HARDBODY News & Updates

Continuing with the Arnold fitness and figure interviews…

Natalie Benson interview on FLEXONLINE.com
Gina Aliotti - IFBB Figure International

Jen Hendershott - IFBB Fitness International

Check out some of the video interviews Ron Avidan and I did from the athlete’s meeting and continue to refresh your browser as more are added hourly.

Continue to check out updated photos from the weekend here.

I was able to interview most of the competitors last night and the excitement is high with the ladies. A quick update… If Jen Gates’ face is any indication of what we’ll see on stage I could be eating my words on my previous prediction. Jen was looking beautiful and very lean in the face (not a bad thing). Gina Aliotti and Sonia Adcock were bubbly as always. Newcomer Nicole Wilkins tells me she worked on her shoulders in the off-season and is looking forward to her debut. Kim Klien will be rockin a new routine and one that is reflective of her new place in her personal life. She tells me she is happy and feels great. There’s a ton more but I’ve gotta jet to a photo shoot and will report back later.

Sandra and Ross have shared with us some of the photos from their recent wedding in LasVegas….

Thanks for sharing them with us and an official HardBody Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Rumor has it the couple was registered at BodyBuilding.com

A big shout out to Dina on her birthday. Dina tells me she is chill’n in Vegas for her special day. I tried to convince her to come to Columbus for the Arnold Classic, but after she saw the weather report no chance of that happening. Will we see Dina on the figure stage again? Perhaps but on this day the only thing on her meal plan is a piece of chocolate cake.

Happy Birthday Dina and many more to come!

A recent photo of Dina from IRONMAN Magazine.

I caught up with IFBB fitness pro, Tracey Greenwood a couple days out from the Fitness International. Tracey is no stranger to this show and is looking to break into the top three. She’s not revealing what her routine is going to be (shocker) but she’s certain to bring her strength and energy to the stage.

Dial up the full interview here.

Julie Palmer ended 2007 with a win at the West Palm Beach show and is gunning for more in ‘08. She’s consistently in the top 6 of every show she enters and this weekend should be no different. Her physique holds it’s own with the best and her routines have improved every year. Two days out from the Fitness International she let’s us know a bit of what’s crack’n in the land of Palmer.

Check out the full interview here.

LIFT Studios Launches HARDBODY NEWS Text Messaging Service
Female bodybuilding, fitness and figure news, gossip and NPC & IFBB Pro contest results delivered directly to your phone, within seconds of them happening.

DENVER, Colorado, February 27, 2008 – LIFT Studios (www.liftstudios.com) announced today that it has launched HARDBODY NEWS (www.hardbodynews.com), a new text messaging service for female bodybuilding, fitness and figure fans. HARDBODY News, like Muscle Phone (www.musclephone.com) for the men’s side of things, alerts subscribers of the latest industry news, gossip and NPC & IFBB contest results.

“Muscle Phone broke new ground for bodybuilding fans and it was time to provide a version for the women’s side of things. Those who sign up for the service will receive the 2008 Ms. International as well as the Fitness & Figure International results via text message immediately after they are announced,” said Isaac Hinds, Owner of LIFT Studios and Creator of Muscle Phone. “Fans of the female side of the industry no longer have to be glued to their computers or rely on friends for the latest NPC & IFBB contest results or industry news and gossip. Strategic partnerships have been formed with the IFBB Professional League, Pro Bodybuilding Weekly, Sprayflex, Getbig.com, Hardbody.com with more to come,” Hinds goes on to say.

Fans can access HARDBODY News, by texting the word HARDBODY to 64274 or visit www.hardbodynews.com, standard text messaging rates may apply. There is no charge for subscribing however standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your text message plan.Currently the subscription is not available outside of the United States but plans are being made to expand globally.

About LIFT Studios LIFT Studios provides branding, consulting, design, interactive, marketing, mobile content, photography and video services. Founded by Isaac Hinds, LIFT is located in Denver, Colorado, with an emphasis on Sports, Fitness & Health-related clients. LIFT currently works with the top competitors in the bodybuilding, fitness and figure world. Adela Garcia, Monica Brant, Oksana Grishina, Dina Al-Sabah and Phil Heath to name a few. Isaac’s photographs have appeared in IRONMAN, FLEX, Planet Muscle, NPC NEWS, Oxygen and many other publications.

