HARDBODY News & Updates

We’ve seen a number of IFBB pros give birth to a new generation within the last few months. Last week I caught up with one of my long time clients, IFBB Pro Kim Seeley. Those who may not know, Kim is one of the few professional competitors that competes with type one diabetes. She’s been very helpful with many others looking to compete with the disease and contributes to a variety of diabetic publications.

Kim hasn’t taken the stage in a few months and with good reason… she’s expecting her first child. She tells me she’s excited to step away from competing for a bit to focus on starting a family, but she isn’t retiring. I asked Kim to share a bit more with the readers of HARDBODY.com about her exciting news. Check out her candid answers to my questions.

What’s your due date?
September 9, 2008

Do you know the sex or want to know?
I’m not sure what we’ll be having yet. We will find out in the next few weeks or so. Since I am also a type one. I have tons of sonograms and like a gazillion other tests to make sure the baby is healthy and doing what it is suppose to be doing weekly. So basically I’ll find out the sex probably by accident seeing so many sonograms.

I am happy to find out though. I think knowing ahead of time can prepare you financially as well as an emotional connection might be kinda cool. I honestly could give 2 shits what it is… with the “Advanced Maternal Age Bull Shit”…and more importantly how the affects diabetes can play a roll in the baby developing have been really stressful. Happy and healthy coming out of the chute is what i want…then my husband and I can f’ it all up mentally late..hee hee. Kidding Isaac, but it is something I have to think about with my diabetes.

Any names picked out?
The names are based on a family thing:  Eric, Eric’s grandfather and so on have had the initials E.O.S. So that’s what we are doing. Girl’s names, Elliot or Elton for the first name and Olivia for the middle. The boy names,  Ellison (Ellis for short) or Eric the second, the middle names could be Owen, Oliver or Otto. Yes, Otto. My husband’s family is very German.

What’s been the biggest adjustment since finding out?
Shit! Which one?! Ha! Physically this is the first time in 10 years I have not seen abs. I always have some sort of ab definition and that is now long gone. (so my physique changing is an adjustment. God, I have to be honest, my nose runs constantly which is so odd. Mentally my moods are way off kilter. I’m sane one minute and a nut job the next. I love carbs more than i can remember. I SWORE I’d be Ms Fit pregnant chic and although I haven’t had any nausea. I feel completely exhausted all the time; to the point where I fall asleep at my desk while at work. This has really baffled me. I have missed many many workouts. This has been really tough. I literally could not make myself get to the gym.  Sounds like such a bunch of crap but was so true for me. Hopefully that will get better.

The biggest thing is in relation to my disease though. God, I thought training for competitions would cause crazy blood sugar swings. Not even close. This is the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with in all my years of having type one. Some highs and many many, many, lows. In fact one really low last Friday night that resulted me in the back of an ambulance. Glucose dropped while driving and I blacked out.  Drove about 22-15 minutes unaware, wrecked my car, hit a curb and a pole of some sort. All the while with my chihuahuas flying around in the back seat. Luckily I was fine and did not injure anyone else. The cops thought I was drunk. I pissed myself too. That was my favorite part of the night. I rule. No but seriously, the baby is using so much fuel that my insulin measurements were way off.  We are working on that!!

Thank God I have the coolest team of doctors under the sun. They cleared up one helluva lot of misconceptions for me and the fit pregnancy thing. I have 3 teams and they are very, very, hip and aggressive.

Thanks for your candidness Kim and we’re all glad you and the baby are ok. We’ll check in with you throughout your pregnancy and wish you all the best!

She’s unquestionably the hottest figure competitor on the IFBB circuit today. I’m figuratively speaking (no pun intended) although many would say she fits the bill as one of the most attractive competitors as well. Gina’s been on a hot streak, winning two of her last three pro shows. Early this month California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, award Gina the Figure International title in Columbus, Ohio. She finished second only to 2x Ms. Figure Olympia, Jenny Lynn, at the 2007 Figure Olympia.

Gina awarded the title by Arnold earlier this month.

