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Check out the interview with IFBB Figure Pro Jenny Lynn. Jenny talks about how Monica Brant was her idol when she first started, her recent move to Dallas and her competition plans.
Adela Garcia shares the latest with Natalie Benson. What’s up with Ms. Adela?
There are a number of other videos posted from the Ronnie Coleman Classic here.
Get to know Nicole Wilkins-Lee a bit better in her FLEXonline.com video. Nicole is one of the three lucky ladies to grace the cover of this month’s issue of FLEX.
I admit it, I watch America’s Next Top Model from time to time. I enjoy watching the photo shoots and the critiques the women are given. This photo of one of the models was posted on the show’s facebook page. Pretty funny to see people who don’t compete try to hit this pose. This and the “most muscular” pose are the two people like to hit whenever the topic of bodybuilding comes up.
I’m guilty of it and receive emails from people pointing out misspellings or edits I need to make on various posts all the time. We’re only human, right? Fortunately, with the web you can change things quickly and they are immediately updated. No big deal.
What can be a big deal is if you’re spending thousands of dollars to run an ad in a magazine and you have misspellings. As one visitor (Tre Scott) pointed out, he wasn’t offended by the image of the baby in the VPX ad but rather the misspelling of the word “your”. Oops!
Let this be a reminder for anyone sending out resumes, comp cards or other printed material to have someone else take a look at your work and proofread it.
Last year’s overall NPC JR USA fitness winner Ashlynn Evans is today’s photo of the day. She has yet to make her pro debut but she will be on hand in Charleston doing hair and makeup for this year’s JR USA.
Ashlynn has done the makeup for American Pie star Shannon Elizabeth, fashion shoots as well as fitness and figure comeptitors. If you’re heading to Charleston and in need of hair/makeup email Ashlynn and tell her Hardbody sent ya.
How many of you have heard of Carissa Moore? I’m guessing most of you have no clue. I wasn’t familiar with her either until I recently revisited a few surfing web sites. Long story short… Carissa Moore became the youngest surfer to ever win a Triple Crown Event (think Arnold Classic or Olympia) and at age 16 she’s the first female to grace the cover of SURFER magazine (think FLEX or Muscle & Fitness) in the last ten years. This makes her only the third, yes you read it right THIRD, female in the magazine’s 50-year history.
If you think making a cover in the fitness industry is difficult, try being a female surfer.
I guess you can’t feel too sorry for Carissa. According to her agent Bryan Taylor, in an interview with Surfing Magazine, Carrissa signed one of the biggest contracts in female pro surfing history. She left long-time sponsor Roxy and went with Red Bull and Nike 6.0. Not a bad duo to be signed by.
All said and done, the 16-year-old Punahou junior will likely be enjoying one of the most lucrative contacts in female pro surfing history (estimated to be in the range of three-quarters of a million dollars by one anonymous source). “CARISSA’S new agreements have for the first time ever shattered the glass ceiling of surfing sponsorship, opening up new and never heard of before possibilities for other surfers to eventually emulate,” says Taylor.
Congrats! Check out an interview with the cover girl on ESPN’s web site.
This stupid song is stuck in my head. I’m not sure you can even call this music but hey Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It” is all over the place.
This is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t watch a lot of TV but now with sites like Hulu.com, I can catch things like this in their entirety online. Stewy hits the gym in this episode of the Family Guy.
Check out the entire episode here. Or watch it below:
This will be interesting to see what develops…
According to the SGMA, Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) has introduced the Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2009 (PHIT) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Zach Wamp (R-TN) joined Kind in sponsoring the PHIT Bill.
The PHIT Act would change current federal tax law to allow for the deduction or use of pre-tax dollars to cover expenses related to sports, fitness and other physical activities. Americans could invest up to $2,000 annually to pay for physical activities by investing money in existing pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Medical Savings Accounts (MSA) and/or medical reimbursement arrangements. PHIT would only expand the expenses eligible for reimbursement to include physical activity costs as a form of prevention; PHIT would not increase contribution limits to these accounts. Once an individual or family spends 7.5% of their income on qualified medical expenses, they could deduct physical activity expenses directly.