Media Contact:
Isaac Hinds
Ph: 303.908.3998
Isaac@liftstudios.com or Info@hardbodynews.com
www.liftstudios.com www.hardbodynews.com

Julie will be taking the fitness stage in two days for her Arnold debut. I caught up with Julie for an interview to get an idea how her offseason has gone and what we can expect to see in Columbus. The interview is currently featured on the FLEXONLINE.com.

Check it out here. Good Luck Julie!

Hardbody.com spoke with a BSN representative today who confirmed that Monica Brant is no longer with the company. Monica and BSN were unable to come to terms with a contract renewal.

The BSN representative tells us, “We wish her the best. She was a great spokesperson for BSN but we couldn’t come to terms.”

We’ll fill you in with more on this story from Columbus.

I had a chance to speak with Arnold Amateur Competitor Jenn Jackson about her Arnold Prep last week.

While the interview did not go as expected, Jen gave us something to report nonetheless. As we head into the Flu season here in the Midwest, she told us that she came down with a nasty case of it that has completely thrown her final week prep “out of whack”.

Jen told me that, “…I really regret having to pull out of the Arnold, but there is just no way it’s going to happen. I’ve been battling this thing for the past few days and I’ve just not been able to shake it. I tried to stick with it and stay in the gym, but I finally had to give way and let my body get some rest.

My diet, workouts and cardio had to be put on hold so I could get over this. I’m still feeling pretty bad and I’m just not willing to put on the stage what I feel would be a less than 100% package.
It’s extremely disappointing after much hard work and preparation over the past 10 weeks. I wish everyone good luck and will be thinking about you all this weekend.”

I asked her what her competitive plans hold as she’s spent so much time prepping for this show. She’s not sure right now and is just focused on getting better but she told us that she’ll definitely be making an appearance at NPC Jr USA’s.

Get well Jen and we’ll look to seeing you rock the stage in May.

Debbie has been on this stage before and is looking to bring her best presentation to date. She’s taken some time off to improve and streamline her look. This former bodybuilder has been able to make the transition to figure and will be strutting her stuff in Columbus this weekend.

Check out her full interview here.

She’s retired from the IFBB Figure stage but fans can count on seeing her in season two of American Gladiators. Val will be at the Arnold Classic this weekend for those in attendance, you’ll be able to see her there.

Val with Bodybuilding.com’s Dave Middleton at the FIT EXPO.

Interview number three in the series… Paola took the time to answer a few questions before she left the sunny skies of Florida for the Columbus cold. She has the luxury of already qualifying for the Olympia and have some fun with her Arnold debut. Paola turned pro last year at the NPC JR USA contest and ended the year with a birth to the big dance at the West Palm Beach show. She’s a stunning woman with loads of potential in the industry, on and off stage.

Check out what she had to say…

Stacy was kind enough to take a minute to answer a few questions. She’s jose’n for a carb and a glass of wine but hey only a few more days to go before she’s rock’n it on the fitness stage again. Stacy has some of the freakiest flexibility in the biz and fans will be treated to another version of it on Friday.

Take a gander at the interview here.

I caught up with IFBB Fitness Pro, Tanya Merryman days out from her debuts. She tells me on top of training for her first pro show, she has a new full-time job (she was promoted the week before NPC Nationals), 2 kids and a daycare that is close this week. Tanya goes on to tell me she hasn’t slept much and is on a roller coaster of emotions.

Tanya asks, “Can anyone tell me if throwing up will make it all go away?”

I don’t know if hurling will make the stress go away but Tanya will be making her pro debut this weekend on one of the biggest stages a pro can make. Tanya shares why she decided to compete in the NPC over other organizations, why she loves fitness and more.

Check out the full Interview Here.

Make sure you come prepared for the cold this weekend. The temperatures won’t be in our favor so bundle up. Here’s the forecast for the week ahead.

