aug 2009
DESCRIPTION
Pose Down Muscle and Figure MagazineTRANSCRIPT
JOSE RAYMOND“HE’S BACK”AN EMPITOME TO WOMEN’S BODYBUILDINGCOLLETTE NELSON
Plus:This month’s Champion Series with Alyssa Stroud AUG 2009
BRAVADO INTRODUCES ITS LATEST TALENT SHANAY NORVELL
Steve Kuclo - “The Wolverine
Joe Leahy - “Blue Collar Bodybuilding”
Photos submitted by Athletes/Column Writers Monthly
This month I would like to introduce our newest members,Josh Bryant Joe Leahy and Steve Kuclo. Each month they will contribute their knowledge, thoughts and insights on all of the latest news in bodybuilding and powerlifting. Also a big congrats to Josh Bryant on his recent marriage. We wish you the very best!
Make sure to to check out Mark Mason’s applications for pictures and DVD’s for the upcoming Central Texas Show-down (pages 7 and 8).
Cover Picture submitted by Jose RaymondPhoto of Jose RaymondAll stories written by our Senior Writer: Mike Bell
Contributing Column Writers:Nutrition Corner with Sara LongBlue Collar Bodybuilding with Joe LeahyThe Wolverine with Steve KucloRaw Strength with Josh Bryant
2009 NPC Heart Of TexasBodybuilding/Fitness/Figure/Bikini Championships
Saturday, September 12, 2009Plano Convention Centre
2000 E Springcreek ParkwayPlano, Texas 75074
ARMON ADIBINPC NATIONAL LEVEL
COMPETITOR
8:00 AM Pre-Judging Bodybuilding/Figure/Fitness/BikiniAdults $15.00 Children(12 - Under) 10.00
7:00 PM Bodybuilding/Figure/Fitness/BikiniFinals Platinum Reserved Seating $55.00General Seating $35.00
Contest Hotel: Southfork Hotel 1600 North Central Expressway Plano, TX 75074972-578-8555Classes for Both Events: Novice, Open, Masters, Bodybuilding and Masters Figure, Fitness, Bikini and Masters Bikini, Teen, Couples and Wheelchair, Masters Men (40 -49, 50-59, 60 and over) Masters Women (35-49 and 50 Above)For Tickets, Vendor Information and Entry Forms contact: Prince Harrison [email protected] www.texasbodybuilding.com
Steve KucloNPC National Level
Competitor
SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY:2009 NPC TEEN NATIONALS OVERALL WINNER
URIAH MCGEE
PROMOTED BY:
PRESENTS:
Coming In 2010
LEE HANEY’SFIT FOR LIFE DAY
WEEKEND CHALLENGE
MAY 21 - 22
Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport451 Clyde Fant Parkway
Shreveport, LA 71101Toll Free: (877) 602-0711
Promoted By Prince Harrison’s
SHREVEPORT, LA
CONVENTION HALL /RIVERVIEW THEATRE 500 CLYDE FANT,
SHREVEPORT, LA 71101
Guest Poser:
2008 Mr. OlympiaIFBB PRO Dexter Jackson
www.optimumfi tness.com
www.bfi tforlife.org
N A M E
P H O T O & D V D O R D E R F O R M
M a r k M a s o n M e d i a . c o m9 1 9 N 1 6 3 R D S T . S U I T E O N E
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C I T Y S T A T E Z I P
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T O T A L A M O U N T E N C L O S E D $M A K E C H E C K S P A Y A B L E T O : M A R K M A S O N
C L A S S N U M B E R
P H O T O G R A P H I C O R D E R
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P L E A S E A L L O W F O U R W E E K S F O R D V D D E L I V E R Y
O r e g o n S t a t e B o d y b u i l d i ngF i t n e s s , F i g u r e a n d B i k i n i C h a m p i o n s h i p s
P L E A S E A L L O W T W O W E E K S F O R P H O T O C D D E L I V E R Y
Central Texas Showdown - Oct 17, 2009 Temple Texas
N A M E
P H O T O & D V D O R D E R F O R M
M a r k M a s o n M e d i a . c o m9 1 9 N 1 6 3 R D S T . S U I T E O N E
S E A T T L E , W A 9 8 1 3 3( 2 0 6 ) 8 9 0 - 5 9 7 0
A D D R E S S
C I T Y S T A T E Z I P
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T O T A L A M O U N T E N C L O S E D $
M A K E C H E C K S P A Y A B L E T O : M A R K M A S O N
C L A S S N U M B E R
P H O T O G R A P H I C O R D E R
D V D O R D E R
2009 Centrial Texas Showdown Bikini Championships
PLEASE ALLOW TWO WEEKS FOR CD DELIVERY
PLEASE ALLOW FOUR WEEKS FOR DVD DELIVERY
THIS MONTH’S RECIPE IS GREAT FOR SUMMER COOK OUTS!!!! IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHILE STAY-ING ON TRACK WITH YOUR DIET. QUICK KEBABS:8 oz lean steak8 oz chicken breast8 oz large shrimp1 large bell pepper1/2 sweet onion6 small red potatoes2 tbsp olive oilMrs. Dash (any flavor)lemon juicehot grill 1. cut steak and chicken into bite sized cubes and place in a plastic bag with shrimp. Add lemon juice, Mrs. Dash and other seasonings if desired to flavor. Set aside in fridge and allow to marinade at least 2 hours.2. Cut veggies and potatoes and put in seperate plastic bag, add Mrs. Dash and lemon juice and al-low to marinade also.3. Pre-heat grill.... Place steak and chicken on kebab sticks. Place shrimp on seperate kebab stick, veggies on kebab sticks and potatoes on their own kebab sticks. Since each have different cooking times on the grill. Once grill is preheated, first add the steak and chicken kebabs along with the potato kebabs. Allow them to cook 10-15 min. and then add the veggies and shrimp. Grill another 10-15 mins, turn-ing kebabs occasionally. Once they are fully cooked remove from grill and set on platter. Brush 2 tbsp of olive oil over entire platter and dig in!!!!!Nutrition facts: serves 4calories: 320fat: 8 gcarbs: 18 gProtein: 32 g
