Care to guess which IFBB Pro has a pet raccoon? True story.

The 42lb. raccoon is 8 years old, gets bathed every other day, enjoys eating Frosted Flakes and sleeps in the owner’s mop sink.

News from Ms. Fitness Olympia and Bodybuilding.com…

Boise, ID – January 15, 2009 – Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most-visited bodybuilding and fitness site and largest retailer of nutritional supplements, has teamed up with 2-time Ms. Fitness Olympia Champ Jen Hendershott’s PHAT Camp (Power, Hard work, Ambition, and Triumph) to help women become the best they can be.

Jen Hendershott created PHAT Camp in 2002 because of her passion to help women reach their full potential in mind and in health. Hendershott believes in the power of helping others and has a strong faith in what each woman can do with her life if she is pointed in the right direction. Since Bodybuilding.com’s mission is to help their visitors reach their health, fitness and appearance goals through information, motivation and supplementation, joining forces with PHAT Camp is a natural fit.

“We are excited about the opportunity to be a part of PHAT Camp. Jen is an amazing role model in the health and fitness community, especially for women. She will be sharing her tips, information, and enthusiasm with the Bodybuilding.com community. The information women will learn from her articles on Bodybuilding.com and through her camps will be immeasurable,” says Bodybuilding.com P.R. Manager Crystal Matthews.

PHAT Camp is a traveling, full-weekend event for women of all shapes and sizes to learn new and exciting exercises, hear nutritional and motivational seminars, improve time management and commitment, and share stories of success and struggle. There will also be an emphasis on how proper supplementation can assist campers in their mind and body transformation needs, with specific product recommendations from Bodybuilding.com.

“I knew that if I could put together a program where women of all shapes and sizes could cometogether, get educated, and get motivated on the path to health and fitness that it would make adifference. Not only in their personal lives, but in the lives of all those around them—making the world a better place, one person at a time,” says Jen Hendershott.

For more information on PHAT Camp, visit: getphatwithjen.com

Bodybuilding.com offers more than 8,500 health and fitness supplements & accessories to help people achieve their fitness goals. They offer more than 25,000 pages of FREE bodybuilding & fitness information, including more than 12,000 articles (written by 525+ writers), video & audio segments, and new content added daily.

For more women’s health and fitness information: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/women.htm.

Ok, so Christine Pomponio-Pate isn’t stepping back on stage just yet. Don’t rule it out though, this hardbody momma has never looked better. You will however see her back in the fitness scene again. She’ll be working the IRONMAN booth at the Fit Expo next weekend. She’ll also be appearing in a number of magazines in the coming months and rightfully so. Don’t take my word for it, check out how Christine looks in a recent shoot with IRONMAN magazine.

The supplement industry spends millions and millions of dollars in advertising every year. (I’m mainly refering to print advertising.) Can you name ONE supplement ad that caught your attention and made you buy the product?  Makes you think, huh? Sure there are some ads with great photography but most lack even that. The ad typically has a dude lifting a weight and a nice, big product shot. If that’s not the ad it’s a girl in a bikini with a product shot. This type of advertising may work for a newbie consumer but what about the experienced competitor and a more educated consumer? Where’s the ads that cut the crap and have an actual message and concept? They may be out there but it will take some looking to find it.

I saw a new ad for a company who will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars this year in the bodybuilding community. They will sponsor shows, have booths at the expos, athletes on their roster and ads in the magazines. If you’re going to spend this kind of money wouldn’t you take the time to do distiguinsh what makes your product different then the competitors? Apparently not. Stick a no-name guy (who isn’t even lifting heavy weights on there) slap the product nice and big and call it a day. BRILLIANT! If this company continues with this type of advertising we won’t hear about them in another year or two. They’ll have spent their money with nothing to show in return. Why? Because they listened to some “expert” with no real marketing or branding experience. They didn’t bother to think about the consumer and what message they are sending. There will be no buzz about the product.

Let’s see if the supplement companies can do anything creative this year. While they are trying to figure it out, you can take note on your own personal branding. STAND OUT and think through your message – be who you want to be but don’t be another cookie cutter wannabe.

Rant over. Yes, I do feel better. That is all. Carry on.

Women ask me weekly how they can get noticed in the fitness industry. One of the things I tell them is, everyone has a story to tell; some are just a little more interesting than others. Think about why you got into competing and what makes you different than everyone else. If you don’t compete that’s ok, whatever it is you do there is an angle. Writers are always looking for an angle to a story. Don’t be afraid to tell your story. If you’re a personal trainer, great! Remember there are thousands of personal trainers, so what makes you unique and why should I care?