Wed Feb 27
Few Snow Showers
23°/16°

Thu Feb 28
Partly Cloudy
27°/25°

Fri Feb 29
Rain / Snow Showers
40°/24°

Sat Mar 1
Partly Cloudy
32°/27°

Sun Mar 2
Partly Cloudy
43°/38°

Mon Mar 3
Showers
50°/35°

I handicap the women’s bodybuilding, fitness and figure shows over on bodybuilding.com. I’ve tossed in a few surprises and watch out for a couple dark horses in the figure competition. Will I be right? Guess we’ll have to wait and see but in the mean time take a look at the article and let me know your thoughts.

The hunt is still on for the second season of American Gladiators. Competitors and Gladiator hopefuls will get a chance to try out this weekend in Columbus.

EVENT:
The Arnold Classic

NOTE: SHOW UP WITH A COMPLETED APPLICATION, WHICH CAN DOWNLOADED AT NBC.COM/CASTING

The NPC IRONMAN Figure took place last weekend in conjunction with the IRONMAN Pro. This year’s field was lacking in total competitors and the quality of the physiques were not what we’ve come to expect from this show. The winner receives a photoshoot with IRONMAN magazine and this is a tremendous opportunity for women to get published. Danielle Edmonds ended up victorious but she was not at her best. Last year she was runner-up to the eventual overall winner, Catherine Anderson, at the NPC USA. It could be because this show is very early in the year and a non-national qualifier as to why the numbers were down. If the show sticks around for another year, it is my hope that more women enter and they come in with better conditioning.

A new feature I am starting this year to display the photos is a slideshow. This is the first of many in 2008. Take a look at the competitors from this show here.

**Overall Winner
Danielle Edmonds

Figure Class A
1. Jennifer Kline
2. Shawna Kondo
3. Lisa Sandercock
4. Kathryn Payton
5. Debbie Bell
NP. Kelly Mac
NP. Kimberly McGarry
NP. Lilia Sandozequi

Figure Class B
1. Ana Tigre
2. Selma McPherson
3. Bernadette Marturano

Figure Class C
1. Danielle Edmonds**
2. Hanna Fox
3. Delinia Lewis
4. Kristie Tatum
5. Dore Madere

Figure Class D
1. Lisa Lynn-Calhoun

Anyone who is competing in the Arnold Amateur event or looking to support someone competing can find a detailed list of events on the GETBIG.com Message board. It’s an extensive list of the events for Fitness, Figure and Bodybuilding for the entire weekend.

I caught up with the 2007 Jan Tana Figure Pro champion and newest Muscle and Fitness Hers cover model Felicia Romero yesterday. The current issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers has changed the size of their magazine slightly better quality printing.

HARDBODY: Congratulations on the M&F Hers cover, have you been on a magazine cover or is this your first?
FELICIA: This is my first cover so I’m sooo excited. I was just so thankful to have the opportunity to even try for a cover so I am very, very grateful. I hope this is one of many more.

HARDBODY: Did you know you were on this month’s cover and how did you find out?
FELICIA: I knew that I was getting a cover try but you don’t usually find out until the magazine editors vote and they choose their cover. The photo editor for Muscle and Fitness Hers emailed me and told me I had got the cover and I was so excited. I told my family and friends immediately… they were so happy for me. It’s so crazy to see my face on the newsstands.

HARDBODY: When can we expect to see you back on the figure stage?
FELICIA: My first show this year will be the Cal Pro show in May. This is where I made my pro debut last year and I qualified for the Olympia by getting 3rd place…so I have high hopes this year for that competition. Then I believe I will compete at the Houston Pro in July.

HARDBODY: Will you be at the Arnold and where can fans see you?
FELICIA: I will not be attending the Arnold this year…but if you visit the Weider Booth they will be handing out M&F Hers magazines and they will also have big blown up posters of my cover.

HARDBODY: How can people find out more info about you or get in touch with you?
FELICIA: Well…people can definitely find more info. about me on Myspace and I am getting a website together which I hope to have up and running by the summer.

Felicia’s First Cover!