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Archives for October 2011

Hardbody Breakfast of Champions

October 30, 2011 by

Welcome to one of our new features here on Hardbody.com. One of the questions we get asked as well as the women in various competitions are asked is what do you eat? Well, now you will get  chance to find out what the Champions are eating for breakfast.

Our first featured Hardbody Breakfast of Champions comes from IFBB Figure Pro Teresa Anthony. Teresa has won back to back shows and a large part of her success comes from her diet and nutrition. She shared not only her breakfast from her competition/contest prep but also when she’s in her off-season. Note that it doesn’t get crazy or change drastically and she also mixes it up on the weekends to give her a bit of a break from the monotony of eating clean.

HARDBODY BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS:

Teresa Anthony’s Breakfast of Champions
Competition Season:
4 egg whites
1/4 cup of Oatmeal or Cream of Rice (usually switch it up)

Off Season (weekdays):
5 egg whites, 1 yolk
1/2 cup of Oats or 1/3 Cup Grits
1/4 cup of blueberries

Off season (Weekends)
4 egg whites, 1 yolks
Protein Pancakes – Want to know the recipe?
1/4 cup of strawberries

Follow Teresa on Twitter to stay updated with her contest plans, sports commentary and more. @FitTeresaNicole.

 

Filed Under: Breakfast of Champions

2011 IFBB Border State Pro Figure Results

October 29, 2011 by

The 2011 IFBB Border States Pro Figure is a wrap and Teresa Anthony proved to be victorious once again. This was Teresa’s second pro win in a row and the third in her IFBB career. Her first pro victory came at this show last year. Coming in second was Krissy Chin who narrowly missed an Olympia qualifying spot at the Houston Pro. Krissy avenged her 4th place finish from that show and is now qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia. Jamie DeBenard came in third once again, a spot she held at the Houston Pro just a couple weeks ago.

 

Natalie Waples bounced back from 16th in Houston to a top five spot here. She finished in the fourth place spot and just narrowly missing out on an Olympia qualification. Crystal Chiles is one I mentioned who could be a contender at this show and she proved me right. Crystal finished in the fifth place position, the highest of her IFBB Pro career. Candice Lewis tied with Crystal for fifth and if she heads into Kentucky next week, I still think she’s a top three contender.

Since Teresa and Jami were already qualified for the Olympia, there’s only one additional Olympia qualifier from this show and that’s Krissy. Next year only the winner of the show will be qualified for the big dance. The next IFBB Pro Figure show takes place in Louisville, Kentucky on November 5th and will be the last chance for a top three qualification.

IFBB Border States Pro Figure Results: (points)
1.Teresa Anthony* (3)
2. Krissy Chin*  (6)
3. Jami DeBenard* (9)
4. Natalie Waples (12)
5. Crystal Chiles (17)
6. Candice Lewis (1 )
7. Allison Frahn (20)
8. Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccoine (24)
9. Rosalind Vanterpool (27)
10. Deborah Denio (28 )
11. Jaime Cash ( 31)
12. Rachel LeBlanc (32)
13. Melanie Burger (37)
14. Tracey MacDonald (42)
15. Janet Lynn West (42)
16. Marlene Koekemoer (48)
16. Sara Picken-Brown (48)

*Qualify for the 2012 Figure Olympia

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

Transgender Bodybuilder Making National News Heading into Competition

October 29, 2011 by

The general public will often make wise cracks that female bodybuilders look like dudes. It’s fair to say they aren’t always off base whether right or wrong to judge. Many female bodybuilders have bulked to monstrous proportions and taken their bodies to the limits and beyond. Female bodybuilding is often misunderstood and quite frankly most of the world could care less. Today at the NPC Border States in San Diego a few more people than usual will be paying attention to the female bodybuilding competition. That’s because Chris Tina Foxx Bruce will be stepping on stage as a female bodybuilder. It’s only a story because in 1993 Chris competed in male bodybuilding as Chris Gary Bruce.

The issue most people have with Chris competing is not that she’s transgender but that she’s still anatomically a male. Gay-SD.com recently wrote about the topic and shared:

In an e-mail to Bruce regarding her entry into the competition, bodybuilding promoter and NPC contact Jon Lindsay wrote, “In the NPC we cannot offer specialty classes within a class… Because you have made the transition from male to female you are permitted to compete in the Women’s Bodybuilding division in the contest.” Lindsay added he was looking forward to seeing Bruce compete in San Diego in her “best shape ever,” he said.

Chris shared with the site that she is on hormone therapy and ““Some of these women may be taking steroids and if so, their testosterone levels could actually be higher than mine.  This could actually put me at a huge disadvantage.”

The discussion continues. Many people say Chris was born a male and still has a penis so no, he should not be allowed to compete as a female despite living every day as a woman and on female hormones. Others take the stance that there’s little difference than females taking male hormones in an attempt to get bigger and compete at proportions often larger than their male counterparts.

In a video posted on AOL.com, Chris says she has to do twice as much cardio and needs to be stricter on the diet due to the hormone replacements. Will she have the symmetry to compete with other female bodybuilders or will she lack the necessary shape on stage?

Video Interview on AOL.com ends with a crotch shot.

Why the interviewer felt the need to give us all proof that Chris still has a penis at the end of the above video is beyond me but thanks for verifying Mr. Interviewer.

One topic that often comes up is people thinking Chris is gay and attracted to men. As shared in an interview with the Dallas Voice… “People don’t realize: Transgender has nothing to do with sex,” Bruce says. “I’ve never been attracted to guys, but that’s the first assumption many people make.”

Chris lists herself as a “fitness consultant and spokesperson” on her Linkedin account. She shares, “Whether you have 100 + pounds to lose or just need to get rid of those “last 5” pounds I can teach you the right formula for consistent, lasting success.”

Regardless of your point of view on this story one thing is for certain Chris has been successful at generating buzz for herself heading into the Border States. Harbody.com’s correspondent Ron Avidan will be in attendance and report back on whether this story is as big as people are making it out to be or just another day at a bodybuilding competition.

{democracy:211}

Lead photo screen captures via Fox News video.

