Hardbody - Female Sports, Health and Fitness
It's how you start and finish your day.
Check out some of the photos from last night’s athlete check-in. The Figure and Bikini pros were greeted by promoters Ed and Betty Pariso and briefed on the weekend’s event. Each competitor received their number and backstage badges. The prejudging is about to go down but see what happened last night here!
IFBB Bikini Pros Dianna Dahlgren and Brooke Mora
Check out all the photos on Bodybuilding.com from last night’s check-in.
This weekend will mark one of the final IFBB Figure shows to qualify for the 2011 Olympia. The show will feature rookies and veterans alike. One of the seasoned pros competing this weekend is fan favorite Ava Cowan. This isn’t Ava’s first rodeo and since she’s competed a number of times it got me thinking, what does Ava’s competition bag look like? She was kind enough to share what’s in her bag for this weekend’s Europa Super show in Dallas, Texas. Check it out!
What’s in Ava’s competition bag?
What’s in my competition bag for the Dallas Europa.
1. New Gaspari Nutrition Jump Suit
2. Oddos Angel‘s T-Shirt
3. 2 suits one by Tamee Marie Competition Suit, plus Back Up suit by CJ
4. Black flip flops
5. Competition Jewelry, plus extras for me or if someone needs to borrow anything
6. 2 black towels
7. Old bedding
8. Hot Plate
9. Cooking Utensils
10. 2 pairs of clear heels, one other pair for photo shoot with Isaac.
11. About 20 bikinis I am selling at the event that have just been sitting in my closet for photo shoots.:)
12. Back up Make up plus toiletries
13. Curling Iron
14. Workout clothes
15. Oil, need bikini bite!
16. IFBB Pro Card, ID, Book, IPhone, Prescriptions
17. Myofusion Packs for after the show. Withdrawal!
18. Spirodex
19. All other clothing
Follow Ava on Twitter and “like” her on Facebook. Check back for our interview with Ava days before she returns to the stage in Dallas.
Greek Yogurt is high and protein and has a variety of ways it can be implemented into your nutritional plans. Thanks to Voskos Greek Yogurt you can now find quick and easy recipes through your mobile device. The app also has a convenient store locator so you can easily find where to purchase Voskos in your area. Guess what, it’s FREE!
I downloaded the app to my iPhone this morning and it installed without any problems. Sounds simple enough but you’d be surprised how many apps crash or don’t install when they first launch. It loads quickly and designed so that you can navigate easily. I haven’t tried any of the recipes listed yet but after seeing some of the images, it does have my mouth watering.
Screen shots via iTunes App store.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sun Valley, CA—August 9, 2011 – Loaded with dozens of easy-to-prepare options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, the Voskos Greek Yogurt Recipes App was released for the Android and iPhone platforms on August 3, 2011. The App is free, and available for instant download from the Android Marketplace and iTunes App Store.Developed by Voskos Greek Yogurt’s team of chefs and nutritionists, the App’s collection of over 100 recipes contains detailed nutritional information and easy instructions. The recipe collection includes high protein, low-fat, and low-sugar choices, and new recipes will be added to the App’s library every month.
Accompanying the recipe collection is a collection of “Videos from Mary’s Kitchen,” in which Mary demonstrates several “no-cook” recipes that are ideal for older children, busy students, parents, and for anyone who simply doesn’t have the time to make recipes that call for complex cooking instructions or a long list of ingredients.
“The Voskos Greek Yogurt Recipes App makes shopping easy,” says registered dietitian Janet R. Mertz. Mertz, a diabetes educator. Mertz writes for Voskos Greek Yogurt’s “What’s Fresh” blog. “The App allows you to search recipes by keywords, and save a list of your favorites for your next trip to the grocery store. Greek yogurt is such a healthful addition to the diet. The Voskos Greek Yogurt Recipes App makes it simple to incorporate this ‘superfood’ into any meal.”
The Voskos Greek Yogurt Recipes App also includes a store locator to help you find the stores that sell Voskos, as well as money-saving coupons and access to Voskos Greek Yogurt contests.
Voskos Greek Yogurt has been recognized in awards contests presented by Fitness magazine, Women’s Health, Vegetarian Times, Natural Solutions, Self Magazine and Cooking Light magazine. It is also a triple gold winner of the 2010 Los Angeles International Dairy Competition. Visit Voskos’ Web site for dozens of Greek yogurt recipes for low-carbohydrate breakfasts, appetizers, entrees and snacks.
About Voskos Greek Yogurt
Award-winning for its thick, rich taste and nutritional value, Voskos Greek Yogurt is all-natural, hormone-free, gluten-free, and Kosher certified. Through Voskos’ proprietary ProStrain™ method, Voskos yields two times more protein, more probiotics, less lactose, and a thicker, creamier consistency. Voskos is the only brand to offer an organic Greek yogurt line in addition to its all-natural plain and blended flavors and never has “fruit on the bottom.” Available nationwide, retailing between $1.49 – $2.99 in such stores as Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Bi-Lo, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and more. For store locations, and to download a coupon, visit voskos.com or facebook.com/Voskos.Greek.Yogurt today.About Janet Mertz, Janet R. Mertz, MS, RD, CDE, CPT
Janet Mertz is a diabetes educator, wife of a Type-1 diabetic and mother who enjoys helping educate people on nutrition and healthy lifestyle.
