Kelly Ryan was considered one of the best fitness competitors in the world. She was coined “Fly’n Ryan” for her ability to soar during her fitness routines. She was the 1995 NPC South Carolina Champion and at the 1998 NPC Team Universe/Fitness Nationals she achieve IFBB Pro status by winning not only the short class but also the overall crown. She was the Fitness International champion in 2000 but never finished higher than second at the Fitness Olympia. She graced the cover of Oxygen, IRONMAN and many other fitness magazines.

We’ll never know if Kelly could have or would have won the Fitness Olympia or returned to the first place position at the Fitness International. Kelly is currently serving a 6 to 26 year prison term at the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. She pleaded guilty to arson and Nevada’s equivalent of no contest to battery with a deadly weapon.

Kelly and her then husband (Kelly has since filed for and divorced) Craig Titus were sentenced to prison on August 22, 2008 for the slaying of Melissa James. James’ charred body was found in December 2005 in the trunk of Ryan’s burned-out Jaguar sedan in the desert outside Las Vegas. Craig plead guilty to second-degree murder, kidnapping and arson. He was sentenced to 21 to 55 years.

Kelly’s parole hearing was on September 22, 2011 and received word in December that her request for parole had been denied. She will have to wait another three years before she’s eligible for parole again.

The James’ family has to be slightly relieved at this news however nothing will bring Melissa back. For more information on this story you can check out some of the previous posts over the years.

Parts of this story were from the 2008 Associated Press.

Chances are you’ve drank Gatorade at some point in your life. The sports-drink has been around for over 40 years and was made popular by football players at the University of Florida. Football coaches still receive the obligatory Gatorade shower after winning a game. Gatorade is one of the big dogs on the U.S. sports-drink park but when it comes to the sports nutrition market, well not so much…yet.

Gatorade is owned by PepsiCo and they want a piece of the $20 billion dollar sports nutrition market. Duane Stanford recently wrote an in-depth article (for Bloomberg Businessweek) on Gatorade’s plan to get in the sports nutrition game. He shares, “In the same way PepsiCo rules the potato chip aisle, its Gatorade division has embarked on an audacious plan to cover the sports nutrition world with offerings to challenge a full spectrum of energy and after-workout “recovery” products, including energy bars, gels, protein shakes, and pretty much anything else athletes put into their bodies.”

Their plan is still being worked out. One of the first steps was a reworked logo and the packaging of their “G-Series”. A simple “G” made it’s debut in 2009 and while confusing to some the branding team has a plan for it’s long term integration. Typically you’ll find Gatorade at a grocery stores or convenience stores but look for that to change. They are working on getting on the shelves (with success thanks to PepsiCo) of GNC, sporting goods and specialty sports stores. Their thinking? “It’s about being where athletes shop and sweat,” says Andrea Fairchild, vice-president of brand marketing. If you’re going to target athletes and those who work out, it makes perfect sense.

The sports nutrition distributors I spoke to shared that the G-series isn’t moving yet and there’s still confusion as to what exactly the products are. Gatorade is aware of the challenges ahead of them and taking steps to be the choice of what athletes put inside their bodies. Gatorade has embraced social media and they currently have nearly 4.5 million facebook fans. That’s no joke. It will be interesting to see how “G” markets to athletes going forward and if they are able to tap into the the sports-nutrition business.

One item of note to women is that Gatorade is a “founding partner” in ESPNw.com and had a strong presence at the espnW: Women + Sports Summit I attended this summer. It was there that I first tried the G-Series Fit drink and it tasted great. I was impressed that it was a smooth taste without a nasty after taste.

Check out the entire Bloomberg article here. It’s well written and one that has companies in the sports nutrition business taking notice. “Like” Gatorade on facebook and follow them on twitter @gatorade.

Atlanta’s Kimbely Vay recently competed at the NPC Nationals Bodybuilding Championships held in South Beach, Florida. She tipped the scales at 189 pounds and went on to place 16th in the women’s heavyweight bodybuilding class. It’s not Kimberly’s performance on stage that has her connected to national news. Instead it’s her former business relationship with alleged Herman Cain mistress, Ginger White.

Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, has been at the top of the polls in the Republican presidential race. That was until accusations of sexual harassment made headlines and fodder for late-night talk shows. Cain suffered another blow in his fight for the GOP nomination when Ginger White came forward, alleging a 13-year affair with the pizza guy.

So what does this have to do with bodybuilder, Kimberly Vay?

According to a recent Associated Press story, Kimberly worked with Ginger White at No Limits Cycling. The two were business partners until they had a falling out which lead to Vay filing a libel lawsuit against White.

In the suit, Vay accused White of sending a defamatory email to business clients, fitness center managers, Mayor Kasim Reed’s office and other city officials.

White said in her email that her business had “come tumbling down” on “the day I invited Kim Vay into my life and my business,” according to Vay’s lawsuit. The suit also alleged that White accused Vay in the email of using veterinary drugs prior to bodybuilding shows, an allegation Vay denied.

ABC News covered this story a bit more  and shared, “Both women retained attorneys, according to Vay’s account, and reached an out-of-court settlement in April 2011. In June, Vay filed suit, claiming that White had failed to live up to the settlement and that she was entitled to sue for libel.”

When asked about Herman Cain, Kimberly told ABC News, “His name has never come up.” She was asked to comment on White’s accusations however she declined.

Atlanta FOX affiliate WAGA, asked White about the libel case and she said, “I admit it. Whatever happened with Kim and I happened.”

Ginger White’s accusations could bring and end to Herman Cain’s campaign. Cain recently told reporters that he assessing things with his staff and family. As for Vay, she’s awaiting a jury’s decision on damages after White failed to respond a subpoena or appear at a hearing,  A judge entered a default judgment in Vay’s favor on Nov. 3, 2011.

Photo by: Isaac Hinds / Liftstudios
Information for this story comes via ABC NEWS and the Associated Press.

Things are certainly getting interesting in the publishing world. American Media, Inc. (AMI) owns and operates a number of female fitness publications including Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Muscle & Fitness HERS and Natural Health. AMI has announced that they will be partnering with Windmill Health Products to develop and market health and nutrition products under AMI’s various magazine brands. In a press release issued it shared, “Plans for the partnership include Shape and Men’s Fitness multivitamins, a line of post-natal care products for Fit Pregnancy and sports nutrition products under the Flex and Muscle & Fitness brands.”

Will this move prove to be financially beneficial for the publishing giant or a case of biting the hand that feeds you? It’s no secret that magazines depend on advertisers for the bulk of their revenue. Now AMI will be in direct competition with their advertisers with a number of product SKUs.

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2011 – David J. Pecker, Chairman, President and CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI), today announced that the company has entered into a partnership with Windmill Health Products, one of the largest distributors of nutritional products to all channels of distribution in North America and in 75 countries Worldwide.

AMI and Windmill Health Products will be developing and marketing an assortment of health and nutrition products under AMI’s various magazine brands. Plans for the partnership include Shape and Men’s Fitness multivitamins, a line of post-natal care products for Fit Pregnancy and sports nutrition products under the Flex and Muscle & Fitness brands. These products will be launching throughout 2012 and distribution will be both domestic and international.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Pecker said, “This partnership between AMI and Windmill Health Products is ideal. AMI’s consumers, who look to our various health and fitness titles as a go-to source for industry information, will be able to purchase products they want from the brands they depend on.”

Chris Scardino, Executive Vice President/Group Publishing Director added, “AMI’s magazine brands are very influential in the fitness community and with this deal we will be able to provide our readers with top quality health products and supplements that they deserve.”

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with AMI, the power of their brands sets the standard for recognition and credibility in our market and we believe it will drive sales and build lasting brands in the nutriceutical space, we couldn’t have a better partnership,” said Anthony Yanni, Vice President of Sales, Windmill Consumer Products.

About American Media, Inc.
American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI’s titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Country Weekly, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI’s magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI’s digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI’s publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions. Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services.

We’ll see how this plays out next year but it’s a move that is making a number of people uneasy.

IFBB Figure Pro Mona Muresan has been named Editor-in-Chief of Muscle & Fitness Hers. Mona is an active competitor in the IFBB Pro league and the owner of Nebraska Steakhouse in New York. Mona appeared on the September/October cover of the magazine she will now oversee.