When Gina debuted at the 2006 Colorado Pro/Am she finished out of the top 6. I felt she should have placed higher and shared my thoughts with a few “industry insiders”. One individual told me, “she’s too muscular and her physique is a little blocky”. Ummm, errkay sure. An individual with their own column shared, “she finished in the top 10 pro debut what’s the problem?” While some people weren’t hopping on the Aliotti train just yet it was obvious to me at least she had the “it factor”. We’ve all seen “it”. When a woman is confident, sexy and it all comes with such ease and poise.Fortunately, there is a supplement company that saw the potential in Gina and is smart enough to continue their relationship with her. The folks at Bio-Test Supplements decided to retain Gina to a multi-year sponsorship after renegotiating her contract through her management company, Fitness Management Group (FMG). Below is a statement from FMG regarding Gina’s sponsorship.

FMG is happy to announce that we have renegotiated Gina Aliotti’s endorsement contract with Bio-Test Supplements, makers or Hot Rox & Spike Shooter. It was an almost 2 month negotiation period that was on the verge of falling apart until owner Tim Patterson personally stepped in.  Speaking to Tim was a breath of fresh air. In the span of 10 minutes of speaking with Tim we had all the details worked out & a revised copy of the contract e-mailed to us within half an hour. Tim really showed how much he cared & valued Gina as an athlete & a person & made sure that she was happy with the contract & Bio-Test in general. So we want to send a big THANK YOU out to Tim Patterson for his involvement.

What did Gina get in return?
A multi-year contract with an option to renew for another year that includes an annual raise of the endorsement payments plus bonuses for placing in the Figure Olympia, Figure International & any other IFBB Pro Figure contest that Gina would win, plus her own supply of Bio-Test supplements.  Knowing the current climate of the industry, this contract puts Gina on par as one of the 2 highest paying contracts in the industry right now for fitness & figure athletes.

As Tim Patterson stated, “With Gina only being 23 years old, we look at her as the future of figure & look to have a long lasting relationship with her.”  So you now know where you will be able to find Gina the next few years.

As for her next contest, Gina will be her defending her IFBB Tournament Of Champions Pro Figure title the week before she competes in the IFBB Figure Olympia.

For more information on booking Gina Aliotti, contact FMG at fitnessdivasproductions@verizon.net

Congratulations on your continued success Gina!

Gina the day after her win in West Palm Beach.

Fitness fans will get a special treat in the Big Apple, April 12th. The breakout IFBB Fitness Pro of 2007 will be competing in the New York Pro Fitness with hopes of returning to the Olympia stage. Oksana was clearly not at her best when she competed at the Fitness International but look for her to come back strong and “wow” the always excitable New York crowd.

Oksana Grishina looks to the 2008 New York Fitness.

I confirmed with Jenny Lynn’s manager, JM Manion, that she is not with VPX and he had this to say…

A few days before the 2008 Arnold Fitness Expo, word was leaked that Jenny Lynn had signed a multi-year contract with supplement company VPX. The only problem was, we did not release the info & neither did VPX because although a contract was in the works for Jenny Lynn & VPX, the reality of the situation was that we had not received a fully executed copy of a contract from VPX. So nothing was officially official.  Yes, Jenny Lynn did work the VPX booth the entire Arnold Fitness weekend, which was at the request of VPX.  By the Wednesday after the Arnold Fitness weekend, VPX stated it had reviewed the contract offer for Jenny Lynn & at this time the two would not make a good fit. It was not because of Jenny Lynn at all they assured us, it was due to the fact that VPX did not have a product to market Jenny Lynn around. So instead of her being signed to a supplement company that would not use her in any immediate advertisements & only having her make a few booth appearances at contests per year, VPX felt that an athlete of Jenny Lynn’s stature deserved to be with a supplement company that would fully utilize the 2-time IFBB Figure Olympia, 3-time IFBB Figure International champion & feature her as the great champion that she is. We couldn’t agree more. So yes, Jenny Lynn IS available to be signed by any viable supplement company that is interested.