Download the app here. You can also follow Voskos on twitter. Give them a Hardbody hello on there.
IFBB Bikini Pro Dianna Dahlgren has positioned herself as one of the top models in the biz and now she’s looking to do the same on the competitive stage. She hasn’t competed since last year’s Bikini Olympia and she was a little off her best there. What will we see from the California girl this weekend in Dallas? Can she bring the same swagga she shows in her photos to the stage and overtake the Bikini Olympia champ, Sonia Gonzales? DD checks in as she heads into this weekend’s Dallas Europa Super show.
ALMOST THERE!!!!!! KEEP GOING!!!!!
Wow! I can’t believe where the time has gone! Is it really August already!? Right now in my life I am very happy!! I’m closing in on the last days of prep before I head into the Dallas Europa and I am so ready for it! I have been working very hard for the last few months and I’m excited to see what will happen next weekend! For those of you who keep up with Hardbody.com you will know that I was supposed to do the New York Pro back in May and unfortunately I couldn’t pull myself together in time! It was very heart breaking for me, I am very hard on myself for things I don’t do when I say I am going to do them. But NY Pro was not the right time for me and I am so ecstatic that I have chosen Dallas Europa as my first show of the year! I have not competed since last year’s Olympia, so my overall goal here in Dallas is to just have fun! Get on that stage, work it, and wait for those judges to call my number!
The past few weeks have been some of the hardest, mentally. Nutrition and diet is the most important during your prep and I tell everyone that this is my biggest challenge of competing! So during this prep I have learned so much about dieting and what works for me. Learning your triggers and what to stay away from, I haven’t had to do this in over a year! So I forgot what it was like in some situations. I travel a ton for work, my second home is an airplane and a hotel room LOL but I have surprisingly made it work great for my program and didn’t make excuses! Got it handled!! So here we are, only a few days left of workouts before I fly out to Dallas. I’m finalizing all the ‘TO DOs’ of competing in a show. Flights, Hotel, Hotel Roomie (Brooke Mora! YAY), Tanning, Make up and Hair, Suit, Shoes… and POSING POSING POSING!
I’ll keep all of you updated on the show so make sure to follow me on twitter! @diannadahlgren or you can go find me on Facebook! I’m just so thankful, my support system has been amazing and Ive been treating myself very well, so I feel great headed into Dallas, not a worry in my mind! See you all there!
xoxo
DD
Follow all the action here on hardbody as we cover one of the biggest shows of the year. User #EuropaTX for your hastag if you’re tweeting about the show.
It’s amazing what can transpire from a twitter exchange. While some people are slow to embrace new technology and like to complain about how dumb it is, I like to run with it. I recently made mention of the key words “perky” and “jerky” on twitter and I surprisingly received a tweet back from a company called PERKY JERKY. How funny, right? Turns out the company is based in Denver, Colorado and their office is not far from where the madness of Hardbody.com takes place. The company and I exchanged a few tweets and they offered to send samples of their product. I happily accepted, especially with a name like PERKY JERKY.
When the meat snack arrived, I knew this was my kinda jerky. The packaging was a shiny foil – yes, I am distracted by shiny objects but that’s a blog for another time. There was a sticker on the front that read, “If you’re holding this, you’re one of the lucky ones.” A little attitude and sass – right up my ally. Inside were samples of Turkey Perky Jerky and the original Perky Jerky made from sliced beef. The individual packaging is pretty cool and would be something that stood out to me on store shelves. In fact, since my tweet exchange I’ve seen the Perky Jerky in TARGET and at 7-11.
I tried the original first and it was tasty. The thing that stood out to me was that it wasn’t as salty as most jerky and the meat wasn’t dry. If you’ve eaten jerky you know it can be a battle to tear a bite off and then becomes a workout just to chew it. The Perky Jerky isn’t anything remotely close to that. The meat almost melts in your mouth and there’s a slight hint of brown sugar in the flavoring. I then tore into the turkey bag and sweet momma if it was love at first bite. The turkey was equally as moist and tasted great. Those of you who eat turkey know how easy it is to have dry bird, not this stuff.
I know, I know you’re on a fitness web site and jerky isn’t exactly at the top of the list for health and fitness however if you look at the ingredients and sodium content in PERKY JERKY it’s significantly lower than their competitors. There are no preservatives, no nitrates and no MSG added to this bag of jerkiness.
