Archives for June 2010

Get your dance’n shoes on hardbody peeps. Kelly Rowland gets it popp’n with “Commander”. This is one to add to your cardio playlist.

Muscle & Fitness Hers has a new video posted with IFBB Pro Stacey Oster-Thompson and it’s well executed. Training on the Go is a 3 minute video with five helpful tips to great glutes and hamstrings. Check out the video here and pick up the JULY/AUGUST 2010 issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers to see Stacey’s glute training feature.

A little Southern Rock by Maylene and the Sons of Disaster with “Step Up”.

This might be the cutest video you see all year. Proud papa, IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Shawn Ray shared a link of his daughter performing a fitness routine. Parents are always proud of their children… which is understandable and to be expected. That said, I wasn’t expecting much but after watching this video would be proud too. She rocked the stage and could be on her way to making more money than her papi if she makes a career out of it.

Four year old, Asia Monet Ray made her guest posing debut at the 2010 NPC West Coast Classic on Saturday. Check out the moves and stage presence little Asia Monet brings to the stage.

This four year old could teach of few competitors 5 and 6 times her age how to perform. Props!

Lonnie Teper proceeded to sing an Elvis tune to the youngster and reward her with a special award. Nice work LT.

Lonnie breaking it down for Asia Monet at the West Coast Classic.

The current cover girl of Muscle & Fitness Hers, Kathleen Tesori is back to share some insight on how last week went and a few helpful tips. If you have a question for Kat visit her web site (kathleentesori.com) or post in the comments below.

Last Friday I went to a BBQ with a bunch of local and national competitors. It was nice to get together with people who have the same hobby/career. All the dishes were competition friendly which is a rare treat so it was easy to stay on track. I brought fat free banana bread made with protein, protein peanut butter cookies and sweet potato fries. All these recipes can be found on my site www.kathleentesori.com.

Saturday I went on an overnight trip to a casino which had a great pool, tasty seafood restaurant and a good size gym. I brought a cooler up to my room with plenty of drinks, meat and veggies. My 32 ounce Powerade Zero with a straw got me through the night. I enjoy having drinks with friends so it can be a challenge explaining why I cannot even have a single shot with them.

I guess why I am sharing my plans with you is because so many girls tell me how they isolate themselves during their prep because they “felt” isolation was the only way to be successful. These same girls and are now leaning away from competing because they do not want to miss out on friend and family plans. Friends and family are more likely to accept your competition lifestyle if you come around while prepping instead of shying away.

I have been competing in different events since 2005 and it took some time to find balance and figure out creative ways to make going with the flow possible. If you live a healthy fit lifestyle year round it makes getting ready for shows a bit easier. Some people might not have strong will power and in that case isolation maybe the best way. I tell my friends and family not to worry about my needs tell me the plans and I will make something work.

Traveling can be easy
Traveling by car makes things easy because you can bring a cooler. If you are traveling by plane bring a cooler with you and once you make it through security stop by one of the shops to fill up a freezer bag with ice. If you ever have to transport eggs when you travel just buy one of those egg holders used for camping. I bought a book bag style cooler from Target that works great when traveling.

Facebook and Snacking
A few weeks ago I was really fighting huger pains and the urge to snack so I created a post on facebook and received an overwhelming response. Here is a list of things people suggested I try:

• Hot tea was the biggest thing mentioned – I started drinking at least one cup a day
• Eating shredded cabbage with lemon juice and vinegar – this is absolutely amazing (Thank you Jamie Eason)
• Make protein shakes with less water
• Chew gum – this contest prep I gave up chewing gum

There are so many great sites, magazines and forums to find information or ask questions. I have found asking Pro Athletes for advice works really well too – visit the sites of your favorite athletes.

Favorites for the moment
A few favorite things of mine right now are:
•  Cucumbers with a sprinkle “a sprinkle” of sea salt and sugar substitute. Cucumbers taste great plain but sometimes when I can having a craving I will add some toppings to make it an extra special treat. Cucumbers are great because they can be eaten like an apple, are so refreshing and great for travel.

