Check out (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To by Weezer. It’s a catchy little tune.
Archives for April 2010
Caption This Gym Photo
April 24, 2010 by
What do you think the caption on this photo should be? Post your best caption in the comments below.
Hardbody Music: Thousand Foot Krutch – Fire It Up
April 24, 2010 by
Get fired up with Thousand Foot Krutch – “Fire It Up”.
Is Larissa Reis Your New Sex Partner?
April 23, 2010 by
If you’ve thumbed through any of the muscle magazines lately you’ve likely seen this ad. The Nutrex ad features Larissa Reis for VITRIX, “America’s #1 Selling Liquid Sex Pill”.
THE AD COPY:
America’s #1 Selling Liquid Sex Pill
With a partner like VITRIX on your side, more happy endings are inevitable! Why is this super-charged sex drive formula so popular? Because it works…FAST! VITRIX utilizes fast-absorbing liquid capsules to give you maximum results every time you need it.
Make it a ménage á trois with VITRiX!
On Bodybuilding.com the question is asked…
How do I take Vitrix to see optimum results?
Since Vitrix is so effective and thanks to its superior liquid delivery system, this unique formula only needs to be taken once a day. On training days we recommend to take 6 Liqui-caps one hour before working out. On non-training days all 6 Liqui-caps can be consumed at one time with a meal or in between meals at anytime during the day. It’s that simple. However, if you prefer to split up your dosage, you should take 3 Liqui-caps in the morning and 3 Liqui-caps in the afternoon.
Call me crazy but why would I want to take this before working out when it’s being marketed as a something that will give me “more happy endings” and a “super-charged sex drive formula”?
MY OPINION:
The ad isn’t targeting women, that’s a given. I’m far from a prude but whatever happened to leaving something to the imagination? Using played out clichés is a lame and uncreative approach to advertising. The image isn’t flattering and it’s poorly photo shopped. The only thing that could make this ad tackier would be photoshopping the bottle of VITRIX between her spread eagle pose. Larissa is an attractive, exotic woman but there are more creative ways to showcase her and still market the “super-charged sex drive formula”.
THE OPPOSITION:
Some people will say lighten up. A tweet by one individual from the company said, “most people like it including the Mag editors. Some few don’t like it and that’s ok because again you can’t please everyone.” I agree, you can’t please everyone but when did that become an excuse to do tacky advertising? Others will take the stance that if you’re talking about it, then it’s working. I don’t buy into that train of thought. There are plenty of things being talked about that don’t equate to building brand trust or customer loyalty.
A few tweets related to the mention of this ad…
– Sex/supp add.. I saw that,Super Tacky! I read your mention about keeping it classy & then she posted the pic here on twitter!
– I’ve seen that. Was looking at a mag w it w my Mom. She was like, “what mag IS this???”
– I saw it yest…totally too much. There’s actually a couple others that are almost as bad.
– Saw that ad… No bueno! Makes me not want to use ANY of their products… So tacky!
What do you think of the ad? Do you hate it or see no problem with it? Post your comments below or send your thoughts on twitter to Hardbodynews.
{democracy:131}
Start a Conversation Tweeters
April 23, 2010 by
Those of you using twitter here’s some food for thought. Don’t use twitter to just push information one way. The beauty of twitter is to start a conversation and interact with people you know and don’t know alike. Supplement companies are the worst at this. They do nothing more than push an “exercise of the day” or pimp their protein. They’re missing the boat big time and could build customer loyalty if only they conversed with people.
Here are two experiences I’ve had that built customer loyalty for me.
Last year, I conversed with the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine via twitter. Long story short, when asked what people thought of the cover story I responded. The feature was related MMA and I thought while the photos were great the story was poorly written and missed the boat. I followed up with an email to expand on my “tweets” and it ended up running in magazine. I had direct communication with the person in charge of a magazine and she responded. Pretty cool. I now subscribe to the magazine and chat with the editor occasionally.
I travel quite a bit and when you fly as much as I do, you get used to going with the flow when it comes to flying. Getting bent out of shape over lost luggage or delayed flights is wasted energy. I’m pretty chill up until a point. It turns out my breaking point is just about three hours sitting on a plane that hasn’t moved. While flying back from LA to Denver, the crew needed to change a tire. Ok that would have been good to check BEFORE we got on the plane, but whatever. It wasn’t until the spokesperson came on the plane and said, “we didn’t realize that we needed to change the inside tire until reading the manual, so we had to change both tires” Errkay… this is your first time changing a tire? WTF!? So not only was I on the plane for 4.5 – 5 hours I was also crapping my pants after the pilot missed landing. I tweeted about the experience and to my surprise Frontier responded. While they couldn’t do much about what had happened they akwnowledge it wasn’t handled in the best way. They offered me club seats to a Colorado Rockies (baseball) game and a $50 future travel voucher. All of this came from a conversation on twitter.
