Hardbody - Female Sports, Health and Fitness
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All the IFBB Pros checked in tonight and are ready to rock. There are a number of events taking place in Pittsburgh this weekend which reeked havoc on getting to the hotel/venue. Anyone attending tomorrow’s show please keep that in mind when driving to the event.
A look at a few IFBB pros…
Tianna Ta in her first IFBB Bikini Pro show.
Taylor Condren will be making her pro figure debut.
Sonia Gonzales & Heather Mae French – Your Two Pro Winners? We’ll see…
Things will get started at 8am, Saturday morning with the mandatory NPC meeting. The NPC men will kick things off at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall at 9am. Below is the schedule of events for the show and the order it will go. Get more information on the event at GaryUdit.com.
8am – Mandatory NPC Meeting
9am - Prejudging Begins
10am - IFBB Pros meeting
Prejudging/Morning Show Order:
Closed Mr. Pittsburgh – 4 classes
Open Men – 7 classes
Novice Men – 2 classes
Men over 35 – 1 class
Men over 40 – 1 class
IFBB Figure
IFBB Bikini
Men over 50 – 1 class
Men over 60 – 1 class
Ten men – 1 clas
Open Women Bodybuilding – 3 classes
Open NPC Figure
NPC Masters Figure
NPC Bikini
NPC Fitness – 2pc suit (Fitness routines will be performed and judged at the Finals)
Welcome our newest hardbody supporter… MET-Rx! MET-Rx is one of the most established companies in the fitness industry and has a number of quality products. I attend countless NPC/IFBB events and while sitting in the press pit you don’t have the luxury of taking a break. Thankfully people like Teresa Hartle and Grace Grimes always hook me up with a shake and a few bars to help me get through the day. I take their vitamin pak, use their RTDs and their protein pancakes are AWESOME.
We’ll be doing some cool stuff with MET-Rx in coming weeks so check back to see what’s crack’n there. Follow MET-Rx on Twitter. twitter.com/official_metrx and visit their web sit at www.metrx.com.
Thanks MET-Rx!
Nathalia Melo is two for two in her short competitive career. I caught up with the Brazilian Bombshell as she heads into the Pittsburgh Pro looking to secure her third consecutive bikini win. Nathalia came to the United States as an exchange student knowing very little English and a dictionary was her only friend. She was a law student but decided it wasn’t for her. Now she’s pursuing new adventures and is proof that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to with a hard work and determination.
Check out the interview here. Nathalia is also featured in the current issue of FLEX magazine. Pick it up and see some hot swimsuit shots of this rising star.
This song is starting to get more and more airplay. Kevin Rudolf’s “I Made It” is pretty snappy.
IFBB Bikini Pro Alea Suarez is one to watch this weekend in Pittsburgh. She shares a bit more about herself and what got her into competing. The proud mother of three, YES THREE CHILDREN, will look to improve upon her sixth place finish at the Muscle Contest Pro.
Born in: San Diego, CA
Currently reside in: Austin, TX
Many people comment that you have a beautiful, exotic look to you…what’s your heritage?
I guess exotic is a good way to describe my diverse ethnic “melting pot”. In the reader’s digest version, I am a combination of Cherokee & Apache native American, Mexican, German, English, a sprinkle of French and topped with Castillian Spanish! The epitome of the American melting pot!
Occupation?
Owner/founder of TIGON Fitness, (Personal training, body transformation plans, and boot camps), and I work as a group fitness instructor for Lifetime Fitness.
How did you get into competing?
I had lost a good friend, Cassandra, a couple years ago to a pulmonary embolism. It was very sudden and she was a young mother leaving two children behind. I introduced her to fitness and had trained her and helped her lose 40 lbs. I had always expressed my desire to compete and Casandra always supported me and told me to go for it. With her passing, I realized that life is to short not to pursue my dreams.
How of shows you’ve competed in?
Pittsburgh will be my fifth show (3 NPC and my second pro show)
What were your thoughts after your first pro bikini show?