You can eat them alone or pair with oven-fried zucchini sticks.....olive oil1/2 c whole wheat flour2 tbsp corn meal1 tsp salt1/2 tsp ground pepper1 1/2 lb zucchini, cut into sticks2 large egg whites 1. pre-heat oven to 475. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.2. combine flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a large plastic bag. Dip zucchini in egg whites and shake into bag. Arrange on baking sheet and coat all sides lightly with olive oil.3. Bake on center rack for 7-10 mins and then turn and continue baking for another 5 mins. Serve hot with kebabs!!! Nutrition Facts: serves 4125 calories5 g fat15 g carb7 g protein
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TRIVIA QUESTIONS EACH SHOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN OLYMPIA TICKETS
1
THE ARNOLD AMATEUR STRONGMAN
WELCOMES NEW STRENGTH ATHLETES TO
THE 2010 ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL
Amateurs Perform Amazing Feats of Strength March 5 & 7, 2010
Columbus, Ohio – North American Strongman, Inc., the premiere
governing body for amateur strongman athletes, will join forces with
The Arnold Sports Festival to present the 2010 Arnold Amateur
Strongman. The event will be held Friday, March 5 and Sunday, March
7 at The Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The competition will feature a selection of up to 50 amateur strongman
athletes from around the world. Ten top amateur strongmen from the
United States and Canada are expected to compete, including Texas’s
Ryan Bracewell and Dan Harrison of California.
“The Arnold Amateur Strongman will present an international selection
of elite amateur competitors from the USA, Canada, Latvia, Russia,
Australia, Iceland, South Africa, Lithuania, and more,” said Dione
Wessels, President & CEO of North American Strongman. “We are
honored to join Jim Lorimer and The Arnold Sports Festival in the
presentation of this thrilling new event.”
The Arnold Amateur Strongman will not conflict with the annual
Arnold Strongman Classic, which will be held at different times on
Friday and Saturday. “My committee and I are in full support of this
new event,” said Dr. Terry Todd, director of the Arnold Strongman
Classic. “In fact, we intend to invite the winner of the event to take
part in the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic.”
SEMINAR FEATURING YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETES
IFBB FITNESS PRO TRISH WARREN
Hilton Garden Inn Temple1749 Scott Boulevard, Temple, Texas, USA 76504Tel: +1-254-773-0200
Ask for Central Texas Showdown Hotel Special Rates
www.CentralTexasShowdown.com
TICKET COSTS:PRE-JUDGING ON SATURDAY OCT 17, 2009 8:00AM & EXPO FEATURING ALL OTHER EVENTS: $20.00
FINALS FOR BODYBUILD-ING/FIGURE/FITNESS/BIKINI 7:00PM EVENTS SATURDAY EVENING: GENERAL $30.00 VIP $50.00
MILITARY DISCOUNTS WITH MILITARY ID PRESENT WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:PRE-JUDGING AND EXPO DURING THE DAY SATURDAY: $10.00FINALS FOR BODYBUILDING EVENTS SATURDAY EVENING: $20.00 VIP $40.00*******VIP TICKET HOLDERS ARE SEAT-ED FIRST TWO ROWS BEHIND JUDGES
THE DYNAMIC POSING TRIOTRICKY JACKSONCHARLES DIXON
PRINCE FONTENOT
Go to website to enter competition
www.CentralTexasShowdown.com
Scott & White Blood Donor CenterSee Website for details on how you can help
Go to website for information
PRESENTS KEVIN LEVRONE
CHARLES DIXONTRICKY JACKSON PRINCE FONTENOTTRISH WARREN
SEMINAR ON SUNDAY FEATURING:
972-317-1701
This months cover may very well be most successful amateur bodybuild-er of all time. He has won eight first place trophies in national contests alone! He has also won nationals championships in three different weight classes, lightweight, middleweight and welterweight. If this isn’t enough for you, he has also won the overall at the Team Universe in 2005 as a welterweight which is almost unheard of. Posedown Magazine had the opportunity to visit with Jose recently.