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2011 – David J. Pecker, President, Chairman and CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI) today announced that IFBB competitor, Mona Muresan, has been named Editor-in-Chief of Muscle & Fitness Hers.

Muscle & Fitness Hers, the bi-monthly magazine, is written and designed for the active woman who wants more out of fitness. A success coach in print and on the web, Hers presents expert advice in a service-oriented manner on training, nutrition, health, beauty and fashion. The Hers reader works extra hard to achieve a “super-fit” lifestyle that permeates all aspects of her life in and out of the health club and Ms. Muresan represents this industry and its readership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mona to AMI as she is here to infuse Muscle & Fitness Hers with her expertise and knowledge of the world of fitness, training and nutrition,” said Mr. Pecker. “Her hands-on experience as a competitive IFBB Figure Pro athlete brings even greater credibility and a wealth of knowledge of the sport to the magazine.”

“As an active IFBB Pro figure competitor, I am delighted to take on the role as Editor-in-Chief of Hers,” said Ms. Muresan. “As a woman who lives and breathes the industry, being able to transform the magazine with content that the female fitness enthusiast wants is incredibly important. We will continue to cover a broad range of subjects in a new and exciting way that will energize readers each time they pick up the magazine. It will be an empowering must-read that not only inspires women to set life-improving goals, but gives them the tools to reach them.”

Ms. Muresan relocated to the United States almost 20 years ago from Romania and is a proven success in her various business ventures. Most recently, Ms. Muresan had a stellar beginner season in the competitive physique industry among some of the top competitors. She has grown immensely in the short period of time since she began competing, earning IFBB pro status in less than three years and in only her sixth competition. Not only has Ms. Muresan established herself as a success as an IFBB figure pro, but also as a business woman as the owner of Nebraska Steakhouse, one of the premiere steakhouses in New York City

Ms. Muresan will report to Mr. Pecker effective today.

About American Media, Inc.
American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI’s titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Country Weekly, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI’s magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI’s digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI’s publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions. Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services.

SOURCE American Media, Inc.

It will be interesting to see how the direction of the magazine changes, if at all. Check out the Hardbody “Twist & Turns” in each issue of Muscle & Fitness HERS magazine.

Mona’s recent HERS cover.

American Media continues to issue a number of press releases and announcements. Today, AMI announced that they would be partnering with the largest online supplement retailer, bodybuilding.com. Bodybuilding.com will not only benefit from the traffic of Muscleandfitness.com but also from the content of AMI’s various titles.

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2011 — David J. Pecker, Chairman, President and CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI), today announced that the company has entered into a partnership with Bodybuilding.com, the largest online retailer of supplements, vitamins and sports nutrition products.

As the leading publisher of health and fitness media brands, AMI’s partnership with Bodybuilding.com gives consumers direct access to the full line of products from Bodybuilding.com through the retail store available on the Muscle & Fitness website. This corporate exchange program will allow Bodybuilding.com site visitors to access the foremost health and fitness content from AMI’s various titles including Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Shape.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Pecker said, “As two leaders in our respective fields, this is a very unique opportunity that we now have. Being able to provide the authoritative voice in health and fitness that AMI’s consumers trust along with their favorite products from Bodybuilding.com, is very exciting.”

Chris Scardino, Executive Vice President/Group Publishing Director added, “Bodybuilding.com and American Media have enjoyed a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship, and this partnership will further enhance the world of health and fitness.”

“We love being able to share the newest and most helpful content with visitors to Bodybuilding.com. Working with AMI helps give our visitors access to some of the top celebrity and athlete training programs out there,” said Ryan DeLuca, Bodybuilding.com CEO.

About American Media, Inc.
American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI’s titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI’s magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI’s digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI’s publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions. Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services.

About Bodybuilding.com
Bodybuilding.com offers more than 12,000 health and fitness supplements and accessories to help more than 30 million people every month achieve their health, fitness, and appearance goals, as well as over 35,000 pages of FREE information, including more than 20,000 articles and videos, expert online trainers, and new content added daily.

SOURCE American Media, Inc.

