The still de-icing Alicia said, “I had to keep my fingers in my mittens it was cold.” HAHA. Here’s a couple shots from inside the mittens via her phone. Thanks Alicia!
Alicia’s seats provided a pretty sweet view.
Alicia and her brothers braving the cold at the Monday Night Football game in Chicago.
Alicia will be competing in her first Figure International contest in March but reminds us all of the importance of having a life outside of the gym and away from the stage.
Congratulations to the current Ms. Figure Olympia Champ, Nicole Wilkins-Lee for her first (solo) magazine cover. She appeared on this year’s FLEX swimsuit issue with Monique Minton and Felicia Romero. Nicole graces the cover of the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers, on sale now. You can also check out a video of Nicole demonstrating a few exercises in this video. Nicole will be back on stage at the 2010 Figure International in March.
HARDBODY Nicole Wilkins-Lee rock’n the new cover!
Monique Minton heats things up in these FLEXonline.com images. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Monique Minton provides a little holiday heat.
This week’s tip of the week from IFBB Figure Pro Gina Aliotti hits on goal setting in the new year. Check out what “G” has to say…
With the New Year right around the corner, have you started thinking about your goals for 2010? It is a good time to start thinking about your goals and what it is you want to accomplish in the New Year. Be Realistic and Be Specific when determining your goals! Write down three or four realistic goals that you can stick to. Avoid unrealistic goals that will only frustrate you.
“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.”-Denis Watley
Check out Gina’s new motivational calendar available on her web site now.
The next time you see Nathalia Moreira on a competitive stage it won’t be the NPC. She competed and won the overall bikini title at the NPC Ft. Lauderdale show in October. Due to her current citizenship Nathalia is unable to enter a national level NPC event. Nathalia petitioned the IFBB Professional League office to receive her IFBB Pro card because of her citizenship situation. The IFBB Pro League office contacted the IFBB Brazilian representatives and everything was approved. After careful consideration, IFBB Professional League Chairman Jim Manion granted Nathalia IFBB Pro League status.
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Nathalia goes koo-koo over the news of her IFBB Pro Card!
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When I asked Nathalia how she felt about the news she enthuastically shared, “Are you kidding me?! This is the best Christmas gift! I can’t tell you how happy I am to be an IFBB Pro.” Nathalia has her sights set on the Orlando IFBB Europa Show of Champions as her pro debut in the new bikini division. She’ll then pack her bags and compete in the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini event in May.Â
Pick up the newest FLEX magazine to read more about this rising star in the bikini division. You can also see a few photos of Nathalia currently featured on FLEXonline.com.
Craving a new protein this holiday season? Check out Optimum Nutrition’s Strawberry Flavor of their Platinum Hydrowhey. While I haven’t tried it myself, I’ve been told by a number of people who have that it tastes great. If you’ve tried it let us know what you think.Â
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The 2009 FLEXonline.com Bikini Model Search winner, Amanda Latona is featured in the current issue of FLEX magazine. Fans of the Amanda can now get more in every issue of FLEX via her new column, “Ask Amanda”. Got a question you’d like her to answer? You can send it off to AskAmanda@flexmagazine.com and you might see her answer you in an upcoming issue. Check out FLEXonline.com for more information on the new column. Congratulations Amanda.
Nathalia Moreira is one woman you’ll be seeing a lot more of in 2010. She won her first NPC show (the Ft. Lauderdale NPC Bikini overall) and is currently profiled in the newest FLEX magazine, on shelves now. Nathalia is not only beautiful but she is also one of the funniest, most upbeat women you’ll meet. You can see more of this Brazilian beauty on FLEXonline.com. The photos were taken by yours truly in Ft. Lauderale, Florida.Â
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Check out a few videos from the NPC Nationals that took place in Florida last month.
Lisa Maguire is a NPC competitor and a lawyer in South Dakota. It’s not exactly the hotbed of bodybuilding but stories like these are cool to read. A recent story in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader featured Lisa and her routine. She shared with the paper, “The bodybuilding bug bit two years ago. “I hired a trainer to get ready for my wedding, and he suggested I’d be good for the competition because of my body type and work ethic,” says Maguire, 36.”
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Lisa Maquire photo from Argus Leader.
Read the full story here. Local press is a great way to market yourself and get sponsorship or publicity in your area.Â
Monica Brant wished her fans a Merry Christmas via her newsletter. She also shared this photo said, “I am excited to say that I have been invited to compete in the 2010 Figure International at the prestigious Arnold Sports Festival. This is pretty exciting for me as it marks my 10th invite and 16th time to work the expo. Should you be attending the event and would like to stop by the booth to say hello, please visit me at the BNRG booth where I will be on Sat/Sun. I am planning on bring my best physique (at the tender age of 39 yrs young) to stage. It seems even though my Olympia 09 placing wasn’t that great, you fans enjoyed my ‘look’ and I felt good about it too.. so I’ll do my best once again!”
Monica has also participated in a trail clinic recently. Here’s a video of Mo riding “Storm”.