PD: Jose, thanks for taking the time to visit with us. You just came off of a 8th place finish at your pro debut in New York, what are your thoughts just coming off your first pro show?JR: My first Pro show was quite an eye opener. As an amateur I was always a favorite to win my class and now I’m fighting it out just to get a look, but overall it was a positive experience and I learned a lot.
PD: Looking at the pictures I thought you look incredible and got se-verely overlooked! You looked liked like you have added quality size since your nationals win, what was the weight difference between the 07 Nationals where you turned pro and New York?JR: I was about 13lbs heavier in New York than I was in 07, although not quite as hard as I would have liked.
PD: What do you think you need to bring up to catch the elite in the 202 class?JR: I can’t think of one thing in particular, maybe a little more chest. Just a little more conditioned muscle all over and not too much too fast.
PD: Do you plan to change anything up in the training in order to add more “conditioned muscle” or is it something that will come with time?JR: Just keeping in shape between contests will allow me to come in grainier and sharper and yes that comes in time.
PD: Let’s go back to the very beginning for a minute? How long have you been training? JR: I have not missed more than a week since I was 14 years old and I am now 34. That’s twenty years of hardcore training. PD: Does training run in your family?JR: Yes my brother Tito is a personal trainer in L.A. and was one of the best middleweights in the country. He was a three time Team Universe Champion.
PD: Wow! Those are some damn good genetics running through your family. When did you know you wanted to be a bodybuilder?JR: When I was 18 my brother convinced me to do the New England Championships with him. I won the Teenage Overall and I was hooked.
PD: Let’s move on to your Nationals win. Why did you decide to accept you pro card in 2007 after turning it down for so long?
He’s Back.......Jose Raymond
PD: What exactly happened in China in 05?JR: I was in the shape of my life and didn’t even get to compare to the top 5. I am very objective when it comes to my placing and I know where I belong and I just felt that there was a little politics involved. I should have definitely been in the top 5. It was a long way to travel to not even get a fair shot. It left a sour taste in my mouth.
PD: Looking back on your years of training what are some of the thing you have learned that you would pass on to the younger guys?JR: Slow and steady wins the race. Don’t be tempted by the drugs at such a young age. Try to reach your absolute natu-ral potential before even considering any type of performance enhancing drugs and educate yourself on all facets of the human body so you don’t waste time. I have always trained as efficiently as possible.
PD: That’s the best advice a young bodybuilder could hear. What about nutritionists, do you work with anyone on nutri-tion or do you do it primarily on your own? What are your basic nutrition beliefs? JR: I have always done my own contest prep except for the first few when my brother Tito was around to help me. I am sort of a caveman I believe it’s quite simple. A person just has to “burn more calories than you take in and you burn fat”. Obviously there’s more to it but that is the basic gist of it.
PD: What are the major differences between your contest prep and your offseason diet? JR: In the past I would just gorge myself eating whenever and whatever. I wasn’t a pretty sight to look at, but I do be-lieve this is what allowed me to continue to grow. Now as a pro I am under contract with Muscletech and I need to stay somewhat presentable at all times so I eat much more consistently and have a few cheats here and there.
JR: There was never a venue for me to compete in and actually be competitive until they developed the 202 class. So once I won as a middle weight I figured I should move on to bigger and better challenges.
PD: I personally love the new 202 class, and I really hope it keeps doing well? I have asked this to many of the 202 competitors over the last year and received mixed answers so I am anxious to hear what your thoughts are. Would like to see the winner of the 202 class and winner of the over 202 class go head to head at the Olympia? JR: I don’t see what purpose that would really serve. It might be fun for enter-tainment purposes but really the 202 class was developed so the little guys wouldn’t have to compete against the giants.
PD: What kept you motivated to keep competing as an amateur all of those years? You could have turn pro any number of times.JR: My goal from the beginning of my career was never to be a pro, but to be a world champion so I kept competing until I had that chance in China 05. I did not win and kind of had a bad expe-rience over there so my goals changed to winning the Nationals in my third weight class, something that has never been done before.
PD: What do you think about Muscletech products? What are some your favorites?JR: I think Muscletech products are great. They are an industry giant and have a lot of money for research and development, so they stand by their products. I really can’t pick a favorite but I do love the Nitrotech protein and they also have the Hydroxycut stix that mix in your water bottle, very convenient.
PD: How far over contest weight do you usually get? Do you enjoy the offseason or are you a pretty stricter eater year round?JR: As I said earlier I used to get really heavy but not so much now. Two weeks after the 07 nationals I broke my leg and was on crutches for 4 months and my weight went up to 255lbs. This weight gain caused a lot of problems and I feel definitely hurt my prep for NY.
