Listy Allen (now Monaghan) took top honors at the 2009 NPC USA Championships at the age of 21. She went on to compete in the IFBB Pro ranks last year before learning of the news that she had a baby on board. Listy gave birth one week ago to a beautiful baby girl, Lily Annette.

Listy and Lily via her Facebook page.

Listy shared on her facebook page, “Motherhood is amazing! Lily is the most calm and precious baby… What one week old baby let’s you sleep almost 8 hours a night- MINE! and another great update I’m only 10lbs fr my pre-prego weight, very exciting!”

Will we see Listy back on stage soon? We’ll have to wait and see but in the mean time check out her web site listyallen.com. Congrats Listy and Brandon!

Kathleen Tesori continues to add to her already impressive resume. She was recently the runner-up in the Bodybuilding.com Bodyspace Spokesmodel Search, she appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness HERS and many other accolades. Now the IFBB Pro can add spokesperson for Rumbi Island Grill. Kat has teamed up with the restaurant in an effort to promote healthy eating.

KATHLEEN TESORI AND RUMBI ISLAND GRILL TEAM UP FOR 2011

Sandy, Utah - Rumbi Island Grill, the fast-casual restaurant chain headquartered in Sandy, Utah, is announcing the signing of an agreement with fitness spokesperson Kathleen Tesori. Rumbi is partnering with Tesori in an effort to promote the healthy benefits of Rumbi Island Grill’s menu offerings.

Kathleen Tesori, a native of Utah that still makes her home there, is an IFBB (International Federation of Body Building) figure pro, lifestyle coach, and spokesmodel. She is very dedicated to spreading the word about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, and feels strongly about practicing what she preaches. Tesori has been a spokesperson for numerous companies, including Champion Nutrition, Weider, and Bodybuilding.com. She has also had success in various fitness/model contests, including first place finishes in the Northern States NGA (National Gym Association) Finals and the Flex Bikini Model Search. Her resume also includes being the ring girl on MTV’s Bully Beatdown.

Rumbi Island Grill has quickly become an industry leader in tropical fast-casual dining. Established in 2000 near downtown Salt Lake City, there are now 23 in operation in Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Rumbi creates the ultimate mealtime getaway with a blend of authentic fare, warm ambiance, and quick, convenient service. The menu includes fresh gourmet rice bowls, crisp salads, soup, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees. Favorites include the Voodoo Chicken Salad and Hawaiian Teriyaki Rice Bowl, along with main entrees like the Luau Pork Plate and Volcano-Blackened Mahi or Salmon.

Tesori and Rumbi are focusing on finding different ways to collaborate on educating the public on how they can eat healthy at Rumbi Island Grill. Providing information on current menu items, contests, and new menu ideas, are some of the ways they are looking to create a buzz about eating healthy at Rumbi.

For more information on them, visit www.kathleentesori.com and www.rumbi.com.

I have a Rumbi resteraunt near me and the food is quite good. If you have one in your area, check it out. Congrats Kat!

This is your chance to learn from one of the IFBB’s top Fitness Pros. Nicole Duncan is holding “Extreme Fit Camp” in Conyers, Georgia on January 28-30, 2011. See the flyer below for complete details.

If any of you are planning to attend email us your photos and let us know how your experience was.

IFBB Fitness Pro Julie Palmer and Super Trainer Mike Davies welcomed Jaxson Michael Davies into the wold on Sunday, January 23. The little guy checked in at 7lbs, 1 ounce and 21 inches long. All are doing great. Those of you attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus can count on seeing Mike and Julie at the expo and perhaps baby Jax will make his first expo appearance. Congratulations!

Tanji Johnson has positioned herself as one of the top fitness pros in the IFBB and now she’s looking to do the same in the online world. Tanji recently launched a redesign of her website and has hired a business manager.

Check out TanjiJohnson.com to see the new look to her web site. Tanji will be competing at the Fitness International in March.

Check out the best of 2010 from Bodybuilding.com. Our West Coast man Ron Avidan was named “photographer of the year” and deservedly so. He’s front stage, backstage, side stage and sometimes even under the stage taking pics. Congrats to all the winners!

Props to some of our Hardbody Friends:
• BodySpace Member Of The Year – IFBB Pro Kathleen Tesori
• Podcast Of The Year – Pro Bodybuilding Weekly
• Photographer Of The Year – Ron Avidan
• IFBB Fitness Competitor Of The Year – Adela Garcia
• IFBB Figure Competitor Of The Year – Nicole Wilkins
• IFBB Bikini Competitor Of The Year – Amanda Latona
• Best New Pro Of The Year – Nicole Nagrani

See all the awards and complete details/descriptions on Bodybuilding.com.

Brittany B. is a former WWE Diva and now she joins the VPX team as a Redline Extreme Race Girl. Brittany is making her way into the fitness industry after showing off her hardbody in the WWE.