Are writers being paid more for the magazine content to be published and distributed on Bodybuilding.com? What about photographers who shoot a feature, are they compensated for the usage of their images? Not so much. This will be interesting to watch how this unfolds in the coming months.

Cover model and top figure competitor Amanda Savell was the epitome of strength on the outside however behind closed doors she was suffering from an abusive and controlling relationship. It’s been three and a half years since she was tragically murdered by her on again off again boyfriend. Amanda’s family was recently part of an event that helped educate and inform those on domestic violence or in an abusive relationship. A topic that is not discussed often enough. I applaud Brandy and her family for bringing attention to this issue.

PLANO, TX— Brandy Cooke says her kid sister, Amanda Earhart Savell, was the picture of perfection.
“She was so strong, determined and confident,” Cooke said.

But, that may have been just a façade for the 30-year old fitness model, who graced many magazine covers with her blonde locks and sculpted body. Cooke says she was hiding a dark secret about her bodybuilder boyfriend, 35-year old David Jacobs. He was verbally and emotionally abusive through most of their rocky relationship.

Family members say in their fitness lifestyle, Jacobs was controlling and belittling toward Savell. Cooke says her sister told friends, that she feared for her life.

“She would say that if I leave him, he is going to kill me.”

In 2008, Jacobs made good on the threat. Family members say in a steroid-fueled fit of rage, he shot Amanda seven times, before taking his own life. Cooke’s father delivered the news.

“He just came home and walked upstairs and said that my baby sister is dead.”

In Amanda’s memory, to create a lasting legacy, her family is helping to sponsor a special event in Allen Saturday at the Watters Creek shopping center. The day-long event will feature education and advocacy for those wanting to escape a violent relationship or those just wanting more information about domestic violence.

“Many women get caught up in this and they are just too embarrassed to get out,” event organizer, Brook Cheatham with the Kula Initiative, said.

Cheatham says too many times, women like Amanda suffer in silence and shame. North Texas domestic violence rates are the highest in the country.

“She is the perfect example of a woman who is strong and confident, but there are issues. They hide because they don’t think people care and we want to shed light on that.”

Cooke says she is standing up and speaking up to create a voice for her sister, who no longer has one. She wants women to know there is a way out.

“It can happen to anyone.”

– http://www.the33tv.com

The general public will often make wise cracks that female bodybuilders look like dudes. It’s fair to say they aren’t always off base whether right or wrong to judge. Many female bodybuilders have bulked to monstrous proportions and taken their bodies to the limits and beyond. Female bodybuilding is often misunderstood and quite frankly most of the world could care less. Today at the NPC Border States in San Diego a few more people than usual will be paying attention to the female bodybuilding competition. That’s because Chris Tina Foxx Bruce will be stepping on stage as a female bodybuilder. It’s only a story because in 1993 Chris competed in male bodybuilding as Chris Gary Bruce.

The issue most people have with Chris competing is not that she’s transgender but that she’s still anatomically a male. Gay-SD.com recently wrote about the topic and shared:

In an e-mail to Bruce regarding her entry into the competition, bodybuilding promoter and NPC contact Jon Lindsay wrote, “In the NPC we cannot offer specialty classes within a class… Because you have made the transition from male to female you are permitted to compete in the Women’s Bodybuilding division in the contest.” Lindsay added he was looking forward to seeing Bruce compete in San Diego in her “best shape ever,” he said.

Chris shared with the site that she is on hormone therapy and ““Some of these women may be taking steroids and if so, their testosterone levels could actually be higher than mine.  This could actually put me at a huge disadvantage.”

The discussion continues. Many people say Chris was born a male and still has a penis so no, he should not be allowed to compete as a female despite living every day as a woman and on female hormones. Others take the stance that there’s little difference than females taking male hormones in an attempt to get bigger and compete at proportions often larger than their male counterparts.

In a video posted on AOL.com, Chris says she has to do twice as much cardio and needs to be stricter on the diet due to the hormone replacements. Will she have the symmetry to compete with other female bodybuilders or will she lack the necessary shape on stage?

Why the interviewer felt the need to give us all proof that Chris still has a penis at the end of the above video is beyond me but thanks for verifying Mr. Interviewer.