PD: Now that you are a pro and only have to get under 202lbs instead of the 176lbs for the middleweights how has your body responded to the new regimen of food? Are you growing a lot? JR: Absolutely, I have put on significant muscle not having to cut so much weight, but at the same time eating has become a part time job.
PD: Can you give us a brief run down on what your food intake looks like on any given day?JR: Very boring, I eat the same thing everyday. Cardio first thing out of bed, then I have a bowl of grits and a protein shake. Every 3 hrs I have ei-ther a dozen egg whites, a can of tuna or Tilapia. Each meal has two brown rice cakes or a sweet potato with it. Then at dinner, around 8pm, I have fish and veggies.
PD: Dear God I can’t imagine what your contest diet looks like if you eat that way in the offseason. What shows do you plan on competing in the rest of the year?JR: I’m looking at the Europa and maybe the Atlantic City
PD: Tell the readers a little about your radio show you co-host with Tricky Jackson?JR: Tricky and I have been good friends since our early days in the Team Universe and we stay in touch quite often. A few months ago he called about an opportunity to host a bodybuilding radio show and since we know each other so well and have a great rapport he asked if I would be his co-host and I said sure. It’s fun to get to talk to the athletes outside of the confines of a stage or pump area where most guys are just focused on the show at hand. Now we get to ask questions about life and what makes them tick and allow fans some insight into their favorite bodybuilders.
PD: Sounds like good stuff man. Do you have a website where people can catch more of you?JR: People can visit my site at Joseraymond.com
PD: Jose, thank you for your time man. I can’t wait to see you on stage again soon. It has been a pleasure!
Jose Raymondcontinues
LORI MORK
Lori Mork Height: 5’7 ¾Weight: On Season 135 lbs, off season 150 lbsHometown: Vancouver, CanadaEyes: GreenHair: Brown, CopperProfession: Owns and operates a Private Personal Training Studio, Energy FitnessTrainer: Mike Davies of The Fitness FactoryFavorite Diet Food: Creme of Wheat!Favorite Cheat foods: Donuts!!, brownies, anything with icing!Favorite Body part to train: Shoulders --- by far!!!!!! I love a good shoulder burn!!!!Favorite Supplement: PVL Whey Gourmet Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Powder and just about ANY protein bar! Favourite quote: “Reach for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land amoung the stars” Les Brown. “It’s the quote I live my life by, showing that no dream is too big and no goal is unattainable”, “if you dream big, you will succeed in some way, maybe not the highest goal that you set, but the smaller ones along the way”.2008 proved to be a successful year for Lori, placing second at the BC Provincials and making here Canadian Nation-als Debut. Lori Started off the 2009 competition year Placing 1st in Figure Class F at the Arnold Amateur. Next up for Lori..... BC Provincials on July 25th and then on to Canadian Nationals on August 15th.Goals in the fitness industry: “To make a difference and inspire others to be their very best. Sure, at the end of the day I’d like to have a Pro card and hit the Olympia stage..... but if I can help other girls prep for stage, and see them do well, that might be even more gratifying for me!!”
AUTUMN EDWARDS
Lunch CrunchBy: Autumn Edwards, ISSA CPT, BA Exercise Science
Head to the gym today for your lunch break! Better yet, drag a coworker with you and start a working habit-the “lunch crunch”. This is not a group fitness session full of endless ineffective crunches, it’s 20 minutes very well spent. Perform the following in-and-out routine no more than 2-3 times a week and get results!
1. Side Bends 2. Russian Twists
3. Hip Raises 4. Double Crunch
5. Combo
-Standing with dumbbell in one hand and the other arm behind the head, lower the weight to the side and return upright for 15 reps.-Immediately switch sides and repeat for 2 sets on both sides resting 15 seconds in between.
-With plate in both hands and arms slightly bent seated on a decline bench, lower yourself to where your core is most stable.-Control the weight from right to left in an arc fashion keeping the midsection tight for a total of 3 sets of 10 with 30 sec. rest in between.
-Lying on an incline with legs out 2 inches from the floor holding a dumbbell in between the feet, lift the legs straight up with the hips coming slightly off the bench up top. -Lower the legs very controlled withouttouching the floor keeping the back flat for 2 sets of 15 reps with 60 sec. rest in between.
-With one dumbbell between the feet and the other in the hands behind the head, bring both the upper and lower body into a close pin position aiming the ribs to the hips keeping the elbows out and neck open. -Balance on your sit bones and control the weight back down as you straighten your legs with the feet 2 inches away from the floor and lower your upper body just to touch the bottom of the shoulder blades for 3 sets of 10 with 30 sec. rest in between.
-Without additionalweight, perform the double crunch stopping shy of completion and twisting at the top bringing in the opposite elbow and knee aimed at the armpit. -Alternating sides, do 1 finishing set of as many as possible!