Keep your eye on Brittany has she continues to make waves in the fitness industry. Follow her on Twitter @BrittanyBeede. Give her a shout and tell her you saw this on Hardbody.

Photo by: Liftstudios

The IFBB’s Youngest Bikini Pro, Nicole Nagrani continues to heat up on and off the stage. She finished the 2010 competitive season with a win at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. Today via her Facebook she announced that she has signed with one of the leading supplement companies, MET-Rx.

Nicole wrote, “OMG!!!! Just signed my contract with MET-Rx! WOOOHOOOO! I am so honored to be given this opportunity to join the MET-Rx Team and be able to endorse such great products!”

Congratulations Nicole. Look for Nicole on stage at the 2010 Bikini International and when she’s not on stage she’ll be at the MET-Rx booth during the Arnold Expo.

Photo By: Liftstudios

The votes have been counted and the field has been narrowed down to just five women. The 2011 BodySpace Spokesmodel Search finalists are set and a winner will be crowned at the LA Fit Expo later this month. IFBB Fitness Pro Allison Ethier was the inaugural winner and Jacquelyn Roberts took home the win last year. Who will it be this year?

Felicia Romero, Laura Bailey, Kathleen Tesori, Jennifer Rankin, Lindsey Piatti

Visit Bodybuilding.com to read about each finalist.

One of the top supplement companies in the world, Optimum Nutrition has added two more women to their already impressive list of athletes. IFBB Bikini Pro Abbie Burrows and Bikini competitor Kacie Freer.

From Optimum Nutrition:

Abbie Burrows is an IFBB Pro Bikini Athlete from Colorado and will help Alex and Rachel stay afloat in that busy market for us. Not only is Abbie an accomplished athlete, but also a mother of a lovely little girl named Tatum. She won her Pro Card at the 2010 NPC Nationals narrowly defeating her new fellow Team ON colleagues, Jen Rankin and Cristina Vujnich. Now we have the Top 3 from the 2010 NPC Nationals Class F!
View her ON profile here.

Kacie Freer will help out in the growing Hartford, CT market, while Kelly Hansen focus on the MA market.  Kacie is a Bikini Competitor who used to be on the Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Team!  In addition to modeling and competing, she works full time as a pharmaceutical rep, which is a skill that will help her greatly with us.
View here ON profile here.

Check out Optimum Nutrition products on Bodybuilding.com.

When the Arnold Invitations were announced two of the top IFBB Figure Pros were absent. Many people asked why Heather Mae French & Kristal Richardson were not on the list, considering they are two of the top competitors in the IFBB Figure division. Their management, Fitness Management Group (FMG), issued the following press release to help clear the air.

FMG PRESS RELEASE
December 24, 2010 – With the release of the invitations to compete in 2011 Arnold Classic, particularly the 2011 IFBB Figure International, there were two notable names absent from the invitation list – Heather Mae French & Kristal Richardson. To answer the flood of questions we’ve received, both Heather Mae French & Kristal Richardson have decided to sit out the competitive year of 2011 & are both eyeing a return to the competitive stage in 2012. Both of them wanted to emphasize they were not retiring & that they will still be involved with the sport in 2011, just not on stage. Considering both of them were coming of two consecutive years of placing third & fourth respectively at the IFBB Figure Olympia, it should provide a unique opportunity for a changing of the guard in the 2011 IFBB Figure International.

Kristal Richardson was quoted as saying, “I will be taking some time away from the stage next year to focus on my supplement company, Top Secret Nutrition, and the launch of the new product line. Be assured that this is not a retirement…just a short sabbatical to focus on my career. I still plan to be involved in the industry and will most definitely hit the stage again in the future.”

Here is what Heather Mae French had to say about her decision, “It is with very careful thought that I, Heather Mae French will be taking a leave of absence beginning with the 2011 season. I have endured many thoughts considering all factors involved with this decision and in my heart I know at this time it is what I feel will be very suitable for my life.

Recently I have been married and I am feeling a pull towards the direction of having another child. So I am graciously taking for a leave of absence with the goal of returning. I have and will always be in incredibly thankful on every level imaginable with regard to what I was able to achieve and experience within my sport. I have many, many fond memories since I turned pro in 2006! I am so happy and so great full for every time I was able to grace the stage of the IFBB. My memories are worth more than any lottery ticket could have ever provided. The past 4 years I have stepped on over 20 stages and astonishingly won 5 shows and maintained a title in Figure for 3rd in the World over two consecutive years! That’s amazing to me and more than I could have ever asked for!

With the help of FMG, I was given even further opportunities that I never thought were possible. Having a dream of becoming a world class athlete, consideration into mainstream publications, introduced to a fantastic sponsor and all of this offered on an extremely professional level. I feel that from every angle of my career I was treated like family.