“SGMA has been supporting this bill in recent years and we are delighted to see that Representative Ron Kind is leading the effort on this legislation,” said Bill Sells, SGMA VP of government relations. “For the consumer, it reduces expenses associated with exercise, fitness and sports participation through the use of funds in pre-tax accounts. By encouraging more physical activity via financial incentives, we will improve health, reduce medical costs and lower absenteeism at school and in the workplace. PHIT has the potential to make a big difference in people’s lives, the economy and health care spending.”
“Regular physical activity is the best preventive medicine we can prescribe,” said Kind, a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. “This bill will give people the incentive they need to get active – to participate in that exercise class, join an intramural sports team, or sign up for a gym membership.”
With Kind, Blumenauer and Brady all serving on the tax-writing Ways & Means Committee, the prospects for PHIT are improved. Health care reform is a top priority in Washington and PHIT is consistent with reducing health costs – a primary objective of reform efforts.
One of the main reasons PHIT is getting attention on Capitol Hill is due to the Congressional support generated by physical activity advocates last month during SGMA’s National Health Through Fitness Day (NHTF). On NHTF Day, a delegation of well known athletes, sporting goods and fitness manufacturers, sports retailers, concerned citizens, physical educators and association leaders met with Members of the U.S. House and Senate to encourage passage of two legislative initiatives that will help Americans (of all ages) become more physically active and healthy. In addition to PHIT, the sports industry also promoted higher funding for quality physical education through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). PEP provides grants to school districts and community based organizations for innovative physical education and activity methods. Since 2001, PEP has provided close to $600 million for equipment purchases and P.E. training.
“Both pieces of legislation are important,” said Sells. “Basically, PEP provides support to school-age children while PHIT will provide financial incentives for all Americans to lead more active and healthy lives.”
– Source: sportsonesource.com
The latest installment from FLEX magazine’s swimsuit edition has been posted. Hear from one of the cover girls, Monique Minton in the newest online video.
If you pick up any current muscle magazine you’ll likely to see the new ad campaign from VPX Sports advertising MUSCLE POWER. The ad has a number of people talking but is it for the right reasons? Some would say any publicity is good publicity. It’s not often people talk about supplement ads, as they generally all look the same. This ad certainly doesn’t look the same but is that a good thing?
Taking on an industry leader in advertising is nothing new. Coke vs Pepsi. Bud vs. Miller. Ford vs. Chevy. VPX has taken that approach with their ad directly targeting Muscle Milk. Industry leaders (which Muscle Milk is and has been) are used to other brands targeting them. How they are being targeted raises some questions.
The ad shows a baby nursing on a mother’s breast with the copy reading, “Muscle Milk is for Babies. Muscle Power is for Men!” I’m far from a prude but personally, I find the ad offensive. In my opinion, using an image of a nursing baby to sell your product shows lack of creativity. If Muscle Milk is for babies and Muscle Power is for men, what about women?
VPX also takes a risky move in their package design. The fonts and the packaging itself look very, very similar to Muscle Milk. I understand there are only so many packages that can be used for drinks but the design and look of it has free reign. One can only assume this is an attempt to cause confusion for the consumer. The ad shows the two products side by side and furthers my point.
I’m not a math whiz but how can you have “600% Less Sugar”? If you said 1/2 as much or 1/4 as much ok but what formula is used to support a claim of 600% Less? I’m just ask’n. Don’t forget there is 200% more Fiber. Great so if I am reading this right, it won’t taste as sweet and you’ll being looking for a toilet twice as much.
Need a little extra motivation or inspiration for your desktop? Download this week’s wallpapers of the week at bodybuilding.com. These were taken the day after the Orlando Pro show on a local track. Both ladies placed in the top five of the IFBB Figure division and the coolest thing is they’re both athletes off the stage.
This ad from Nike was created in 1995 but it’s still one of my favorites. If you let me play sports…
Here’s a song you may not have heard yet but I’m digging it… “Something In Your Mouth” by Nickelback.
(You naughty thing)
You’re ripping up the dance floor honey
(You naughty woman)
You shake your ass around for everyone
(You’re such a mover)
I love the way you dance with anybody
(The way you swing)
And tease them all by sucking on your thumb
I have a feeling you’ll be seeing more supplement companies looking to tap into the success of the MMA world. Champion Nutrition takes a bold step by teaming up with TapouT, one which no other supplement line has done to date.
Good move? Only time will tell but if you were going to partner with a successful brand in MMA, TapouT is a logical choice. You’re sure to see a TapouT shirt or hat at any bodybuilding/fitness event and go to a MMA event you can’t blink without seeing the logo.