One topic that often comes up is people thinking Chris is gay and attracted to men. As shared in an interview with the Dallas Voice… “People don’t realize: Transgender has nothing to do with sex,” Bruce says. “I’ve never been attracted to guys, but that’s the first assumption many people make.”

Chris lists herself as a “fitness consultant and spokesperson” on her Linkedin account. She shares, “Whether you have 100 + pounds to lose or just need to get rid of those “last 5” pounds I can teach you the right formula for consistent, lasting success.”

Regardless of your point of view on this story one thing is for certain Chris has been successful at generating buzz for herself heading into the Border States. Harbody.com’s correspondent Ron Avidan will be in attendance and report back on whether this story is as big as people are making it out to be or just another day at a bodybuilding competition.

Lead photo screen captures via Fox News video.

NPC Bikini Competitor Michelle Wood-Seng recently competed at the NPC Masters Nationals where she finished 4th in her class. One of the coolest parts of the competitions, at least to me, are the stories behind the competitors and what they do away from the stage. Michelle is a perfect example of how she rocks a hardbody off stage as much as she does on. Michelle is a homicide detective in Chicago and earlier this week was featured on the new ABC show, Take The Money & Run.

The premise of the show is real detectives try to find a case of money that civilians have hidden. They have 48 hours to find the case. If they find it they get 100k and if they don’t then the civilians get to keep the money. It’s an “Amazing Race” type of show and this was the first I had watched it. I found myself cracking up at the domestic partners who were featured as one of the guys broke down into tears. I won’t ruin how the show went but let’s say you don’t want to mess with a Hardbody Detective. You can watch the entire episode on ABC’s web site. Look for the “Who’s playing Whom?” episode.

If you doubt Michelle’s “real world” experience away from the tv check out this story. Michelle and her partner solved a huge murder and it received a ton of press in the Chicago area. This is pretty impressive given that Michelle was dieting for a competition throughout the case. She’s part of the Team Bombshell Bikini team and credits having a plan to keeping her on her diet throughout the madness.

Props Michelle! You’re definitely A HARDBODY!

Top fitness model and IFBB Bikini Competitor, Dianna Dahlgren has been busy this year as Miss Supercross. As Miss Supercross, Dianna travels nearly every weekend across the United States and Canada. She did such an impressive job that she’s been signed to a second season as Miss Supercross. Congratulations Dianna!

AURORA, Ill (August 19, 2011) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today that Dianna Dahlgren of Los Angeles, Calif., who served as Miss Supercross for the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship season, will return as Miss Supercross for the 2012 season, which kicks off January 7 at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium.

Dahlgren enters her second year as Miss Supercross, where she represents the sport of supercross through a variety of promotional opportunities, including on and off-track reporting and interacting with fans. Dahlgren will also accompany the world’s fastest riders atop the podium at the closing of each race.

“I am so excited to be appointed as Miss Supercross for a second year,” said Dahlgren. “I feel blessed to be given this opportunity again and I can’t wait to be back at the races! The fans of supercross are one of a kind, and I enjoy being around them. Special thanks go out to Feld Motor Sports for making this a dream come true!”

While balancing her day-to-day Miss Supercross duties, Dahlgren is also an active competitor in the bikini division of the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB), which is the highest form of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Throughout her career, Dahlgren has one professional IFBB victory under her belt, as well as three victories in the amateur ranks.

Dahlgren Enters her Second Year as Miss Supercross Starting January 7, 2012 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim

Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet Dahlgren throughout the 2012 season. Don’t forget to bring a camera! To view more images of Dahlgren, click here.

Tickets for the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross season are now available. For more information please visit www.SupercrossOnline.com or www.Ticketmaster.com.

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.

About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

 

Be sure to become a fan on Dianna’s Facebook page and follow her on twitter @DiannaDahlgren.

The annual Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards are in their seventh year and have become the industry standard in excellence. These awards have become the most prestigious award a company can win because they are decided by the customers and not a panel of judges or “experts”.

