Hardbody News: Female Sports, Health and Fitness

2013 Ifbb New York Pro Women’s Preview

May 25, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

The 2013 IFBB New York Pro is upon us and the women’s division will be highly competitive. The Figure, Bikini and Women’s Physique all have a few fan favorites but no clear-cut winner heading into the event. The prejudging will take place at 11am EST at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center and there we’ll get a better idea of who will leave the champion, crowned later in the night at the finals.

THE HARDBODY 411:

Ones to Watch in Figure:
The match-up that everyone will be watching is the reigning Figure International Champ, Candice Keene and top Figure Pro Nicole Wilkins. Nicole sat out this year’s Arnold to give her body a little rest. This will be the first show of the year for her and she’ll either be relaxed, rest and refreshed or a bit rusty. Knowing Nicole, don’t look for her to be on stage rusty. The only x-factor will be if the flight delay disrupted her final hours of prep. Candice will likely be the harder and appear more muscular of the two however Nicole has better symmetry and shape. It’s hard think that anyone will beat either of these two, however anything is possible.

Marcy Porter is back on stage after a few months layoff. She was once a top tier pro, can she return to the top five? Shelly Albetta will be making her pro debut and look for the New York crowd to be behind her. Swann aka Frenchy Cardot will be grinning ear-to-ear after being proposed to on the eve of the show. She’ll be sporting a new rock and will much sharper than her Pittsburgh showing. Monica Specking has the shape and if she comes in a bit sharper with the little details she’ll be in the mix. Patty Zariello will also have the hometown crowd behind her and if she goes back to her Pittsburgh look she’ll be in the hunt.

Figure
Shelly Albetta
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
Corinna Booth
Andrea Cantone
Swann Cardot
Lauren Cascio
Michelle DeRosa
Kenyatta Jones Arietta
Candice Keene
Tiani Norman
Melanise Pettee
Marcy Porter
Amy Puglise
Cinderella Richardson
Tissilli Rogers
Elvimar Sanchez
Rebecca Schubeck
Monica Specking
Katerina Tarbox
Rebecca Vera
Nicole Wilkins
Patty Zariello

Ones to Watch in Bikini:
The bikini division will be a very competitive division. Lindsey Waters achieved IFBB Pro status at the NPC JR USAs last week and is wasting no time getting into the mix. She has a rock’n physique and my only nit-pick thing is sometimes her eyeshadow / makeup is too dark and heavy around her eyes. She’s cute so would like to see her play up the cutesy part and not try to have a sultry look. She could win this show but she’ll have her work cut out for her. Yeshaira Robles is a class act on and off the stage. She’s one of the few women who can be smiling and cute and in the flip of her hair she’s captivating you with a sexy, whoa hot momma look. The thing about Yeshaira that women need to note is her energy. She ALWAYS has positive energy to her on stage and you can’t help but be drawn to her. She’s got the body to match and it’s the little things that always put Yeshaira on top. Ashley Kaltwasser has a sic physique from her years of running and it’s one of the most athletic looks n the division. If she nails her tanning and doesn’t cake on the heavy eye make-up she’s your winner. She continues to get better and better with more stage time. Once she nails all the little details, she’ll be a top 6 Olympia competitor and collect a few more first place wins like she did two weeks ago in Detroit.

The X-factor in this show is Yarelis Gonzalez. She’s one of the shorter competitors and if she’s is slightly off she’s on the outside looking in. Her upper body is usually spot on but her legs and Cuban booty tend to be a bit bigger and drop her down in her placings. If she comes in with a tight booty and smaller legs than Pittsburgh she’ll be tough to beat. She has yet to reach her potential and if she nails it here she’ll be back in the mix as a top competitor. If she doesn’t it’ll leave you wondering if she will ever be able to match the look she had as an amateur. Dayna Maleton has a great physique and if she poses without looking like a fish out of water she’ll be in the top spots. She always has impeccable hair and makeup, so ladies take note. Leigh Brandt, the original Canadian Cutie, will look to get in the top spots. She has the looks but doesn’t have as much muscle as some of the others but still one to watch. Gigi Amurao could be in the hunt if she brings her legs down and comes in a bit tighter than Pittsburgh. Nikola Weiterova and Ashley Wade have stunning looks but yet to crack the top five. Meredith Long will be making her IFBB Pro debut and will be next to another tall competitor Tabitha Klausen. Both women are beautiful and will be two of the taller women in the show, we’ll see how they match up. The Nawlins’ Hip-hop-poppa Ashley Cronley LeBlanc has the potential to be in the top five and if she can present in a relaxed, poised manner without twisting herself in half she’ll be in the mix.

As you can see this a VERY tough line-up.

Bikini
Gigi Amurao
Maria Annunziata
Cynthia Benoit
Leigh Brandt
Danielle Carr
Ashley Cronley Leblanc
Yarelis Gonzalez
Janet Harding
Andrea Hertlein
Ashley Kaltwasser
Tabitha Klausen
Meredith Long
Dayna Maleton
Nathalie Mur
Cecile Palacios
Yeshaira Robles
Anna Starodubtseva
Anna Lee Van Hattan
Ashley Wade
Lindsey Waters
Nikola Weiterova
Francesca Yumul

Women’s Physique Ones to Watch: The IFBB Women’s Physique division is in its second year and there are still some growing pains with what “the look” should be. It’s definitely making headway and gone are the female bodybuilders with too much muscle, generally speaking. You’ll see apples to oranges in terms of physiques. The likely battle will come down to Juliana Malacarne and Karina Nascimento. The two Brazilians have a great look without being over the top with the muscle factor. Karina plays up her sex appeal when she presents, which tends to help draw your attention to her. Joele Smith and Toni West both have nice looks and could be in the mix for a top spot. Hometown favorite Jillian Reville will be a contender if she comes in full and doesn’t look too stringy. Jill Rudison has potential to be in the mix if she has her legs dialed down and doesn’t appear too muscular in the lower body. It’ll be an interesting show to watch and will be foreshadowing of what’s to come at future shows in terms of “the look”.

Women’s Physique
Sarah Bridges
Sheilahe Brown
Cynthia Colon
Melissa DiBernardo
Nathalie Falk
Gloria Faulls
Nathalie Foreau
Asha Hadley
Carmen Knights
Michelle Krack
Sandra Lombardo
Jen Louwagie
Juliana Malacarne
Frances Mendez
Teresita Morales
Karina Nascimento
Sheena Ohlig
Vallerie Paul
Antonia Perdikakis
Audrey Presson
Gina Quinn
Alecia Rankovic
Jillian Reville
Jill Rudison
Jane Santos
Stacy Simons McDowell
Joele Smith
Kathy Unger
Jennie Verde
Toni West

Filed Under: News & Features, Show Previews

WWE Reportedly Signs Vargas & Kaufman to Diva Roster

May 24, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 3 Comments

Multiple wrestling blogs are reporting that the WWE has signed fitness models Alexis (Lexi) Kaufman and Christina Vargas to their company roster. The two have posted about the WWE over the past few months and it appears they are part of the WWE now.

Christina has competed in the IFBB as not only a bikini competitor but also a figure competitor. She was one of the few women who successfully made the switch from Figure to Bikini. The Vegas resident won the 2011 Houston Pro Bikini, which qualified her for the Olympia. Christina was recently featured on the cover of IRONMAN magazine.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CVargas26
Instagram: http://instagram.com/christinavargas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VARGAS26

Lexi has made a name for herself in Columbus, Ohio. She achieved IFBB Pro status at the 2011 North Americans but has found more success in modeling than competing. She’s appeared in numerous publications throughout Columbus and can be see in supplement ads for FINAFLEX.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lexi-Kaufman/171733126219865
Instagram: http://instagram.com/Lexi_kaufman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lexi_Kaufman

We’ll keep you posted. If the two make it to the Diva roster they’ll join the fellow NPC/IFBB competitor Zivilie (Akasana) and Celeste (Kaitlyn).

Filed Under: News & Features

Can Dieting Make You Fat? A Look at Metabolic Burnout

May 22, 2013 by Hardbody Guests 9 Comments

There’s been numerous discussions online and we’ve heard the chatter offline about “Metabolic Burnout”. The blame game continues to be played with few players stepping up to take responsibility. We decided to consult with professionals to get their take on the matter and help shed some light on this hot topic.

What is Metabolic Burnout? Are you suffering from it? What causes it? The answers to those questions and more.

Can Dieting Make You Fat?
Metabolic Burnout is a recently popular term used by many women in the competition world. It is known to occur due to the result of many years of abuse (stress, lack of sleep, prescription and over-the-counter medications, poor diet and exercise patterns) that cause your organ(s), most specifically the adrenal glands, pancreas or thyroid, to work less efficiently. Your internal balance is thrown off and the body struggles to bring itself back into equilibrium. A few of the most common symptoms include: fatigue or inability to fall asleep, hunger and difficulty losing weight.

This controversial topic embodies the notion that if an individual drops below an intake of about 1400 calories/day (or perhaps 1200), the metabolism will “shut down” and he or she will “hold on to fat” and will not lose weight. In addition, the extreme low calorie dieting then predisposes them to acquire even more body fat. This debate underscores the large gap that exists in our understanding of basic physiological laws that govern the regulation of human body composition. A striking example is the key role attributed to adipose (fat) cells as feedback signals between adipose tissue depletion as a consequence of dieting followed by increases in food intake. A feedback loop between fat depletion and food intake cannot explain why individuals after dieting begin to overeat well after body fat has been restored to a normal level, and then continue to eat and cause “fat overshooting”. In order to address the credibility of dieting causing predisposition for increased fatness, this paper will examine both the physiological and psychological relationship between dieting and re-feeding.

The Metabolic Effects of Low Calorie Diets
A low calorie diet is a diet that contains between 900 and 1,300 calories a day, while a very low calorie diet has no more than 800 calories per day. Typically a very low calorie diet is for obese individuals on a short-term basis and monitored by a physician. This type of chronic restrictive dieting may tend to decrease a person’s basal metabolic rate overtime. A study published in the 1987 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition was conducted over a six-month period to determine the effects of a low calorie diet, energy expenditure and resting metabolic rate. The 15 women who participated in the study had a reduction in basal metabolic rate in the last three months as well as a decrease in energy expenditure. Another study published in the 1991 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that the participants had a significant decrease in resting metabolic rate in the last two weeks of the three-week study.

As the results of these studies indicate, a low calorie diet may lead to an initial weight loss but could also cause a lowered metabolism that may not necessarily recover to its original levels even after increasing your calories back to a normal amount. So while you may drop a ton of weight fast by minimal calories a day, over time, your body will go into “starvation mode”, decreasing the amount of calories you burn at rest so as to conserve your body’s energy stores and prevent death. It may sound dramatic, but remember, our genes haven’t changed all that much since pre-historic times when death from starvation was commonplace.