If you’re going to use twitter make it worthwhile and more than just what you had to eat or what your dog’s poop looks like.
Hardbody Music: My Chick Bad
April 23, 2010 by
Ah you gotta laugh at Ludacris and “My Chick Bad”. This song cracks me up and annoyingly got stuck in my head the other day.
Win a Photo Shoot with Muscle & Fitness Hers
April 22, 2010 by
Ladies this is your chance to make it into Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine. The magazine is holding a transformation challenge and the winner will win a photo shoot with Muscle & Fitness Hers and a chance to train with Figure Olympia champ Nicole Wilkins-Lee and top trainer Kim Oddo. It’s free to enter but you better hurry the deadline is May 14th.
Click here for complete details and rules on the contest.
NPC Orange County Muscle Classic This Weekend
April 22, 2010 by
The 2010 NPC Orange County Muscle Classic will take place this Saturday, April 24, in Anaheim California. The contest always draws some top talent. Look for some tough comeptition once again as this is a national NPC qualifier. If you haven’t purchased your tickets you might want to do so before the show. Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler will be guest posing and he always draws a crowd. Ron Avidan will be in attendance covering the event and will report back with all the news. Prejudging begins at 11am and the finals kick off at 6:30pm.
Visit: Musclecontest.com for more information.
IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Shaping Up
April 22, 2010 by
The competitor lists for the 2010 Pittsburgh Pro are updated. There’s a few names added and a couple that have been removed. This is shaping up to be quite the contest in Figure and Bikini. For more information visit: garyudit.com.
BIKINI
Jaime Baird
Missy Coles
Jennifer Dietrick
Sonia Gonzales
Janet Harding
Stefanie Lindsey
Nathalia Melo
Shelsea Montes
Khanh Nguyen
Kira Rivera
Alea Suarez
Tianna Ta
Stacey Thompson
FIGURE
Holly Beck
Tivisay Briceno
Cheryl Brown
Melody Clere
Taylor Condren
Ginette Delhaes
LaVonda Ezell
Heather Mae French
Jodie Minear
Angela Mraz
Shalmieno Paper
Marcy Porter
Ann Pratt
Gennifer Strobo
Ann Titone
Christina Vargas
Karly Woodle
Jennifer Woodruff
Hardbody Video: Orlando Figure Pro Champ Erin Stern
April 22, 2010 by
Erin Stern was poolside doing photo shoots the day after her first pro win. We caught up with Erin to chat about her training, Godfather’s pizza and more. Check out what she had to say when asked who will win between her and Nicole Wilkins-Lee. Erin was the runner-up to Nicole at the 2010 Figure International and the two will meet up again on the Figure Olympia stage this fall.
Hardbody Video: Myriam “Mimi” Capes
April 22, 2010 by
Myriam “Mimi” Capes chats with us the day after her second place finish at the 2010 Orlando Pro. Find out where Myriam will be competing next and if she’s single or not…
Khay Rosemond One To Watch
April 22, 2010 by
NPC Bikini competitor Khay Rosemond finished second to Theresa Byrne, the eventual overall winner, at the 2010 Emerald Cup. This weekend she has her sights set on the 2010 Orange County Muscle Classic. Khay continues to improve her physique and she’s one to watch…
Khay backstage at the Emerald Cup.
Gaspari Signs Stacey Oster-Thompson
April 22, 2010 by
I received word last night that Gaspari Nutrition has signed Stacey Thompson to a contract as an IFBB Bikini Pro competitor. I’m told she’ll also be working with the Gaspari Team in the Midwest Region. Look for a complete profile at stacey.gasparinutrition.com soon.
Stacey’s management shared, “FMG is thankful to Rich Gaspari, Tom Hoops & Joe Volgey for this exciting opportunity for IFBB Pro Stacey Oster-Thompson. FMG spoke to Gaspari Nutrition last weekend at the IFBB Europa Show Of Champions about signing Stacey & we are very happy with the end results! Looking forward to a great future together!”
Congratulations Stacey.
Stacey at the 2010 Muscle Contest Bikini Pro show.
Hardbody Music: Trey Songz – Say Aah
April 22, 2010 by
Trey Songz – “Say Aah” seems to be a pretty popular song. Whatcha think?
Jamie Eason – 2010 Fan Babe Bracket Champion
April 21, 2010 by
Denver’s popular FM Sport’s Radio station, 104.3 The Fan, recently held the “Fan 2010 Fan Babe Bracket Championships”. An online contest where fans voted for their favorite women. Some of the round winners were Marisa Miller, Alyssa Milano, Elisabeth Shue, Tina Fey, Kim Kardashian, Natalie Portma and Jamie Eason. Jamie went on to defeat Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Marissa Miller in the finals. Not too shabby of a victory.