Please contact:
JMP Management
c/o J.M. Manion & Debra Amelio-Manion
(412) 257-4555
E-mail: jmmnpc@aol.com

Sandy is the top female official in the women’s sport of bodybuilding, fitness and figure. She’s the women’s rep for the NPC and was the head IFBB judge at last week’s Arnold Classic for the women’s competitions. Monday, Larry Pepe talks with Sandy about the shows and this will be one Pep Talk episode not to miss. They discuss some of the controversy surrounding around last week’s placings.

Another topic that will come from the show is a letter going out to all IFBB Pro Figure competitors from the IFBB. The letter will inform all figure competitors that they need to tone down the hardness they bring to the stage. The letter is going out to all IFBB Figure pros within the next week.

You can catch the show live on BODYBUILDINGRADIO.com Monday.

A new feature here on Hardbody.com features fitness icon, Monica “Mo” Peckham-Brant. The MO KNOWS segment was born last Sunday night when I was fretting over loosing my Driver’s license and having to board a plane the next morning.

The group after a long weekend at the Arnold Classic.

Monica shared a similar story with Erin Heath, Ana Tigre and myself that happened to her. She told me I’d have to file a police report and show it to get through security. Sure enough the people at United told me the same thing when I called after being on hold for 20 minutes.Check back for more MO KNOWS segments in the future here on hardbody.com. Visit Monica’s site at www.monicabrant.com

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

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.

3-time Colombian fitness champion, Norma Carrasquilla will be working the Muscle Tech booth at the 2008 Arnold Classic next weekend. I caught up with Norma at the Fit Expo where she was looking better than ever.

We’re starting poll here on HARDBODY.com for this year’s Arnold Expo. The poll… How many times will Norma be asked to flex while working this weekend? We’ll check-in with her throughout the weekend and give a total count after the Arnold.

Cast your votes in the comments field or email me at isaac@hardbody.com. The person closest to the total will receive $25 in Muscle Tech products.

Hardbody contributor Rick Lohre had a chance to catch up with Venom from American Gladiators at the beginning of this year.

Rick and Venom (aka. Beth Horn) talked at length about how she got started, her experiences as an Weider athlete and what’s next for the Buff Blonde Gladiator…

Read the interview and don’t forget to visit Beth’s site at www.BethHorn.com

Rick Lohre: First off, where were you born? Where are you living these days?
Beth Horn: I was born in Chicago, IL. I am still living in downtown Chicago.

RL: What led you to a career in the fitness industry?
BH: The fitness magazines actually inspired me to begin a career in fitness. I wanted to become a fitness model too. I was also missing the competition, the fire and passion I had while competing in gymnastics. I desired to compete again and I wanted to change my body which led me into fitness.

With the help on my trainer, Bob Dixon, who has been training me for ten years, helped me to drop down from a size 10-12 to a size 4 in just four months. Thus, I entered my first local NPC show and won the overall. I competed again a week later and won again. From there, I went right to the national stage.

RL: You are the 2000 NPC National Fitness Champion…can you tell us about the road you travelled to that win? How long did you compete before that?
BH: My path to become the National Fitness Champion:
I began my gymnastics career at seven years old. I suffered two knee reconstructions and two arthroscopic surgeries along the way. Little did I know, my first serious knee injury at fifteen years old, would be the beginning of my path into fitness and health. In conjunction with knee rehabilitation, I began weight training on my own and then realized the importance of strength and how great I felt inside and out. I also competed in gymnastics at Ball State University.

In 1998, I began fitness competitions in the NPC. I placed 8th in my first national show- the USA’s in Las Vegas. I went on to Nationals in Atlanta and placed 3rd! I was very excited. I had my first big photo shoot lined up for Muscle & Fitness Magazine. It was my first photo shoot at Venice Beach in CA, which led to a 6-page spread! I even had my “Horn Handstand”, one of my signature moves in my routines, published in Muscle & Fitness Hers. So cool! ☺

My immediate goal when I began fitness was to become a professional fitness athlete. In 1998, I wrote on a big note card, “I am the Overall National Fitness Champion”. I was determined to fulfill this goal. The top two places for the national shows would qualify an athlete to become professional. I placed third, three times in a row in my last three shows! I was so frustrated! I was not happy & was thinking very negatively. Just twelve weeks before Nationals, my last chance to qualify for the year, I was walking at the beach, stepped off a rock and broke my right foot to two places. I said to myself, never again would I let negativity surround me and overwhelm my thoughts. I knew I had to get back to my positive mindset and get back to my main goal. I changed the date on my note card to 2000 and carried it everywhere with me, even in my car so I would see it all day. My foot healed, I stayed focused and indeed became the Overall National Fitness Champion on November 11, 2000.