If all this wasn’t enough to make you want to snag a bag, there’s more. A portion of the company’s earnings are devoted to muscular dystrophy and down syndrome research. Their web site says, “The Perky Jerks are doing this for a great cause. We decided to take the Paul Newman route and devote a significant amount of the proceeds from Perky Jerky to charity. We strongly support The Foundation For Their Sake, which is devoted to research and care for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Down Syndrome.” Mad props to the peeps for doing this.
How did the product come about?
Our story — like most good stories — begins with two Jerks in a ski lodge. After a long, hard night of energy-drink-cocktail-fueled libation, these jerks settled in while the winter storm raged outside. The next morning they awoke, loaded up their gear, and headed out to the mountain. Amongst this gear was an open bag of peppered beef jerky, which had, unfortunately became drenched in some of the energy drink that had been carelessly spilled the night before. On the first lift up, it made no difference. To these jerks, jerky was the only breakfast they needed, altered or not. Much to their delight, the jerky had retained its original flavor, but was more tender by the accident. What’s more, as they floated their way down the mountain through bottomless powder, they realized they’d been given an extra boost – the jerky had taken on some of the pep of the energy drink. On the next lift ride up, the greatest innovation in jerky since cracked pepper was born.
THE HARDBODY HOOK UP:
If you order PERKY JERKY from their online store and enter the code “hardbody” you will 20% OFF the entire purchase until August 15th, limit one per customer. We’re also doing a fun little giveaway with the jerks on their facebook page. All you have to do is “like” their page (http://www.facebook.com/perkyjerky) and post the following…
I’m a hardbody and everyone wants my meat because ________________.
Just fill in the blank and post it on their wall. Let’s show those Jerkies what’s up HARDBODY NATION!
A huge shout out to Dafne and all the jerks for donating product to our first CAMP HARDBODY. It was a huge hit and we’ll be partnering them for more things in the future. In fact, this weekend I’ll be packing some meat with me at the NPC USA Championships. Find me and say, “HEY HARDBODY JERK – Where’s My Meat?” I’ll give you a sample of PERKY JERKY, while supplies last.
I was not paid to share this product review. Just a Jerk who loves his meat PERKY style.
Gina Carano is one of the few women in MMA who has had any type of “mainstream” appeal. She not only has a hard body, is a bit of a bad ass but has the looks to match. She hasn’t fought in months but it hasn’t stopped her appeal with the fans. Gina has appeared in a variety of fitness magazines and she was part of the failed attempt to revitalize American Gladiators.
“Crush” as she was known on American Gladiators, will hope to do a bit of crushing at the box office early next year. Gina stars in the action packed movie HAYWIRE. This will be Gina’s first lead role in a movie and from the looks of the trailer she does a pretty damn good job in her big screen debut. Carano stars as Mallory Kane. The web site’s youtube channel shares:
Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.
Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.
The movie is directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) and has a heavy hitting cast including Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra), Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zoro), Bill Paxton (“Big Love”), Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Michael Angarano (Almost Famous).
Visit the web site for more info on the movie and check out the trailer below. Good luck Gina!
Lead photos from haywiremovie.com.
Bodybuilding.com is looking for the best of the best in the U.S. Military. The contest is also open to military spouses. It doesn’t matter if you’re already a hardbody or want to use the next 12 weeks to get into great shape. The goal is to show how you can use your fitness goals to inspire others.
The winners will be based on their abilities to meet their Military Challenge goals over the 12 week contest and the ability to inspire others. Visit Bodybuilding.com for complete details on how you can enter and win some sweet prizes.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Iris Wiseman is a 35 year old Hardbody! She checks in at just under 5 feet tall and went from 140lbs to 90 after changing her eating and workout habits. She’s the Bodybuilding.com Bodyspace Member of the Month and has an inspiring story we can all learn from.
Q: What is the most important thing you’ve learned since you started training?
Well… the 1st thing I learned about training is that there is a lot to learn! The most important thing is that you have to be consistent…change will not come if you sporadically diet and exercise.You have to…absolutely have to do it day in and day out. It has to become a part of you. It’s pointless if you do it for a wedding, class reunion or cruise if you are going to go back to a sedentary lifestyle afterwards.
Training goes further than the hour spent in the gym each day; you have to live the lifestyle outside of the gym as well.
Solid advice from the PR Cutie. Read her interview and profile here. Congrats and keep up the great work!
Barbecues are a fun way to spend a summer night or weekend with friends and family. Thanks to Chicago Healers Practitioner Dr. Martha Howard we have a few tips for holding a healthy and safe barbeque this summer.
Dr. Howard shares these tips to a fun, healthy and safe summer barbecue.
• Clean the grill—get rid of the old fats
• Avoid petroleum starters for charcoal. If you use charcoal, use a wood starter and stack your charcoal up in a 2 pound metal can (no paint on the can, please) with the ends cut off. Lift off the can with tongs and spread out the coals when they are well started.
• Be sure you know how to turn on your propane grill safely. Avoid a time gap between opening the valve and starting the grill.