You have until August 15th to vote and the winners will announced at the 2011 Olympia. When you vote, you will save 10% off your next order. Can’t be that! Visit: www.Bodybuilding.com/Awards to cast your vote.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cast Your Votes Now! Bodybuilding.com Announces 2011 Supplement Award Nominees

Boise, ID – July 20, 2010 – Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most-visited bodybuilding and fitness site and largest online retailer of nutritional supplements, has officially opened the polls for their seventh annual Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards. Over 70 brands were nominated in all, representing the industry leaders delivering high-quality, effective products. When customers purchased a product from Bodybuilding.com this past year, they voted (with their wallet) for that product’s nomination.

The Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards have set the standard for recognition of the best products and brands in the fitness and supplement industry. The best part about it – it’s your vote that counts! Last year, over 315,000 votes from across the world decided what products would become instant top-sellers out of the 13,000+ products Bodybuilding.com carries.

“This award allows the customer to vote on which supplements they feel are the highest-quality and most-effective in helping them achieve their health and fitness goals,” said Bodybuilding.com CEO, Ryan DeLuca. Winners will be decided on by customer vote via an online voting system running July 15, 2011 to August 15, 2011 on Bodybuilding.com and will be announced live at the 2011 Mr. Olympia on Friday, September 16th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This year’s Bodybuilding.com Supplement Award categories are as follows:
• Brand of the Year
• Supplement of the Year
• Breakout Brand (most improved) of the Year
• New Supplement of the Year
• New Brand of the Year
• Muscle Building Supplement of the Year
• Pre-Workout Supplement of the Year
• Intra-Workout Supplement of the Year
• Recovery Supplement of the Year
• Protein Powder of the Year
• Protein Bar of the Year
• Energy Supplement of the Year
• Energy Drink of the Year
• Fat Loss Supplement of the Year
• Weight Gainer Supplement of the Year
• Creatine Supplement of the Year
• Glutamine Supplement of the Year
• BCAA Supplement of the Year
• Multivitamin Supplement of the Year
• Joint Health Supplement of the Year
• RTD (Ready-To-Drink) of the Year
• Tanning Product of the Year
• Packaging of the Year

Cast your votes now and receive 10% off your next purchase at Bodybuilding.com!

Go to www.Bodybuilding.com/Awards.

Bodybuilding.com offers more than 13,000 health & fitness supplements and accessories to help more than 7.5 million people every month achieve their health, fitness and appearance goals, as well as over 35,000 pages of FREE information, including more than 20,000 articles and videos, expert online trainers, and new content added daily.

We’ll see you at the Olympia when the award winners are announced.

Check out Mr. Olympia Dexter “The Blade” Jackson on TMZ.com. A TMZ reporter caught up with Dex as he was leaving Gold’s Gym Venice. Surprisingly, it’s a pretty funny segment.

The Dexter Jackson Classic is coming up the first weekend of August. Check out complete details of this show at dexterjacksonclassic.com.

There’s one week left to crown the first finalists in the Flex Bikini Model Search. Over 125 women entered the first round and you help decide the finalists. FLEXonline.com shared a sneak peek at the current top 10 vote-getters.

Voting for round one ends on June 15, 2011. The top ten women with the most votes will be presented to an expert panel of judges and from there two women will be awarded…

- $250 USD
- $100 gift voucher from Whish Body Products
- Free swimwear from Chyna Dolls Bikinis
- A profile in FLEX Magazine and flexonline.com
- A photo shoot with FLEX Magazine

Didn’t enter but want to? Not to worry, you still have time. The next deadline is June 21 for the July contest and then July 21 is the final deadline. The six women who win the online contest will be automatically qualified for the final round of the 2011 FLEX Bikini Model Search, held on September 16 and 17 during the Olympia Weekend. The overall winner will an opportunity to be featured in FLEX magazine and an exclusive contract with WEIDER Publications. Past winners have been Amanda Latona, Kathleen Tesori and Alex Zerega.

Cast your vote for round one here and enter round two here.

Three years ago I posted this video of top IFBB Figure Pro and fitness model Amanda Savell after learning about her tragic murder. It was on June 5, 2008 that we lost one of the kindest, most beautiful women in the fitness industry. She may be gone but will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Amanda.

The story that ran in the NY TIMES three years ago.