Click here to listen to the radio interview. The guys seem to be drool over themselves the entire interview. Towards the end of the interview Jamie gives a shout out to yours truly. Thanks Jamie and congrats!
G’s Tip of the Week – Super Grain Recipe
April 21, 2010 by
Are you getting sick of the same old complex carbs day in and day out (oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, yams)? Why don’t you give this “Super Grain” from the Andes, Quinoa (keen-wa) a try! Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain; an average of 16.2% compared to 7.5% in rice. It also contains a balanced set of essential amino acids making it a complete protein! To top it off it is light, tasty, simple to prepare and extremely versatile! Change this up and give this amazing Super Grain a try!
G’s SUPER QUINOA PILAF
6 cups quinoa, cooked
1/2 cup green onion, diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup green pepper, diced
1 cup almonds, sliced
1/4 cup sweet red pepper, diced
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 c. diced mushrooms
Saute chopped vegetables in olive oil until cooked. stir in oregano. Add sauteed vegetables to cooked, hot quinoa, mixing well. Dry-roast almonds in heavy skillet until lightly golden. Add almonds and mix.
**Add as a side to your favorite lean protein and enjoy!
** My favorite is to cook the quinoa in low sodium chicken broth instead of water, for added flavor!
ENJOY!
Message Boards / Forums – Good, Bad or Indifferent ?
April 21, 2010 by
I visit a number of message boards/forums on a daily basis. A few are related to the fitness industry while most have nothing to do with the fit biz. Like anything in life they all have positive and negative attributes. Many times these forums start off on a positive note but quickly turn into a cesspool for negativity. They can be good but it only takes one negative sap to ruin things. There’s nothing wrong with a healthy debate and it’s often a great way to gain persepctive into how others view a topic. Some boards let censorship takes over and it becomes a breeding ground for praising medicoracy. There’s the flip side where little moderation takes place and babbling idiots take over the site.
The ongoing challenge with forums is to find a healthy balance of moderation and reliable information. I see misinformation posted all the time and people go nuts over things full of half-truths. I used to participate in fitness industry forums often but lately even the best ones have turned me off to participating. They end up being the same people posting and have nothing of real value to add to my day. They’re also filled with “keyboard warriors” who have no fear when they post online but would never have the same discussion in person. Many times people will hide behind an online name and never appear in public or make an attempt to converse in “real life”. Some of the most vocal people online are quiet little mouses in a corner when at a show or event. That’s fine and you’re certainly entitled to do that if you choose.
Another trend I see on boards are “gurus” posting training and nutrition advice. How many of these people are certified trainers? Do they have a nutrition degree? It’s your body and to put it at risk over what some online guru has posted is risky business. Also remember that just because someone is pro or has won a show doesn’t make them qualified to advise you on your training and nutrition. Many pros are qualified and great sources of information to assist you on your competition and weight-management journeys. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of anyone promoting themselves as a trainer or nutritionist.
If you’re going to participate in forums ask yourself these questions before posting…
• Does your input reflect what you’d say in person to someone’s face?
• Does praising a competitor really do them justice when they were not at their best?
• Is your opinion based on facts or just what you perceive to be the truth?
• Do you REALLY like those photos or are just saying they are awesome because you want the person to feel good and like you?
• Are you conveying your point without being negative and biased?
• Do you really want to take training/diet advice from the person posting the information?
There’s definitely value in building a community with a message board/forum and there’s good information on them when you can get past the village idiots.
{democracy:130}
Join the Official Flex Magazine Facebook Fan Page
April 21, 2010 by
Interact with fans across the world on the official Flex Magazine Facebook Fan Page. This link will take you to the page run by the folks at the WEIDER offices.
Amanda Latona Muscle & Fitness HERS’ Newest Cover Girl
April 21, 2010 by
The May/June 2010 issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers is hitting newstands across the land and you might recognize the cover girl. IFBB Bikini Pro Amanda Latona is the newest competitor to land on the cover of M&F Hers. Check it out and let us know what you think. Congrats Amanda!
Those of you who follow us on twitter got a sneak peak at the cover last month. 😉
Hardbody Music: System Of A Down – Toxicity
April 21, 2010 by
Time to get amp’d up again. This time with System of A Down and “Toxicity”. It’s really rocks at about the 2:40 mark. YAAAAA!
Dianna Dahlgren’s FLEX Swimsuit Cover Girl
April 20, 2010 by
IFBB Bikini Pro Dianna Dahlgren has another cover to her growing modeling resume. The California girl was relatively unknown in the fitness industry a year ago and now she has a Muscle & Fitness Hers and FLEX magazine cover to her credit. Add in a featured spread in Muscle & Fitness and she’s completed the trifecta of top fitness magazines. Pick up the newest issue of FLEX to see Dianna and a number of other top IFBB pros inside. Congrats Dianna!