• Wash your hands and use separate plates and cutting boards for raw and cooked meats. Be sure to wash hands again before putting on long, heat-proof barbecue gloves. (Towels and little hot pads are a set-up for burns.)
• Trim most of the fat—less fat means fewer PAHs.
• Use marinades—they tend to protect the meat from charring. Put the marinade on and put all items back in the refrigerator until ready to go. Don’t let them sit out.
• Use precooking prior to grilling, especially for items like raw brats. Avoid taking burgers, chicken or other meats directly from the freezer to the grill.
• Cut meat and chicken into smaller pieces so they cook through.
• Turn down the fire and turn your burgers, steaks, chops, or chicken often, so they cook through, and come out a gorgeous golden brown.
• If you are cooking a thicker portion of meat or chicken, think about using a meat thermometer.
o Chicken: 165 degrees.
o Hamburger: 160 degrees.
o Pork: 150 degrees.
o Hot dogs: 140 degrees.
o Steak 145 degrees for medium rare (only if you know where your steak comes from) and 160 degrees for medium
• Grill more veggies! And if you are making kabobs, oil all the veggies, cook the onions with the meat, and grill the other vegetables separately. That way the meat gets done, and the vegetables don’t get overdone.
• At the end of the barbecue, be sure to put out your charcoal completely, and if you are using propane, be sure the valve is turned off.
About ChicagoHealers.com
Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy. Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website. With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications. For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.
Photo via: tailgatingideas.com
The women are getting some attention in the wide world of sports. Today, it’s France vs. USA in the semifinals if the Women’s World Cup. The American team staged an amazing comeback against Brazil to advance.
Tune into ESPN and watch the game live today, Wednesday July 13, 2011. Lauren Cheney put the American team up 1-0 early in the game. We’re watching, Are you?
**UPDATE**
Final Score: U.S. Women’s Team defeats France 3-1. Goals scored by Lauren Cheney, Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan. The women will face Japan or Sweden in the finals this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Some of you may know the name Jennifer Cowan from the world of NPC Figure and Bodybuilding. Jennifer started her competitive career in NPC Figure and was told she had too much muscle so she made the switch to bodybuilding. Jennifer “The Beast” Cowan successfully made the switch to bodybuilding at a mighty weight of 114lbs and captured the overall title at the 2008 NPC Junior USAs. She’d likely be a great candidate for the new Women’s Physique division however she has her sights set on a different competition, poker.
Jennifer was one of the women making waves at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), women’s tournament. The Palantine, Illinois resident stayed calm, cool and collected while rock’n a pair of shades and showing off her guns in a black top. When the dust settled Jennifer went out in 7th place earning her $22,750.
Pokernews.com called the action:
On the last hand before the break, Jennifer Cowan raised to 35,000 from under the gun and received a call from Katherine Stahl in the small blind. Carol Tomlinson was in the big blind and said, “How can I fold here, I’m gonna flop the nuts!” before she called as well.
The flop came down
and it was checked over to Cowan who bet 70,000. Stahl folded but Tomlinson check-raised and Cowan moved all in. Tomlinson made the call and the players turned over their hands.
Tomlinson:
Cowan:Amazingly, Tomlinson had flopped the nuts just as she had predicted and was in great shape to knockout Cowan who would need runner-runner to survive. The turn was the
and was as good as it could get for Cowan who made a set and would just need the board to pair to stay alive and win the hand. Unfortunately for her, it came the
and Cowan was eliminated while Tomlinson continued to build on her lead.
Here’s a look at Jennifer when she competed at the 2009 Team Universe, where she took second in the women’s lightweight bodybuilding division. See more photos of her on stage here.
Jennifer flexing her guns on the 2009 Team Universe stage.
Congratulations Jennifer! See more photos and complete details from the event on pokernews.com.
Lead photo from pokernews.com. Thanks to Ron from GETBIG.com for the story.
Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova is a perfect example of a hardbody woman. WHAT? Sure she may not have the most ripped abs or chiseled set of guns but she has embraced the hardbody state of mind and returns to the Wimbledon finals. She faced an injury that ends many tennis players’ careers but she’s fought her way through it. Maria is one of women’s tennis biggest stars and has people talking about a sport that’s often an after thought.
The 24-year old Sharapova had been struggling to find her groove since suffering a shoulder injury but is in the finals once again. Today she returns to the Women’s Wimbledon Finals in hopes of raising the trophy, a feat she first achieved at age 17. Petra Kvitova, a 21-year old, from the Czech Republic will attempt to keep her from a second title.
Sports Illustrated shared this from Sharapova, “I had so many expectations when I’d come back, and I set myself certain goals. I never really met any of them, to be honest. When you go through something like that, knowing that not too many players have recovered from (shoulder surgery), it’s normal to feel frustrated.”
