Fitness professionals in New Jersey may have a few changes coming their way in ordered to be licensed trainers. Senator Paul A. Sarlo introduced the Fitness Professionals License Act in New Jersey on October 23. The new requirements to be licensed would be:

• Complete 300 in-person classroom hours.
• Serve a 50-hour unpaid internship under a licensed professional.
• Be of good moral character.
• Have a high school education or the equivalent.
• Pass an examination.
• Possess an associate or bachelor’s degree in physical education, exercise science, exercise physiology or adult fitness.

I’m all for personal trainers being required to know what they are doing. I see too many trainers at large chained fitness clubs pushing products that garner them the highest commission and clearly don’t practice much training themselves. The requirement of “Be of good moral character”. Who decides that one and what morals are deemed good or not? I don’t agree with that. Many people are becoming licensed personal trainers by online classes and it large part because it fits their schedule.

Check out the entire article. What do you think? Should the government be passing stricter guidelines to become personal trainers?

Industry expert Lonnie “The Swami” Teper recommends today’s song of the day. We gotta cut him a little slack he just celebrated his 40th Birthday for about the 13th time this month. Lonnie once wore an Elvis outfit while emcee’n a show. Speaking of emceeing you can hear The Swami at the mic again in Columbus as he calls the action for the Arnold Classic. Enjoy Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock and if you don’t well let Teper know about it.

Those of you who follow the bodybuilding scene know by now that Muscular Development magazine fired two of their primary contributors, Dave Palumbo and John Romano. Romano had been with the magazine for 18 years and Dave a number of years as well. I have nothing personal against either of them and get along with them fine. I haven’t always agreed with them and have happily discussed it with them when I didn’t. This is another one of those times. Since the two are no longer part of the magazine world they’ve set up shop with their own web site. I give them props, they’ve done a great deal in a short amount of time. That aside, John is a bit off base in his latest writing.

John writes:

Dave and I believe the women of our sport have been left out in the cold for long enough. Our commitment to them will not waver because the women physique athletes make up a very large contingent of our community and, currently, no one is serving them. RX Muscle has a place for all the women of our industry; and then some. We believe in the women and their cause and we intend on showcasing them in every way possible. After all, we love women!

I guess it would depend on how you define “serving them”. Last time I checked there are a number of web sites devouted to the women in the industry. The industry magazines feature the women as well, admitedly not as much as the men but I’d hardly say women are left out in the cold. Their site is starting yet another “radio show” and it’s devoted to the women. Krissy Chin and Colette Nelson are set to host it. Cool. Great. Both are good embassadors for the women and the more exposure for women the better. I don’t have an issue with anyone who supports the women of the industry but let’s keep it real. There are a number of people who are giving the women a voice in the industry and if RX Muscle wants to be one of them, great. Don’t insult those of us who do and the women in it by saying NO ONE is serving them.

2004 USA Fitness Championships – Overall Winner

It’s been a few years since we last heard from the 2004 USA Fitness Overall champ, Bethani Terrell. I caught up with her recently and she had some exciting news to share. Bethani is considering competing again but before that is expecting her first child. When asked if she knows the gender of the little one she shared, “No, I don’t know yet. I don’t think I want to know. I kind of like the element of surprise. Although my gut feeling is that it will be a boy.” Bethani is expecting a delivery date sometime in July.
Congratulations Bethani!

I’ve received a few inquiries about yesterday’s post regarding the NPC Bikini qualification.

“All 2009 National Bikini contests except the 2009 Junior USA Bikini Championships, an athlete must have competed in an NPC Bikini event prior to entering a national contest.”

Just to be clear for 2009 ONLY… NPC Bikini competitors only have to prove that they entered a NPC Bikini contest in order to compete in a National Level Bikini event (aside from JR USAs). It doesn’t matter where they place or if it is a national qualifying show as long as it’s an NPC show. NPC Bikini competitors do need to have proof of having competed and is why the contest info will be asked for. Again this only applies for this year.