Post Low Calorie Dieting and Fat Overshooting
It’s not that dieting makes you fat, but that being fat makes you more likely to diet! Most competitors fall into this “Post Dieting – Fat Overshooting” category. This is basically the process of losing body fat and then increasing food intake and decreasing energy expenditure to such an extreme that the person regains far more body weight than needed resulting in body fat overshooting.

The weight rebound that comes after the period of dieting apparently includes an overshoot in both increased appetite and fat gain. People seem driven to eat more than necessary to restore their normal weight, and they gain more body fat than they had prior to the beginning of the diet.

Psychological Causes for Post Dieting – Fat Overshooting
There have been countless psychological research studies concerning the most effective ways to maintain weight loss. This research has proven that weight loss maintenance has not only a physiological component, but a psychological one as well. Of course you do not want to attempt to maintain your contest weight and conditioning year round. However, there is no need to find yourself in a weight loss and gain cycle due to behaviors, which cause you to re-gain all of the weight you worked so hard to lose.

As human beings, we are naturally goal oriented. A research article published in the 2013 edition of Psychological Review outlines a common internal conflict in those concerned with their weight. This conflict exists between the desire to lose the weight and keep it off, versus the desire to enjoy food. Sports psychology research shows us that staying committed to a task-oriented goal is much easier than staying committed to an outcome based goal. The goal to obtain a particular physique for a competition is task oriented in nature, and this task- oriented desire to obtain a stage-ready physique can often overrule the goal of food enjoyment and lead to weight loss success. After a competition has ended, competitors no longer have the short-term, task oriented goal of obtaining a stage-ready physique to drive them to continue with their lifestyle modifications. The goal associated with their food intake behavior then becomes outcome oriented in that it is not based on a specific event, rather it is based upon the broad outcome of not re-gaining the weight. The less effective outcome specific goal mixed with an immediate short-term goal of food enjoyment can lead to a behavioral shift. This shift can cause the individual to completely abandon all lifestyle modifications that led to their weight loss. Without a task oriented physique goal in sight, this shift in goals can lead to weight gain, which often exceeds that in which they lost.

Research demonstrates that those who regain weight after losing weight during a period of dietary restraint, displays several common behavioral factors and personality traits. In clinical trials cited in the 1997 and 1998 Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology concerning individuals who experienced successful weight loss and then suffered subsequent gain, the following behaviors were observed; lack of attempt to restrain their eating, marked decrease in physical activity, an increase in television viewing, reports of marked hunger and eating due to depression. Another very interesting and well-documented behavior found in those who regain weight, is that they often stop weighing themselves once they have reached their weight loss goal. This statement is not advocating that obsession with the scale is healthy. However, according to researchers at the University of Hertfordshire, those who were able to keep their weight loss over time found the ability to utilize the scale as a measure of behavioral restraint. These individuals found themselves able to modify their dietary behavior if they observed themselves regaining an abundance of the weight in which they had lost. Those who were not able to maintain their weight loss were more likely to have either abandoned the scale all together or did not attempt to modify their behavior when observing an increase in bodyweight.

Researchers at Brown Medical School found that there are many baseline personality traits (personality traits observed before the dietary restraint began) to be associated with the regaining of weight after weight loss goal completion. These factors included a higher baseline level of disinhibition in relation to desirable food, higher baseline levels of binge eating behavior, a self-reported inability to maintain unrelated lifestyle and behavior modifications and a history of yo-yo weight gain and loss. This does not mean that individuals who possess these personality factors cannot be successful in maintaining weight loss. Rather, it serves as an alert to these individuals that they must be conscious of their predisposed triggers, which may cause them to have difficulty in maintaining their weight once their weight loss goal has been achieved.

Following a diet that contains too few calories can have some very negative (and possibly permanent) effects on your metabolism and overall health. Not only is it impossible to meet your nutrient goals for the day, but chronic crash dieters or contest dieters are also shooting themselves in the foot in terms of weight loss by slowing their metabolism and thereby making it even more difficult to shed excess pounds in the long-term. In addition, you’ll be setting yourself up for nutritional deficiencies, which can have long-term complications (i.e. anemia, osteoporosis, etc.)

It seems as if those people who are claiming damage from dieting and competing most often “cheat” on their nutrition plans and then attempt to make up for it by increasing exercise duration and cutting back calories even further. The even bigger issue is that many of these same people will gain 20-30 pounds (or more!) after their competitions by completely ceasing exercising and becoming a stranger to the gym for weeks or months! So when its contest time again they have even more weight to lose!

Competing in a sport based on obtaining a lean, tight, sculpted physique requires dietary restriction. However, starving one’s self or resorting to extremely low calorie diets is not necessary to obtain a stage-ready physique. By taking your time to lose the initial weight correctly, the final stages of your competition prep will not be as difficult. In addition, having a strategy for success after you have left the stage is equally as important. Honestly assess your personality traits in relation to the research demonstrated concerning those who have difficulty in maintaining weight loss success, and take the steps necessary to assist yourself in modifying your behavior. Additionally, prepare for how you are going to maintain a majority of your weight loss after your task oriented competition goal has been completed.

This type of “yo-yo” weight loss makes losing weight more and more difficult over time. In order to be successful and healthy throughout years of this sport, you MUST make this a lifestyle and live it 365 days a year. Then it won’t be so difficult or dangerous when its time to prepare for a competition. The intelligent choice is to remain within 5-7lbs (no more than 10lbs) of your contest weight year round. This lifestyle choice makes competition training and nutrition easier and more enjoyable. If you chose to be involved in this sport then you aspired to be fit and healthy so why would anyone allow herself to gain 20+ pounds of fat? LIVE THE LIFESTYLE and be happy, healthy and fit forever!

AUTHORS:
Tracey C. Greenwood, PhD
Associate Professor of Exercise Science
Eastern University
IFBB Fitness Pro

Shannon Dey
M.S. Heath Education
Doctoral Candidate Sports Psychology
IFBB Fitness Pro

Sources:
Bacon, L. & Aphramor, L. (2011). Weight science: evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift. Nutrition Journal, 10: 9-15.
Dulloo, Ag., Jacquet, J. & Montani, JP. (2012). How dieting makes some fatter: from a perspective of human body composition autoregulation. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 71: 379-389.
Dosil, J. (2010). The Sports Psychologist Handbook, Wiley and Sons, NJ.
Fletcher, B. (2011). FIT – Do something different: A new behavioral program for sustained weight loss. Swiss Journal of Psychology 70(1), 25-34.
Friedman, M. (1998). Differential relation of psychological functioning with the history and experience of weight cycling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(4), 645-650.
Hermen, P. (2008) Undereating or eliminating overeating? American Psychologist, 63(10), 202-204.
Kruger, J. et al. (2004). Attempting to lose weight: specific practices among U.S. adults. Am. Jour. Prev . Med., 26: 402-406.
Lahti-Koski, M. et al. (2005). Prevalence of weight cycling and its relation to health indicators. Obesity Research, 13: 333-341.
McGuire, R. (1999) What predicts weight regain in a group of successful weight losers? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(2), 177-185.
O’Neill, PM. & Jarrell, MP. (1992). Psychological aspects of obesity and very-low-calorie diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56(1): 185-189.
Stroebe, W. (2013). Why most dieters fail but some succeed: A goal conflict model of eating behavior. Psychological Review, 120(1). 110-138
Wing, R. (2008). Maintaining large weight losses: The role of behavioral and psychological factors. Journal of consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(6), 1-15-1021.
Zorbas, YG., Merkov, AB. & Nobahar, AV. (2001). Effect of low-calorie diets on metabolism of man. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol., 9(5-6):457-65

Filed Under: Competitor's Corner, News & Features

A Recharged Nicole Wilkins is Ready for New York

May 22, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 1 Comment

Nicole Wilkins has solidified herself as one of the best IFBB Pro Figure competitors of all-time. She’s steadily climbed her way to the top of the Figure ranks and hasn’t placed lower than second since 2009. She was the first woman to achieve pro status in not only Figure but also Fitness, at the same show. Something that will never be matched since competitors are no longer allowed to compete in both at the same show. She tried her hand at Pro Fitness and with some success but it wasn’t until she focused her efforts solely on Figure that she shot to the top.

The 2012 competitive Figure season wasn’t the best of her career but now that she’s settled into a new home and taken some time off, the champ is back. Keep in mind, “not the best” for Nicole was winning the the 2012 Figure International (for the third time) and three runner-up finishes, something most competitors only dream of accomplishing. This weekend Nicole will compete on the stage where she achieved pro status, the Tribecca Performing Arts Center. The nervous excitement will likely be there again but this time she’ll be after the New York Pro Figure title.

We caught up with the popular fitness model, spokes-model and champion figure competitor on the heels of her return to the stage.

HARDBODY INTERVIEW with NICOLE WILKINS

How’s it feel to be back on stage?
I am excited and a little nervous. I feel like it has been so long!

How long of a break did you take?
I haven’t stepped onstage since the beginning of Oct last year at the Sheru Classic in India.

This was the longest break you’ve taken in a few years, right?
Right. This was the longest break I have had since 2006.

What was the most helpful thing for you to take a bit of a break?
I was really tired and burnt out last year. I wasn’t feeling my best and I needed to take a step back to enjoy myself in the gym again. I had more time to get settled into my new home, spend time with family, go wine tasting in Temecula, gain some strength back, enjoy dinner dates, etc. When it was time to start the prep for this show, I was ready.

What was the most challenging part of not competing for months?
There is not as much structure. I love routine and order. It was also a little difficult to sit out of the Arnold. Other than that, I honestly enjoyed every minute of it. It went by pretty fast.

Did it feel weird not prepping for a show over the holidays?
Yes definitely. I caught myself a few times. I still ate clean and worked out like normal, I just had some dessert My family is pretty healthy even during the holidays and always make me plain chicken, yams and veggies. I have been competing at the Arnold since 2008, so I have dieted through the holidays every year since then. I had developed a bit of a habit I guess.

This weekend is your return, did you do anything different for your NY PRO Prep?
Every prep my body is a little different – especially the older I get. For this show, I still lifted heavy and incorporated carb cycling, but we were careful not to overdo anything. I am the type of person that will run myself into the ground if that is what it takes. It can be a blessing and a curse. I also recently moved to Temecula, so I was able to pose every week with Kim Oddo. It helped that he could see me regularly.