Don’t forget to stretch and make sure that poundage is chosen as a true max effort. For instance, if you are going for 10 reps, you should not be able to do any more than 10 or unable to complete all 10. As a certified personal trainer and champion competitor with well developed abdominals, I’m always getting asked about my ab workout. Here it is right in front of you so take advantage! Remember above all else, it’s all in the diet! Contact me for further training/nutrition inquiries at [email protected]
THE FUTURE
This month we meet a competitor that is making his name on the national scene in the welterweight class but is trying to make the move up to middleweights. J.B. Bartlett started his competitor career in 1995 with a 1st place finish at the NPC Kentucky Derby. He would then go on to capture 1st place at the 1997 Jr. Nationals at a lightweight. Then two years later he placed 4th at Nationals. After moving up the ladder in the NPC J.B. was hit with a dose of “life.” He says of the eight year layoff from 1999 to 2008 “I had a lot of family issues to deal with along with a job change. These things just did not let me train the way I needed to and had a few kids in that time frame too… I am back to the casino work now which allows me to train hard and juggle my time better.” After his eight year break J.B. made his comeback at the Mike Francois Classic in 2008 and took home the 1st place trophy in the middle weight division. He felt his phy-sique was ready to hit the pro qualifying stage so he entered the NPC Nationals and place 2nd coming ever so close to that pro card. J.B. is now concentrat-ing on adding overall mass and moving up to the middleweight class for the 09 Nationals. This guy is on the right track to accomplishing his boyhood dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. Good luck J.B!
THE FUTURE
I met Stacey Pillari backstage at the Arnold Amateur Classic this past March. She auto-matically caught my eye with her condition-ing, especially her leg separation. In female bodybuilding leg separation is something special to see and her legs were simply amaz-ing! Then as she posed on stage it became evident that she had more to offer, graceful posing, very feminine look, hanging hams, and a tight midsection. When I got home and started to research Stacey a little more I found that just one year ago she had com-peted in the same show as a figure com-petitor. While putting this article together I asked her what her competition history was and she replied with “I did first bodybuild-ing show at the age of 19, then fitness at 20, power lifting at 34, figure at 41, and now back to bodybuilding at 43, where I will stay. I took years off along the way from compet-ing for my career and my family, but never from training!” When she isn’t training she is helping her husband run their commercial subcontracting company. She also works as a certified trainer, helps people with nutrition and people just beginning in the sport. Stacey also helps her husband with his professional photography business, www.fitnesscalendars.net. Pillari is working to bring her calves and delts up along with another 3-5 pounds of conditioned muscle to her next show which will be the North Americans. Stacey Pillari is definitely a future in the sport of female bodybuilding. Personally, I can’t wait to see her on stage at the North Americans!
Photos courtesy of www.fitnesscalendars.net
BLUE COLLAR BODYBUILDINGHello iron warriors! Welcome to my new monthly column Blue Col-lar Bodybuilding. Needless to say I am very excited about joining the Posedown Magazine family. I want to thank Mike Bell and Bob Johnson for the amazing opportunity to reach out to the men and women who love the iron game as much as I do but also have to pay the dreaded monthly bills. You will find no daily nap times here or multi-million dollar contracts, but what you will find is a true and unwavering love for the gym along with health and fitness in general. I understand full well the pain and suffering one has to endure during a long and stressful work week. I will do my best to get you motivated and pumped up to keep you going and reaching to achieve all your personal goals. My name is Joe Leahy and I am currently living in Howell, Michi-gan as I prepare for the ‘09 Nationals. I am excited about the chal-lenge of competing against the country’s best! I plan on coming in at a shredded 198 pounds and make an impact in my class. I will do all of this while working a fifty plus hour work week with the Michigan Department of Corrections. I have to diet and still watch my back and stay alert. It’s all part of the game and just another challenge I will overcome. Like yourself, when the alarm clock goes off I have to make a decision, Get down or lay down! I choose to get down. Mak-ing it happen all starts by getting out of that cozy, warm bed in the mornings. It will be worth it, when down the line, the body looking back at you in the mirror makes you proud. This month I would like to start with my list of things that separate us Blue Collar Bodybuilders and Fitness nuts from the rest of the pack. Here we go: 1. Plain tuna in water out of a packet is dinner.2. Eating chicken in the car on the way to work is a daily event.3. Spilling your protein shake in the car is a weekly event.4. Dreaming of a nap seems better than heaven.5. Meal replacement shakes are a necessity not a luxury.6. Slamming down a chicken breast in a closet at work so the boss doesn’t see happens every two hours.7. Keeping your dinner in your pocket is a way of life.8. A scoop of all natural peanut butter is better than a T-bone steak.9. Spending four hours on your only day off to cook your weeks meals.10. Looking at the candy bars at your works vending machine and then thinking how much cardio you will have to do to burn off the extra calories. Any of these sound familiar? If they do you are a true iron warrior and not only a Blue Collar Bodybuilder but you are a friend of mine. So get out of bed, quit hitting the snooze button and get to work on your goals. The time is now!!! Please feel free to email me questions about training, nutrition, or anything related to working a 9 to 5 and being successful. I look forward to the journey with you so train Hard and smart and until next time Chase your dreams with enthusi-asm. FACTSName: Iron Joe Leahy.Height: 5’9”.Weight: 245 Off-season, 205 Contest.Contests Highlights: 2009 Mr. Michigan runner-up, 2009 Grand Rapids Heavyweight Champion, five time Overall N.P.C Champion, seven time N.P.C class winner. Relationship status: Married to Tina Leahy Mid-Michigan third run-ner up 2008 and Michigan Department of Corrections Lieutenant.Job: Michigan Department of Corrections Medical Unit Officer, Eleven years in with the M.D.O.C. M.D.O.C Emergency Response Team, M.D.O.C Honor Guard, Officer of the Year in 2007 for the Huron Valley Men’s Correctional Facility, Named to top five Offi-cers in the State in 2007, Worked as a Field Training Officer for the M.D.O.C out of the Michigan State Police Post in Lansing Michigan, Drill Instructor of the Special. Alternative Incarceration Program in 2001-2002. Goals: To be the best husband I can be. To place in the top ten at the 2009 Nationals Bodybuilding Championships.Website: www.ironjoeleahy.com.