RL: After turning Pro, you were a contracted athlete with Weider, what experiences do you remember most?
BH: After turning pro, I contacted Joe Weider. I sent him letters, made many phone calls, telling him I would be a great spokesperson for Weider Publications. Deep down, I knew it was meant to be. He hired me and I was under contract for five years. It was a dream. I was getting paid extremely well and was traveling the world promoting health and fitness. I was inspiring people to take care of their bodies. This was exactly what I wanted to do.

I have so many wonderful experiences from my Weider days!
Here are a few of my great memories with Weider…

• Performing in Hawaii with Günter (before he married my friend Kim Lyons!) Of course I went to Maui after the show to vacation!
• Many years of selling pictures and books at the grand Weider booth at the Arnold Classic and Olympia Expos.
• Performing at the fit expos and traveling through Naples, Italy and Florence, Italy. (The Almaphi Coast is one of the most beautiful places on earth!)
• Countless photo shoots for Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, FLEX and Men’s Fitness.
• My favorite shoots were the swim suit shoots. My most difficult shoot was of me hanging on a rope, over a pool in Bel Air, CA with my head back, toes pointed, trying to look sexy while holding myself up!
• My favorite trip was to China with Timea Majorova, one of my best friends and Anna Level. We were treated like rock stars everywhere we went. We were there for the grand openings for several Power House Gyms. We traveled all over China, including Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall! It was incredible!
• I have met Arnold, “The Hulk”, Sylvester Stallone and the amazing Joe Weider.
• Thank you to Joe Weider for believing in me and helping me live my dreams!!

RL: What are some of your biggest highlights as a fitness competitor?
BH: My biggest highlights as a fitness competitor:
• Winning the overall National Fitness Champion title. It took a lot of dedication, discipline and perseverance.
• My first pro show: Arnold Classic 2001. I placed last (even though my routine rocked), but I didn’t even care. I was there on stage, even after my coach suffered a stroke just two months earlier. It was a stressful time but we made it through and he was there to watch me compete.
• Slovakia Pro Show 2002. Afterwards, I traveled through Slovakia and Vienna.
• Hungary Pro Show 2003- what a blast!
• I placed 4th in both European shows. Again, one place away from qualifying for the Olympia!
• My “Elvis” routine at Night of Champions in New York 2003. My Dad built me a set of stairs (5 feet high) that I shipped from Chicago to New York. I pressed up to a handstand at the top, slowly walked down each step, one hand at a time, and pressed back down into a straddle hold. It was awesome! I have never seen anyone do anything like it on stage. One little wrong move would have ruined the entire routine! I was in the zone and it turned out perfect. Phew!

RL: You’ve written a book “The Natural Way”. Tell us about that endeavor.
BH: My book is entitled, “The Natural Way- The Holistic Guide To Total Mind-Body, Health & Fitness”. It is a nutrition and fitness book. I believe in the holistic mind-set, meaning everything within us is tied together- emotionally, spiritually, mentally & physically. When you move the body, workout and take care of yourself, you are going to feel better on every level.

The workout portion of the book is geared toward specific goals- building strength, building size, fat-burning, 2-day splits, 3-day splits, etc.

The nutrition part is easy to follow, explaining about fats, carbs proteins and how they affect the body. There are specific eating plans, glycemic index, food lists, etc., while teaching people how to eat healthy and how to stay lean.