Do you pack all your food for a show like New York?
I always pack my own food on all of my trips, whether I am competing or not. I measure everything out and put it in baggies. Oatmeal, yams, rice cakes, almonds, steak, salmon etc. I bring it all in my 6 Pack Bag (www.sixpackbags.com). I have to be prepared and food is the most important part!

When’s your last weight training day before a show?
Wednesday I will train shoulders and it will be my last training day.

When do you stop doing cardio before a show?
Usually Wednesday. This time I may do 30min in the morning on Thurs before I fly out.

Who makes your competition suits?
Maggie Keaveny (www.maggie-suits.com). She is amazing and has been doing my suits since 2007!

What’s the best part of living in California now?
The weather!!! I did not miss the cold snowy winter. I love that I can hike outside up the hills, lay in the sun and go running in the morning – the weather is always the same. I also moved from a tiny tiny apartment into a house, so I am loving the space.

Most challenging part of living in Cali?
Definitely missing my family and friends back in MI. Thankfully, I have gotten to see them just about every other month since I moved. I travel a ton so I try to get back as often as I can. My parents and some of my best friends will be in NYC and the Olympia and I will go back in July for a week for my show (NPC Nicole Wilkins Classic July 13 www.michiganfitnessshows.com).

You have a video blog on Fitness RX for Women – what topics do you get asked about the most?
Definitely diet and motivation. It seems like most people have the training part down. The challenging part about the nutrition is that no body is the same and your body is constantly changing. There isn’t a ‘one plan fits all’. With the thousands of different diets out there, its no wonder people are confused. And as far as motivation, no one can give that to you. You have to find it within yourself. It comes and goes all the time. Just be consistent, find something you are truly passionate about and don’t let anything or anyone stop you.

Are you still training others?
Yep! I do one on one training during the week and I also do online training. My current site is being renovated so it is best to just directly email me at nicole@nicolewilkins.com

Do you train dudes or only women?
It is primarily women but I do have a handful of men. I don’t discriminate ;P

Where will peeps see ya after the NY PRO?
I will be home for about 3 days and then off to Finland and Sweden for 10 days, home for 3 days, then off to Chicago for Jr. Nationals, then to New Orleans, Texas, Team Universe in Jersey, USAs in Vegas, then to Massachusetts and finally Windsor all before Aug 10th. I am tired just looking at that schedule!

What’s your favorite way to communicate with fans?
Facebook at www.facebook.com/nicolewilkins01
Twitter @nicolemwilkins
Instagram @nicolemwilkins

Mantra heading into this weekend’s show…
Give it to God and have fun!

Thanks Nicole, safe travels and we’ll see ya in The Big Apple.
Thank YOU! See you in NYC!

View Nicole’s competition photos here.

Filed Under: Interviews, News & Features

Arnold Fitness Champion Tanji Johnson Undergoes Knee Surgery

May 22, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The 2013 Fitness International Champion, Tanji Johnson underwent knee surgery on May 21, 2013. The high flying fitness champion shared the results of her surgery with her fans on facebook shortly after the surgery.

“Thank u everyone for ur thoughts and prayers regarding my knee surgery. It went well! No ACL damage, praise God! Just meniscus and a little hole in my knee bone but I will be good to go in no time. Just thankful for good health and my great ortho doctors at the WA Institute of Ortho Surgery in Totem Lake!” – Tanji Johnson

We wish the Tanji all the best in her recovery and hope to see her back on stage soon.

Filed Under: News & Features

Fitness Tech – Aol HardWired

May 16, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

YouTube star iJustine travels across America to discover the latest innovations in wearable technology. The AOL original series shares new episodes every Wednesday. Technology continues to improve and we’re seeing it appear in the world of health and fitness. Gadgets are capturing more and more data in an attempt to improve our lives.

Fitness Tech
iJustine breaks a sweat and explores first-hand the latest styles and innovations of her favorite workout wearable tech gear.

Get HardWired on twitter.@HardWiredTech #HardWired

Filed Under: News & Features

Video: Erin Stern Fitness 360

May 15, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Top Figure Athlete Erin Stern is the focus of Bodybuilding.com’s newest Fitness 360 feature. The fit Floridian shares how she got her start in the world of competitive figure and what her approach is to diet and training. She’s been able to transition from track & field to Figure. She mixes up her training and her meal plans throughout the year.

When asked about her diet she shares, “It’s definitely not a diet.” Erin stresses the importance of making healthy eating a lifestyle. Many people say this catch phrase but she lives it. She talks about setting goals, supplementation and training in the video shown below. It’s important to know why you are eating what you are and Erin lives by the philosophy that “knowledge is power”.

See more on Erin Stern’s Fitness 360 Feature.

Filed Under: News & Features, Supplements, Workouts

Nathalia Melo’s 8 Essential Tips for Traveling to Rio de Janeiro

April 23, 2013 by Hardbody Guests Leave a Comment

Our resident Hardbody Brazilian, Bikini Olympia Champ and fitness cover model, Nathalia Melo shares some insight on what to expect when heading to Rio de Janeiro. She hits on what to eat, what not to drink, what to expect when tipping and more. We’re stoked that Nat will be there along with us. It will make communicating in Portuguese much easier. HA!

Hello Hardbodies,

I am all packed and ready to head to Rio de Janeiro for the 2013 Arnold Classic Brasil! Are you?? Woot woot!

Here are 8 Essential Tips for the ones heading to Rio this weekend:
1. Do NOT drink the tap water! I am not sure what the results from it would be, but I am sure you don’t want to risk your weekend with…aham… some tummy problems!
2. The safest and best way to get around is by Taxi or Subway (It doesn’t go everywhere).
3. To exchange money you will need your passport.
4. Leave your nice jewelry at home, better safe than sorry.
5. Tipping in Brazil is 10% and it is normally included in the check, but you can always give a little extra if you had good service – the extra can’t be on the card, it has to be cash.
6. Restaurants there are normally family style, which means that one dish will feed a couple people. Make sure you ask your server how big the dish is.
7. You can find wifi connection in many places there
8. Make sure you check out a Brazilian Steak House, which is an all you can eat restaurant where you can eat Brazilian bbq till you drop.

Hope these tips were helpful!

Safe travel guys and see ya in Rio!!

Nathalia Melo

Filed Under: News & Features

Apex-Brasil and Abrese Join Forces to Leverage Brazilian Sports

April 23, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The inaugural Arnold Classic Brasil will take place this weekend in Rio de Janeiro. In an effort to promote the Brazil’s sports sector, Apex-Brasil and Abrese have partnered together and created a project coined “Brazilian Sports”. The project intends to increase exports of the Brazilian sports sector and promote the international market of Brazilian products as they relate to sports.

We’re honored to be part of the initial efforts and will be sharing information from Brasil this weekend.

News Release
APEX-BRASIL and ABRESE JOIN FORCES TO LEVERAGE THE ECONOMY OF THE SPORTS SECTOR
Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and ABRESE (Brazilian Association of Sport Goods and Services) created an Export Project, called “Brazilian Sports”, that had an initial investment of about R$ 500,000. The investments may increase after October of this year.

The project will have it’s first activity at the Expo “Arnold Classic Brasil 2013” that will be held on April 26th to 28th at the Sul América Convention Center, Rio de Janeiro.
The objective of the Project is to increase the exports of the Brazilian sports sector and promote in the international market the Brazilian products and services related to sports activities.

According to ABRESE the sports sector currently generates nearly R$65 billion a year, equivalent to 1.6% of Brazilian GDP. In the last six years the segment has grown much more than the national economy. While the country’s GDP has maintained an average of annual growth between 2007 and 2011 of 4.2%, the sports market reached a 7.1% growth.

Compared to the same period mentioned above, it was observed that the participation of the sport sector on the GDP of some countries was, for example, in England of 1.8%, U.S. 2.1%, Australia 2.3% and New Zealand 2, 8%. The expectation for 2016 is that the national GDP can grow 1.9%, according to ABRESE.

The Brazilian Sports Project invited international journalists, to come to the event, so they can get to know the Brazilian companies and their products. The confirmed guests belong to major industry publications. They are: Hardbody News, NPC News, Muscle & Fitness, Flex Magazine, Muscular Development, Muscle Mag International.

The next step will bring around 10 buyers from different countries to the Rio Sports Show, that will happen from June 27th to 29th, this year..

For more information visit: www.arnoldclassicbrasil.com.br

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features

Prejudging Report – 2013 Europa Show of Champions Bikini

April 20, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

The 2013 IFBB Europa Show of Champions Pro Bikini prejudging took place on Friday afternoon in Orlando, Florida. The competition didn’t have any “big names” so to speak which meant the door was wide open for someone to step up and qualify for the Olympia. The prejudging went quick and a reminder to all competitors you only get a couple minutes to make an impression on the judges.

HARDBODY PREJUDGING 411:
These are just opinions and not indicative of the final placings, which will be held on Saturday at 3pm.

Maria Annunziata – She’s improving her stage presence. Not sure if the suit color was the best choice with her tan. Could have used different suit or different color tan. She was in the first call-out and will likely be top five but didn’t see it that way. She’s a little too soft from behind and needs to come in tighter in the legs and booty to be in my top five.

Maura Bouchard - Maura competed in just her second show and if she is patient she can steadily improve. She’s one of the smaller women on stage and needs more muscle and fullness to her. She seemed to be over-thinking her posing instead of just rolling with it. It doesn’t look like she’ll be top five this time around.

Danielle Carr - One of the taller competitors and her challenge will be not looking to straight up and down in her posing. She wasn’t super confident in her posing and if she can take the stage a bit more poised and polish her presentation she could move up.

Jennifer Dawn - One of Jennifer’s better looks in recent contests but didn’t get much love with the comparisons. I would have put her higher than where she’ll finish and thought it was one of her better presentations to date. She has larger boobs which can be distracting in some people’s opinion but can’t see that being the cause for her not placing higher. She’ll be top ten but wouldn’t argue if she had been top five.

Lacey DeLuca - Lacey looked like she always does… A nice look in the upper body but soft and not conditioned in the lower half. It’s likely a genetic battle she’ll always face with a bigger booty. She presents herself well in the individual round but needs to bring the legs and booty down to be a contender. She won’t be top five this time around.

Ashley Kaltwasser - Ashley will likely finish second and has a physique I’ve always liked. She’s one of the more athletic looking competitors and this is just her second pro show. As she progresses she could be a top pro. I’d like to see a little different eye make-up and a better tan. Her tanning color was a bit off and the eye make-up a bit too much. She’ll need to polish up her posing but watch for her to be in the top spots as she refines the little details.

Courtney King - Courtney will be king err queen of this stage. She improved her posing from her pro debut and looked spot on. She has long legs and looks much taller on stage then she really is. She’s definitely one of the rising stars in the division and she’ll leave your winner, at least that’s how I see it. I’d like to see her continue to put on a little size in her upper body but she has time on her side.