Many women face challenges in the form of injury and it’s easy to feel sorry for yourself and make excuses. If you want to compete at the highest level of any sport you have to embody a hardbody state of mind. Maria has done that and is one win away from achieving her goal of a second Wimbledon title.
There are a number of examples that could be cited of women overcoming overcome injuries to achieve greatness so what’s the big deal with Maria Sharapova?
The bigger story is that Maria has people talking about women’s tennis again. You don’t have to play it or even care about tennis but you’ll likely hear about it. Like many individual sports you need to have personalities and stars of the game. If you don’t have a few big names in a sport people aren’t going to be interested. TV execs and the tennis industry are delighted that Maria is in today’s finals because she’s a star. What’s Sharapova’s appeal? She’s marketable based not only on her looks but her mental toughness. When you have a super star of a sport you attract casual fans. She’s been on the cover of magazines and makes millions from not only her prize money but also her endorsement contracts.
Whether she wins or loses in today’s finals, Maria has casual fans intrigued and that’s WINNING for women in sports. Follow the action on twitter.com/Wimbledon or tune into your local NBC station.
Photo by: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Another Bodybuilding.com Fitness Expo is in the books and it proved to be the biggest and best one yet. Thousands of fitness fans collected free samples and met a number of special guests at the Qwest Arena. This is the biggest fitness related expo in all of Idaho and only fitting that it takes place in Boise, the home of the online supplement giant, Bodybuilding.com.
The expo featured a number of supplement booths, Cross Fit challenge, Powerlifting demonstrations, eating contest, skateboarding and more. Mario Lopez was in attendance promoting his new book as was respected industry writer, Jimmy Pena. Terry Crews drew the biggest crowd and was easily the most entertaining and personable guest in attendance. The event was free to all who ventured out.
It was by the far the best event to date and I have attended all but two of the events since it started seven years ago. Bodybuilding.com‘s Founder, Ryan DeLuca continues to be an inspiration to millions of people with the company he created and the team he now has in place. Check out all the photos from Ron Avidan and I captured at this event.
Top IFBB Figure Pro, Felicia Romero grew up an athlete spending many of her college days practicing and playing softball. She’s steadily improved her physique into one of the best it the Pro League and scored a few covers along the way. Now Felicia works as a personal trainer and helps run a gym in Arizona. Find out what it takes to get a body like hers!
Visit the 2011 Bodyspace finalist’s page on Bodybuilding.com to see her complete training regime and cutting program. When preparing for a cover shoot Felicia changes her diet up. Check it out, it’s all broken down here!
This weekend the battle of EAST vs WEST will take place in the IFBB Figure division. On the west coast you have the IFBB California Pro, where Ron “the master yogi” Avidan will be reporting. The East Coast will be home to the New York Pro, where I will be covering the action. The winners of the Figure competition will go head to head for a chance to be on an upcoming cover of Muscle & Fitness HERS. That’s a pretty sweet gig for the winners of the shows. We’re giving you a chance to win too.
All you have to do is predict who will place in the top three IN EXACT ORDER of both the California Pro and the New York Pro figure. The first person who correctly predicts them will win $50 in supplements. You must be in the United States to win. As an added bonus if you can correctly predict the top three in the New York Pro Bikini we’ll give you another $50 in supplements.
Place your predictions in the comments below. If multiple people make the same winning predictions, the first person who posted will win. Again, you must be in the United States to win. No purchase is necessary, just your top three in exact order. The line-ups are posted below. Good luck!
2011 IFBB California Pro Figure:
1. Michelle Battista-McDonald
2. Krissy Chin
3. Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccone
4. Monica Escalante
5. Valerie Gangi
6. Rachel Gichert
7. Aleisha Hart
8. Jacqueline Hoppe
9. Sara Hurrle
10. Anna Johnson
11. Christina Mehling
12. Emily Nicholson
13. Shalmiero Paper
14. Kiana Phi
15. Ann Pratt
16. Natalia Revajova
17. Felicia Romero
18. Susan Salazar
19. Kimberly Sheppard
20. Monica Specking
21. Jill St. Laurent
22. Sabrina Taylor
23. Natalie Waples
24. Heather Grace
2011 IFBB New York Pro Figure:
1. Jelena Abbou
2. Michelle Bates
3. Cheryl Brown
4. Heather Dees
5. Carolina Hernandez
6. Candice Houston
7. Charmayne Jackson
8. Candice John
9. Rachel LeBlanc
10. Larissa Reis
11.Alea Suarez
12. Gina Trochiano
13. Josie Zamora
2011 IFBB New York Pro Bikini:
1. Natalie Abrhiem
2. Abbie Burrows
3. Nicole Coleman
4. Missy Coles
5. Juliana Daniell
6. Diana Fields
7. Jessica Jessie
8. Tabitha Klausen-Leandri
9. Brandy Leaver
10.Dayna Maleton
11. Christy Merritt
12. Samantha Morris
13. Nathalie Mur
14. Kristy Robbins
15. Ali Rosen
16. Tianna Ta
Barbara Bolotte is a woman who will make you do a double take and has a smile that will light up a room. She took the Bikini stage by storm last year when she earned IFBB Pro status in just her first year of competing. She went on to finish fifth in her pro debut at the Houston Pro. She’s had some time to refine things with the help of IFBB Pro Mary Lado. I caught up with the New Orleans rising star as she heads into her second pro show.