Use your local media to gain exposure, you never know where it may lead. Joe’s repair shop may be inspired by your story and end up sponsoring you. You don’t have to be endorsed by a supplement company to help pay for competition costs or defray your expenses. Think about what’s near you and the contacts you already have.

Check out a couple of the latest industry photo shoot videos. The first features the Fizeek Brazil clothing line, shot with Terry Goodlad. The second is for Better Bodies a clothing line out of Sweden, shot by Pavall Ythjall.

Fitness and Figure competitors take note… The 2009 Houston Pro has changed the date to August 29, 2009. For more information and the most accurate IFBB Pro League schedule visit IFBBpro.com.

Denver’s Ring Of Fire (a mma event – like the UFC but much smaller) is gaining popularity with each event. I photographed the event and in between fights I spotted a number of NPC competitors as well as a couple IFBB pros in the house. NPC figure competitors Sara Hurrle and Jaime Meade were ring side enjoying their first live fights. Hurrle has been practicing gymnastics from time to time with fitness routine legend, Carol Semple. Hurrle will be making the switch to fitness next year. Meade has her sights set on Jr. USAs or Jr. Nationals for her next figure show. She place third her class at the 08 USAs and Jr. Nationals. Former NPC competitor Brooke Paulin was in the house with her husband. Brooke has taken some time off to have a baby and is considering competing again. Brooke took third in fitness at the 2005 Team Universe. NPC Figure competitor Brooke Hougue is living in Colorado again. She placed 5th in her class at the 2007 NPC USAs. Shelley Hillesheim took the national NPC level stage by storm in 2008. She was a ring girl for this event and looked great. Joining her in the ring was IFBB Figure Pro Liza Kampstra. Liza and Shelley could be seen posing for photos throughout the night. Bronco’s NFL running back Andrea Hall was in attendance and Kampstra seized the moment to get a photo with him.

Andre Hall and Liza Kampstra at the Ring of Fire.

I chatted with NPC Fitness competitor Rachel Patton a bit and she tells me NPC Jr. Nationals is her next competition. She’ll be competing in fitness again, looking to improve on her 4th place finish and leave Chitown with a pro card. IFBB Figure Pro Heather Mae French was in attendance just weeks out from the Arnold Classic. Heather looked like she could step on stage that night and one smart competitor who doesn’t fluff up in the “off-season”. I’m sure there were a few more npc females in the house that I missed. As you can see Colorado is becoming a hot spot for top notch NPC and IFBB competitors.

Heather Mae French is ready for the Figure International.

The Bodybuilding.com BodySpace Spokesmodel Search presented by Ironman Magazine has narrowed the field to 10. Five men and five women will make the trip to LA and there the winners will be determined. Congratulations to all the winners.

Check out the winner’s profiles

When Oprah talks people listen. Millions of viewers tune in each show to hear what Ms. Winfrey has to say. Whether you like her or not one thing is for certain, she connects with millions of women and many can relate to her struggles with weight gain. On a recent show she announced she had packed on 40 pounds and attributed it in part to lack of exercise and a over doing it on potatoe chips. Wow, whodda thunk you’d gain weight following that type of plan?

She shared her “drug of choice” was organic, multi-grain blue chips. The problem was not eating the recommended serving size but rather a bag of them. This is an on-going issue with many people. Just because something comes from Whole Foods and is organic doesn’t mean you can double up and eat more of them in one sitting, especially chips. Much like in the when everything went “FAT FREE”, people thought they could eat as many fat-free things as they wanted. It should be obvious by now, that is not the case.
The web site CalorieLab.com shares Oprah’s new game plan –

She also has a regular meal plan of several quick and easy meals she repeats throughout the week. She says she usually eats oatmeal and egg whites (not mixed together, she says) and a “green drink” for breakfast and salmon, chicken breast, tuna or turkey meatballs for lunch and dinner. Sweet potatoes are now her treat rather than Garden of Eatin’ blue corn chips.

Sounds like a nutrition plan that many of you follow. We’ll see how it pans out for Oprah.

Things have been fairly quiet on the Figure/Fitness Reality show lately with no updates to report. It’s a tough economy right now, so it a good time to be creating another reality show?  If it’s done right and DIFFERENT, it certainly could be a great time. An article on forbes.com shares,

With an actors’ strike looming, broadcast TV shedding viewers and the advertising marketplace falling, reality’s cheap-to-produce format and desirable young audience is more appealing to networks than ever. So expect more pounds shed, bugs eaten and lies detected in the months ahead.