Filed Under: News & Features

2011 IFBB Border States Pro Figure Preview

October 28, 2011 by

This weekend 17 IFBB Figure pros will head to San Diego, California for the Border States competition. Promoter Jon Lindsay always does a great job with his pro shows that are held in conjunction with a National Qualifying NPC event. Our West Coast correspondent Ron “Yogi” Avidan will be in attendance and keeping us updated on the action. Things get started at the Scottish Rite Event Center at 11am with the prejudging and the finals will begin at 6:30pm.

 


The Hardbody Breakdown:
This is one of the last IFBB Figure competitions where the top three women will qualify for the 2012 Olympia. Teresa Anthony and Jami DeBenard are already qualified so we could potentially see one additional woman qualify in this line up.

Leading Contenders:
Teresa Anthony has found her groove and don’t look for her to slow down here. She’s coming off a win at the Houston Pro where she narrowly defeated Jelena Abbou. Look for her to be in the top call-out and compared for her third pro victory and second win in a row. She’s also the defending champion and looking to retain her title.

Krissy Chin came close to qualifying at the Houston Pro and many felt she was at her all-time best, or close to it. She should be in the hunt once again but cracking the top three won’t be a walk in the park. Look for her to be in the top five but where is the question.

Jami DeBenard has been on a roll since turning pro at the 2011 NPC USA. She’s already qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia with her third place finish at the Houston Pro so the pressure is off her to land in the top three. She’ll of course be gunning for her first pro win. The judges like what she’s bringing to the stage and look for her to be in the top call-out once again.

Candice Lewis made her pro debut at the 2011 Ft. Lauderdale Cup and showed tons of potential. She was the overall winner at this year’s Jr. Nationals and has the genetics to be a contender in the pro division. Her lower body needed to be a little tighter, specifically her quads to match her upper body at her debut. If she comes in tiny bit tighter in the lower body, don’t be surprised if you see her in the top three.

Potential Contenders:
Jaime Cash may not be a name that you are familiar with however Jaime Meade might be. We interviewed her back in 2008 before she turned pro, if you missed it check it out here. She’s since left her goats behind, been remarried and ready to hit the pro stage again. She was 14th at the 2010 Phoenix Pro, her IFBB debut. She has the genetics to do well but we’ll have to see how the time away from the stage has served her.

Crystal Chiles was 6th at this show last year and if she comes in a bit tighter from behind she could be in the hunt here. I look for her to be in the first or second call-out and the potential to be in the hunt for a qualification if she’s on the money.

Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccone is shown on the poster as a co-emcee so she might be joining her husband Pete at the microphone after she ditches her posing suit at the finals. Meriza has been up and down in the Figure division and has yet to crack the top five in her last few shows. She’s one of the shorter competitors will could work against her in this line up. At times she comes in too hard and it hurts her. That’s the tricky part of being a shorty. If you come in too soft it can often make you look out of condition to the taller women, come in too lean and you look jacked. We’ll see what she brings this time around.

Allison Frahn continues to get favorable call-outs however I gotta say I don’t see it. It’s nothing personal however when you see striations in a figure competitor’s glutes I don’t think that should be rewarded. She was fifth at the Houston Pro but you’ll see a different set of judges at this show. We’ll see where she fares but don’t be shocked if she is in the first call-out or two.

Natalie Waples was left out of the call-outs in Houston when she should have been in the top ten. Unfortunately for her she has a 16th place finish on her resume at no fault of her own. She should finish in the top 10 here and could potentially be in the hunt for the top five. She’ll have her work cut out for her to get into that top three and return to the Olympia but never say never.

Competitor of Note:
Rosalind Vanterpool has a sic physique however it’s often “too muscular” for Figure. She’ll likely be told the same thing here unless she’s stripped some muscle off. She’s someone who I think could come in how she has at previous shows and do well in the upcoming IFBB Women’s Physique division.

We’ll see how things turn out on Saturday October 29, 2011. For more information and tickets visit MuscleContest.com.

 

{democracy:210}

 

Filed Under: IFBB, Show Previews

2011 Titans Grand Prix Photos

October 24, 2011 by

Check out all the photos from the NPC & IFBB Titans Grand Prix. Ron Avidan was on hand to capture all the action over the weekend and you can check out the hundreds of photos on Bodybuilding.com.

 

 

You will find NPC and IFBB photos from the event on Bodybuilding.com. Check out the candid shot links for some of the silliness that went down beyond the stage.

 

Filed Under: Contest Results, Event Photos

CNN Presents “Fighter Girls” – Women in MMA airing Oct. 23

October 23, 2011 by

Tun into CNN tonight to catch “Fighter Girls”,  a story on women in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The rise of MMA’s popularity is due in large part to the UFC however the industry giant has yet to add a women’s division. It will be interesting to see how CNN’s Amber Lyon tackled this subject. Tune in tonight at 8pm EST to watch the show.

 

 

From CNN.com:
Mixed Martial Arts, or M.M.A., is a full contact combat sport that was once banned in much of the United States.  Today, it’s one of the fastest growing sports among men… and now women.  But why would any woman climb into a cage for all-out combat for what amounts to almost nothing?  CNN’s Amber Lyon steps into the Octagon to find out.

“Fighter Girls” is one of four riveting stories airing on CNN Presents hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Sanjay Gupta this Sunday, October 23 at 8:00 pm ET, re-airing at 11:00 pm ET and 2:00 am ET.

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features

2011 Titans Grand Prix Pro Bikini Results – Amanda Latona Wins

October 23, 2011 by

Congratulations to Amanda Latona on her fourth pro victory. Amanda had taken a few months away from the competitive stage but she picked up right where she left off. She beat out a competitive line up on Saturday to notch her 4th win as an IFBB Pro. She’ll look for win number five in a couple weeks at the Sacramento Pro.

Abbie Burrows finished in second and has proven she’s a top contender in the bikini division. Tiffany Boydston may have been the surprise to a few by finishing in third. She came close earlier in the year with a fifth place finish at the Tijuana Pro but locked in an Olympia qualification here. This was an especially special moment for her not only qualifying for the Olympia but it was also her birthday (hence the cake shown above). Rounding out the top five was Brittany Tacy who continues to inch her way up in the rankings since turn pro at the 2011 NPC USAs. In her pro debut, Narmin Assria finished in fifth. There are only a few remaining shows to go where the top three qualify for the Olympia. Starting in 2012 only the winners of each show will be Olympia Bound.