Nathalie Mur - Nathalie Mur looked much better than her Daytona showing a couple weeks ago. I would place her higher than she’ll finish and with Nathalie it’s more about her presentation than physique that needs polished. If she present with a bit more confidence she’d get a better look.

Sabrina Nicole - Sabrina will be at the bottom of the pack this time around. She has more muscle than most in this line-up and needs to be a bit sharper to be a contender. Sabrina has the potential to do well she just needs to dial in her conditioning to get in the top spots.

Noemi Olah - Noemi was back on stage in the USA but won’t finish in the top spots. She’s a beautiful women and if the judging was based on facial looks she’d be a winner in any show. It’s more than just a pretty face and she won’t be in the mix this time. Noemi’s tan was too light and she was too soft for this line-up. Still one of my favorite competitors when she’s tighter and the details are on point.

Jessica Renee - Jessica has lots of potential and just needs little tweaks to improve. I’d like to see her come in with big pageant style curly hair (ie Jennifer Andrews style) and a different colored suit. Her tan seemed a bit splotchy. She won’t be top five but could in future shows with some minor adjustments.

Aly Veneno - Aly will likely be your third place finisher. She was much more relaxed and poised than the Daytona show. She had make-up and a tan that matched and it’s those details that can help make or break where you finish. I’d like to see her work on the timing of her presentation. She tends to over pose and stage on stage longer than needed. She could have been a little tighter in the glutes but overall not a bad showing.

Ashley Wade - I like Ashley’s look and the curly hair. Ashley will be in the middle of the pack here and would have argued if she finished higher. She’s one competitor that for some reason gets lost in the mix.

Nicole Witbeck - Nicole was one competitor I thought should have been top five in Daytona and while she didn’t finish in the top spots there she should here. Look for her to be in the fourth of fifth spot. She’s one of the few blondes in the division and has a nice, balanced physique. Only critique here would be to bring a different look with her hair. She could pull off the big pageant curls instead of the straight hair. Silly, to talk about hair in a physique competition, right? I know.

Brittany Young - Brittany will be in the top 10 and had one of her best looks to date. She is another tall competitor who towers over some of the others. This was her best showing as a pro and should be happy with what she presented.

Francesca Yumul - Francesca kinda flew under the radar heading into this show but turned some heads on stage. This is just her second pro show, the muscle contest being her first. She’ll be in the top ten and has a look that catches your attention. She’ll move up with a little more stage time and improve presentation.

I see it going…
1. Courtney King
2. Ashley Kaltwasser
3. Aly Vaneno

The winner will leave with an Olympia qualification and the 2-4 finishers will get points in the Olympia Point Series. We’ll find out the results Saturday afternoon. There was also Women’s Physique, Men’s physique and Men’s 212 Bodybuilding at this show. The expo held in conjunction with the pro show is huge with many events, including a NPC show. If interested in purchasing NPC photos you can do so here and see more photos from the event on bodybuilding.com.

Filed Under: News & Features, Show Previews

One Hardbody To Watch – Nicole Witbeck

April 18, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Nicole Witbeck may not be a name you’re familiar with now but you will. She’s one of the few blonde bikini competitors in the IFBB Pro League and she could stop traffic with a flip of her hair. She turned pro relatively quick, having only competed in two regional shows before stepping on stage at the 2012 NPC USAs where she achieved pro status. This weekend she’ll be competing in her third pro show and despite not making the top five at the Battle on The Beach, she’s one to watch this weekend.

Nicole shares a little tough love on eating and why she loves butter. This former track athlete shares a bit more about herself and why she’s one hardbody to watch!

Name: Nicole Witbeck

Born in: Portland Oregon

Currently Live in: San Diego California

Did you play any sports growing up? Dance (if you consider it a sport) and I ran varsity hurdles in high school.

110 hurdles or 300/400m? 100 high

Siblings? One brother

Youngest or oldest? Oldest, but some think he’s older just due to his sheer size.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a secret agent, then I grew up and realized they don’t exist in the way I thought they did.

Like the cartoon character MAD… SPY VS SPY? Never heard of it, I’ve always been a Star Wars junkie, so more sci-fi type stuff. Actually, dearth vader is currently my background on my iPhone

Other than hitting the weight room what do you with you day? I spend a lot of time outdoors, whether its the beach, hiking, and playing golf.

Have you always worked out? I’ve always been active- not necessarily In a gym. During college I was so focused on my accounting degree I rarely saw anything but the inside of a library.

Did you get an accounting degree and put it to use? I did work in accounting for about a year and I am starting to get back into it! I took some time off to really put my all into this sport.

Any accounting tips for your fellow fitness peeps? lol financial tip- go back and look at how much you used to spend on bars and eating out- then each month put that money away into a savings account. Use that savings account to help fund your competition career.

How did you get into competing? I went to one of my brother physique competitions and though hey I can do this! So I called his coach and got started that day. I did the emerald cup three weeks after that in Bellevue Washington.

You did only a handful of shows before turning pro right? Yes, I did two regional shows and got my pro card in Las Vegas last year!

See Nicole’s competition photos here!

What’s the biggest difference competing in NPC to the Pros? Just the attention that you receive- people look up to you as a role model or inspiration and that’s an amazing feeling knowing you are encouraging others to obtain a healthy lifestyle.

What’s something you wish people would have warned you about and learned the hard way? That I would probably never eat butter again. My favorite food is just straight up butter – and that’s obviously not on our diets.

Wait butter? So you would take a stick and just chew on it like a candy bar? lol yes, I mean I didn’t do that often, but the saying “want some bread with your butter” that was coined after me. My parents said growing up they would find me sneaking into the fridge late at night eating out of the butter tub.

Best thing about competing? Everything! I love the lifestyle and the way I feel. Being on stage and the competitions are just a fun way to show off all that you have worked so hard to achieve.

What’s it like being married to a Navy Seal? I am grateful to all that serve in our armed forces, so I’m very proud to be married to someone who puts his life on the line for our freedom. He constantly pushes me to be better and to never give up.

Like to work out solo or train with someone? When I’m lifting I prefer to train alone just because music really fuels the intensity of my workout. However, Cardio is more fun when I have a partner to laugh with.

What’s on your music play list currently? iHeart Radio- linkin park station

Favorite sport to watch? Football- and mainly because San Diego is an awesome place for hanging out and watching games.

Yes, San Diego is a nice warm place to watch the Charges lose to the Broncos. Are you a chargers fan or Seahawks? Chargers, I was never really a Seahawks fan so I adopted the chargers when I moved to San Diego, like every other person who lives there.

Favorite sport to play? Golf when I’m playing well. I also spent every weekend skiing back when I lived in Oregon.

How’s your golf game? Well… I’m not a scratch golfer by any means. But I can get ahold of a few every once in awhile.

Do blondes have more fun? I think that I have a lot of fun being a blonde!!! Especially in this sport, there are so few of us I have the ability to bring my own look.

What’s your favorite healthy food to make? Dried fruit- I can’t get enough dried pineapple.

Any tips for making fish taste better? I use a chipotle or spicy seasoning to cover up the taste, but when I don’t use seasoning my tip would be to suck it up- I don’t see food as pleasure just fuel to get me through the day.

Rather cook or do laundry? Well my husband would say do laundry because he thinks I’m a clean freak, but I would prefer to cook or bake any day!

Biggest pet peeve? When guys lift up their shirts and stare at their abs in the mirror at the gym. Like really???

Bad Habit.. Coffee, I don’t even want to know how much I spend on Starbucks in a given month.

Social media where people can find you? Twitter: @IFBBNicoleMarie Facebook: Nicole Marie Witbeck- IFBB pro

Where else will you be competing this year? I’m looking at Pittsburg, and from there will just see where things take me!!

Filed Under: Interviews, News & Features

Olympia Champ Nathalia Melo’s 8 Brazilian Basics

April 16, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The first-ever Arnold Classic Brazil is just around the corner. Since we’ve never been to Brazil we thought who better to help guide us than the top Bikini Pro in the biz, Brazilian Nathalia Melo. Nathalia has been a long-time friend of Hardbody and when we asked her for input she graciously accepted. This is the first of our Arnold Brazil series with Nathalia. She kicks things off with some basics and as always she describes it as only Nathalia can.

Hello Hardbody Nation,

We are only a couple weeks away from first ever Arnold Classic in Rio, which is going to be the biggest event of its type in Latin America. I know many of you, my gringo friends, only know about Brazilian soccer, Carnival… and-AHAM that women there have big booties! HA! I have decided to help you out with some great tips before you head South, to my amazing country? =)

I have listed 8 basics that one MUST know before going to Brazil:
• Brazilians speak Portuguese, NOT Spanish… and before you ask, NO they are not the same!
• Brazil is the 5th Largest country in the world, and the largest country in Latin America.
• The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, NOT Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo like many people think.
• The Brazilian currency is called REAL, and it is worth a little less than half of the American dollar. So, to make it simple… Just divide everything you see there by 2, and you find out what the price would be in American dollars.
• There are NO sales taxes added at the cashier when you buy things there. So, the price you see is the price you pay.
• BUT, Before you get SUPER excited about the currency… don’t think you are a bawler quite yet! Brazil is not a cheap place, things there are a bit pricey.
• Make sure you have the proper electrical outlet adapter (Two round prongs), because the ones there are different from the outlets in the US.
• Brazil is not like the US, where you have A/C everywhere you go. So… be ready to break a sweat my friends! =)

I hope you enjoyed the first one of my blogs to help you enjoy every minute of your stay in my beautiful country!!

Also, feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions on my Facebook.

Beijos, (‘’Kisses’’ in Portuguese)

Nathalia Melo

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features

Don’t Miss “Desitnation Dallas” Superstar Seminar

April 12, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

IFBB Bikini Pro Tawna Eubanks gives us the skinny on a cool seminar taking place in Dallas, Texas. If you’re in the area or ever wanted to train and learn from some of the best in the bodybuilding and fitness industry, this is your chance. We’re stoked to see this new facility come to fruition and it’s sure to be a popular spot for fitness enthusiasts.

As shared by Tawna Eubanks…
There are exciting things going on in Dallas, Texas as the opening of “…destination Dallas” draws closer. What is being promised as a “must visit” for everyone living the extreme fitness lifestyle there’s a lot of anticipation behind the opening of this place! As a sneak peek into Destination a Super Star Seminar is being held on April 27th for everyone to meet top pros, watch them train, and interact with them in a question and answer formatted seminar.