RL: You’ve had success in so many areas of the industry as a competititor, international fitness model, & personal trainer and now appearing on national tv as American Gladiator, Venom. What an opportunity! Tell us about how this came about and what you hope for out of the experience.
BH: Well, first of all I am extremely grateful for everything in my life. I begin each day thinking about what I am grateful for. I have had an amazing career in fitness. My experiences have been so incredible. I feel I am so blessed to have wonderful people in my life, especially my awesome husband, Bruce. He is my everything. He is the most amazing person I know and he is my best friend and biggest supporter. I am also grateful for my parents and in-laws, my two dogs, friends and family. I have a great team surrounding me, which I feel is vital to my success and well-being. My coach told me eight months before the auditions, “Be ready. Something big is coming around the corner for you. Be ready.” I followed his wisdom even though we had no idea what was in store. I worked very hard ever since my first knee injury and especially throughout my fitness career. When you work hard, it is promised to you.

RL: It’s clear that fitness and being fit are a way of life for you, how has your training and diet changed since your physique/fitness competition days? Have you done any competitions lately?
BH: I decided to compete in a figure show for fun in September 2007. I felt I had to do it, but it took me a long time to get back into the mindset of competing again. I had not been on stage in 4 ½ years! So, I went all out on the outfits, posing, everything. I had a lot of fun doing it & I felt great on stage. Little did I know the auditions for Gladiator were just a week later. I was in Austin, TX relaxing & my coach told me I have to come home & go to the auditions. I turned around & went back home to Chicago for the auditions.
I told them right from the beginning, “I want to be a Gladiator”. That was my goal. I did not even think about being a contender. I was set on being a Gladiator. I knew this was perfect for me & I could do it!

RL: How has your training & diet changed since your fitness competition days?
BH: Honestly, I workout a whole lot less and a lot smarter! When I began ten years ago, I worked out three times a day, tons of cardio, dancing, gymnastics, and routines. After I turned pro, we began doing a lot of functional, anaerobic training. In the last two years, I have not done any cardio! ☺ I train very hardcore with all anaerobic training, which really gets my heart rate up high. My training includes a lot of athletic ‘drills’, plyometrics, sprints, etc. I love it.
I also dieted very hard for years. I’ve done every diet. In the last few years, I have been eating very clean & healthy, but I goof off I lot more! I eat thin crust pizza every week, dessert twice a week and pancakes for Sunday brunch. Now that I am not as strict and I workout hardcore, I am in the best shape of my life now. I think it is most important to love yourself and love your body! When you train really hard, eat healthy for the most part, you should be able to eat what you want.

RL: You are a role model to many women. What’s your advice to women looking to compete or get into the fitness lifestyle?
BH: Believe in yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to- be it getting up on stage posing in a bikini, changing something about your body you are not happy with, fitting into those size 4 jeans or being on TV.- you truly can do anything! Whatever the mind can conceive, the body will achieve. Do what feels right to you. Always listen to your body. Love yourself & your body. It took me years to truly listen to my body & to love my body. Now that I do, I am so happy & in the best shape of my life.

For women looking to compete, set up your plan 3-4 months out from your show date. Get your team together- positive people you can trust. You need a great coach/trainer, mentor, posing coach, swim suit designer and for fitness women, include a gymnastics coach and choreographer.

Write down your goals and look at them often. Your thoughts create! Go for it & dream big!

RL: So what’s up next for Beth?
BH: I have a lot of goals. I want to have another fantastic season on American Gladiator. I will be back to film season two in March & it will air on NBC this May. You will see DVDs and books- “How to train like a Gladiator” and “The Gladiator Mindset”, movies, “Venom” toys, etc.! I plan to be on “Dancing with the Stars”. I love that show & I love to dance! I will always be a role model for health & fitness and continue to inspire people to take care of their bodies. That is one of my purposes here on earth.

So that’s enough of the serious questions, here’s a few more…
RL: Favorite U2 song?
Beth Horn: DESIRE

RL: Favorite “cheat food”?
BH: I don’t have just one!
I love thin crust pepperoni pizza, Chinese food & cookies!!

RL: Beer or Wine?
BH: Wine, not beer.

RL: Chocolate or Vanilla?
BH: Vanilla.

RL: Dogs or Cats?
JL: Dogs for sure! I have a Golden Retriever, Gabriella and an Akita, Cleo. They are my babies!!