Congratulations to all the women who competed and met their goals.

2011 Titans Grand Prix Pro Bikini Results
1. Amanda Latona (3)*
2. Abigail Burrows (6)*
3. Tiffany Marie Boydston (9)*
4. Brittany Tacy (11)
5. Narmin Assria (15)
6. Talia Terese (16)
7. Jessica Anderson (25)
8. Leigh Brandt (26)
9. Nicole Coleman (27)
10. Christie Marquez (28)
11. Mandy Henderson (32)
12. Casey Trailer (33)
13. Janet Harding (41)
14. Jennifer Dietrick (43)
15. Brittany Gaylord (44)
16. Kelly Gonzalez (46)
17. Abby Duncan (49)

*Qualify for the Olympia. (indicates score)

Filed Under: Contest Results

Hardbody PROfile: Narmin “Funsize” Assria – IFBB Pro

October 21, 2011 by

Narmin Assria has finished in the top five of every bikini competition she’s entered. This weekend she’ll look to keep that streak alive in her IFBB Pro debut. This California girl may not be the biggest woman on stage but she brings a ton of sass and can hang with the big dawgs. I caught up with Narmin on the eve of her pro debut. Check it!

Name: Narmin Assria

Born in: Chicago IL

Currently live in: Murrieta, California

Any nicknames: Nar Nar, funsize

Did you play any sports growing up? Yes I danced all four years in high school.

What would your friends say you are like – the wild one, quiet, etc? My friends would without doubt describe me as the one that has a good time, not too wild but definitely not the quiet one.

Is that how you’d describe yourself? Yes

Dog or cat lady: Both, I grew up with a cat my whole life she was my baby, but now I am definitely a dog lover. I want a yorkie soo bad, there so cute and little!!

Contest history:
– 2010 NPC California Championships, Bikini Class A, 2nd place
– 2010 NPC USA Championships, Bikini Class A, 4th place
– 2011 West Coast Classic, June 25th 2011 Bikini Class A, 1st place
– USA Championships, Bikini Class A. July 29- 30 2011 1st place, earned IFBB PRO status

How did you get into competing? I have always been a gym rat, saw a show and knew I can do it. I love competing whether it was in any sport, so it was perfect for me

Best part of a competition: I get to meet such amazing people that inspire me even more every day. Doing what I love. Being center stage and showing off all my hard work, and always going home a winner because I know I worked hard and have been blessed threw out my journey as a fitness competitor.

Not so great part: Le’ts see… the diet, I love food!!!! But I absolutely put all the junk food to the side when I’m prepping and stay focused.

What’s a your breakfast consist of: 4 egg whites and a cup of oatmeal 🙂

Any favorite supplements: Gotta love Evogen, EVP, pre-workout solution!! It gets me going in the gym

How much cardio do you do? About 20-30 min, 5 days a week

Stupidest thing a guy has said to you in the gym: haha hmm I can’t even think of anything I try not to talk to them when I’m there.

Sandals on a guy – ok or gross? Sandals are okay for the beach otherwise cover up those toes guys haha

If I guy takes longer than you to get ready… unattractive

What expectations/goals do you have for your pro debut? My goal is to come into my Pro debut with a bang, and qualify for the Olympia!! I’m going to go out there and have fun, rock that stage like it was any other show I have done!! To come out on top but if not that’s okay because there is always room for improvement, and more shows I will be competing in 😉

What music do you listen to while working out? Rocking that house music!!

Are you a booty short and bra top girl or sweats and a hat when working out? Definitely a booty short girl, rocking a hat 😉

What are you going to be for Halloween? A Sexy firefighter 🙂

All the best in your pro bikini competitions. See more of Narmin’s competition photos here.

Filed Under: Interviews, News & Features

Live Hardbody Coverage – IFBB Houston Pro / NPC Texas State

October 15, 2011 by

We’re LIVE from the Stafford Centre in Houston, Texas for the 2011 NPC Texas State and IFBB Houston Pro. Follow al the action here and on our facebook page from the event. Those of you on twitter, you can follow the live updates via twitter.com/hardbodynews, twitter.com/MusclePhone and twitter.com/BBcomcontests. Joining in the coverage? Use the hashtag #TXstate and #HoustonPro for the event in all your tweets. You can see what everyone is tweet’n about with that tag by checking out hashtags.org/TXstate and hashtags.org/HoustonPro.



Filed Under: IFBB

NPC Texas State & IFBB Houston Pro Preview

October 14, 2011 by

Over 200 hardbody men and women will take the competition stage this weekend in Houston, Texas. The 2011 NPC Texas State will be held in conjunction with the IFBB Houston Pro. This is a special weekend for a new competition in the IFBB… IFBB Wheelchair Bodybuilding. This event alone is worth the price of admission. The men competing in this event are an inspiration and a reminder that we should never have an excuse for staying fit. The newly crowned Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath will be guest posing at the finals. Visit thompsonmusclecontest.com for tickets and additional information.

 


The HARDBODY 411:

IFBB FIGURE:
The IFBB Figure competition has 24 women registered to compete and it will be a competitive show. This is one of the few remaining shows where the top three finishers will qualify for the 2012 Olympia. Next year only the winner qualifies for the event.

The Figure Contenders:
Jelena Abbou continues to streamline her physique for the Figure division. Look for her to bring her tightest, smallest physique to date. If her booty is down in size, which I think it will, look for her to be in the mix. She’s a top model and looks to be a top competitor.

Teresa Anthony is the one to beat in my book. Teresa has worked her booty off, literally, and become one of the top physiques in the Figure division. I like the look she’s brought her last two shows and if she does it here I see her as your winner. Teresa has one win under her suit and looking to make it win number two.

Krissy Chin has improved her physique over the years and should be a contender here. Look for her to be in the hunt for a top three finish.

Alea Suarez successfully made the switch from bikini to figure and found herself in the 2011 Olympia. She’ll look to make a return trip and has a chance to do so at this show. I like how Alea has polished her presentation, become more relaxed on stage and continues to refine her physique.