If you haven’t heard about …destination Dallas yet, this is the combination of three great entities: Gasp and Better Bodies clothing line, Metroflex Gym, and Ultimate Sports Nutrition. Gasp and Better Bodies is one of the world’s top fitness clothing brands and they will have a showroom and warehouse inside of Destination. Metroflex Gym of Plano, sequel to the legendary gym of Ronnie Coleman, Branch Warren and a host of other great pros will offer a 10,000 square foot facility built specifically for hard training competitors. Ultimate Sports Nutrition is one of Texas’s top performing supplement retailers, will have their 11th Denver / Fort Worth location inside the destination, offering premier sports supplements at great prices.

WHEN:
Saturday, April 27, 2013

TIME / WHERE:
8am – 12:30pm
Metroflex Plano
2700 K Ave 200
Plano, TX 75074

12pm-5pm
Destination Dallas
2655 Premier Drive
Plano, TX 75075

On the women’s side of the event champion fitness competitor, Adela Garcia will kick things off with an 8:30am workout at the current location of Metroflex Gym of Plano. You can grab a healthy breakfast and watch Adela show you what helped her create a dominant fitness physique. Harbody’s own and Better Bodies’ IFBB Bikini Pro Tawna Eubanks will be training with new figure pro Jennifer Baker at 11:30am also at Metroflex Gym of Plano. Bikini and Figure competitors alike these are two extremely talented girls with a top level coach behind them, this is a great opportunity to pick up a few exercises to add to your contest prep or off-season training plan. Following a BBQ cookout from 12-2pm the girls, will be joined by Dallas area prep coach Jeff Dwelle. Collectively they will (4pm at the construction site of Destination Dallas) discuss everything from A to Z about competing. Diet, training, suits, shoes, posing, presentation you name it they are ready to talk to you about it! They’ll stay until the last question is answered!

On the men’s side of the event, Better Bodies athlete Mike Rashid (out of Long Beach, California) will be doing a high intensity, high volume bodybuilding workout at 8am at the current location of Metroflex Plano. Followed shortly thereafter by none other than Texas’ own, Gasp Athlete Branch Warren at 10am! Branch will show fans how to train insane in his own backyard. Branch Warren and Mike will be back at 2pm following the BBQ cookout and will be joined by contest prep guru Neil Hill. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk to one of the best bodybuilders Branch Warre and one of the top gurus in the sport, Neil Hill.

You can also catch a live webcast of this event at: MetroflexPlano.com!

Filed Under: News & Features

Food and Drug Administration Warns DMAA Potentially Dangerous

April 12, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 1 Comment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued another story related to the use of dimethylamylamine (DMAA) in supplements. The FDA warned companies known to be using the ingredient that their products are illegal. The only company that did not stop using DMAA as an ingredient was USPLabs, which challenges the FDA’s findings.

ARTICLE FROM THE FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is using all available tools at its disposal to ensure that dietary supplements containing a stimulant called dimethylamylamine (DMAA) are no longer distributed and available for sale to consumers in the marketplace.

The ingredient, DMAA, is most commonly used in supplements promising weight loss, muscle building and performance enhancement; it can elevate blood pressure and could lead to cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest. Given the known biological activity of DMAA, the ingredient may be particularly dangerous when used with caffeine.

As of April 11, 2013, FDA had received 86 reports of illnesses and death associated with supplements containing DMAA. The majority are voluntary reports from consumers and healthcare practitioners. The illnesses reported include heart problems and nervous system or psychiatric disorders. Note, however, that a report is not proof that the product actually caused the problem.

FDA has warned companies known to be using DMAA in dietary supplements that those products containing this ingredient are illegal. Such warnings offer the quickest way at FDA’s disposal to halt the further distribution of dietary supplements containing DMAA in the marketplace. In fact, all but one of the companies sent a Warning Letter have agreed to stop using DMAA as an ingredient in their dietary supplements. The one company that has yet to agree to such action, USPLabs, has responded to FDA’s warning by submitting published studies that purport to challenge FDA’s conclusions.

However, after reviewing the studies provided by USPLabs, FDA has found the information insufficient to defend the use of DMAA as an ingredient in dietary supplements. FDA is finalizing a formal response to the firm to reflect its findings, according to Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., director of FDA’s Division of Dietary Supplement Program.

FDA’s authority over dietary supplements is very different from its authority over drugs and other medical products. FDA is required to undertake what are usually lengthy scientific and legal steps in order to force the removal of dietary supplements that may be unsafe or are otherwise illegal if companies don’t voluntarily comply.

As FDA continues the process needed to get DMAA off the market, the agency is urging consumers to check labels and avoid any dietary supplements containing DMAA, which is referred to on different product labels by 10 possible names. The alternatives are listed at FDA’s DMAA web page.

FDA’s response to the use of DMAA illustrates the challenges that the agency faces in addressing incidents involving potentially dangerous dietary supplements. The effort is increasingly important as the use of dietary supplements increases worldwide. A 2011 study found that more than half of U.S. adults used a dietary supplement between 2003 and 2006, compared to 40% between 1988 and 1994.

In recent years, FDA has alerted consumers to hundreds of tainted products marketed as dietary supplements. Consumers should be aware that dietary supplements are subject to different oversight than drugs and other medical products.

“Consumers may mistakenly look at a capsule and think that FDA has signed off on that product as safe and effective prior to that product appearing on the market, as we do with drugs and other medical products,” says Fabricant. “In contrast, with dietary supplements, there is no pre-market approval, and once a product is on the market, the burden is on the FDA to prove that a product is unsafe.”

FDA’s role in overseeing dietary supplements is laid out in a 1994 law and subsequent amendments. FDA’s enforcement capabilities range from issuing warning letters seeking voluntary cooperation—the quickest way to get a product off the market—to bringing criminal charges. In recent years, FDA enforcement actions involving dietary supplements have included banning products, executing injunctions, working with U.S. marshals to seize products, and issuing safety alerts and consent decrees—which are agreements approved and enforced by a federal court.

In many cases, FDA has acted when dietary supplements were found to contain ingredients approved for use in prescription drugs. DMAA was approved in 1948 for use as a nasal decongestant, but the approval was withdrawn in 1983.

The products cited in the warning letter to USPLabs are Oxy Elite Pro and Jack3D. These products claim, among other things, to be fat-burning and performance-enhancing supplements, respectively. While action in that case in pending, FDA is following up to ensure that other companies which promised to cease using DMAA as an ingredient in their dietary supplements are actually doing so. FDA is also looking to see if there are other dietary supplement products containing DMAA in the marketplace, and will continue to act to ensure that such products, when identified, are no longer distributed and available for sale to consumers.

Consumers are urged to report any problems associated with supplement use to the company or the agency, and to always consult with their health care professional before using a supplement.

This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Story from FDA.gov.

Filed Under: News & Features, Supplements

Pro Surfer Lakey Peterson Joins Nike Training Club

April 11, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Nike has become more than a pair of running shoes. The brand has expanded into technology most never dreamed of years ago. One of the successful piece of technology is their iPhone and Android app. It helps you maximize your results and get motivated. Whatever your fitness goals might be, the Nike Training Club (NTC) app helps take up a notch. It’s a pretty sweet app that can help you get that hard body you want. Our Hardbody friend, Marie Wood-Purvis is a Nike Master Trainer and plays a huge role in the app.

The newest addition to the Nike Training Club is pro surfer Lakey Peterson. Lakey Peterson is a professional surfer and ranked one of the best in the world. She joined Marie and the NTC folks for a “Beach Legs” workout. Marie shared a photo on her instagram and it looks like they had a blast making it. Visit Nike Women’s Facebook page for some exercise tips and if you haven’t yet, download the Nike Training Club app.

lakey-marie Lakey & Marie having some fun on the NTC set.

Get toned for summer with pro surfer Lakey Peterson’s new Beach Legs Workout for Nike Training Club.

How the NTC app works in seven easy steps.
via www.nike.com
01. IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU
Register with NTC so you can begin working out and we can begin helping you improve.

02. WORK OUT
Select your goal and level, then choose from a list of workouts that meet your criteria.

03. DRILLS & AUDIO GUIDE
Access detailed, step-by-step instructions and video demonstrations of each drill. A Nike professional trainer guides you through each step of your workout. Pause your workout at any time to access on-demand instruction.

04. MUSIC
Pick the album or playlist from your library that will keep you motivated.

05. RESULTS
After your workout, review a summary of your training inlcluding approximate NikeFuel earned, calories burned and more. Then share your results and see how close you are to your next reward.

06. REWARDS & BONUSES
Every minute of training gets you closer to NTC-exclusive rewards like personal training advice and star workouts. Unlock embedded reward content as you reach training milestones and earn badges.

07. TRAINING ESSENTIALS
Get the most from your workout with NTC-recommended products. Engineered to take your training further.

Check out Lacey’s new surfing movie, Zero to 100, that’s out later this month. Follow Marie on twitter and give her a Hardbody hello. She shares amazing tips on health, nutrition and training.

Filed Under: News & Features, Workouts

Open 13.5 Giveaway

April 11, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

There’s still time to enter the BSN Open 13.5 Giveaway! Enter your information here and could win BSN products and BSN branded RockTape.

Prize Description:
4 Prospective Grand Prize Winners who meet all eligibility requirements will receive: one (1) 24-Serving SYNTHA-6™ ISOLATE – Chocolate, one (1) 30-Serving AMINO X™ – Fruit Punch & two (2) BSN® branded rolls of RockTape.

4 Prospective Secondary Winners who meet all eligibility requirements will receive one (1) 30-Serving AMINO X™ – Fruit Punch & one (1) BSN® branded roll of RockTape.

Complete details and rules here.

Filed Under: News & Features

Happy Birthday Bodybuilding.com – Celebrate by Saving Big

April 11, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Bodybuilding.com has become the online leader for not only great content but also amazing deals on supplements and nutritional products. The company celebrates it’s 14th Birthday today, April 11, 2013 and is offering visitors big savings. If you’re a little low on protein or maybe you need a new pre-workout supplement, stop by Bodybuilding.com and use the promo code BDAY20. The 20% off coupon only works until 12:00am PST so get a move on!