You can get modeling tips from Dianna on Hardbody.com, check ’em out.
2010 NPC Emerald Cup Photos & Results
April 20, 2010 by
Check out all the action from the 2010 NPC Emerald Cup on Bodybuilding.com. “Money” Mark Mason and Ron “Yogi” Avidan were in attendance capturing the event.
Hardbody Hot Shot – IFBB Fitnes Pro Victoria Larvie
April 20, 2010 by
Victoria Larvie is one of the youngest IFBB Fitness pros and has a bright future ahead of her. She showed off some of her leaping skills in Orlando.
Victoria flying high in Orlando, Florida.
Hardbody Music: The Offspring – Self Esteem
April 20, 2010 by
This song reminds me of college. The Offspring’s “Self Esteem” is one worth checking out if you haven’t already.
NPC Mandatory Fitness Moves… No More
April 19, 2010 by
There’s been some confusion in with a few folks regarding the NPC Fitness routines and the mandatory moves. Worry no more fitness competitors, the NPC has put out the official word to clear the air.
NPC FITNESS COMPETITORS – PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO LONGER MANDATORY MOVES REQUIRED IN YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE STARTING IN 2010.
– THE NPC NATIONAL OFFICE, 4/15/2010
Note – Remember the 45-second routine was removed last year and there are currently no manandatory moves in the Pro division. It’s a logical step to remove them from the amateur division. This doesn’t mean the routines will be any less entertaining or difficult. One look at the routines from the Orlando Pro will show you that they’re as strong as ever in the pros. NPC competitors will still need to show show strength and flexibility in their routines and not just dance around.
2010 IFBB & NPC Pittsburgh
April 19, 2010 by
The 2010 IFBB & NPC Pittsburgh show will take place on May 1st. The line ups are stacked and it will be interesting to see who ends up in the top five for the bikini division. You have Nathalia Melo coming off her Orlando win and Sonia Gonzales who has two pro bikini wins under her suit. Throw in Missy Coles, Jaime Baird and Monique Minton and you have a tough top five to beat. I look for Dianna Dahlgren to move up and challenge for a top five spot. Tianna Ta will be making her pro debut and could be in the mix. There are a number of other women who are also very competitive.
The figure will be competitive as well. Heather Mae French, Cheryl Brown, Marcy Porter and Gennifer Strobo are all qualified for the Olympia. Look for an improved Jodie Minear and that could end up being your top five. We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out but it’s definitely going to be a great show.
Fans of men’s bodybuilding will also want to check this show out as you will have all the top men guest posing at the event. Don’t forget there’s also a NPC event that has produced some future pros in the past, so keep an eye on who does well at this show in the amateur divisions.
Where:
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall
4141 Fifth Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
For More information visit: garyudit.com
Competitors scheduled to compete:
BIKINI
Baird, Jaime
Coles, Missy
Dahlgren, Dianna
Dietrick, Jennifer
Gonzales, Sonia
Harding, Janet
Lindsey, Stefanie
Melo, Nathalia
Minton, Monique
Montes, Shelsea
Nguyen, Khanh
Rivera, Kira
Suarez, Alea
Ta, Tianna
Thompson, Stacey
FIGURE
Beck, Holly
Briceno, Tivisay
Brown, Cheryl
Delhaes, Ginette
French, Heather Mae
Minear, Jodie
Paper, Shalmieno
Porter, Marcy
Strobo, Gennifer
Vargas, Christina
Woodle, Karly
Hardbody Music: Renegades of Funk
April 19, 2010 by
Rage a bit with “Renegades of Funk” by Rage Against the Machine. Good stuff.
2010 NPC Emerald Cup Bikini Winner
April 18, 2010 by
Congratulations to Theresa Bryne for winning the overall bikini at the 2010 NPC Emerald Cup! Theresa placed 1st in her class on March 27th at the Musclecontest Culver City contest, but didn’t win the overall there. In the three weeks since that contest, Theresa improved quite nicely!
Theresa backstage after winning
Kim Oddo was on hand, and was quite giddy backstage. Here is a pic with Kim and many of his Bikini Angels.
Kim and the Bikini Angeles
Photos: Orlando’s Top Five in Fitness
April 18, 2010 by
A quick photographic look at the top five competitors from the Orlando Pro show. Great work ladies!
Camala Rodriguez leaping to her first pro win.
Myriam Capes soars to a second place finish.
Regiane shows off some of her crazy strength moves.
Erin Riley with some strength of her own.
Kristina Rojas shows off one of her wicked cool moves.
For more fitness routine photos visit Bodybuilding.com.
Hardbody Music: Metallica – The Unforgiven II
April 18, 2010 by
Metallica’s “The Unforgiven II” starts a little slow but it gets rock’n. I listen to this one and zone out.