Natalie Waples was an Olympia participant and will look to do so again. She’s up and down in her placings and could be in the top spots or on the outside looking in. We’ll have to wait and see how she compares to the other women.

I really like the look of Ginette Delhaes and would like to see her in the mix a bit more. She’s been bringing a better look with each show but always seems to be on the outside of the top spots. We’ll see where she fairs this weekend.

A number of fitness competitors have entered the show and I think it’s a smart move, why not try to qualify if you’re already in shape? Props to them for showing up and helping make this a good show. Agree with the top picks or will someone else be in the hunt for a top three spot not mentioned?

IFBB PRO BIKINI:
There are only a disappointing nine women entered for this event. Which means 1/3 of the field will qualify for the Olympia. It’s a fairly stupid move, in my opinion, for more women not to be at this event. Next year only the winners qualify for the Olympia and there’s only a handful of shows left where the top three qualify. Props to the women who were smart enough to enter this event.

The Bikini Contenders:

Barbara Bolotte is a hottie with a body that is contender in every show she enters. I look for her to be in the top callout and compared for a top spot. She competed in the Olympia and will look to make her way back again next year.

Tawna Eubanks will be making her pro debut in her home state of Texas. She’s continued to improve her physique and if she has the muscle to compare with the pros look for her to be in contention.

Roya Tehrani will look to improve from her pro debut and I see her being in the top three at this show if she does. She turned pro by winning the overall title at this year’s Team Universe.

Christina Vargas has one of the craziest work schedules and if she can find time to rest her body and come in poised with her presentation look for her to be in the hunt. She finished in the top three at the Phoenix Pro and will look to do so again here.

Potentials:
Gabriela Cardosa won her class at the 2011 Arnold Amateur and calls Brazil home. She’ll be one of the taller competitors on stage and will tower above most of the women here. It will be her pro debut and we’ll see how she stacks up. She could be the surprise of the show.

Skye Taylor made her pro debut last weekend in Florida and will try her hand at round two. I like her overall look and she could be in the mix here.

Nicole Moneer-Guerrero has fun on stage and had her best finish in her pro career last week with a fourth place finish. She looked good however I wouldn’t have her in the top five on my scorecard. We’ll see where she finishes here with a different set of judges. Of course she’s looking to move up one spot to head to the Olympia.

Janet Harding has been more selective in her shows this year and with the added rest her body could be better than ever. Janet’s come a long way since her early shows but will have her work cut out for her at this show.

Nicole Coleman has shed a ton of muscle and really brought her physique down since her figure days. The biggest thing for her will be her presentation. She has a tendency to “angry pose” where she over does each move. If she can relax and pose with a little more poise she’ll move up.

DATE / TIMES:
Friday, Oct 14, 2011 7:00 pm – Check-in, weigh-in, & meeting at the Stafford Centre
(No late weigh-ins)
Saturday, Oct 15, 8:00 am – Check-in and prejudging
Saturday, Oct 15, 5:00 pm – Night show check-in, live judging, and trophies

LOCATION:
Stafford Centre
10505 Cash Rd.
Stafford Tx. 77477
Stafford Centre directions

HOST HOTEL:
Courtyard by Marriott
12655 Southwest FWY
Stafford Tx. 77477

FRIDAY Competitors Meetings:
NPC Athletes Meeting
7 pm Stafford Centre

IFBB Athletes Meeting
7 pm Marriott Courtyard

SATURDAY AM PRE-JUDGING SCHEDULE
(National Qualifier)

NOVICE WOMEN ( one class )
OPEN WOMEN ( one class )
NOVICE MEN ( Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight )

OPEN MEN ( Bantamweight, Lightweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Super Heavyweight )

IFBB Pro Wheelchair

MASTERS WOMEN ( over 35, over 45 )

MASTERS MEN ( over 40, over 50, over 60, over 70 )

TEEN MEN

MEN PHYSIQUE (Class A, Class B )

FITNESS ( two – piece )

FIGURE TEEN

FIGURE ( Class A, Class B )

FIGURE MASTERS ( over 35, over 45 )

BIKINI TEEN

BIKINI ( Class A, Class B )

BIKINI MASTERS ( one class )

IFBB Pro Figure
IFBB Pro Bikini

2011 IFBB HOUSTON PRO FIGURE / BIKINI

FINALS
2011 NPC TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN FITNESS ROUTINES

IFBB PRO WHEELCHAIR ROUTINES / CONFIRMATION SCORING

TEEN MEN BODYBUILDING
ROUTINES / AWARDS

IFBB PRO WHEELCHAIR AWARDS

TEEN WOMEN BIKINI
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL WALKS / AWARDS

TEEN WOMEN FIGURE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS / AWARDS

NOVICE MEN BODYBUILDING
LIGHTWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
MIDDLEWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS

MASTERS MEN BODYBUILDING
over 40 ROUTINES / AWARDS
over 50 ROUTINES / AWARDS
over 60 ROUTINES / AWARDS

MASTERS WOMEN BODYBUILDING
over 35 ROUTINES / AWARDS
over 45 ROUTINES / AWARDS

NOVICE WOMEN BODYBUILDING
ROUTINES / AWARDS

OPEN WOMEN BODYBUILDING
ROUTINES / AWARDS

MASTERS WOMEN FIGURE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS
over 35 AWARDS
over 45 AWARDS

WOMEN FITNESS
AWARDS

MASTERS WOMEN BIKINI
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL WALKS / AWARDS

MEN PHYSIQUE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS
CLASS A AWARDS
CLASS B AWARDS

OPEN MEN BODYBUILDING
BANTAMWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
LIGHTWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
MIDDLEWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS

WOMEN FIGURE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS
CLASS A AWARDS
CLASS B AWARDS

WOMEN BIKINI
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL WALKS
CLASS A AWARDS
CLASS B AWARDS
CLASS C AWARDS

IFBB WOMEN BIKINI AWARDS
INTRODUCE ATHLETES, INDIVIDUALLY, TWO-PIECE SWIMSUITS, ACKNOWLEDGE AUDIENCE WITH A HAND WAVE, AS EACH ATHLETE COMPLETES HER INTRODUCTION, THE ATHLETE WILL THEN WALK TO DESIGNATED DIAGONAL, ONCE ALL ATHLETES ARE ANNOUNCED, AWARDS ARE GIVEN WITH ENTIRE BIKINI CONTINGENT ON STAGE, WHEN TOP FIVE ATHLETES HAVE THEIR AWARDS, GIRLS DISSOLVE INTO CLOSEST WING, TOP FIVE REMAIN ON STAGE FOR PHOTO