Born In:
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Currently Reside in:
New Orleans
What did you study at Southeastern Louisiana University?
I studied fine art, with a concentration in painting and drawing.
What did you want to be when you “grew up”?
I wanted to be a famous artist!
And now?
Now…a fitness icon…
Number of years competing:
One.
How did you get into NPC/IFBB Competition?
My best friend was competing in figure in a local show, and encouraged me to compete in bikini. I only dieted for three weeks haha, but I qualified for nationals!
You work with legendary Figure Pro Mary Lado – how did you two meet up and work together?
Jack Manson, a former trainer of the New Orleans Hornets and current Gymmatrix trainer, is an old friend of hers and felt we would be a perfect fit (he was absolutely right!)
What’s Gymmatrix?
Gymmatrix is a 24 hour gym where we also do group personal training. We train in small groups to make personal training affordable, and being around others keeps the clients motivated. www.gymmatrix.net
You finished in 5th at your pro debut. What’s the goal for this LA show?
I have spent every ounce of my energy, time, and dedication into winning this show. I have every intention of getting first.
Did you change anything up with your diet and training?
I changed up a lot of things! I added more cardio interval training, started taking boxing lessons twice a week, and I dieted much longer this time.
How long do you prep for a contest?
The hardcore physical training started four months out, and the diet started three months out.
What advice do you have for other women thinking of competing?
Competing is not for everyone. I don’t think people realize what a dramatic effect is has on your day to day life. If you are tough enough to handle it, it can be the most empowering and fulfilling experience.
Any supplements that you can’t live with out?
CLA and L-carnatine…
What do you do when you’re not working out?
When I’m not in competition mode, I spend most of my time enjoying the amazing city I live in. Count down till’ football season, WHO DAT’!!!!!!!
What’s behind “i take my clothes off when i drink tequila, nuf’ said….”?
I’m a good girl at heart, but tequila just makes me downright scandalous haha.
Favorite TV show?
The Office
Any hidden talents?
I build my own canvases, and do large scale oil paintings.
One of Barbara’s Paintings.
Weirdest thing a guy said as a pick up line?
“You have really nice eyebrows….”
What’s on your music playlist currently?
Britney Spears, Lil Wayne, David Guetta
Chicken or Fish?
Chicken
Rice or Sweet Potato?
Sweet potato
Who makes your suits?
I ordered my past couple of suits from suits you swimwear, and teenybbikini.
Did you find some clear heels?
Haha actually no. I couldn’t find any in Nola, so I resorted to overnighting them. You definitely pay for waiting until the last minute!
Where can peeps find out more info on you?
My website Barbarabolotte.com is currently under construction, but I have a twitter and facebook page that I stalk pretty frequently!
Anyone you want to give a shout out to?
I would like to give a special thank you to Mary Lado for being such an inspiration, and to my clients and co-workers at Gymmatrix for being a great support system.
All the best and I doubt many people will be left wondering WHO DAT?! before too long.
Check this out Hardbody peeps! Thanks to our Hardbody style’n gurus, Cindy Whitehead aka The Sports Stylist® you have a chance at a Hardbody Hook up.
Here’s the skinny…
NUX clothing is giving one lucky HARDBODY the entire 3 piece outfit Cindy featured in the photo above – all in your size of course!
To enter visit the Nux website and check out all the cool apparel, then in the comments field on Cindy’s Blog write…
“I’m a hardbody and my favorite NUX item is _____________ because _________ . Thanks for the hook up Cindy!”
Must enter by May 31, 2011 – midnight PST. The contest is open to USA residents only. Cindy will announce the winner on June 1 – Good Luck!
** Skateboard and waist pouch are not included in the giveaway.
Hardbody and two-time Figure International Champ, Nicole Wilkins have teamed up to offer you a sweet little deal. It’s simple and one lucky winner will receive a free signed copy of her new DVD, In Pursuit of a Dream.
All you have to do is visit Nicole’s facebook fan page and post, I’m a hardbody and my dream is_____ . Post the sentence with what your dream is and you might be chosen. It’s whatever YOUR dream is and it can be anything. You have to post the whole sentence or it won’t count.
Good luck. The winner will be announced on Monday.
IFBB Bikini Pro and top fitness model, Monique Ricardo (formerly Minton) has been away from the competitive stage and with good reason. She’s currently expecting her first child. Momo checks in with her predictions on UFC 129. The fights take place Saturday night in Toronto, Canada and it’s the biggest in UFC history with over 55,000 tickets sold. Check out how she breaks it down. Agree or not so much?