Use Your “BDAY20″ Coupon on These Brands
Optimum Nutrition Products
MusclePharm Products
BSN Products
Dymatize Products
Cellucor Products
MuscleTech Products
BPI Products
Infinite Labs Products
ProMera Products
Gaspari Nutrition Products
CytoSport Monster Products
Met-Rx Products
USPlabs Products
Top Secret Products
Driven Sports Products
VPX Products
MHP Products
Betancourt Nutrition Products
PharmaFreak Products
Axis Labs Products
Beast Products
Athletic Edge Products
iSS Research Products
EAS Products
Controlled Labs Products
MRM Products
SmartShake Products
ErgoGenix Products
Magnum Products
ProLab Products
Nutrex Research Products
EXT Products
Cobra Labs Products
Fitmiss Products
iForce Nutrition Products
Natrol Products
Supreme Protein Products
Harbinger Products
MRI Products
Pro Supps Products
Nutrabolics Products
Inner Armour Products

Filed Under: News & Features, Supplements

New IFBB Women’s Physique Comeptition Added to Schedule

April 7, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 2 Comments

The IFBB Pro League is in full swing and shows are taking place across the world nearly every weekend. A show that may not be on many women physique competitors’ radar is the Optimum Classic. The show was recently added to the IFBBpro.com website and slated to take place on May 11, 2013. The Optimum Classic Pro Women’s Physique show is promoted by Prince Harrison and Robert Blount in Shrevport, Louisiana. For more information contact prince@optimumfitness.com.

Visit IFBBpro.com for more info on upcoming competitions.

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

2013 Bodybuilding.com FIT USA Fitness Model Competition

April 5, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 1 Comment

IF you’ve ever dreamed of appearing in a fitness magazine and having a year supply of supplements this is a competition for you. The 2013 Bodybuilding.com FIT USA Model Competition will award one male and one female with $500 cash, a feature in REPS or OXYGEN magazine, a photo shoot with bodybuilding.com and a year supply of supplements from MusclePharm. The contest is open to all BodySpace member over the age of 18.

The top 20 finalists (10 men and 10 women) will be invited to compete at the 2013 Bodybuilding.com Fit Expo on June 8th. A panel of celebrity judges will choose the winners based on overall muscle tone, stage presence, shape and marketability as a fitness model. Last year’s winners were Liz Brown and Matthew Sulentic.

For complete details and registration visit bodybuilding.com. Good luck!

Filed Under: News & Features

2013 IFBB EVL’S Praque Pro & Amateur Bikini Olympia

April 5, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The EVL’s Prague Pro is back for its second year and will be the final stop for the male bodybuilders in 2013. The event plays host to a pro bikini competition which was won by Justine Munro last year. The weekend will also hold the second annual Amateur Bikini Olympia. The dates have been set for October 19, 2013 in Praque, Czech Republic. This date has been changed from its previously announced time.

NEWS RELEASE
2013 IFBB EVL’S PRAGUE PRO & AMATEUR BIKINI OLYMPIA
Europe’s premier bodybuilding competition is back for year two as the EVL’S Prague Pro, held October 19, is set to showcase the world’s best and brightest stars in Prague, the historic capital city of the Czech Republic (date changed from October 26).

Last year’s EVL´S Prague Pro marked the return of pro bodybuilding to the Czech Republic after a 14-year absence, instantly making it one of the most important events in the 2012 IFBB season. Over 80 competitors from all over the world attended the landmark event. Germany’s Dennis Wolf prevailed over the USA’s Shawn Rhoden to capture the men’s open bodybuilding title, while Flex Lewis, the newly crowned Olympia 212 Showdown champion, added another title to close out the best year of his career, and Justine Munro strutted her way past a tough field of challengers to win the bikini division.

Held once again at the state-of-the-art Tipsport Arena, the 2013 rendition will feature IFBB pro men’s open bodybuilding, 212-and under and bikini action. And with $180,000 (US dollars) of total prize money on the line, be prepared for a night of epic battles.

Also, the second annual Amateur Bikini Olympia will add even more heat to competition with the winner earning an IFBB pro card and an automatic spot in the 2014 Bikini Olympia! The 2012 version, won by the beautiful Vladimira Krasova (now an IFBB pro and qualified to compete in the 2013 Bikini Olympia), boasted the highest number of competitors in the contest. Who will be the luckiest lady in the land this year?

Fans will also be treated to the latest and best supplements and other products in the sports, fitness and health industry at the EVL’S Prague Pro Expo, held in the spacious Incheba Arena, located below the main hall of the Tipsport Arena.

Don’t miss the 2013 IFBB EVL’S Prague Pro Bodybuilding, 212, Bikini and Amateur Bikini Olympia, held October 19. For tickets and more information, go to evlspraguepro.com.

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

Poised & Polished Pollianna Moss Wins 2013 IFBB Battle on The Beach Bikini

March 30, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Pollianna Moss entered the inaugural IFBB Battle on the Beach with two shows already under her heels for the year. She was fourth at the 2013 Australian Pro and runner-up at the 2013 New Zealand Pro. The Hawaiian cutie showed that stage presence and combined with a tight, toned physique will stand out. Pollianna notched her second pro win in her career with a win over 10 other IFBB Bikini Pros. The win comes less than one year since her first pro victory, the 2012 Toronto Pro.

Rookie Courtney King showed she’s a force to be reckoned with in future competitions and with a little more stage time you’ll see her in the winner’s circle. Rounding out the top three was Aly Veneno who was competing in just her second pro show.

Promoter Shannon Dey and her crew did a great job of making every competitor feel welcomed and this women’s only event was a great stop for not only the pros but also a number of NPC competitors. Don’t be surprised if you see a few of the NPC competitors from this show end up with IFBB Pro status before the year is over.

The HARDBODY 411 on the Pros:
1. Pollianna Moss – Very polished and presented great. She’s a shorter competitor with a bit more muscle than the others but she carries herself in a classy manner. The green suit works for her and her presentation as spot on. She’ll be a contender in every show she enters if she matches what the brought to the stage in Daytona. There was no question she was the winner in my opinion.

2. Courtney King – Great pro debut for Courtney. She’s has a great look, nice legs and with a bit more time for her body to mature she’ll do very well. She was a little nervous with her individual posing and once she got comfortable in the comparisons it made a world of difference. Look for her to be a threat to the top spots in future shows.

3. Aly Veneno - This was Aly’s second pro show in her competitive career. She was a bit off in her posing during the prejudging individual round doing some odd things with her fingers and arm positioning. I wasn’t a big fan of how low the suit connectors were and her tan was a bit dark and her face/make up a bit too light. When she got into her poses she looked good. Nice legs and a nice physique. The evening show she switched suits and it was much better as was her posing. Her makeup was a bit muddy but the presentation was way better.

4. Gigi Amurao – Gigi brought a fuller physique than in previous shows and the purple suit works for her. She presents well and has improved stage presence from last year. Gigi’s biggest battle will be her quads and not looking too muscular on stage. If she can bring her legs down a bit she’ll have a bit more balance. A solid showing by Gigi at this contest.

5. Maura Bouchard - Maura is like Brazil’s version of the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character. She has a ton of energy and goes non-stop. This was her pro debut and finishing in the top five is certainly an accomplishment. I’d like to see her a bit fuller in the upper body and her hair out of her face when presenting. She continues to improve and if she keeps heading in that direction she’ll be in the mix.

6. Ashley Wade - Ashley has a great look. Love the curly hair, nice skin tone and has a pleasing physique. If anything her suit choice may be something to look at but I would have put her in my top 5. She’ll hold her own in future shows.

7. Nicole Witbeck - This was Nicole’s second pro show but you wouldn’t know it by the way she presented. She looked spot on with her physique and not sure there’s much more she could have done differently. She might have been a little nervous at first but when she smiles and relaxes she lights up the stage. I would have place her in the top three and would have liked to see her compared to that first group. She’s definitely one to watch as she has tons of potential to be a top contender.

8. Michon Leddy - Probably Michon’s best look to date. Her upper body was on the mark but when she poses from the back, the suit cut and/or the posing is a little unflattering. I’d like to see different posing from the back or possibly a different suit cut, or both. That’s the one thing that stood out. Overall she keeps improving.

9. Nathalie Mur - Nathalie is a taller competitor and with her tall frame needs to come in a bit fuller. I’d like to see her with a bit more butt and pose with a tad more energy. Red is a good suit color on her. She took some time away from the stage in 2012 and will look to return to the Olympia in future shows.

10. Jessica Renee - Jessica has a cute look but was just a bit off at this show. Her tan and make up was a bit off and could have used some oil in prejudging. Suit color was good and she has potential. If she can tighten up with her conditioning and refine the little details, she’ll move up.

11. Jennifer Elliott - Jennifer appeared to be in the middle of the pack based on prejudging call-outs but her lower body conditioning held her back from placing there. Blue is a good suit color for her which compliments her blonde hair. I’d like to see her pose with her legs a little closer together and bring in a tighter lower body.

Filed Under: Contest Results, News & Features

Hardbody Rookie PROfile – Courtney King

March 28, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Courtney King is one of the youngest competitors in the IFBB Pro League but you’d never know it by the way she conducts herself on and off stage. The windy city native is on the heels of her first pro competition and has a solid chance at winning it all. Courtney takes time out from her prep to share a bit more about herself in our Hardbody PROfile.

Name: Courtney King

Born in: Chi-Town! Chicago, IL.

Currently live in: Daytona Beach, FL.

Are you the oldest or youngest in the fam? I am the Oldest! I have a younger 17 year old brother.

Contest history:
• 2011 teen nationals championships bikini- 1st
• 2012 jay cutler classic bikini- open bikini overall & bikini class B 1st
• 2012 npc jr USA’s- bikini class D 13th
• 2012 junior nationals bikini – 7th
• 2012 team universe bikini – 3rd
• 2012 npc teen collegiate and master national championship-collegiate bikini 1st and overall , teen bikini 1st and overall
• Npc USA championships – bikini earned pro card class D 2nd

Did you play any sports growing up? My parents had me in every single sport possible! Haha, growing up I’ve done everything from gymnastics to soccer, track, swimming, basketball, cheerleading, even flag football when I was younger! (I know I’m embarrassed to admit that) haha

How did you get your start in the NPC? Two words… Nicole Nagrani! I Remember when I was 17 years old looking at her win the bikini Olympia at 19 (my age now) and thinking “wow! I want to be just like her” luckily now since moving to Florida me and Nicole became really close friends and she is one of most genuine and beautiful girls inside and out I’ve ever met! I’m so grateful to have became such close friends with Nicole! She’s the one who inspired me to start competing..and still does.:)

Thing you like best about competing. I like the journey and process! It’s cool seeing what hard work & determination can do and how much your body can transform with the effort and drive you put into it! I also love meeting so many motivated and inspirational people that all have a strong passion for what they do!

Thing you could do without when it comes to competing. Getting JanTana color off your skin! And walking around at the shows with everyone shoving their faces with protein bars and having really bad gas. Like come on… Just stop eating haha

Cardio in the morning or not so much? Unless my coaches say otherwise… Yes! Haha, I don’t really mind morning cardio though, it gets my day off to a good jump start!

What’s your favorite body part to train? I would have to go with legs on this one!