IFBB WOMEN FIGURE AWARDS
INTRODUCE ATHLETES, INDIVIDUALLY, TWO-PIECE SWIMSUITS, ACKNOWLEDGE AUDIENCE WITH A HAND WAVE, AS EACH ATHLETE COMPLETES HER INTRODUCTION, THE ATHLETE WILL THEN WALK TO DESIGNATED DIAGONAL, ONCE ALL ATHLETES ARE ANNOUNCED, AWARDS ARE GIVEN WITH ENTIRE FIGURE CONTINGENT ON STAGE, WHEN TOP FIVE ATHLETES HAVE THEIR AWARDS, GIRLS DISSOLVE INTO CLOSEST WING, TOP FIVE REMAIN ON STAGE FOR PHOTO

NPC BIKINI OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC MEN PHYSIQUE OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC FIGURE OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC NOVICE MEN OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC OPEN MEN OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION

Filed Under: IFBB

Hardbody Moms: Interview with Siliana “Freakishly Strong” Gaspard

October 14, 2011 by

Siliana “Sil” Gaspard has only been competing in the NPC bikini ranks for a few months but she’s already a top national contender. I caught up with the Hardbody momma, no seriously she has a 17 month old son, on the heels of her next competition. Sil will be competing this weekend at the NPC Texas State and don’t be surprised if she’s contending for the overall crown. Find out how she trains, what was up with her husband getting arrested in Columbus, the video ending up on TMZ .com and more.

Name: Siliana Gaspard



Any nicknames? “Sil” and “Abs”… pretty basic.

Currently Reside in: Houston, TX



Born in: Sofia, Bulgaria

What age did you come to the United States? We moved around a lot. I have lived in Bulgaria, France, Switzerland, Montreal, London, Ontario, and finally the States. We moved here in 1998.

Are women fit and active in Bulgaria or not so much? I would say not so much. Its divided, really. We have a lot of great tennis players, and gymnasts, but then a lot of the women smoke cigarettes and don’t really exercise. I mean, they are almost all thin, and some of the most beautiful women I have seen are in Bulgaria. Seriously, I think they have the most beautiful women per capita then any other place I have been to. They all make an effort to look good.

Sounds like I need to visit Bulgaria.



Occupation: Blessed to be self-employed with my husband.


Play any sports or activities growing up? I played tennis almost all of my childhood. We went to tennis tournaments just about every weekend. My dad had my brother, sister, and I on the tennis courts everyday after school, hitting tennis balls, doing running drills. We ran about 5 miles 3 times a week at a local park. I remember people being so amazed because I ran alongside my dad, at his pace, the entire time. It was all worth it, my siblings and I were all ranked Juniors players in Ontario, Canada, and in Florida.

Do you still play tennis? I am no where near as good as I used to be. Tennis is a lot of fun, and I would like to get back on the court. But, no, I don’t play as often as I used to. I was actually teaching tennis earlier this year to 3-4 year olds, and 10-15 year olds, I loved it!

Any hidden talents people may not be aware of? I wouldn’t consider them talents, but I am fluent in three languages (English, French, and Bulgarian.) Being multi-lingual is such a blessing. And, I am freakishly strong for my size; right now my heaviest weight on squats is 315lbs-the same as my husband’s!



Number of years competing: You mean months? =) Been at it since July 2011.

Competition History: My first show ever was the Branch Warren Classic July 16, 2011: 2nd place Bikini B. My second competition was the Dallas Europa Super Show August 12-13, 2011, 1st place Bikini B, and the Overall Bikini Title. My first National attempt was at the IFBB North Americans in Cleveland, OH where I got 3rd place in Bikini C.

 

How did you get started in competing? I lost all of my baby weight, but I was still “skinny fat.”
I wanted to get in shape and start modeling again. Fitness modeling was mentioned to me by several people, and the topic of competing came up. I decided to do my first show for my own sense of accomplishment and hard work after having a baby. But after that first show, I was hooked and wanted to compete again, and again.

How did you get started in weight training? My husband hired me a personal trainer after the birth of our son to have someone help motivate me to get back to where I wanted to be. The trainer’s wife is a body builder, so naturally he had me lifting weights. After a few weeks, I really liked the results I saw from weight training, and not just cardio and 5lbs dumb bells like I had been doing before.

Most people won’t believe it but you have little one when they see your bikini body. How old is your lil guy? My little boy is 17 months now! He is such a sweet kid, I love watching him discover new things.

What advice do you have for other moms on staying fit after a pregnancy? Watch what you eat, foremost. Secondly, you don’t have to get crazy with the exercise right after birth, but rather, do small things like, take the baby on daily walks, get started with programs like Baby Boot Camp etc. Just start out slowly, and incorporate your baby in the exercise so you are still bonding and having fun together. I took my son on daily walks around the neighborhood, or a park, because we both enjoyed it. He got to take nice naps out in the fresh air, and it kept me moving and burning calories. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that I didn’t want to leave him to go focus on myself and be “selfish.” So I found a gym where I could bring him on the floor with me (in his car seat) and for my cardio, I bought an awesome Jeep jogging stroller, and the baby and I went running during his afternoon nap time.

Did you workout throughout your pregnancy? I did at first, but then became very nauseated during the end of the 1st trimester, and I stopped going as much. I would go about 1-2 a week with my husband, but I started listening to all of the myths about how if you exercise too much you could hurt the baby. So I stopped going, but I was still very diligent in watching what I ate. Next time around, I am definitely going to continue working out the entire pregnancy, I think its better for the mom and the baby.

Any supplements you’d recommend to moms? Gaspari Myfusion (Banana flavor protein) tastes great, and its healthy and an easy meal replacement for busy moms. I know in my house, I feed everyone else first before I get to eat, so it holds me over until I can eat a meal.