Steroids Dealer and Girlfriend Found Dead at Home
By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
Published: June 6, 2008

A convicted steroids dealer who provided documentary evidence and testimony to N.F.L. officials last month that tied several players to the use of performance-enhancing drugs was found dead on Thursday morning at his home in Plano, Texas, the police said.

Jacobs last month in the kitchen he used to make steroids in.

David Jacobs, who was convicted on federal steroid distribution charges last year, began cooperating with N.F.L. officials shortly after he was sentenced to probation in May.

His girlfriend, Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell, 30, was also found dead in the home, the police said.

Early Thursday morning, officers in Plano responded to a caller’s concern about Jacobs. Upon the officers’ arrival at the home, Jacobs and Earhart-Savell were found shot to death.

Jacobs had said he provided two N.F.L. players with steroids and human growth hormone and that they then supplied other N.F.L. players with the banned substances.

The New York Times reported in April that information from the government’s investigation of Jacobs had led federal prosecutors to investigate Matt Lehr, an offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints, on the suspicion that he distributed performance-enhancing drugs.

Lehr’s lawyer denied that his client ever sold steroids or human growth hormone and said Jacobs fabricated information about Lehr after he refused to pay Jacobs’s legal fees. Jacobs said he never asked Lehr for money.

Telephone and e-mail messages left for Jacobs’s lawyer were not immediately returned Thursday.

The Plano police said the investigation was continuing.

Next weekend thousands of fitness fans will flock to the Qwest Arena in downtown Boise, Idaho for the Bodybuilding.com Fit Expo. This is always a fun event and the best part of it, it’s FREE. This year’s expo will include Powerlifting, BMX and skateboarding, Cross Fit, Bench Press Competition, MMA, and the Fit Body Competition. You will have a chance to meet some of the top fitness personalities, models and get hooked up with supplement samples from a variety of companies. Meet athletes and models and learn about fitness and nutrition from renowned companies within the fitness and nutrition industry.

All you Saved By The Bell fans will get a chance to meet Slater, err Mario Lopez. Also leading the pack of fit celebs is Terry Crews.

Optimum Nutrition Presents The 2011 Bodybuilding.com Fit Expo!

When:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Where:
Qwest Arena in Downtown Boise, Idaho, USA

For more information visit Bodybuilding.com.

Jennifer Nicole Lee has become one of the biggest names in the fitness industry. She’s prominently featured in BSN‘s ad campaign and can often be seen at large fitness expos working their booth. At this year’s Arnold Classic Ron Avidan and I caught up with her at the BSN booth where she was promoting her new book and bobble head. Yes, she even has her own bobble head. She’s always full of energy and that weekend was no different. Jennifer has taken her weight-loss and turned herself into a world wide name but did she go too far? She’s appeared on Oprah and eventually made her way into the infomercial world with her own product.

If you’ve ever been up late at night watching tv you’ve likely seen her infomercial for the Ab Circle Pro. It’s a machine that appears to be selling well. So well it caught the attention of ABC and their news program 20/20. They caught up with the bikini diva to ask her about her weight loss claims and how it applied to the ab circle pro. Check out the video below to see their report.

What do you think? Is it false advertising on JNL’s part of are people just jealous of her success?

An update for all IFBB pros planning out their contest schedule. The IFBB Pro League has informed me that The Sheru Classic Asian Grand Prix Pro Bikini set for September 24, 2011 in Mumbai has been changed to The Sheru Classic Asian Grand Prix Pro Figure.

Arnold may have left office as governor of California but that won’t stop him from being in the public eye. One of the pioneers of bodybuilding has been transformed himself into a crime-fighting character appropriately coined “The Governator”. The new animated series was developed by comic-book superhero icon Stan Lee. Lee created The Hulk and Spider-Man, among many others.

The SUN reports, “Cartoon versions of 63-year-old Schwarzenegger’s wife, Maria Shriver, and children will also feature in the animated series, which sees the family running their crime-fighting control centre from under their home in Brentwood, California.”

Now that Arnold left office what else would he do with his time but fight crime? Check out the promo below where he mentions bodybuilding. Which is kinda cool. There are some spots in the trailer that are kinda long and the use of the Black Eyed Peas song doesn’t really fit with the concept in my opinion but it still peaked my interest.