RL: Outside of Fitness and beating contenders to a pulp, what are your interests?
BH: I love traveling the world, reading, journaling, modeling, hiking, rollerblading, movies, spending time with my husband, my dogs, my family and friends.

RL: Something that people don’t know about you, something we won’t find anywhere else?
BH: I am very spiritual.

RL: Anything else?
BH: Please check out my web site- www.bethhorn.com and watch me on American Gladiators!
RL: Thanks Beth, we really appreciate your time. We wish you the best and expect to see you putting the beat-down on the competitors next season on American Gladiators!

BH: Thank you for the interview!

This Sunday marks the end of the American Gladiator season one. A couple Gladiators bit the dust in the first season’s taping and will not be back for round two. Some inside scoop for hardbody.com fans…

Final tryouts will be held this weekend in Los Angles at the Fit Expo. If you haven’t tried out and still interested in becoming a new American Gladiator or contestant this is the place to be on Friday and Saturday.

Things are moving quick on the casting front. Both Gladiators and Contenders will need to be available March 5- March 9, 2008. If you haven’t been called back or invited to attend this round by these dates, sorry but you’re not in the running. Those who make it through the first March Madness round will be invited back for a Gladiator or Contender Boot Camp. Gladiators will have their camp March 17-22 and the Contenders will be held March 23-28. Actual taping of the shows will begin on March 31st.

Several NPC/IFBB men and women are in the running as new Gladiators or Contenders. I’m confident we’ll see at least two NPC/IFBB competitors make it onto the second season.

A little birdie told me that one of the current American Gladiators may have found a new love. What does this mean for this Gladiator? We’ll have to wait and see but rest assured you’ll get the full scoop as it develops.

Check out the second cover of Iron Sirens. Featured on the cover is Ms. Fitness Olympia, Adela Garcia. Her villain, Sonia Adcock, will make her comic debut in this issue as well. The ladies will both be working the GNC booth during the Arnold Classic. Stop by the GNC or NPC booth to get your autographed copy.

JM Manion has been working hard with his team on the second issue of Iron Sirens. You saw the cover of the debut issue here first. Now we’re giving you a sneak peek at the first five pages of the second issue. The issue will premiere at the 2008 Arnold Classic and will feature the introduction of a new villian. This new character is out to kick Adela Garcia’s booty. Will it happen? Who is the new character? I’ll give ya a hint. She’s another attractive IFBB pro. Adela and her villian will both be at the Arnold Classic. They will follow it up with a comic convention in April if all things go as planned. Iron Sirens writer, Ian Ascher will also be in attendance at the Pittsburgh Comic-Con.

You heard it here first comic book fans!

Hardbody’s Cali man, Ron Avidan was on the scene this past weekend for the American Gladiator’s tryouts. Ron reports that IFBB Pro competitors Julie Childs, Mary Jo Cooke and Zhanna Rotar all tried out and did well. I spoke with FLEX magazine Senior Writer, Allan Donnelly who said the scene was total madness. Thousands of people lined up for their chance to become the next contestant or American Gladiator. Tryouts will be held in various cities this weekend. There are a few NPC competitors in the Denver area who have expressed an interest and I know a hot little fitness diva in Texas who is planning on rocking the tryouts in Austin. Stay tuned for photos, videos and more on the American Gladiator tryouts. It’s a strong possibility we’ll see more NPC/IFBB females in the show for season two.

Julie Childs shows off one of her gunz.

Zhanna Rotar and Allan Donnelly at the tryouts in Venice, California.

I had a chance to rap with Joe Bayer of HDPhysiques.com about IFBB Figure Pro and American Gladiator Valerie Waugaman. Joe is friends with Val and kind enough to pass along the following information from her. Yes, Waugamaniacs, this is straight from V-Dub…

The reason I am not doing the Arnold is because I really needed the recovery time between Gladiator seasons one and two. There are no particular “acute” injuries, nothing torn, broken, etc… Just wear and tear, especially on the upper body joints, from doing a lot of physical stuff in a short period of time. I kind of relate it to how a football player might feel at the end of a season. This was a very difficult decision and I waited until the very last possible moment to make the decision. I’m really going to miss competing in the Figure International this year - it’s such a wonderful show and it’s in my backyard. I’m definitely not done with competing. I’m hungry for a title and plan on competing more in the future. After consulting with my physical therapist and realizing that I wouldn’t be able to train the way I’d need to train to bring the best Valerie Waugaman to the Arnold stage, I decided that it would be best to continue to recover and get back to 100%. I’m really excited about seeing everyone in Columbus, as I’ll be there working various booths, watching the competition and supporting the other athletes. I’m very proud of my background with the IFBB and continue to talk about that in each interview I do for the Gladiators. Positive mojo! See you in Columbus!