One body part you dread training? I love training! It’s something I do everyday so I don’t dread any training day.

What feedback did you get from the judges at your last show? They said that I needed to work on building my upper body if I wanted to compete with women in there 20′s and 30′s. They also said since I’m younger it takes time, but I think I’ve made improvements on my overall physique since I turned pro back in July!

When you’re not prepping for a show what do you like to do? I’m very laid back! I don’t mind just hanging out with my family or friends and relaxing!

First thing I do in the morning is… Thank God for another day but besides that I get up usually check my phone and lay in bed for an extra 5 minutes and then brush my teeth, go pee and start getting ready for my AM cardio! lol.

Last thing I do at night is… By the time I go to bed between school and training I’m usually exhausted so right when my head hits the pillow I’m usually knocked out. Haha

One thing I HAVE to have in the morning. I love my morning oatmeal! (Always gotta have it) haha but besides that as corny as this sounds.. .I feel like I have to have a good attitude every morning! If not then I feel like it just ruins the rest of my day.

One food prep tip I learned and wish I knew when I first started… I wish I knew to freeze all my meals and make everything in bulk ahead of time! (Not the day of) who does that?! Only I would. lol

What do you want to be when you grow up? lol HAHAHAHA! I actually LOLed at this question, thanks Isaac! Hmmm let’s see as of now I’m really undecided with what I want to do in my future! I’m a freshman in college right now so I’m just doing my general courses as of now before i have to pick a major. It’s hard to decide!

Rather be in workout clothes or glammed up? Workout clothes! But come on now what competitor wouldn’t?!

Girly girl or tom boy? That’s a tough one…I would say it’s split in between! I can be super sporty and tomboy, and then again It’s always good to get your girly girl on and done up at times! It’s a tie, so id say I’m a “Tom/Girl”

Most ridiculous thing a guy has said to you in the gym? I’ll never forget a guy once offered me a “free massage” because he just got his masseuse certification. (I’m sure he did) Hahah, thanks but no thanks buddy ill have to pass!

My favorite cheat meal is… Gosh I don’t even know! I think this is a hard question for anyone. I always crave different things, but I really love pancakes! I also am a huge trail mix junkie. Give me those two and I’m set!

My favorite spot to chill is… Probably my room. Haha peace & Quite!

Check out Courtney’s competition photos and check back to see how she did in her pro debut, this weekend at the Battle on the Beach.

Filed Under: Interviews, News & Features

The Master Blaster – Joe Weider Influenced Millions

March 27, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

We all owe the Weider brothers a great deal of graditude for their contributions to the Health & Fitness world. Joe Weider influenced millions over the years and he lived a long, happy life. We wish all the Weider family our condolences in their loss. The Godfather of Bodybuilding, the Baster Blaster, The man who introduced the world to Arnold… Joe Weider passed away at the age of 93. The last time we saw Joe standing on stage of the Olympia, appropriately named after him, was in 2008. He joined the Figure competitors on stage and was all smiles.

JOHN ROGERS, The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe Weider, a legendary figure in bodybuilding who helped popularize the sport worldwide and played a key role in introducing a charismatic young weightlifter named Arnold Schwarzenegger to the world, died Saturday. He was 93.

Weider’s publicist, Charlotte Parker, told The Associated Press that the bodybuilder, publisher and promoter died of heart failure at his home in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.

“I knew about Joe Weider long before I met him,” Schwarzenegger, who tweeted the news of his old friend’s death, said in a lengthy statement posted on his website. “He was the godfather of fitness who told all of us to be somebody with a body. He taught us that through hard work and training we could all be champions.”

A bodybuilder with an impressive physique himself, Weider became better known in later years as a behind-the-scenes guru to the sport.

He popularized bodybuilding and spread the message of health and fitness worldwide with such publications as Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Shape. Schwarzenegger himself is the executive editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex.

He created one of bodybuilding’s pre-eminent events, the Mr. Olympia competition, in 1965, adding to it the Ms. Olympia contest in 1980, the Fitness Olympia in 1995 and the Figure Olympia in 2003.

He also relentlessly promoted Schwarzenegger, who won the Mr. Olympia title a then-record seven times, including in 1980 and every year from 1970 through 1975.

“Every sport needs a hero, and I knew that Arnold was the right man,” he said.

Weider brought Schwarzenegger to the United States early in his career, where he helped train the future governor of California as well as aided him in getting into business. Schwarzenegger also said Weider helped land him his first movie role, in the forgettable film “Hercules in New York,” by passing off the Austrian-born weightlifter to the producers as a German Shakespearean actor.

“Joe didn’t just inspire my earliest dreams; he made them come true the day he invited me to move to America to pursue my bodybuilding career,” the actor said in his statement. “I will never forget his generosity. One of Joe’s greatest qualities is that he wasn’t just generous with his money; he freely gave of his time and expertise and became a father figure for me.”

Weider also mentored numerous other bodybuilders.

Born in Canada in 1919, Weider recalled growing up in a tough section of Montreal.

Just like the apocryphal tale of the skinny kid who starts working out after a bully kicks sand in his face, Weider said he was indeed a small, skinny teenager picked on by bullies when he came across the magazine Strength.

He had tried to join a local wrestling team, he said, but was turned down by the coach who feared he was so small he’d be hurt.

Inspired by the magazine, he built his own weights from scrap parts found in a railroad yard and pumped them relentlessly.

Word of his efforts got around and he was invited to join a weightlifting club.

“When I saw the gym, saw the guys working out, supporting one another, I was mesmerized,” he recalled.

He won his first bodybuilding ranking at age 17, and soon after began to publish his first magazine, Your Physique.

Later he started a mail-order barbell business, and in 1946 he and his younger brother staged the first Mr. Canada contest in at Montreal’s Monument National Theater. At the same time, they formed the International Federation of Bodybuilders.

In recent years, Weider donated much of his bodybuilding memorabilia to the University of Texas at Austin, which opened the Joe and Betty Weider Museum of Physical Culture in 2011.

He is survived by his wife.

Filed Under: News & Features

Dianna Dahlgren Hangs Up Her Heels

March 14, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Dianna Dahlgren entered the IFBB pro ranks after a relatively short NPC run. She achieved pro status at the 2009 Team Universe in just her third show. She competed in the Olympia three times and finished as high as third. Dianna has decided to hang up her heels in the bikini division and does so on a high note. The California girl won the 2012 Houston Pro to close out her competition career. Below is a press release from Fitness Management Group with more information.

PRESS RELEASE VIA FMG
With the recent IFBB Bikini International taking place at the Arnold Sports Festival, one of the top competitors was missing from the stage, Dianna Dahlgren. Many people were asking when we might see Dianna on an IFBB Professional League stage again? Sadly the answer is Never. Dianna Dahlgren is hanging up her competition bikini to move on to other venture’s in her life including her multi-year stint as Ms. Supercross, mainstream modeling and who knows what else is in store for her.

Dahlgren took the fitness world by storm and has been on the cover of every major fitness magazine and been featured in numerous multi-page spreads inside of them. She also won 3 IFBB Professional League Bikini competitions and placed as high as third in the 2011 IFBB Bikini Olympia! Dianna goes out on top having won her last contest, the 2012 IFBB Houston Pro Bikini. She has pretty much done it all and leaves with few regrets.

“I want to thank my trainer Damian Segovia of Team AFD for believing in me and helping me reach the pinnacle of my competitive career,” Dahlgren stated. “It is no secret that I suffer from an eating disorder and Damian was able to work with me to help me achieve my goals in a safe and healthy way, I am forever grateful D!! I want to also thank NPC and IFBB Professional League President Jim Manion for all he has done for me and provided me a sport to compete in. There are so many others that have been supportive and I could go on forever thanking each and every one of them. Last I want to thank Fitness Management Group for guiding me through my fitness competition and fitness modeling career.”

Although Dianna Dahlgren won’t be on the competitive stage any longer that doesn’t mean she is abandoning the sport. Expect to see her around various fitness expo’s when she gets the opportunity. And keep an eye on your television and possibly movie screen’s to see how her career progresses! We at FMG want to Thank Dianna for the pleasure of working with her and want to wish her continued success!

View photos from Dianna’s competitions here.

Filed Under: News & Features

2013 Arnold Webcast Replays

March 10, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

If you weren’t able to attend the Arnold Sports Festival, don’t worry. The 2013 Arnold Classic webcast replays are available now for a limited time on bodybuilding.com. See the comparisons in figure, fitness, bikini and bodybuilding. The always popular fitness routines are also available and have to be seen in motion to truly appreciate. Hurry though, the replays are only available for a limited time.

Missed the live webcast? Don’t worry – get complete replays right here for a limited time!

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features

Oksana Grishina’s Hardbody Recap of the Fitness International

March 6, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 1 Comment

Oksana Grishina stops by to share share her thoughts on the 2013 Fitness International. She’s had one of the most entertaining routines of the Arnold Classic weekend and finished in the runner-up position. It’s been a long, hard fought road for Oksana to reach the top of the Fitness ranks and while many of her fans might be calling foul over her placing, she’s nothing but grateful.

Oksana Grishina After the Arnold!
View photos of Oksana’s routine here.

Hi fans and friends!!!

This was an amazing weekend for me! I promised to all of you that I would do my best, and I did just that. I did what I wanted to do. I did what I had to do. I made a promise to myself that I would nail my performance, that I would fully master this new character, which was so emotionally hard, and that I would complete all the elements of my routine strongly and cleanly. All of the months of hard work really paid off for my very important two minutes on stage. This is what makes me happy, and a second place finish at the Arnold Classic is icing on the cake! It’s so great when you have a goal, work so hard, and everything goes as planned!

This performance was particularly hard for me. Throughout my prep, this character took a long time to figure out. On the day of the performance, I needed several hours to prepare and get into character. Backstage, when I had finished my makeup, I knew I was close. When I got on stage, I felt it fully. After the performance, I was emotionally drained and crying back stage. But, by this, I knew I had really brought the character to life.

Oksana Grishina as The Joker

I felt like I did my best with my body, as well, but there are still things that I don’t quite like, and need to improve. I still need to work on my posing, and I can work to bring a physique that is a bit softer to the stage. Of course, it is important to always be changing and growing, so I welcome having improvements to make and new goals to set. I’m working on them already.

I am so happy for Tanji Johnson! It was great to see her won ! Congratulations Champ!!! She is a leader and role model in Fitness, and no one is a more deserving Arnold Classic champion. It was amazing to see all my sisters in Fitness doing their best. Congratulations to every one of them! We are all fighters inside, and we are heroes, too. Just look at Fiona Harris. You may have noticed her breathing particularly hard during her routine. Well, the girl did all of that with a broken rib! This is what I call a hero! And, of course, we are all close friends, and support each other, too. It is so important to have that mutual support and positive energy when you’re backstage.