•  Tilapia cooked with a combination of Chicken and Extra Spicy Mrs. Dash seasoning.

•  True Lemon (truelemon.com) This helps me get my water in, fights my urge to snack, chew gum or drink diet sodas. I do not use more than two packets a day.

This weekend (Editor’s note: Actually last weekend as this was written last week)
I am headed to Moab to go River Rafting with the girls for Breast Cancer Awareness. I have my food and supplements packed, my hotel has a gym and I found a gym in town. I am ready for a great stress free trip without skipping a beat of my contest prep.

Hope you found this information helpful… I just write down thoughts I have during the week and share.

Make it a great day!
Kat

Eminem has a new album out (Recovery) and he’s is usual angry self. There are some decent songs on it though like “Love the way you lie” featuring Rhianna.

One of the original women in the IFBB Pro Figure division is making a return to the stage but it won’t be in Figure. She’ll be competing next month in the IFBB Bikini division. Take your best guess as to whose name will appear on the Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships Bikini list. She was top five in the Figure Olympia and she has a Pro Figure title to her name. She’s also graced a few magazine covers along the way.

She tells me her contract has been sent in…

Check out this story on plate sizes and how they’ve changed our view on eating over the years.

IFBB Figure Pro Kathleen Tesori is the newest competitor to grace the cover of Muscle & Fitness Hers. She’s rock’n the July/August 2010 issue with a set of kettle bells and looking hardbody.

If you haven’t checked out the new look to Muscle & Fitness Hers, you’re missing out. The redesign is chalked full of great content with a kick ass new look. In this issue you’ll see IFBB Pros Kristal Richardson, Kristi Tauti, Monique Minton, Alicia Harris, Tracey Greenwood, Nicole Wilkins-Lee, Stacey Oster-Thompson, Adela Garcia, Monica Mark-Escalante, Nathalia Melo, Tianna Ta, Pauline Nordin and cover girl Kathleen Tesori! There’s also contest coverage and my “TWISTS & TURNS” column. Check it out to see my behind-the-scenes photos from the first stateside IFBB Bikini pro show.

July/August 2010 – featuring Kathleen Tesori.

This issue looks awesome and the bar has been raised for other fitness magazines. Subscribers have received their issue in the mail but others will have to wait until next week for it to hit stores. Props to all involved in this issue, great work.

Rusko featuring Amber Coffman “Hold On” is hardbody. This new song will get your fists pump’n. I love the art direction the video takes.

OhYeah! It’s Fist Pump Fridays!

Last Friday, Hardbody and OhYeah! joined forces to pump things up in Chicago. A monster thunderstorm knocked the power out at the NPC JR Nationals but that didn’t stop the Fist Pump’n. A few lucky twitter followers received FREE OhYeah! products. How? Simply follow OhYeah! and Hardbody on twitter. Then look for the #FPF tag every Friday to find out what’s pump’n.

This video is a remix of a little fella after a trip to the dentist. Over 8 million people have viewed it and here’s an OhYeah! Fist Pump for being out of your mind after the dentist.

Shawn Hektor may have finished tied for 16th at last weekend’s NPC JR. Nationals but she is one to keep your eye on in the future. While photographing shows, I often look for “fresh faces” and women who might have modeling potential. I didn’t know who Shawn was before the show but her look caught my eye. We met up Sunday for a shoot and she was great.

Remember her name as she makes the switch to bikini. She’s one to watch.

Shawn Hektor in Chicago.

Those of you on the East Coast will want to check out the NPC Philadelphia Bodybuilding Championships and Tracey Greenwood Fitness, Figure & Bikini Classic this weekend. Tracey tells me she expects to have another stellar event with 100 or more competitors. IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Dexter “The Blade” Jackson will be guest posing at the event.

The show will take place at the Mandell Theater Drexel University on June 26, 2010. For more information on how you can enter this show or purchase tickets for the event visit, traceygreenwood.com.

Looking to amp up your leg workouts? Check out Bullet for My Valentine. These cats will get ya pumped up.