See the post below for the complete NPC Bikini Regulations.

Changes for the new bikini division. This news comes directly from the NPC.

Please note that for all 2009 National Bikini contests except the 2009 Junior USA Bikini Championships, an athlete must have competed in an NPC Bikini event prior to entering a national contest.

The following must be provided with your entry:
• NPC Bikini Contest Name
• Date Of Contest
• Contest Promoter
• Your Height Class & Final Placing

This includes:
• NPC JUNIOR NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC USA BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC TEAM UNIVERSE BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• IFBB NORTH AMERICAN BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS

The folks at Tight Curves are looking for people have what it takes to inspire others. The web site Teamtightcurves.com is looking for health conscious, fitness orientated women who have a passion for fitness. If you have the desire to make a positive change and have what it takes, contact Tom Richardson. The “Team” has a goal of bringing awareness to the issue of childhood obesity.

Close to three years ago the first episode of Hardbody Radio launched with legendary IFBB Pro Lenda Murray as the guest. The show, hosted by Larry Pepe, was one of the first female only shows. I was happy to be part of it and there is still a chance Hardbody Radio could be resurrected. You may have a better chance at winning the lottery than that happening so don’t hold your breath. Whether you’d like to call them radio shows or podcasts doesn’t really matter to me, I lump them in the same category. Technology has come a long way and now anyone with a computer and a telephone can have a “radio show”. Even with a couple hundred bucks you can put the same show on an AM radio station. When polled here 60% of you said you don’t listen to online radio shows and those of you that do listen said it depends on the guest.

Do I think online radio shows are a good idea? Yes and no. The person being interviewed gets a platform to share their story, which is great. If that helps to motivate and inspire others, I’m all for it. Personal trainers can talk about their services, diet gurus can share their thoughts on nutrition, competitors can tell others a bit about themselves personally and the list goes on. The hosts can benefit by using it as a self-promotion tool. It’s one more way to get their message out to an audience. Some hosts don’t need advertisers because their model is geared towards promoting themselves or their services. Other shows rely on advertisers in order to make it worth their time.

Anyone can put out a podcast. Creating a quality one that people are interested in, is not easy. Just because you have a radio show doesn’t mean it’s good and people will listen. At the end of it all, it’s still a business. Sure it may start off fun and money isn’t the object but the novelty eventually wears off. When hours of time are being devouted each day/week and there is no financial return it only lasts so long.

It’s ultimately up to you, the listener, to decide if the show is any good.

Former Model Sarah Blewden told boobs could burst.

Well here’s a story I haven’t heard before. Model-turned-boxer, Sarah Blewden has been told she cannot fight due to having fake breasts. Tony Attwood, the chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of England, said “International rules forbid anyone with breast implants continuing to box because of risk of damage to the breast tissue.” He goes on to say, “We had been hoping to do a study on breast protection so people like Sarah could box in the future but the International Amateur Boxing Association withdrew funding for it.”

Way to protect women from busting their breasts. I guess it’s okay to get your nose broke but not a boob. Errkay. Read the full story here.

The Love Holiday is just a couple days away. Gentleman have you gotten your sweetheart anything yet? Ladies what do you want from your man on Valentine’s Day? Do you get your man anything or should he be the one showering you with the love? Some women I’ve chatted with could care less. What’s your take on it?

If you need to get flowers in a jiffy, this site can get them out for ya. Those of us who are single don’t need to worry about this holiday. I’ll be spending the day with my five year old niece. 🙂

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Something is wrong when a dog gets more media coverage in a sports magazine than bodybuilding, fitness or figure. Sure Stump wowed the judges at the Westminster, which is the top dog competition but is that newsworthy for two of the premiere sports publications? The big story is Stump came out of retirement to take the top prize. WTF… How does a dog retire? Sure in human years the pooch is nearly 70 but does that equate to a dog show being a sport? I guess if ESPN broadcasts eating contests I shouldn’t be too surprised that Stump’s triumphant return made it’s way to their site.