Hey guys welcome to the first edition of my new monthly col-umn. I am looking forward to sharing my training, nutrition, contest prep along with a little of my personal life with you. The next few months are going to be very busy and exciting for me. Not only am I starting my diet for Nationals, but I am also getting married on Aug 9th to my lovely fiancée Amy Peters. We have been together for three years and she is the back bone of my life.When I am not with her or at the gym I am working for the Dallas Fire Department. I have been a fire fighter/paramedic for 2 years and love every minute of it. I am also in the pro-cess of opening my own Italian Steakhouse restaurant. I will keep everyone up to date as we move forward with it.Now let’s get down to business. I am weighing 285 15 weeks out from Nationals which is 20lbs heavier than I was this time last year. I started dieting on Juy27 and things are roll-ing smoothly. I am expecting to come in somewhere in the low 260’s but honestly conditioning is the main goal. My diet usually consists of fairly high carbs, moderate protein and low fat. I will start my prep by doing 45 min of cardio on the treadmill, bike or stair stepper 5-6 days a week. That may seem a little high to start with but I do a lot of cardio during the offseason so it takes a little more to kick start the fat burning process for me. I tend to lose body fat pretty eas-ily and grow into my show. My biggest problem come diet time is cutting my calories too low and over dieting. I have to keep reminding myself I am a super heavy and not a middle weight. I want to thank my sponsor Universal Nutrition, Posedown Magazine and my home gym Metroflex Plano. Along with these guys I also have to thank my family and friends. It would be nearly impossible for me to make it day in and day out without their support! I also want to give a big congratula-tions to the three guys that earned their pro card at the USA’s a few weeks ago; Daryl Gee, Mark Alvisi and Grigori Atoyan. All three looked amazing and deserve to be called IFBB pros. I look forward to standing on stage with you very soon.Next month I will get into a little more of my training style and how I go from offseason training to contest prep mode in the gym! If you have any questions for me about nutrition or training please feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will try to answer it in next months issue. Until next month read the best, train with the best and be your best!
THE WOLVERINESteve Kuclo
Bravado introduces its newest Talent
NBC’s American Gladiator Finalist & Celebrity Trainer
ShaNay Norvell
ARE YOU READY?
ShaNay Norvell is making waves on the TV celebrity circuit. ShaNay is most renowned for her stellar performance as a Top Finalist on NBC’s American Gladiators.
As a celebrity trainer, her “hang tuff” attitude has created a buzz on the entertainment scene attracting the likes of celebrity clients such as CNN”s news anchor Soledad O’Brien, Nicole Lapin, and Jacque Reid
Watch for ShaNay as she “jousts “herself back to the NPC Fitness Stage. She wowed the judges, taking a 1st place win at the debut 2007 Arnold Fitness Amateur Classic and is ready to grace the stage again. Super ShaNay says, “Move over contenders “, in her next escapade to earn her IFBB Pro Card.ShaNay will be competing at the Europa Show in Dallas on August 15 ...and the Team Universe in New York Sept 18th 2009 “As part of Bravado, we look for a swaggering confidence and courage. ShaNay exudes Bravado with her energized spirit and media frenzy personality,” says Nancy Di Nino, president of Bravado Marketing & Management.