Lonnie “The Swami” Teper is not only the emcee of this weekend’s NPC West Coast Classic but also the promoter. The Swami has been part of the bodybuilding industry for years and is a walking bodybuilding almanac. He’s the guy who can tell you who won the 1985 USAs and how many times he’s been stuck with the lunch tab when dining with Shawn Ray. On second thought, he’s been stuck with the lunch bill too many times to count but that’s a story for another time.

I caught up with LT last night to get the scoop on his show. It was previously called the Junior Cal but this year it’s a NPC National Qualifier and titled The NPC West Coast Classic. LT shared…

As of Monday afternoon, I’ve gotten 125 entries in hand, with 51 of them crossing over. This is by far the biggest show I’ve ever promoted, but thanks needs to go to Jon Lindsay, who let me turn the former Junior Cal into a national qualifier–now the NPC AmiLean West Coast Classic Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships. There are about 75 women entered, and both Figure and Bikini look to be very strong. Two of the Bikini competitors include Khay Rosemond, who won the Overall at the Orange County Classic this year, and Elena Andrade, last year’s Junior Cal Overall winner. Too many other outstanding competitors to name. Only thing missing at the show is Hardbody himself, the guy who has made me look good over the years with his “Rising Stars” tips. Two of them–Sarah Hurrle and Jessica Jessie, got their pro cards in Chicago at the Junior Nationals over the weekend. Check out npcwestcoast.com for more info on Saturday’s show.

Ron “Don’t Call Me Orange or Chicken” Avidan will be on hand snapping pics and covering the show for Hardbody.com and Bodybuilding.com. Ron tells me this is one of his favorite shows of the year. I think it’s because LT picks up the dinner tab at the end of the night though. In all seriousness, Lonnie is a passionate dude about this show and anyone who enters will have a first class production and a chance to be featured in IRONMAN magazine. It’s not too late to enter. If you’re looking for a National Qualifying show, check out this show. Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler will be guest posing at this show as well.

“Porn Star Dancing” by My Darkest Days is the newest addition to my iTunes playlist. ROCK ON!

Welcome our newest hardbody contributor, IFBB Figure Pro and Fitness model Kathleen Tesori. Kat is currently prepping for the Jacksonville pro, her second pro competition. Follow Kat’s prep and what’s happening in her world.

Hi Everyone,

It is just under seven weeks until the Jacksonville Pro. I am getting my oil changed and tires rotated and since I had my laptop I thought it would be a perfect time to let my thoughts flow. I have decided to compete in the Jacksonville Pro and then depending on a few variables might finish the season before the Olympia with the Dallas show too.

Since the Phoenix Pro I have been busy at work. I ended up getting a promotion just after the Phoenix show, went on a three week leadership boot camp in Alabama and booked for a few spokes-modeling jobs.  Because of all the work events I had to choose the last two shows of the season.

I would have rather started trying to earn a spot at the Olympia earlier during the season but this year it was not possible.  I guess waiting till the end of the year has given me some good time to slowly build my physique.  I only had a short time to build between turning Pro in November 2009 and my first Pro show in Phoenix.

I have so many thoughts running through my head because of all the changes my body has made since the Phoenix show. I like what I see in the mirror but building my physique has brought some mental challenges.  Because I have been focused on building my clothes are fitting tighter in certain areas and when I take pictures with friends I look big but no longer defined.

One way I reassure myself about my clothes fitting tighter is using my waist as my guide. I figure if my clothes are not tight in the waist then my gains are healthy and my building is working. Also, having faith in my trainers’ systems and knowing everything is going to come together gets me through my mental challenges.

It is important to not deviate from the trainers’ plan. I communicate with them but I never make my own adjustments because of how I am feeling. I keep saying to myself,  “I am going to be bigger and leaner than I ever have been” and when I think it I smile and continue to train hard.

Here is what a week in my life looks like – I work full time for the Air Force as a civilian, work part time for Max Muscle, training for my next show,  spending time with family and friends, keeping up on regular life duties and volunteer when I can.

So I guess this is it for now – I had a BBQ las weekend and headed out of town to stay the night at a casino. Check back to see what I did to fight the challenges and temptations of the weekend.