I was glad to get the first one under my belt. It had some amazing competitors and I feel blessed to have placed in the top 6. The first show gave me some feedback to work with and areas of opportunity I can improve on.
Goal for this weekend’s PA show?
It is a contest so I go into every competition for the win! I work hard to bring my best to each show but I truly enjoy the process and competing. It is a lot of fun to be part of the IFBB Pro Bikini circuit! I have made many friends and the camaraderie has been a blessing.
What type of training do you follow?
I do a combination of weight & body weight only training, plyometrics, and alot of cardio. I have recently put running into my regime thanks to Adela. (Hated it at first but I’m now like Forest Gump! I can run for miles and liking it!)
Any supplements that are on your “must have” list?
L-Glutamine, Carnitine, (when not eating red meat), Udos (cold-pressed fish oil), and a good nutraceutical.
Do you have a trainer or workout with anyone?
I just recently joined Adela Garcia’s O.F.F. Challenge Team based here in Austin, TX. Adela has been instrumental in my recent training and nutritional direction.
What’s the biggest misconception out there about a bikini competitor such as yourself?
The biggest misconception that seems to be consistent everywhere I go is that a bikini competitor does not have to train or condition in order to compete. Training and nutrition is different between bodybuilding, figure, fitness and bikini yet all have specific looks that need to be dialed in for competition. Achieving that specific look is a science that requires diligence, self-discipline, time in the gym, and commitment. I work hard, train hard, and take my competitions very seriously! We’re talking about the the inaugural Bikini Olympia!
Good luck!
Thanks!
Alea will take the stage tomorrow at the Pittsburgh Pro prejudging. For ticket information visit: www.garyudit.com
The 2010 NPC Pittsburgh Championships and IFBB Pro Figure & Bikini will take place this Saturday, May 1st. I break down all the action and make a few predictions for the figure and bikini competition. Check it out and let me know what you think. Did I miss anyone? Get my predictions all wrong?
Keep in mind these are only MY OPINIONS and I will not be judging the competition. I will be photographing it and will of course chiming in my thoughts and observations throughout the weekend. If you agree with me, cool. If you don’t, well hey that’s cool too. Check it out here.
FLEXonline.com has announced that Gina Aliotti will skip this year’s Olympia. Those of you who visit hardbody.com often know that Gina skipped the Arnold and tied the knot last month. She tells FLEX that she is focusing on her marriage and her web site. You can read the entire story here.
photo from FLEXonline.com
Jessica Boughers is one NPC bikini competitor to keep your eye on. She won the B class at the 2010 New York Metropolitan and will be competing this weekend at the NPC Pittsburgh.
So we are all told to stay away from white flour and opt for whole fibrous grains, right!? Well then how do you get a hearty fibrous grainy Tortilla to fold!!?? While making a healthy burrito the other day, I realized this must be a common issue! Here is my little tip of the week… Simply place tortilla on a plate, add and evenly spread water over top, place another plate upside down over bottom plate and place in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and allow to steam! You then have a nice and soft tortilla that will fold without ripping!
Enjoy! ~G
Wolfgang Puck was apparently making the rounds on the Home Shopping Network. The celebrity chef hopped on Jennifer Nicole Lee’s Ab Circle Pro. Actually, this is for the Ab Circle Mini, the newest member of the “stuff you don’t really need family”. The cooking comparisons in this video get amusingly obnoxious. I laugh every time I see this contraption.
Now this is something you don’t see every day. Ernestine Shepard is 73 years old and is in the Guinness Book of World Records’ as the oldest female bodybuilder. While the majority of the world is still asleep, she’s up running and hitting the weight room. Ernestine took first place in a 2008 NPC bodybuilding competition and is preparing for another one this weekend.
ABC News has a great story on Ernestine and it’s worth reading. She says she runs 80 miles a week and bench presses 150 pounds. That’s awesome!
Props to Diane Rudholm for the story link.