Momo’s UFC 129 Hardbody Breakdown:
Hello everyone! This is Monique Ricardo, I’ve been MIA lately, busy making a baby, lol. I am very excited for the fight this Saturday. This Saturday we are going to see Georges St. Pierre (GSP) vs Jake Shields, two ferocious fighters and a number of others at UFC 129. This is a sold out show and I am very excited to watch these fights because it features many talented mixed martial artists. An estimated 55,000 will be watching live in Toronto. There’s also a UFC Fan Expo being held this weekend which will give fans a chance to meet some of their favorite fighters.
GSP a Canadian hero, beloved by everybody in Toronto, Canada, hometown to MuscleTech®, the best supplements in the world for fighters and bodybuilders (my sponsors). Jake Shields is a young buck , All-American, up-and-coming fighter and has a chance to make it, but there is only one coming out the champion. He is going into foreign territory, like Rocky 4 , against an angry crowd. He will try to dethrown the prince of Canada. Besides that we have Jose Aldo, the killing sensation going against Mark Hominick, the machine… not to much fame, but alota talent. Of course last but not least Captain America , the hall of famer, Randy Couture. Randy the almost 80 yr old man ( just kidding) vs Lyoto Machida, the dragon.
GSP vs Shields – I think Jake Shields is gonna win because I’m tired of seeing gsp, boring ass, taking people down and stalling for the rest of the fight. I wanna see blood and enjoy my protein shake! lol.
Aldo vs Hominick – Aldo is gonna get beat up a lil, but will end up knocking Hominick out because he is much more experienced. There is too much hype with Homninick and Aldo has been fighting people without teeth in Brazil for years. I dont know about you, but I wouldn’t fight anybody without teeth.
Machida vs Couture - The old man Couture is gonna try to hug machida and take him down. But just like the turtle cannot catch up to the rabbit, Machida is going to run around to make the old man tired. He is in good shape and all, now that I think about it… I’d rather him go back to fighting than acting because The Scorpion King was terrible. Apparently Randy states he will be retiring after this fight, who is he kidding? not Dana White or me
Henderson vs Bocek- Of course Henderson, the guy looks like a bodybuilder, and we bodybuilders (:p) gotta stay together! hahaha
–
Monique Ricardo
The fights will be shown on Facebook and Pay-Per-View. Check out UFC.com for more info.
Bodybuilding.com is the leading web site for all your Health & Fitness needs. The site has thousands of pages on a number of topics ranging from how to get ripped to your favorite recipe. The site started by Ryan and Jeremy Deluca has grown leaps and bounds over the years and last night another milestone was reached. The crew in Boise, Idaho launched the new store which makes it much easier to find and order what you need.
Thousands of products are now available on the store and you can order with just a quick click. When purchase your supplements with bodybuilding.com, you can count on them being fast and reliable. Check out the newly revamped store and see some a few familiar hardbody women featured through out.
TIME has a video featuring female Marines who are doing their part to help Afghan women. One of the women featured in the video is Claire Ballante who will be competing in the NPC Military Nationals in Bikini division.
TIME:
Local culture forbids men to look at or talk to Afghan women, so the Marine Corps deploys Female Engagement Teams to reach out to them and address their needs.
Thanks Team Bombshell for the link.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is one of the biggest and best benefits in the fight against breast cancer. Now you can help the cause and join fitness start Jamie Eason as she runs the Boise, Idaho event.
Via Bodybuilding.com:
Join Jamie and Bodybuilding.com for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Saturday May 7th, 2011 in Boise, Idaho. Every team member will receive a complimentary, one-of-a-kind, “Run With Jamie” t-shirt and the opportunity to race with one of the most inspirational women in the fitness industry, Jamie Eason. If you can’t make the event, you can still help by donating in honor of “Run With Jamie.”
Read Jamie’s story with her own scare with breast cancer and find out more info on how you can join Jamie in Boise.
This was posted on the NIKE Women’s Facebook page. This would be a great opportunity for a HARDBODY lady to show them what you’ve got. Check it out this is hella cool.
Ladies, it’s time for us to show what we’ve got. Pit your breakdancing, hoola hooping, soccer juggling or parkour skills against others in the one and only Nike Arena: http://go.nike.com/9okqpas. Need inspiration? This video delivers. Check it out.
Jen Rankin was crowned the 2011 BodySpace Spokesmodel Winner earlier this year and now she’s sharing some of what helps keep her fit. Find out what this small-town Texan does for her workouts and nutrition on Bodybuilding.com.
Nutrition
Meal 1:
4 Egg Whites (1 Yolk)
1/3 cup Oatmeal
1/3 Banana
Meal 2:
1 scoop HydroWhey (Whey Isolate)
1 tbsp all natural Peanut Butter
Get the Jen’s complete diet and training routine here.