“There is a little bit of a re-tread syndrome going on,” admits David Goldberg, president of Endemol USA, which produces Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and this past summer’s buzz-worthy Wipeout, of the copy-cat fare that continues to crop up and fizzle out. “You’ve got to work that much harder to find something unique.”

Hopefully we won’t see the Fitness and Figure Reality show use the same “re-tread syndrome” and the show makes it to the air waves. I’ll keep you posted on this one.

The response to the Do’s and Don’ts piece has been very positive. I’ll continue to provide more tips, both what to do and not to do while working a booth. Thanks to all the industry people who continue to send me input.

1) Don’t ask to run over and see your friends at the prejudging when you are expected to be working. Do not try to get off early so you can go watch the show/prejudging. Companies are there to get consumers to try there products, the shows aren’t their priority – don’t make it yours when working a booth.

2) Don’t take a longer break than was given.

3) Optimum Nutrition‘s Athlete Manager, Bob Corbett shares another no-no. Funny but true. “Don’t eat at the booth. I give 1 hour breaks to everyone…Eat then, and if you can’t finish, don’t bring it back to the booth. We have enough stuff to store rather then your half-eaten burger.”

4) Don’t complain about the shoes you wear. Check with the company what shoes you’ll be expected to wear and plan accordingly. You’ll be working long hours on your feet.

5) If the company you are working for covers your hotel room – Don’t use the room phone. If you think talking to your boyfriend for hours on the company’s dime is acceptable. Think again.

Check back next week for more!

I stopped by Pauline Nordin’s blog today and found this sentence enlightening:

Instead of saying “I have to do cardio” I adopted saying “I choose to do cardio”. I said “I want to be extremely fit” instead of saying “I don’t want to get out of shape”.

I like that.

Congratulations to IFBB Fitness Pro Kendra Elias and her husband Michael. The two welcomed baby Alexander Michael Elias into the world on Sunday, January 4th. Baby Alexander weighed in at 6lbs 2 oz. The little guy arrived six weeks earlier than expected due to some preeclampsia complications. Both Kendra and Alexander are doing well and will be home soon.

Proud parents Kendra and Michael give baby Alexander some love.

Momma and baby are doing well.

If you’d like to find out more about the new parents and what they’ve been up to, you can check out their web site at michaelandkendra.com.

Props to J.M. Manion and his crew for the latest Iron Sirens comic cover. Here’s an exclusive look at the next cover (minus the lettering) available at the Arnold Classic in March. Artist Uko Smith, from Columbus, Ohio, illustrates IFBB Figure Pro Kristal Richardson for issue #4. Kristal joins Adela Garcia and Jenny Lynn as the heroes in the series.

Kristal Richardson looking bad ass!

It’s that time again when MTV showcases another house full of idiots on The Real World. I admit I’ve watched a few episodes before but it seems like the same formula has been played out. Stick a bunch of people in a house, let them booze it up and see what happens. Of course there is the token meat head, how will they play up his gym habits on the show?

This is a pretty amusing collection of fitness clips from Ellen.

The Pilates clip at the end is hilarious.

Enter to win prizes and your own photo shoot!

Hydroxycut® Max! has teamed up with Bodybuilding.com to officially launch The Hydroxycut® Max! Transformation Contest Presented By BodySpace. Do you have what it takes to win?

1st Prize: One winner will receive $5,000 cash plus a trip to her own photo shoot, where she’ll be pampered by a stylist, makeup artist and photographer. Her transformation story (and pictures) will be featured on Bodybuilding.com.

2nd Prize: $1,000 worth of free supplements from Bodybuilding.com.

3rd Prize: $500 worth of free supplements from Bodybuilding.com.

Click here for complete rules and regulations on this contest and how you can win.

IFBB Fitness pro and top fitness model, Mandy Blank has announced on her web site she is making a comeback to the competitive stage. You might recall she popped up on TMZ.com a few months ago where she was caught checking herself out. Hey why not? You’ve undoubtedly seen her numerous times in the fitness magazines. She’s graced a number of covers and placed as high as 6th at the Ms. Olympia Fitness (1999). Why would she be returning to the stage now? She shares on her web site…

To all the “MANDY BLANK” Fan’s out there.

First of all let me thank you for the love and support that you have shown me since I first stepped on stage.

If you guys could see the emails and letters I get on a daily basis it would blow your mind. To think that I could positively influence so many people to live a healthy lifestyle means more to me that any accolade I could ever receive.

Based primarily on this, I’ve made a decision and I want to let you guys in on a little secret, I’m going to break out the routines, dust of the food scale and turn up the heat, yep that’s right I’m getting back on stage, but in the famous words of LL COOL J, don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.