What type of diet do you follow… high protein / low carbs? Exactly. High protein, low carbs. I don’t follow a diet religiously, I make conscious choices. If I am hungry, I eat. But I eat healthy and clean, and I don’t over indulge. If I am prepping for competition, then obviously I stay away from sugars, high fats, and carbs. But, by no means do I look at the clock and say, “Oh time to eat again.” I don’t have all of my meals packed and with me at all times, and to be honest, I had Chik Fil A last week, twice.

How much water do you drink a day? Right now since I am prepping for Texas State Saturday, I am drinking about 1 gallon and 1/2 daily. But usually I would say about 8 full glasses.

What’s your favorite body part to train? Legs and Abs. I love doing legs because I love adding more and more weight to the rack for my squats. I love the way people, mostly men, look at the weight like “there is no way she can get that”, then I hit it (my goal is always at least 5 times) and it makes me feel like such a badass, its such a rush of adrenaline and endorphins. I also like training Abs because, well, I never get to train them! So when I am finally given the green light to train them, it feels good. I think a lot of people see my photos and assume that I train them all of the time, but I’ve honestly only worked on them a total of 20 mins in the past 4week.



Give readers an idea of what a workout would consist of.
Well… my last workout before competition was Wednesday and it was an overall body workout, so I can run that one by you…
I started off with 6 minutes of rowing.
Then went to cleans and presses with a 45lb bar. 10 up clean, 10 up press.
Then down to 10 push ups real quick.
Add 5lbs to bar, 8up clean and press, drop down 10 push ups.
Add 10lbs to 45lb bar, 6up clean and press, drop down 10 push ups.
Then curls and rows with the bar, again alternating with push ups. (Oh, did I mention no breaks?)

I’m exhausted reading this.

Then straight to tricep pull downs, burn outs.
From there, squats. 10 up squats with 225lbs, drop down push ups 5 times with 7.5lbs dumb bells.
Alternate push ups and squats for 5 sets. (No breaks)
Then we did kettle bell squats, dumb bell squats, and finally finished with 2 full circle push ups. =)

How much cardio do you do a day? I think people will hate me for this one but, none. I train very hard during my work out that I do not need it. If I did cardio, I would start losing muscle mass.

What type of cardio do you enjoy best? When I do get to do cardio, I enjoy running. Either sprints or long distance. I get such a high after a good run; it lasts all day, and keeps me feeling great.



Do you work with a trainer? My husband Shad implements a plan that Charles Glass put together for me. Shad and Charles are good friends, and we know him from Gold’s Gym Venice. When I told Charles I wanted to start competing, he put together a plan for me, and Shad enforces it. When we go to L.A., I train with Charles, and he gets to kick my butt.

Best song to work out to right now: Well one my favorites for now is “girl you be killing em, you be killing em, girl you be killing em.” Because in the nicest way possible: I WANT TO KILL THESE GIRLS. =) In friendly competition, of course! I also like the Wale/J. Cole song “Bad Girls Club” because it has a good beat, and it gets me pumped for squats because it goes “drop it low…how far can you go…” and in my head I think “oh I can drop it low.” Yes, I am a dork.



Last good movie you saw: Bridesmaids was HILARIOUS! And Thor. I didn’t expect to like it, but it was awesome!

Your husband was in the WWE – how did you two meet? I was living in Tampa at the time, and he came down to Tampa to hang out with his friends. We were both at the same club. (Yes we met at a bar, so tacky.) I was there with a friend, waiting for the guy who I was dating at the time to show up; he never did. So, needless to say, got a glimpse of Shad, thought he was attractive, (had no clue who he was) but he wouldn’t look twice at me! Obviously that really aggravated me. I got snobby about it and dissed him, but my friend chased him down, he asked me to dance to the Grease theme song LOL. I still wasn’t into him, so my friends literally took his phone, put my number in it, did all of the talking for me, meanwhile Shad’s friend was hitting on me…it was a big mess. But he sent me a message like a couple days later on MySpace, and we just started talking and getting to know each other.

HA, Are you still on MYSPACE? Haha, NO! That was in like late 2008, early 2009 when MYSPACE was still cool. That account has been long gone!


photo from tmz.com

What was the deal with him being on TMZ during the Arnold weekend or if you told us you’d have to kill us? LOL. No, lucky for Shad I hired him a very good lawyer ASAP, and we had that taken care of. Basically, it was just one bad cop that was over zealous and abusing his authority. In the video online that Josh Barnett took, you can see Shad on the ground, not resisting, with like 3 officers on him at all times. And the charge? Jay walking…in the sidewalk. Yes, you read that right. Jay walking in the sidewalk. Was it necessary? Of course not. Shad had done nothing wrong, and our lawyer had all of the charges dropped. It’s unfortunate that many good police officers reputations are tarnished by a few bad ones. But in the end, we were happy to just have the charges dropped and move on from it.



Any project you and he are working on to watch out for? Shad just wrapped up filming for a prime time TV show, it airs in January. He also has a graphic novel coming out called “Assassin and Son” He is also waiting to hear back from two major movie roles he auditioned for. I am prepping for Nationals in Miami, and just started working with a PR agent to help put me out there better.

Goals for competing? I would like to get my PRO card. I am going to try and go for it again at Nationals in Miami later this year. I would really like to show women, especially moms, that it is possible to have kids and be healthy, and look good. I just want to help inspire people be the best that they can be, whatever field they choose.



How can people find out more info about ya? Friend me on facebook and ask me!=) or follow me on Twitter @SilianaGaspard.

Thanks Siliana and all the best! Check out her bikini competition photos on Bodybuilding.com.

Filed Under: Interviews, News & Features

Live Coverage from the IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup

October 8, 2011 by

Follow all the action from the IFBB 2011 Ft. Lauderdale Cup here on Hardbody.com. If you’re on twitter, you can see the live updates via twitter.com/hardbodynews, twitter.com/MusclePhone and twitter.com/BBcomcontests. Joining in the coverage? Use the hashtag #FLcup for the event in all your tweets. You can see what everyone is tweet’n about with that tag by checking out hashtags.org/FLcup.