If you haven’t seen this, where have you been? Those of you who have, it’s worth watching again. Is it just me or could IFBB Pros Erin Stern and Teri Turner be the actresses in this skit?
Thanks to J.M. for the video.
Merry Christmas Hardbody peeps. Enjoy the day with your loved ones and make it a Hardbody Day.
There’s been talk in the Senate of imposing a tax on elective surgeries. It appears that’s been cut and the focus has shifted to indoor tanning. The Senate’s health care bill is calling for a 10 percent tax on tanning services. A recent New York Times article shared…
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Dr. David M. Pariser, the president of the American Academy of Dermatology, said his association proposed that an indoor-tanning tax be considered in place of the cosmetic tax, and that it contacted the offices of senators. “We made the case this will reduce health care costs by hopefully reducing skin cancer in the future — that’s the point — and also raise a little revenue now,†Dr. Pariser said.
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The tax is set to take effect in July, 2010.
The NY Times article went on to say, “any provider of indoor tanning, presumably including gyms that have only a bed or two, must add the 10 percent tax to their services.” It will be interesting to see how this hits small business owners of tanning salons as well as gym owners with tanning services. Another interesting piece in the article…
Taxing tanning-bed services makes sense to Dr. Darrell S. Rigel, a melanoma researcher and a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “The rates of melanoma are rising among young women, who are the biggest users of tanning beds,†he said. “We are seeing melanomas on these women where the sun doesn’t normally shine but where tanning beds shine,†namely on breasts and pubic areas.
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Thanks to Shannon Gill for the heads up on the Tanning Tax.Â
The folks at Gaspari Nutrition are showing a little love to the Figure division by way of their sponsored athlete, Ava Cowan. Gaspari Nutrition shares:
THE SPORT OF FIGURE featuring Ava Cowan, new IFBB Figure Pro. On January 4, 2010, a four part mini-series will document Ava’s diet, training and preparation leading into the her return to the sport’s biggest stages at NPC Eastern USA in New York City followed by the NPC Nationals inHollywood, FL. At the Nationals, Ava earned her IFBB Pro status by dominating the Figure C class of 35 women.
For more information about Ava, visit ava.gasparinutrition.com.
I received this Holiday photo from top IFBB Fitness Pro, Jen Hendershott and her husband Brian.  Jen shared,  “We hope that everyone is doing something good in the world this holiday season. Christmas is about reaching out and helping those in need. We are delivering 17 gifts and hugs to the nursing homes in our area tomorrow. So many people don’t have family and friends so we are filling in to make this holiday special for those who need it. May God Bless everyone!”
Brian and Jen wishing everyone Happy Holidays.Â
Four years ago, Kelly Ryan and Craig Titus were making national news. Kelly was one of the top Fitness Pros in the world, known for her high-flying routines. Her husband Craig was one of the “Bad Boys” of bodybuilding and controversy always seemed to be around him in some fashion. Many of you knew them well, others of you may have seen them in the magazines and if you’re new to the industry you may not know them at all.Â
Kelly and Craig years ago.Â
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The story of Craig and Kelly becoming fugitives took many twists and turns. It was four years ago that the two of them were accused of murdering Melissa James. It’s a terrible story that still baffles everyone who followed it. You can read about the entire tragedy and follow how it unfolded on titusandryan.com.
Kelly could be getting out of prison in the next couple of years. Craig will most likely never be a free man again. The saddest part of this entire story is that Maura James will never get to spend another Christmas with her daughter, Melissa.
The following notice was posted on the IFBB Professional League’s web site from Chairman, Jim Manion. All IFBB Pros should take note.
From: IFBB Professional League
To: All IFBB Professional League Members
Date: December 22, 2009
SUBJECT: NON-SANCTIONED EVENTS
All members are reminded of Pro Rule 1.5, which prohibits participation in events that are not sanctioned by the Pro League.
Any Member, whether Athlete, Judge or Official, who participates in a competition not approved or sanctioned by the Pro League may be fined, suspended, or expelled. Participation includes, but is not limited to, competing, guest posing, giving a seminar, judging, officiating, promoting, endorsing or otherwise taking part in any capacity whatsoever in a non-approved or non-sanctioned competition. An Athlete under a sponsorship contract may represent his or her sponsor at a display booth, regardless of whether or not the competition is sanctioned by the Pro League. However, the Athlete may not otherwise participate in the competition.
Each member is solely responsible for ensuring that any event at which that member is guest posing or otherwise participating is in fact sanctioned by the Pro League.
For events outside of the continental USA, members are advised to contact the Pro League office to confirm whether or not the event is properly sanctioned. This will eliminate any possible future action that the Pro League may have to take against the athlete for guest posing or otherwise participating in a non-sanctioned event.
Jim Manion
Chairman
IFBB Professional League
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IFBB Fitness Pro Sandi Stuart passed along this photo which was used as her Holiday card. Curtis (the cairn terrier and Sallie the English Bulldog) posed for their loving owner poolside. Apparently, Sally kept falling asleep during the photo shoot. LOL! HAPPY HOLIDAYS from The Stuarts!
Curtis and Sallie posing poolside.