For all of my fans that keep asking if I’m ever going to compete again here it is, my gift back to you, for being loyal all these years and standing by me since the beginning.

I have an absolute Love for being on stage and Telling my story, well that is just what I was made to do, to entertain and with a little luck, to INSPIRE.

I just want to thank All my Fans, Friends and Family for all of your support, without you I could never live this dream.  My love and eternal gratitude to all of you.

All My Love,

Mandy.
AKA- “BLANKSTA-GIRL”

Recently she’s been the leading lady for MuscleTech’s Hydroxycut Max!

Mandy in current magazine ads for MuscleTech.

Check out one of her early photos from FLEX magazine.

One of Mandy Blank’s earlier photos.

No word on when or where Mandy will be making her comeback. Stay tuned for more updates.

Here’s an interesting story to follow…

Air India sacks ‘fat’ hostesses – The airline says overweight crew are a safety hazard
India’s state-owned airline Air India has terminated the services of nine hostesses for being “overweight”, a spokesman says.

The air hostesses were taken off flying duty two to three years ago and put on ground duty.

They say they have now been told by the airline that it no longer has positions for them in ground jobs.

A lawyer for the air hostesses told the BBC that they would challenge the terminations in the Supreme Court.

Last June, the Delhi high court ruled that Air India had the right to prevent overweight air hostesses from flying.

The hostesses appealed against that order in the Supreme Court and the case is still pending there.

— Read the Full Story Here.

Men’s Fitness magazine put together a the “best-ever cinematic expressions of muscle, endurance, and guts”. Most of these flicks feature men beating the crap out of each other. What would be on your top fitness movies for women? (ass kicking not required)

Congrats to Jessica Paxson-Putnam on another magazine cover, this time a publication from South Africa.

Jessica on another cover.

If you haven’t seen the January 2009 issue of FLEX magazine, you’re missing out on some kick ass shots of the current Ms. Figure Olympia Champ, Jennifer Gates. Here’s a look behind the scenes on the shoot with photographer Pavel Ythjall. Great work.

Great, another diet book… just what we don’t need. Not so fast, this one is a bit different in it’s concept. I haven’t read “The 9-Inch Diet” yet but will pick it up this month, simply because of the author. The book is by Alex Bogusky one of the principals at the popular ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. They came up with the creepy “KING” from Burger King as well as the “Whopper Freakout”. He’s a creative character and that alone has me intriqued by this book. Okay great but what’s the book about?

The 9-Inch Diet

Amazon.com shares:
The 9-Inch Diet is the healthy eating plan America has been waiting for. Far from the fad diets that momentarily populate bestseller shelves, this book promotes a lifestyle that’s simple to understand and easy to stick to. Considering that, on average, we’re now consuming more than 300 excess calories per day, switching to a smaller plate can make a big difference. It’s hard to dispute the facts: by using a 9-inch plate at every meal, we can decrease our caloric intake by 30 to 35 percent! Written by Alex Bogusky with Chuck Porter, The 9-Inch Diet tackles new diet book territory—at one turn focusing on the psychology of why we eat the way we do, while at another providing detailed instructions on how to make plate stepping stones for your garden. Full of pop culture references and expert advice, it’s the first diet book that’s as comfortable on the coffee table as it is on the kitchen table. Bogusky and Porter run what is arguably the most creative advertising agency in the country, if not the world. With years of experience manipulating the masses, two of the best tricksters in the industry explain how you as a consumer are being duped, and how you are actually a part of the conspiracy to make you fat. But more importantly, they teach you how to break the cycle.

Anyone read this book? If so post a comment or drop me an email and let me know what you thought.

I saw a commercial last night promoting a new natural sweetener called “Truvia“. It’s directly targeting Splenda with it’s messaging. I know a number of you use sweeteners while some of you are dead set against them. What do you think of this new sweetener, would you try it or not for you?

Truviaâ„¢ natural sweetener is a great tasting, natural, zero calorie tabletop sweetener, made with rebiana, derived from the best tasting part of the stevia leaf. Truviaâ„¢ natural sweetener is also an ingredient used to sweeten foods and beverages.

If you haven’t picked up the latest copy of Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine be sure to do so. Featured in the magazine are the 2008 Carla Sanchez Jr. Fitness competitors and a couple quotes from the winner, MaKayla Laurita. MaKayla brought the house down with her routine and hammed it up for the crowd. Carla and NPC Colorado Chairman, Jeff Taylor, do a great job promoting health and fitness for the youngsters. I’d encourage other promoters to look at adding a Jr. Fitness competition to their show.

MaKayla demonstrating her strength skills.