Filed Under: IFBB

Hardbody PROfiles: Meet Candice “Candy Girl” Lewis

October 8, 2011 by

When she took the stage at the NPC Jr. Nationals she was the clear cut winner in the Figure division, at least in my book. Candice Lewis is has the genetics that’ll make you do a double take. She’s beautiful, tall and well balanced. Combine that with polished stage presentation, a tiny waist and tight booty… well you have yourself a pro.

This weekend at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup, Candice Lewis from Arizona will make her IFBB Figure debut. Candice never finished lower than first while in the amateur ranks. She’s one to watch as she could make an immediate impact in the pro ranks. I caught up with “Candy Girl” and she shared more about herself.

Name: Candice Lewis

Born in: Chandler, Arizona

Currently Reside in: Chandler, Arizona

Any nicknames: Candy. My dad calls me candy girl.

It’s cold when the temperature gets below: 70

Clearly you haven’t spent much time in the Midwest. LOL

Favorite Sport: Football

Favorite football team: AZ Cardinals

Did you play any sports growing up: I ran track since I was 11 years old. I ran cross country and I was a cheerleader in high school.

What did you want to be when you grew up: A ballerina

Favorite past time: Playing tether ball in school.

Those still exist? Sweet. Tether ball rocks.

Favorite band/artist: Rihanna and Darius Ruckus

Do you like Darius as Hootie or on his own doing country? Darius doing country. Even though Hootie had some good jams back in the day.

Do you get asked about often when at the grocery store? The clerks always ask me while I’m checking out at the grocery store “is this what I have to eat to be skinny”

Any hidden talents? I think I can sing.

Are you the oldest, middle or baby of the family? I’m the 2nd oldest of 10

What’s your family think of you competing and becoming a pro? My family loves it. They are very supportive. My little sisters always call over their friends when I come visit them. They finally think I’m cool.

How did you get into figure competitions? I meet my trainer one day working out. It was all history from there.

Competition History:
Arizona local show 07′ 1st overall, California State 1st overall 11′, Tournament of champions 08′ 1st overall 09,Pacific Naturals 08′ 1st overall, jr nationals 1st overall 11′

How much does your weight vary between shows? About 5 pounds. I loose weight once I stop lifting.

What’s a sample of your daily eats look like?
5 Egg whites – 1/2 cup of oats
5oz fish 4oz 3-5 asparagus and 1/2 cup rice
5oz ground turkey

Biggest challenge dieting for a show? Not to over eat on the yams.. I just love them. Yummy.

What’s your favorite body part to work out? Legs

What’s the key to building a kick ass set of wheels? Lunges and lunges with weights and more lunges and squares.

How do you feel you look compared to Jr. Nationals en route to your pro debut? I’m more balance and I feel I have a more mature look. Because I been lifting more.

How important has having a trainer been for you? It’s one of the most important parts for me. Damian Sagovia keep me motivated on my off days.

If you could give other women some advice on staying healthy and fit what would it be? My advice would be to make staying health and fit apart of your everyday life. Like brushing your teeth.

Do you enjoy modeling? I enjoy modeling because it gives me a chance to inspire people to workout.

What do you do to “get into the zone” of model? Music gets me in the zone for anything.

Goal for the industry: I would like to make this my career. They say “Do what makes you happy and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

I couldn’t agree more with that quote.

If 10 years you’d like to…? Be a fitness model help people to live a health fit life.

How can people find you? Icandylewis on twitter.

Anyone you’d like to thank: God, friends and family My trainer Damian Sagovia fb friend. The NPC & IFBB and you, Isaac Hinds for this interview. 🙂

All the best, you have a bright future ahead! Check out a few photos of Candice here.

Filed Under: IFBB, Interviews, News & Features

2011 Ft. Lauderdale Cup Pro Preview & Predictions

October 8, 2011 by

The 3rd annual NPC / IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup will take place on October 8, 2011. This show has been the launch pad for a few bikini women into the big leagues. Nathalia Melo and India Paulino both competed on this stage and have gone on to compete at the Olympia. There will undoubtedly be a couple more stars shining bright in the NPC portion of this show.

The IFBB Fitness has some seasoned vets and a few rookies. Look for Camala Rodriquez to bounce back from her Olympia showing. She has the potential to win this show but will she bring a routine that can fend off the likes of Nicole Duncan and Jodi Boam. The top three women will qualify for the 2012 Fitness Olympia and this will mark the last pro fitness event of the 2011 calendar year. Keep an eye on Nichole Venzara – she was the overall winner at the NPC JR. Nationals this year and has a chance to crack the top spots here.

Figure will be a battle with a number of women looking to qualify for the 2012 Olympia. Alicia Harris has the potential to win the show as she was 6th at the 2011 Olympia. If she can come in conditioned you’ll see her in the hunt. Gen Strobo is sure to be in the top callout as she tends to be at her best in shows of this size. She was out of the mix at the Olympia but should find herself in the top three here. Candice John continues to improve over time and I look for her to be in the top five and battling for a top three spot. Holly Beck has steadily improved over time and could be in the hunt if she comes in full. Monica Specking has the potential to be a top pro if she can bring her best here she has a chance to be in a top spot. My pick to sneak into the top spots and make some waves is Candice Lewis. I like her structure and the look she brings to the stage. If she brings her best I look for her to be in the top three.

The Bikini division will be an interesting one to watch. My pick to shake things up in her pro debut is Brittany Tacy. She has a sic physique and the potential to be an Olympia competitor right out of the gate. India Paulino displayed her best showing at the Olympia last month and I have her pegged as your winner at this show if she brings a similar presentation and look. Diana Graham could be in the hunt for a top three but she’ll need to be a bit tighter with her lower body conditioning then we saw at the Olympia. Another contender in her pro debut and I look for her to be at her all-time best is Skye Taylor. She has a nice physique and I look for her to crack the top five in her debut. Last but not least, Vanessa Campbell is my pick for a top spot. I thought she brought her best to the Olympia stage and was overlooked there but look for her to shine today.

Follow all the action on twitter.com/MusclePhone for this show.

Filed Under: IFBB

Hardbody Profile: Crazy Florida State Fan – IFBB Pro Brittany Tacy

October 7, 2011 by

Brittany Tacy calls Florida home and it’s fitting that she would make her IFBB Pro Bikini debut at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup this weekend. She placed 6th at this show last year competing as an amateur and has been on the fast track to success since. Collecting three first place trophies and an IFBB pro card along the way. I caught up with the hardbody on the heels of her debut. Get to know Brittany Tacy – she’s one to watch!