A new study shows that addiction to food occurs in the same way as drugs, alcohol and gambling. Last night, a new docu-series “Addicted to Food” explores just this, as the new Oprah Winfrey Network gains unprecedented access to a group of anorexic, bulimic and obese women and men as they check into treatment center Shades of Hope and work directly with food addiction therapist Tennie McCarty, a recovering addict herself and certified LCDC, ADC III, CEDC, CAS.
The focus is not sheer weight loss, rather the emotional root of the disorder. Food addiction specialist Tennie McCarty is unconventional in her approach and does not accept excuses from her clients. I haven’t seen the show yet but if anyone caught it please share your thoughts in the comments field.
ORPAH.COM:
In this riveting new docu-series, eight people battle their addiction to the one thing they literally can’t live without: food. At Shades of Hope, a rural Texas treatment center, these desperate clients struggle through an intense 42-day treatment plan led by maverick therapist Tennie McCarty. Using unorthodox methods and a tough-love approach, Tennie asks her clients to confront the painful issues in their lives that have led them to use food as an escape. Full of drama, emotion and triumph, Addicted to Food shows us that recovery is possible even for people who fear their lives are hopeless.
Learn more about the show at: http://www.oprah.coml
Teen surfer, Bethany Hamilton has one of the most inspiring stories you will ever come across. She lost her arm in a shark attack and tackled the odds to become a champion. The movie opens on Friday, April 8th and looks like it’s worth checking out. A true testament of “never say never”.
SOUL SURFER – Synopsis
SOUL SURFER is the inspiring story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds, through determination and faith, to become a champion again. The film’s all-star cast features AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid. In the wake of the life-changing event that took her arm and nearly her life, Bethany’s feisty fortitude and steadfast faith spur her toward an adventurous comeback that turns her loss into a gift for others.
Born To Surf
Bethany (Robb) was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic, sun-drenched, surfer girl’s life on the Kauai coast, and competing along with her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when her world changed in a heartbeat. On Halloween morning 2003, Bethany was on a typical dawn patrol (early morning surf session) when a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and changed everything.
SOUL SURFER reveals the moving aftermath of this headline story as Bethany fights to recover her life and her future. Strengthened by the love of her parents, Tom (Quaid) and Cheri (Hunt), Bethany refuses to give in or give up, and begins a bold return to the water. Still, the questions hammer her: why did this happen? Why did she have to lose everything? Will she ever feel the joy and power of riding the waves again? And if she can’t be a surfer, who is she?
Getting Back in the Water
The devastating 2004 tsunami in the Pacific Ocean unexpectedly turns Bethany’s perspective. Traveling to Phuket, Thailand, with her youth group leader Sarah Hill (Underwood), she witnesses life beyond her own shoreline and discovers her greater purpose—to make a difference in the lives of others. Filled with a new sense of hope and direction, she returns home with a renewed resolve to conquer her own limitations and set an encouraging example for people facing adversity.
At the National Championships, Bethany faces off with her fiercest rival, Malina Birch (Sonya Balmores), and takes her astonishing one-armed surfing technique to the limit. But as the horn blows, and the suspenseful competition kicks off, Bethany is no longer thinking about the challenges of her body. Now her surfing, her biggest dreams, and her life are about pushing her own physical limits to touch the souls of others.
To learn more, visit: SoulSurferWave.com
Follow the movie @soulsurferwave and Bethany on twitter @bethanyhamilton
“Fatties take up a lot of space.” At least according to Sergio Miranda, a shoeshiner in Mexico City. A recent New York Times article talks about the growing stigma towards overweight people. People like Sergio are annoyed with those who are overweight but what about the people on the people who don’t have the hard body?
The article discusses the perception of fat people. Surprisingly, or not, the attitudes towards weight were mostly negative. Is obesity a global threat? Some people think so.
“The fundamental message we’re putting into the world is that fat people deserve shame for their own health,” said Ms. Kirby, co-author of the book “Lessons From the Fat-o-Sphere.” “We’ve been pushing this message for a long time. I don’t think anyone is immune to it.”
The quality at bodybuilding.com continues to improve as is evident in their latest videos. Check out this quick video from Fitness Expert Heather Rininger. It’s a helpful guide for the site and a hint at what’s to come for the leading online supplement store.
Check out more videos on the Bodybuilding.com.
I ran across this little nugget on The Huffington Post web site. It’s a promo clip for a women’s only pole dancing class that encourages church go-ers to attend. It’s held every second Sunday and you must bring your church bulletin to attend.
I sounds like a lame gimmick to get people to attend a class to me but what do you think? Is this a good way to women to workout?
Bodybuilding.com has a feature on Nicole Wilkins, the 2010 & 2011 Figure International Champion and Nicole Nagrani the 2011 Bikini International Champ. Which of these two bodies do YOU want? Check out what both women did for their diet & nutrition, training and supplementation which helped them win their respective titles.
Check out their complete diet, training and favorite supplements on Bodybuilding.com!
Loading ...