Ciara is looking Hardbody in her newest music video “Ride”.
It may not be Monday but the current cover girl of the FLEX swimsuit issue, Dianna Dahlgren is back for a beneficial modeling tip of the week.
Hey everyone!
I hope everyone is great! I have been traveling a lot lately so I haven’t been able to get you all tips, but I am home now so here is this week’s tip!
Model Release! This is very important when setting up shoots for yourself. It’s a legal contract between you and the photographer and all legal terms should be stated in it. This includes compensation or if you are trading for the photos and it also provides limitation or no limitation on what the photographer can do with the photos as well. Make sure you read it and ask questions, especially if you haven’t worked with the photographer before. This is complete protection for yourselves! I have had a nightmare photographer posting photos that he did not have a release for. Thank God for JM Manion to settle that! haha
Hope this helps!
xoxo
DD
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Jamie Eason’s photo shoot for Hydroxycut Max Advanced. You can see there’s no need to photoshop abs on this woman.
A couple of Canadian cuties are this week’s Wallpapers of the Week on Bodybuilding.com. Leigh is the first IFBB Bikini Pro from Canada. Those of you who know anything about how hard it is to turn pro in Canada, know she’s pretty much a rock star. Khay recently won the overall bikini title at the NPC Orange County. It’s a small world… Khay and Leigh know each other from Canada where they were practically neighbors.
I had the chance to shoot with both of them while in Los Angeles and they were awesome to work with.
Leigh Lingham
Khay Rosemond
The 2010 Pittsburgh Pro Figure will be a very competitive show. Four of the women are already qualified for the Olympia. Heather Mae French is coming off a win in New Zealand and a third place finish at the Figure International. Can any one beat her at this contest? We’ll find out on Saturday when the ladies take the stage but in the mean time cast your vote for who YOU think will win.
The original line-up looked like a Bikini Olympia preview but a few names have been removed since then. The 2010 IFBB Pittsburgh Bikini Pro is still going to be a very competitive contest with two undefeated champs going head to head. Sonia Gonzales has notched wins in New Zealand and California, while Nathalia took top honors in Orlando. Which of them will prevail or will it be someone else who wins? We’ll have to wait until Saturday to find out but cast your vote for who you think it will be.
Recognize the lead vocals in We Are the Fallen’s “Bury Me Alive”?
Andrea Taylor checks in with just a few more days until her little guy arrives.
What a crazy week this has been! Tripp had been stubborn and stayed breech throughout the past few weeks. I really had my heart set on a natural delivery, and after talking and praying about it, Micah and I decided to have an aversion.
An Aversion, or ECV, is when 2 doctors push on the prego belly to get the baby to turn over. When you read about this online or in magazines, they say this is an “uncomfortable” procedure. Thank God my doctor is honest and warned me about how painful it is- and let me tell you- “uncomfortable” is a severe understatement. It is not harmful to the baby but holy moly does it hurt the mommy! There’s only a 50% chance it will work and it’s done in the 37th week to ensure the baby won’t flip back over to the breech position if it does work. Aversions aren’t done too often and I think it’s because C-sections are so common these days. Women usually aren’t opposed to having one if necessary. Of course I have to be a weirdo.
Here’s how it went down:
Thursday, April 15th Micah and I arrive at the hospital and have an ultrasound to check where baby’s head is. Just as it felt, he was still in the head up position. We head into the Labor and Delivery ward and get into our room. You have to be in this ward just in case an emergency C-section is needed if the baby’s heart rate doesn’t get back up after the procedure. I was given an IV and a shot of some medicine that relaxes your uterus (and also gives you heart palpitations- nice to feel like I’m on my training supplements again! Ugh!)