Thanks Joe and Thank you Val for sharing your reasons behind the decision. We look forward to seeing ya at the Arnold Expo!

One of the industry’s mot popular female competitors has confirmed, she is out of the 2008 Figure International. Monica Brant confirmed with me today that she is in fact out of the line up. Mo has agreed to do an interview at a later date where she will share more details.

Check back for more breaking news that only hardbody.com provides.

Take a trip over to the Arnold Classic web site and you will see Valerie Waugaman’s name is no longer on the Figure International list. It’s been confirmed that Valerie Waugaman is in fact out of this year’s show. The details behind her withdrawal from the show have not been confirmed as of yet. Once we have a chance to confirm with Val on her condition and reasons for withdrawing, we’ll report back.

Many considered Valerie a favorite for the Figure National title and most definitely a lock for a top 6 spot.

Stay tuned.

Paola Almerico is an IFBB Professional Figure athlete who turned pro in 2007 at the NPC Jr. USA’s. In her first year competing as a pro earned not only a qualification to the 2008 Figure Olympia, but also a bid to the prestigious Figure International. I was very excited to catch up with Paola following her exciting entry into the IFBB Figure world.

HardBody.com (HB) – What got you started into Figure?
Paola Almerico (PA)– It wasn’t until my mid 30s that I was introduced to the sport of Figure. I had been training with weights for many years but was not aware of the sport. I was so excited. At the time, I was 35 years old and had a 2 year old daughter. I knew it would be a challenge but I learned everything I could about the sport and trained very hard.

HB – What was your first show?
PA – My first show was the 2005 Gold Cup which was a very competitive show with over 40 competitors. I not only won my class but won the overall.

HB – That was two years ago, 2007 has been an amazing year for you, from winning your pro-card at the Jr USA’s, securing a qualification to the 2008 Olympia and now an invitation to the 2008 Figure International (Arnold Classic), what stands out to you as your most memorable moment?
PA – I had a lot of “special” moments in 2007 but getting my Pro-card by winning the Overall at the Jr. USA and qualifying for the 2008 Olympia in front of my friends and family would be the two most memorable moments.

HB – You are one of this sports “Fit Mommas”. I understand you are a very busy woman, mother, wife and IFBB Pro Athlete. Aside from those responsibilities and training for competition, how do you spend your spare time, if you have any?
PA – Reading and Gardening. I have a love affair with Orchids!! I also enjoy reading at night when the house is quiet. Right now I am enjoying “Eat, Love, Pray” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love going to the Barnes & Noble, having a cup of tea and reading for hours. I also enjoy watching the cooking channel. One of my favorite shows is “Every Day Italian” with Giada.

HB – Not only do you have a busy schedule of your own, you’ve started helping other women prepare for their shows, right?
PA – Yes, I recently trained and prepared the competitor that won the overall at the 2007 Gold Cup. I really enjoy helping others excel in the sport and reach their dream.

HB – So just a month ago your name was released as one of the athletes invited to the prestigious Figure International / Arnold Classic. What were your expectations leading up to the Arnold Invitation Release?
PA –I was hoping for the best but preparing myself if I was not invited. My confidence was increased by fellow IFBB Pro friends who told me I had a very good chance of being invited based on my two overall titles and my qualification for the 2008 Olympia.

HB – How did you react when you heard the news?
PA – As you might imagine, I was extremely excited. I screamed so loudly that my daughter asked what was wrong and starting crying. I had to explain to Isabella that sometimes a person screams and cries because they’re happy. I told her I was going to the Arnold!! She looked at me confused and said “Who’s Arnold?”