I know some of my fans are disappointed with my placing, but please know that I am happy. I always aim to do my best. I still have my dreams. And nothing feels better than the amazing response you give to me when I am on stage. Your appreciation of my performance and all my hard work is really beyond anything money or trophies can buy. Seeing fans standing and cheering in the auditorium is all that I can ever ask for J. It was great to hear so many people saying that they had come to Columbus to see Fitness. There may only be 10 of us competing, but I’m glad the fans see us as an interesting and entertaining part of the Arnold weekend. With fans like that, we’re all winners!

I am fortunate to have the support of so many people. Thanks to the fans for their constant encouragement on Facebook and Twitter, and at the shows. Thanks to SAN Nutrition for their sponsorship. SAN supplements give me energy in the gym, and help me with balanced nutrition throughout the phases of my diet and training. Thanks to Lisa Miles and Laura Richards for their beautiful posing suits. Thanks to my tailor, Jerry, for his help with my costume. Thanks to Matt Willems of Perfect Driver Music for helping to make my performance music just perfect. Thanks to my acting teachers at Playhouse West for helping me learn how to better express my emotions on stage. Thanks to my family for a lifetime of support, no matter how far away they may be. Thanks to the Arnold Classic organizers for putting on another great show! It’s always an honor to be on the Arnold stage. Thanks to the judges for their hard work. Thanks to the IFBB for giving us a stage on which to compete, be creative and be stars!

Finally, I am so thankful to the people who have taken the time to put their heart, mind and soul into my prep… my acrobatics coach, Vladimir Sizov, who has taught me so much and pushes me hard in the gym every time. He’s the only bodybuilder I know who has the skills and agility to actually compete in Fitness, lol…my manager, Tom Haynes, who is my second brain throughout the year. At contest time, when I’m focused on my body and performance, his brain may be the only one that’s working, lol…and my coach and trainer, Boris Ivanov, who has put his knowledge and soul into helping me, with endless patience, make my dreams come true. He’s been working with me for my whole pro career, and knows my body better than I know it myself. I am truly blessed to have such great support.

Work hard, stay strong, never give up!

With love,

Oksana
IFBB Fitness Pro
www.oksanagrishina.com

Follow Oksana on twitter at @OksanaGrishina and like her Facebook page.

Read Oksana’s Road to the Arnold at: http://www.hardbodynews.com/?s=oksana#sthash.YR0rlvFB.dpbs#ixzz2MmlVfNnh

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features, Road to The Arnold

2013 Bikini International Results & Review

March 6, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The annual Ms. Bikini International took place in Columbus, Ohio on March 2, 2013 as part of the Arnold Sports Festival. Sixteen women were invited to compete on the prestigious Arnold stage and when the scores were tallied a new winner was crowned for the third year in a row. Nicole Nagrani was the inaugural winner and Sonia Gonzales took home the title last year. This year, Florida resident, India Paulino took home the crown.

India Paulino edged out the reigning Ms. Bikini Olympia Champion, Nathalia Melo by two points for the win. Many in attendance thought the finals could go a number of ways based on the judges’ call-outs. India brought a slightly softer physique than we’ve seen in the past but as expected she sported a yellow bikini and brought sass to the stage. Nathalia brought a similar look as she had to the Olympia stage but came up just short in the judges’ score sheets. She has a bit more muscle in her legs than the other women in this line-up and it may have hurt her since there was no one to compare her to with a similar build. Nathalia has always posed with great energy and confidence.

Nicole Nagrani look a little smaller than we’ve seen her in the past and she brought a new look to the stage. She had a very noticeable breast augmentation done in the off-season and it didn’t quite feel like we were seeing the same Nicole as year’s past. Aside from the obvious of the physical appearance it was also the presentation. Gone was the cutesy, bubbly young Nicole we’d seen in her first two years as a pro.

Yeshaira Robles is the epitome of class. She has a smile that will light up the darkest room and she has the ability to be cute and sexy with a bat of an eye. If Yeshaira had been crowned the winner you’d likely get few arguments from the fans. Jessica Paxson quietly finished in the fifth place position. She wasn’t in the initial first call-out but after a few comparisons between the 4-8 finishers she locked in fifth place. Jessica has the complete look from head to toe and she presented more confident than ever. Rounding out the top six was the always consistent Jaime Baird. Jaime has a long, lean legs and it can some times hurt her against the shorter women. She held her own once again but didn’t quite have the same glow to her presentation as she has in the past.

One woman to watch in the coming shows is Ashley Kaltwasser. She has a great physique and as she clocks more stage presence and gets more comfortable on stage, you’ll see her move up. She finished in 10th but don’t be surprised if she has a pro victory to her credit before the year is over.

View photos from the 2013 Bikini International.

2013 Bikini International Results:
1. India Paulino
2. Nathalia Melo
3. Nicole Nagrani
4. Yeshaira Robles
5. Jessica Paxson
6. Jaime Baird
7. Jennifer Andrews
8. Tiffany Marie Boydston
9. Tawna Eubanks
10. Ashley Kaltwasser
11. Anna Virmajoki
12. Lacey DeLuca
13. Abigail Burrows
14. Lexi Kaufman
15. Noy Alexander
16. Marcela Tribin

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Contest Results, News & Features

Tanji Johnson’s Wait is Over – 2013 Fitness International Results

March 2, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The Fitness International is a show that every fitness competitor dreams of competing in and few ever experience winning it. For nearly a decade, Tanji Johnson has been chasing the elusive Arnold title. She’s come close to winning a number of times but hadn’t until now. This year she put it all together and finally had the opportunity to shake Arnold’s hand.

Tanji positioned herself for the win by coming with a tight, conditioned physique. She’s been up and down with her placings in the physique round but this time she left no question in the judges’ eyes. She headed into the night show needing a solid routine performance in order to win and she did exactly that. It wasn’t Tanji’s best performance we’ve ever seen and she appeared to struggle a bit at times. It was still a good routine that included a number of strength moves mixed in with a little dance.

Oksana Grishina has become a fan favorite over the years. Her creativity and passion for fitness is obvious in every routine she performs. Every year Oksana brings an unique and interesting routine to the stage. This year was no different and left many with goosebumps. Oksana was in 4th place after the physique round and despite being better than in previous years, the physique round kept her out of the winner’s circle. Oksana was the unanimous winner in the routine round with her JOKER theme. It was full of strength, artistry and drama from start to finish. She continues to improve in the physique round and when it comes to the routines, everyone agrees she’s always one of the most memorable.

Bethany Cisternino brought a great physique to the show. A case could be made for her winning the 2-piece round but no shame in finishing in second there. Bethany was fourth in the routine round and is always improving her presentation on stage. She has incredible gymnastic skills and makes the most difficult moves looks easy. Bethany’s third place finish was well deserved and look for her to be a threat for the win in any show she enters.

Trish Warren bounced back from sitting out last year after the birth of her first child. Momma Warren proved that nothing can stop you if you’re focused and committed. Trish was 5th heading into the routine round and could have been a bit tighter in the physique comparisons. She brought a rock’n routine to the stage and the third place score helped her finish in fourth.

Regiane DaSilva brought another fast-paced, high flying routine to the stage and it helped her land in 5th. Regiane always scores a bit lower in the physique rounds and it leaves her playing catch up heading into the routine round.

2013 Fitness International Results
1. Tanji Johnson
2. Oksana Grishina
3. Bethany Cisternino
4. Trish Warren
5. Regiane DaSilva
6. Ryall Graber-Vasani
7. Kizzy Vaines
8. Nicole Duncan
9. Fiona Harris
10. Amanda Hatfield

View competition photos of all the competitors on bodybuilding.com.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Contest Results, News & Features

Candice Keene Finishes Strong – 2013 Figure International Results

March 2, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The 2013 Figure International was chalked full of upsets and surprises. Heading into the contest it looked to be a showdown between Erin Stern and Candice Keene. Candice was looking to step out of Erin’s shadow and with the 2012 champ (Nicole Wilkins) sitting out, it was the perfect opportunity. Candice not only won but she did so with an unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.

Candice was clearly on the money and she posed with confidence and a little swagger. She is right at the line with muscularity. Any more and it will be too much and when you carry more muscle you have to find the perfect balance in conditioning to not look too hard and not appear too soft. Candice found that balance and left the stage a winner. The night was particularly special because not only did she get to shake hands with Arnold but she did so on her birthday. It’s safe to say that will be a memorable birthday for Candice.

One of the upsets of the night was Heather Dees finishing in second over the reigning Ms. Olympia. Heather edged out Erin by one point and positioned herself as one of the top contenders in the division. Erin was a little flat and not quite as sharp as she was at the Olympia. Heather has shaved off some muscle over the last year to year and a half and it’s helped in her placings. It’s human nature to compare the competitors to their best and it appeared everyone did that in this case. Erin being off her best and Heather being at her best helped set the stage for the upset.

Candice Lewis picked up where she left off in 2012. She brought a new look to the stage but with the same great shape. Candice’s challenge is keeping her legs down so they don’t overpower her physique. She seemed a little bit “deer in the headlights” at times with her stage presence but who wouldn’t be their first time on the Arnold stage?

Mallory Haldeman also continued her top five form at this show. Mallory hasn’t even been a pro for a full year and already she’s positioned herself as a top 6 contender in the Arnold and Olympia. Mallory needs to put on a bit more size and improve her stage presence. She’s a little shallow in her back and when she fills out her frame a bit you’ll see her move up.

Rounding out the top 6 in quiet form was Camala Rodriquez. Camala has nice shape and found a good balance with her conditioning. Many in attendance thought it could go either way between 5-7 placings. Ava Cowan was on the outside looking in as she finished in 7th. Ava brought one of her better physiques we’ve seen yet missed out on the top spots.

2013 Figure International Results:
1. Candice Keene
2. Heather Dees
3. Erin Stern
4. Candice Lewis
5. Mallory Haldeman
6. Camala Rodriguez
7. Ava Cowan
8. Gennifer Strobo
9. Cheryl Brown
10. Kamla Macko
11. Ann Titone
12. Aleisha Hart
13. Candice John
14. Nicole Sims
15. Alea Suarez
16. Giada Simari
16. Natalie Waples
16. Olga Morales

View competition photos of all the competitors on bodybuilding.com.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Contest Results, News & Features

Hardbody Backstage Pass – Arnold Amateur

March 1, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

We were backstage last night at the 2013 Arnold Amateur and had the opportunity to capture some of the action many never see. Check out what goes on behind the curtain while waiting to go on stage or when exiting after the competition.