ShaNay Norvell Bio
NBC’s American Gladiator Runner Up Champion ShaNay Norvell inspires many to physical fitness through her endless pursuit of physical excellence. At 5’5” and 135 lbs., ShaNay can climb a 10-foot wall in a single bound, scale a 20-foot cargo net in less than ten seconds, and hurdle over the aver-age third grader. The recent American Gladiator runner-up champion showed athletic ability at an early age propelling her dare devil nature from monkey bars to tree limbs. She honed her skills in high school track & field as a 4-year varsity letter-man and state competitor. As captain of the var-sity cheerleading squad and homecoming queen, ShaNay became a well-rounded blend of beauty, leadership and athleticism. ShaNay also excelled as an honor student and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University on a full academic scholarship. Leading classes of 75 and more as an aerobics instructor while in college, ShaNay discovered her gift to encourage others to become their physical best. She quickly became certified as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer. In 2000, ShaNay embarked on the ultimate test of physical adept-ness, the Obstacle Course competition. It was a race performed on an open field with the objective to complete 7 – 10 obstacles in the fastest time. The obstacles included a 10 foot wall, 20 foot cargo net, incline decline monkey bars, 60 lb jug carry, cable speed grip, low hurdles, high jump bar, leap box, and more. After two consecutive wins, ShaNay earned the titles Obstacle Course Champion for Galaxy Nova Obstacle Course Competition and National Champion for Women’s Tri Fitness Com-petition. In 2004, she was voted Fittest Athlete by Atlanta Sport & Fitness Magazine. ShaNay cur-rently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where she is an in demand personal trainer and boot camp instructor.No wonder, ShaNay advanced to the final round on NBC’s American Gladiator 2008. ShaNay is sim-ply unstoppable! ShaNay has created a program called No Obstacle which helps adolescents learn how to use fitness and health as a power source for life. ShaNay’s passion radiates in all she does. Miss Norvell is a mentor for Grady High School in col-laboration with the Shandon Anderson Foundation. She is an avid volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. ShaNay can also be seen ener-gizing the crowds as a professional dancer for the WNBA Atlanta Dream Shooting Stars dance team. ShaNay is a star indeed with a strong heart of gold changing the lives of all she encounters.
COLLETTE NELSON
One of today’s most exciting and beautiful female bodybuilders is Colette Nelson. When she nails her condition, she is the epitome what the sport should be. I had the opportunity to visit with her and get her story.PD: Colette, thanks for taking the opportunity to visit with us. It is an honor. Let’s start from the beginning. What got you into the sport? CN: When I was 12 years old I started looking at magazines and really liked that look. I was also a dancer since age 6 and that made me really muscular. It’s really odd because my whole family is very skinny and they have the worst genetics for muscle building. Then, when I was in college, I met a bodybuilder and started training with him. After I graduated Michigan State University, I moved to New York and met another bodybuilder and I helped with his nutrition. After seeing him compete, I decided that I wanted to give it a try, so I competed in a couple of natural shows and I got hooked. At the time I was 24 years old and by age 26, I was on the national scene. My first national show was the Team Universe in 1999. I placed 4th.
PD: You got your pro card in 2004, so what did you do between your 4th place finish at the ‘99 TU and your breakout year of 2004?CN: The journey basically started in 1999. After the Team Universe, I gave myself five years to make it as a body-builder. I kept training very hard. I worked in two different clinics as a dietary nutritionist. I cultivated all of my skills, things like posing, mixing music for routines, etc. I also started taking make-up classes. I even took more dance classes, but this time it was just for fun and to learn new material for bodybuilding routines. It was a true learning time period for me.
PD: 2004 came around and it was a tremendous year for you. Is winning your pro card your proudest bodybuild-ing moment?CN: Actually the entire 2004 season is. I wish I could wake up every day and relive that year, it was so amazing! I won the North Americans then I went on to the World Championships which was unbelievable. I am the only female bodybuilder from America to win the overall title at the World Champions. Two other American girls have won their weight class, but I am the only overall winner from America. That means a lot to me.
PD: After you turned pro you competed in the New York Pro and placed fifth. Then competed in the Europa Super Show and placed third which also qualified you for the Olympia. After the 2006 Olympia, you took a short break and started preparing for the 2007 Arnold, which happens to be the last time you competed correct? I guess the next question is- what happened and where have you been? You had a really good pro career going.CN: I really wanted to do the Olympia in 2006, which I did. Then, I decided to go on and do the Arnold in 2007. I placed 14th there and I just didn’t feel like I was in the same league as the main girls. I knew I was missing that fire in the gym so I decided that if I wasn’t going to give bodybuilding 100% percent, I wasn’t going to compete until I could. Anyone who has competed knows you can’t half-ass your contest prep. I may compete at the end of 2009, or even wait until 2010. It just depends on my motivation.
PD: What are you working on to improve for when you do make your comeback?CN: My legs! They really haven’t had time to grow. I used to hate training legs. I had a lot of anxiety over it. I couldn’t sleep the night before leg day, and it was really nerve racking. Now I am more relaxed and focused on it. I am really concentrating on squatting extremely low. Right now I am lifting 255lb for five reps, which is really good for me. I am a horrible squatter. That exercise has never been natural for me.
PD: I understand what you mean about half-assing your contest prep. Let’s talk about the sport as a whole for a moment. I think women’s bodybuilding took a step in the right direction this past year. What are your thoughts on the 2008 season?CN: I think it goes in cycles. This year it was the smaller and more feminine look that the judges liked. My ques-tion is, “How do you all of a sudden deny women who have been in the top 6 repeatedly?” To me, this sport is about muscle building. I mean Iris and Yaxeni are in a league of their own. How can you deny them good placings when they are in great condition?