There were about 6 student nurses in the room, along with an ultrasound tech, 2 registered nurses and 2 doctors. My doctor is a tiny 5 foot 90 pound woman, the other doctor- a man- at least 6’2” with big hands! They put oil on my belly and started rubbing their hands around and all of a sudden POW! Man doctor’s fingers dug into my belly and under the baby’s bottom and he just went for it, pushing and pushing past my organs- the bladder was the WORST! My doctor was around the baby’s head pushing it down. 4 hands on my belly digging and pushing, digging and pushing- they were putting all of their weight into me. My husband only looked twice because he said he couldn’t bear to watch – he kept his head down on mine and whispered “breath . . . deep breaths . . . you got this”. I kept my eyes closed the whole time and concentrated on breathing. It must’ve been about 60 seconds of digging and pushing until they finally got him sideways. YIKES – I can’t even explain the pain. I knew exactly where he was when they stopped to check – I could’ve told them if I had the strength to talk! They went at it one more time and all of a sudden the pressure was gone – IT WORKED!!! Tripp flipped – thank you Lord! Everyone was cheering!
I rested in the hospital for about 3 hours after so they could monitor Tripp’s heart rate and I already know he’s going to be a great athlete by the way he recovered! He was back up to his baseline HR within about 15 mins and started squirming around as usual. My recovery, on the other hand, took a few days. I was so sore and tender to the touch. I felt fragile – like I couldn’t move certain ways or else I’d break!
It was tough. I can totally understand how a woman can go through that and say “absolutely never again” if it didn’t work for her. I don’t know how I would’ve felt if it hadn’t worked. It would have been an ugly experience and I hope the prego magazines and emails get in touch with the truth about this procedure. I wasn’t surprised because my doctor warned me and I went into it knowing it was going to hurt, but what about those women that think – “oh, it’s just uncomfortable, let’s try it.” You definitely need some mental prepping for this and I hope other women are told just as I was.
Since the aversion worked I now have a baby that’s “head down” and oh-my-gosh do I feel pregnant! Breech babies are so much more comfortable! Now I get these fun shooting pains down my legs and once in a while I feel like someone is stabbing me in the hip with a knife! I am thankful that these pains are nothing compared to the aversion though.
So, the bags are packed and loaded in the car and we just wait until this guy decides he wants to grace us with his presence . . . 2 more weeks. . .
Jane Fonda’s fitness videos were as big as women’s hairdos in the 80s. Don’t recall what they looked like? No worries, check out the workout below. How awesome are these outfits?
USATODAY recently chatted with Jane, age 72, and asked what secrets she has to staying fit.
“It’s a combination of things,” she says. “About a third of it is genetic, and we can’t do anything about it. But that means two-thirds we can do something about, and a major part of the can-do portion is staying active. It can be as simple as walking, swimming, moving, using light weights.”
Plus, you need to eat fresh, healthful foods and not fast food, she says.
“It’s treating our bodies with respect,” she adds, “staying curious, maintaining personal relationships, maintaining a social network, keeping our brains active. We need brain workouts. It’s trying to maintain a positive attitude and combating stress.”
She also shares that despite having a new knee and hip she’s still healthy. Jane is hosting “World Fitness Day”, this Saturday in Atlanta. She’ll be joined by Richard Simmons, Billy Banks, Debbie Allen and Denise Austin. The event will stream live on Ustream.tv.
Frank Sepe has been involved in the fitness industry for quite awhile. Frank has worn many hats throughout his prosperous career from competitor to fitness model. Now he has a product on the market called “FitnessDisc” and in this video he’s joined by world famous chef, Wolfgang Puck. Take a close look and see if you recognize the top NPC figure competitor on the left in the video.
Skillet’s “Hero” is getting quite a bit of airplay. I’m not totally sold on it but give it a listen and judge for yourself.
I’m guilty of it. Are you? Before you eat do you take a snap shot of what’s in front of you? I don’t do it all the time but yes I’ve been “one of those people”. I’ve been documenting the food I eat in airports and coined it, “TERMINAL FOOD”. There’s some seriously nasty stuff being served up in airports but that’s for another time.
The New York Times ran the story, “First Camera, Then Fork”. It’s pretty interesting and some people take photographing their meals to an absurd level.