In the near future, even while off stage I would love to still be a part of the IFBB, whether it’s through helping other women with positive direction within our sport, writing articles, speaking, judging, clinic helping etc., I feel I can offer so much and I love to help others . So with this letter I am looking for the support in my decision and hope it allows opportunity for a return on my behalf.

With Kind Regards & Complete Thankfulness”

Contact FMG at: fitnessdivasproductions@verizon.net or via Facebook.

All the best to both Kristal and Heather in their off stage endeavors.

Yep, it’s true… IFBB Bikini pro, Shelsea “6-pack” Montes is a married woman. This morning while heading to get my morning coffee Shelsea introduced the lucky fella as her husband. I thought I was still sleeping and misheard her or she was f’n with me. After she finished making fun of the papi lounge pants I snagged my coffee. I was still baffled after having some caffeine flowing through the bod.

When I ran into Shelsea at the athlete’s meeting I asked her if it was true or what the deal was. She said, “well ya we kinda got married”. Say whhhhhaaat? “We eloped about three months ago”. She managed to keep the marriage a secret until this weekend.

Congratulations and all the best in the years ahead.

Kim Lyons is an IFBB Pro and known to many as a trainer on NBC’s hit television show, The Biggest Loser. Kim’s husband, Gunter Schlierkamp is also an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and an actor. The happily married couple recently welcome their first child into the world. Jake Alexander Schlierkamp was born on June 3, 2010 at 3:30 am. Baby Jake checked into the world at 6lbs and 11oz. I’m told mom, dad and baby are doing well. Congratulations!

Hardbody contributor Andrea Taylor checked in today with some great news. Andrea and her husband Micah are proud parents of baby Tripp. Andrea shared, “So Tripp came on Sunday! 15 hour labor (back labor actually- when he’s facing the ceiing instead of the floor so the back of his head was pushing against my tailbone!) and no drugs! Yay!! He was 7lbs 6 oz and 19.5″ long. He’s totally perfect!”

CONGRATS!

Tripp rock’n the beanie.

2008 Figure Olympia Champ, Jenn Gates gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Jaxon Michael Latimore was born yesterday and checked in at 5lbs 13oz. Little Jaxon will join big brother Payton and sister Addie at home soon.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to one of the few IFBB Pros from Canada, Debbie Leung. Debbie recently gave birth to twins. Brayden checked in at 5 lbs 5 oz, and Isabella at 4 lbs 13 oz.

IFBB Fitness Pro and one of Biggest Loser‘s trainers, Kim Lyons is expecting her first child. Kim let the twitterverse in on her news when she shared, “Wow, my belly is getting huge! I’m exactly half way through my pregnancy today, it’s going so fast!” Congratulations!

Congratulations to IFBB Fitness Pro and coach/owner of the Performance Ready Team, Carla Sanchez. Carla gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Sophia Francesca Sanchez. Sophia will join an older  brother “Lil Trooper” at home.

Congratulations to top NPC National competitor Alissa Carpio and her husband on the birth of their first child.

Alissa shared via her facebook that she gave birth to Joel Anthony Carpio on Saturday October 24th. He checked into the world at 19 inches, 6 lbs. 3 oz. Alissa has been a long-time reader of hardbody.com and we wish her and her family all the best!

2004 USA Fitness Championships – Overall Winner

It’s been a few years since we last heard from the 2004 USA Fitness Overall champ, Bethani Terrell. I caught up with her recently and she had some exciting news to share. Bethani is considering competing again but before that is expecting her first child. When asked if she knows the gender of the little one she shared, “No, I don’t know yet. I don’t think I want to know. I kind of like the element of surprise. Although my gut feeling is that it will be a boy.” Bethani is expecting a delivery date sometime in July.
Congratulations Bethani!

Congratulations to IFBB Fitness Pro Kendra Elias and her husband Michael. The two welcomed baby Alexander Michael Elias into the world on Sunday, January 4th. Baby Alexander weighed in at 6lbs 2 oz. The little guy arrived six weeks earlier than expected due to some preeclampsia complications. Both Kendra and Alexander are doing well and will be home soon.

Proud parents Kendra and Michael give baby Alexander some love.

Momma and baby are doing well.

If you’d like to find out more about the new parents and what they’ve been up to, you can check out their web site at michaelandkendra.com.

Amy in the 2007 FLEX swimsuit edition.

IFBB Fitness Pro Amy Villa Nelson checked in yesterday and provided an update on her new family addition. Amy and her husband, Eric, found out they are having a baby girl. The pregnancy isn’t new but the gender is for the proud parents. She tells me they will name her Ayden Mikayla. The little one is already taking after mom, taking a liking to jumping and kicking around. Mom and baby are doing well as they head into the last trimester of the pregnancy. Congratulations!