Name:
Brittany Tacy

Born in:
West Palm Beach, Fl

Currently reside in:
West Palm Beach!

Cat or dog:
Dog…big dog 🙂

What kinda dog and what’s his name?
American Bulldog, he’s almost 100lbs!! His name is Jensyn and he’s my big baby 🙂

Did you play any sports “growing up”?
Oh yes! I was a baton twirled for 10years, I was a varsity cheerleader, I played for the girls flag football team (an actual varsity sport, not just powder puff) and I competed for 2 years on the girls weightlifting team in High School.

Can you still twirl a baton?
You bet! I was at the “advanced level” twirling with girls in high school when I was only 11 years old.

What position did you play on the football team?
In flag football, you normally play both offense and defense. I was a wide receiver and an outside linebacker, which is the equivalent to a corner back in regular football.

Gators or Seminoles?
Seminoles all the way!!! I’m a crazy Florida State fan haha

How many tattoos do you have?
6 🙂

Any you regret?
Ummm, none that I really ‘regret’. But one of them doesn’t have the same meaning anymore.

Favorite musician/band?
That’s a tough one! My favorite band would have to be Rise Against, and I love working out to their music too. I’m also a big fan of Lil Wayne, because he lyrics are genius.

Motto you live by:
“One life one chance”

Any hidden talents:
I can draw and paint! Not sure if that qualifies as a hidden talent though. haha

Abstract or realism? Oil or acrylic?
Realism. I like to draw and paint landscapes, flowers, animals, etc. My specialty is anything tropical. I can paint one hell of a sunset!

Quality your friends would say is your best:
My sense of humor…I’m quite the comedian 😉

How did you get into competing in the bikini division?
I’ve always aspired to get into the fitness industry but never really thought I could put on the muscle for figure (which I would love to do in the future). So when I found out about the Bikini division, I felt like it was something I could do. However, I wish it was called something different. “Bikini” always gives people the wrong impression, we’re not Hawaiian tropic models!!

I remember tweeting after seeing you in Orlando earlier this year thinking you were had “it”. You didn’t win the overall there (I call for an investigation, ok not really but) any whoo. Did you work with anyone in prep for that show?
I remember that too, and I felt so cool that THE Isaac Hinds was tweeting about me haha!!! But nope, I’ve actually never worked with anyone since day one. I do all my own training, diet, prep, posing…everything! Making it to the pro level without the help of a coach or trainer is something I’m very proud of.

Number of shows and placings: (this year)
2010 Ft Lauderdale Cup: 6th
2011 CJ classic: 1st & Overall
2011 Europa Show of Champs: 1st
2011 NPC USAs: 1st

Give the ladies an idea of what your sample day of eating is like:
M1: 5 egg whites, 1/2cup oatmeal
M2: 4-5oz chicken, 4oz sweet potato, steamed spinach
M3: 1-2 scoops CytoGainer and 1 banana (post workout)
M4: 4-5oz extra lean ground turkey, asparagus and 15 almonds
M5: 4 hard boiled egg whites, one yolk
M6: 1 scoop CytoSport Complete Casein made into pudding

You have some pretty sic abs – genetics or what did you do to built those bad boys up?
Well thanks!! I think it has a little to do with both. I definitely have good genetics, but I’ve done a lot of weighted AB training and my diet is consistently clean all year round, on and off season. The only difference is I have cheat meals when I’m not training for a show.

What would one of your shoulder workouts consist of?
Super-sets! I train really heavy and I always incorporate super-sets in on shoulder day to really build up all three parts of the deltoids.
-4 sets 8-12 overhead dumbbell press
-3 sets 8-12 Arnold press
-4 sets 8-12 rear delt fly
-4 sets barbell upright rows
-4 sets 8-12 side lateral raises (drop set)
-3 sets of plate raises

How much cardio do you do?
Here comes the shocker….30 minutes, once a week. I train at high intensity and my diet is always on point, so that combined with my body type, is what keeps me lean. If I did hours of cardio a day, I would be what you call “overly conditioned”, and that is no good for the Bikini division!

Favorite brand of shoes?
I’m definitely a Nike fanatic.

Supplements currently taking:
(all CytoSport products)
– Monster Amino
– Monster Pump
– L Glutamine
– Whey Isolate
– CytoGainer
– Casein protein

Favorite CytoSport product:
I love combining 1 scoop of Monster Amino and 1 scoop of Monster Pump as my pre-workout drink. The blue raspberry is my favorite flavor 🙂

Goals for the industry:
Qualify for the Olympia, compete in the Bikini International, and win a pro show. In addition to just competing, I hope to stay in this industry for a long time and make a career out of what I love doing.

How’s your significant other been through your journey?
Overall, he’s been amazing. Never missed a show or photoshoot. However, he’s not my favorite person when he’s eating ice cream while I’m in contest prep… haha!

Favorite meal of the day and what’s it consist of:
Breakfast fo sho! 5 egg whites with spinach and 1/4 cup fat free cheese. And 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon, Stevia, and banana extract. It’s like a banana muffin!

How much weight do you fluctuate from on to off season:
2-3 lbs maybe. Usually that’s only after a cheat meal or a few cocktails. I’m about 2-3 weeks out from my stage weight all year round.

Goal for this weekend’s Ft. Lauderdale Cup:
Place in the top 5. I would be even more stoked to come in the top 3 and qualify for the Olympia!!

Where can peeps find more about you:
Follow me on Twitter – @BTacyIFBB_Pro

Anyone you want to thank?
My boyfriend, Ryan, for being my biggest fan. Powerhouse Gym, Core Cuisines, and most importantly, CytoSport for the sponsorship & supporting me 100%. And of course, thank YOU, Isaac, for giving me the honor of doing this interview!

Thanks Brittany. All the best. See more of Brittany’s photos and profile here.

Lead photo by: Paulo Jardao.

Filed Under: IFBB, Interviews, News & Features

Disclaimer: Reader discretion advised, please consult your physician before beginning any exercise or diet program.