GRAND TERRACE, Calif., Apr 28, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — TapouT, the premier mixed-martial arts apparel, gear and lifestyle brand, announced today a licensing agreement with Champion Nutrition to offer sports enthusiasts TapouT Sports Nutrition products. Under this relationship, Champion Nutrition will design, distribute and market the Tapout Sports Nutrition brand to all retailers in the United States and abroad. TapouT Sports Nutrition products will be available in mass-market retailers beginning this summer.
– Read the Full Press Release Here.
More Behind-The-Scenes photos and video from the swimsuit issue is available at FLEXonline.com. The ladies all look great!
The Olympia may seem like it just happened but many companies are already on the hunt to secure this year’s booth staff. Maximum Human Performance (MHP) is looking for four women to work their booth at the 2009 Olympia Expo (September 25-27). Ladies, you should be in shape, have a personality and the ability to talk about their products. Intrested? Send a your information and photos (keep them relatively small file size as to not clog up the email) to info@maxperformance.com. Tell them you heard about it on hardbody.com and good luck!
This candid moment was taken as we headed off to the track for a photo shoot. Monica Brant, Jessica Anderson, Laurie St. Michael and Gale Elie were all smiles despite it being at the butt crack of dawn. Laurie is the woman you often see mentioned here for hair & make-up, she is the bomb. Gale has been busy training women like Jessica for NPC competitions and Monica well it’s Monica, nuff said.
Bethany Howlett, cnce a top contender in the world of fitness & now well…
Just say’n. LOL!
Boom! Here comes the Boom! Ready or not how you like me now? Crystal Method remix version of P.O.D.’s “BOOM”.
Check out the Behind-The-Scenes video and photos from the FLEX Swimsuit shoot. The roster of models includes: Monique Minton, Nicole Wilkins-Lee, Jenn Gates, Jessica Paxson-Putnam, Kathleen Tesori, Jodie Minear, Felicia Romero and Erin Stern. Check it out here.
Erin Riley is one of the rising stars of the IFBB Fitness world. This was the final shot of Erin at the Orlando Pro and you can see she’s rock’n some ripped shoulders. If Erin streamlines her physique a bit in the coming months she could become a threat to the top spots in the years to come. Definitely becoming one of my favorite fitness competitors.
The hottest FLEX swimsuit issue to date is on newsstands now. IFBB Pros Nicole Wilkins-Lee and Felicia Romero along with top NPC competitor Monique Minton grace the cover. The folks at WEIDER Publications agreed with the majority of you on the cover selection. Sixy-eight percent of you thought this was the winning cover in our poll. The cover and inside swimsuit photos were shot by one of the top industry photographers, Terry Goodlad.
I’m told there will be a few behind-the-scenes videos from the shoot that will be online soon. Check the FLEXonline.com web site for those in the coming days. Congrats to all the women in issue and to FLEX for featuring the women of the industry on their cover.
The Denver Post was on hand for the Denver Dream tryouts last week. Check out the interviews with a couple of IFBB pros at the event.
Check out the beautiful and stunning Mary Lado on the newest cover of Muscle & Fitness Hers. She may be retired from the competition scene but she certainly walked away from the gym. Mary looks great!
Have a kick ass Monday. Here’s a song to help get you in the mode.
Can’t be touched
Can’t be stopped
Can’t be moved
Can’t be rocked
Can’t be shook
We hot
Insane Clown Posse – “Let’s Go All the Way”. How can you not like a group with that name?
can you guess what this place is?
your future
make it a reality
all you have to do is follow me
Aight Twits, make sure you follow Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine on twitter. It just started but will quickly become a go-to spot on twitterverse. http://twitter.com/MandF_Hers
Who knew NPC USA Overall Figure champ and now an IFBB Figure Pro had such ups? I didn’t until we did a quick shoot in Orlando. We took a few shots of her standing, standard model pose and then she started leaping around. Cool. This is far more fun! Keep jumping Amy! Here’s one of Amy leaping in a single bound.
Amy contemplating switching over to fitness? Hmm….
Chew on this Hardbodies! Happy Saturday. Make it a great day.
So you wanna be a rock superstar?
And live large, a big house, 5 cars, you’re in charge
Comin’ up in the world don’t trust no body
Gotta look over your shoulder constantly