Kendra Wilkinson found fame being on the popular tv show The Girls Next Door, as one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends. The 24 year old ditched the Playboy pimp and married NFL player, Hank Baskett. She’s apparently getting herself back into shape after her first child and has a new workout DVD coming. She recently tweeted, “my workout dvd should be out by summer!!! i’ll keep you guys posted on the exact date”.
Here’s a shot of Kendra sporting her best front-double bicep pose.
IFBB Figure Pro Jodie Minear made her debut in Phoenix where she finished fifth. Not too shabby of a pro debut. Jodie has put the first time pro jitters behind her and will head to Pittsburgh for her second contest. I caught up with the Texan for a quick interview. Check it out.
Looking back, did you make any rookie mistakes in your pro debut?
Yes, I made some mistakes with my one piece suit choice and some dieting mistakes, but I feel like I remedied those problems and I’m ready for round two.
How has your training changed (or has it) since Phoenix?
Well I tweaked my cardio, I do more stairs and sprints so I kept more junk in the trunk while I was dieting down.
What changes, if any, will we see on stage in PA?
You will see a leaner me, without sacrificing any muscle.
When you’re not training what might we find you doing?
Sleeping, eating, watching The Office, or working, and in a perfect world I would be able to do all at once.. I wish.
Any supplements you’d recommend to other women?
I love 1st Phorm supplements and their 1-Dbº energy pills keep me trucking.
How did you get into competing?
Well it all started with my obsession with muscle and people with muscle at a very young age, two… kidding it was more like 7. I love working hard and being around inspiring people.
Which of your fellow figure competitors’ physiques do you like?
Oh boy so many, but my favorites are Heather Mae French, Christina Vargas, Erin Stern, Nicole Wilkins Lee, Felicia Romero, Jessica Paxson-Putnam, Kathleen Tesori, wow I could go on forever but what’s lovely about all these women is they are wonderful people as well as great competitors.
Do you work with a trainer for contest prep?
Yes I work with Greg Corriere out of One 2 One in Houston Tx, He pushes me when I need it and makes me laugh constantly which let’s face it builds ab muscles.
What type of workouts do you follow?
Every week I try to mix it up and really evaluate my physique and work on my weaknesses. Sometimes it more legs, or other times its my back, I double up on my weak areas and hope to turn them in to strengths.
The days leading into a competition you’ll likely be eating?
Well I’m doing all fish right now so I’ll be continuing that route till the show, I’m down to two goldfish and one angelfish… poor pets.
Sick and wrong. Glad to see you haven’t lost your whacky sense of humor. Good luck and we’ll see you in Pittsburgh!
The 2010 New York Pro Bodybuilding & Bikini Championships will be held on Saturday, May 8th at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center. The competitor lists will continue to grow but as of today here’s a look at the line-ups. For more information on this contest and ticket information visit bevfrancis.com.
Women’s Bodybuilding
1. Debbie Bramwell
2. Dayana Cadeau
3. Andrea Ferreira Carvalho
4. Cathy LeFrancois
5. Colette Nelson
6. Nicole Pfuetzenreuter
7. Rachel Ruch
Women’s Bikini
1. Michell Gullet
2. Melinda Janiszewski
3. Stefanie Lindsey
4. Dayna Maleton
5. Christie Marquez
6. Shelsea Montes
7. Marzia Prince
8. Kira Rivera
9. Alea Suarez
10. Tianna Ta
David Banner’s clean version of “Play” is quite different from the dirty version. Don’t worry this is the clean version. This video cracks me up… it takes tacky cheese to a new level. This is one of the worst videos with women “working out” that I’ve seen.
Congratulations to Khay Rosemond for winning the Bikini Overall and to Phannary Pen for taking the Figure Overall title at the 2010 NPC Orange County Muscle Classic Contest. Over 130 competitors competed on Saturday, April 24th, in Anaheim, California. More pictures will be on bodybuilding.com in a few days.
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