HB – Have you been waiting to start your prep until the release of names? Or had you already started?
PA – My training has been more intense than ever even before I got the great news but I did enjoy the holidays if you know what I mean. I have put on some quality muscle since my last show but have to get much leaner in the next 8 weeks. I have a solid plan and am confident I will be my best.

HB – Looking back at your first competition and where you are now, did you ever dream you would go so far so fast?
PA – It’s been a amazing journey! The past 2 years have been extremely intense. When I did my 1st show, I did not think I would win the Overall. I also did not think I would get my Pro-card in 1 year and then compete in the Arnold and Olympia the very next year. So the answer is No!! I did not think it would happen so quickly. Many people which I have a lot of respect for saw my potential more than I did and their motivation and belief in me really helped me along the way.

HB – Is there anyone in particular you would like to thank who has been supportive or helped you achieve your goals?
PA – There’s a lot of people that have helped me. I have been very fortunate that I have attracted into my life the right person exactly when I needed them. I have made very special friends in this industry. Honestly, the special people and relationships I have developed since I started competing have been as important as anything else.
My family has been extremely supportive of my goals. My special thanks goes to my Mother-in-Law, “Francella Almerico” who has been taking care of my daughter when I travel in the most loving way possible. She’s been my Angel. My husband has given me unconditional support especially during those tough moments. Nelson has also been my trainer. Together we have learned the sport and how to maximize my physique and performance.

HB – Paola, thank you so much for taking the time for us to interview you. We wish you luck next year, I am sure this year will be filled with even more success than last.
PA – Thank you for the interview. I really appreciate it:)

Rumors have been circulating about a number of American Gladiators sustaining injuries during the filming of the newly revived NBC show. IFBB Fitness Pro, Tanji Johnson (Stealth) was spotted hobbling with crutches on the set. Did she injure her knee and will she return for season two?

Tanji recently posted this on the GETBIG.com message boards:
Hello everyone,

1) I wanted to begin by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness, support, encouragement and prayers. You are so appreciated and loved for this special gift that you give and it means a lot to me that people care.

2) I am choosing not to disclose details about my situation, but just know that I am healing up terrificly and it will be a great recovery. A great friend told me that this is not a set back but a set up for a come back! I love that!

3) I want to also let you know that it was completely worth it. I am an athlete, and there’s something incredibly rewarding about giving 100% without fear, without reservation, and a willingness to sacrifice for something most will never achieve. Example, in 2003 I tore my achilles training for the Arnold. Some would say, is it worth it to do fitness when you could get hurt and be out for 6 months or so. I say heck ya! Since then, I have won 3 Pro shows and am now ranked 4th in the world in fitness. It was worth it. It made my return better, and sweeter and I cherish my times of intense activity b/c I don’t take it for granted. Those 6 months gave me time to balance out my life, lose my obsession with competing in the IFBB, and grow as a person. As I result, I became a better competitor and a better Tanji.

4) So, here I am again, 2007 (4 years later) with another injury. Just know that I am embracing it, I am in great spirits, I am going to use this time very well (praise God b/c if I weren’t I’d be busy working out for 3 hours a day getting ready for the Arnold again) Just know that I will be strengthing my brain, my spirit, my personal life and all the other wonderful things that have nothing to do with working out. Its temporarily, as like being single, I will use it well. And again, it was absolutely worth it. This has been an incredible opportunity and I would gladly sit out (athletically) for a period of time to be able to walk thru the doors I am walking through now. Won’t go into detail, but just know that I am extremely grateful to have been chosen for this job and was fully aware of the potential of getting hurt. I was not afraid and am still not afraid. (So for you contenders, keep that in mind when I return Smiley I am relentless in pursuit Smiley

You guys know me, nothing stops me, nothing gets me down, not when you live a life of abundance and adventure. I am married to nothing and obsess over nothing, life has so much to offer. Again, I live for Christ and that changes everything.

So, please no sorrows for me. Just continue to send your love and I am sending you mine!!

Its all good!

Love
Tanji (STEALTH)