AN EPITOME TO WOMEN’S BODYBUILDINGCOLETTE NELSON
PD: What do you think about amateur division right now?CN: I think it is starting to grow a little faster. This year’s Nationals had one of the largest turnouts for female bodybuilding in a long time. A lot of women are switching from figure to bodybuilding. I personally helped several women that made the switch. There’s a lot of beautiful women making the switch which will only help the sport grow more.
PD: What advice would you give to up-and-coming female bodybuilders?CN: The main thing is to be true to yourself. You have to be able to walk away from the sport proud of what you have done to yourself. You can create a beautiful body without looking cartoonish. You have to train hard, heavy and with heart, but also with intelligence. Or you will end up like me with some serious injuries.
PD: I know you are very busy with the sport outside of the stage. What are some of the services you provide?CN: I do a lot. When I stepped away from bodybuilding in 2006, I thought about what can I do to better the sport of female bodybuilding. That’s when I started doing hair and make-up for competition. I also do online training and nutrition along with choreography. I also mix music for posing routines, too.
PD: You do a lot of work with competitors that have diabetes too, correct?CN: Yeah. Dave and I work close with individuals that we consult with for contest preps that have diabetes.
PD: How did you get involved with diabetes?CN: I personally have Type 1 Diabetes. I was diagnosed with it when I was twelve years old. It makes your life a lot more difficult, but you learn to deal with it.
PD: I understand you are involved with the Species Nutrition line of prod-ucts? How is that going?CN: Species is doing great! I remember when we started, I was sending sam-ples to everyone out of our home. Now we have our own warehouse and we continue to grow every month. We are making the Species line very unique. We have a new peanut butter pudding coming out that is wonderful. We also have a new creatine that is being produced that has a special packaging sys-tem that allows for better absorption. Our most exciting product, though, is our own special line of macadamia nut oil. Species is trying to take this prod-uct mainstream, so hopefully you will see it in the grocery stores soon.
PD: What about outside of the sport? What is your every day job?CN: I have spent the last two years working at an HIV clinic, in Manhattan, as a clinical nutritionist. Unfortunately, they moved to the other side of the city and I just can’t make the commute any longer, so I decided to quit and go to work for Species full time. I also love to cook so I decided to try out for the reality cooking show Next Top Chef. I made the second call back and I am waiting to hear back from them. I would love to, one day, have my own cook-ing show!
PD: Saying you are a busy woman is an understatement! It has been joy to visit with you. Good luck to you in all of your endeavors in the future, we can’t wait to see what you will be up to next.
My two cents on Colette Nelson- I have personally been a fan of Colette since I got into sport years ago and to interview her was an honor. A lot of people see Colette as a bigger than life person that is always doing five or six dif-ferent things at once. Well, that’s exactly who she is. She has a passion for bodybuilding, a passion for knowledge and a passion to live every day to the absolute MAX! What’s in store for Colette next? Competing? More nutrition consulting work? Making Species even bigger? Her own cooking show? NO-BODY knows! Not even Colette! And that’s what so exciting about her!
Vinny Galanti’s back routine:reverse grip lat pull downs- 3sets of 12-15 reps
barbell rows- 3 set of 185 for about 15 reps
hammer high rows- 3 sets, 1-arm at a time for about 15 reps
seated bent over dumbbell row- 3 sets of about 15 reps superset with low pully rope bent over rows
dead lifts- 3 sets of 225 for about 20 reps
This is a typical back workout for me right now. My rep range is higher right now, as I was training very heavy, in the 4-6 range, for the past 8 months. My joints and everything else BUT my muscles took a beating. I needed a break and I’m actually grow-ing with the lighter weights. I get a great pump by focusing not only higher reps, but also lots of contacting and holding.
Legs are done 2 x a week.
Front squats - 3 sets of 20 (95lbs)Leg press - 3 sets of 10 (360lbs)Followed by calf raises - 4 setsLeg Extensions - 3 sets of 12 (60 lbs; 70 lbs; 80 lbs)Walking lunges with 25lb dbells 3 sets of 24Seated calf raises 4 sets of 70Seated leg curls 3 sets of 12 (110lbs)Stiff leg dead lifts 3 sets of 12 (50lbs)Flat bench leg curls with 40lbs dbells 3 sets of 12 Hack squats 3 sets of 12 (90 lbs)
followed by 1hr of cardio
My info:Sue UpsonAge: 33Hometown: Carmel, NYCurrent: Vass, NCOff season: 116 lbsContest: 100 lbsCareer: Surgical TechnologistContest history: Class A2006 Jr. USA 10th place2007 Jr. USA 5th place2007 USA 13th place2008 Jr. USA 2nd place2008 Jr. Nationals 1st place - Pro Card
Bridge the Gap: Sprint Resisted TrainingJosh Bryant MFS, CSCS, SSE, PES
“Heredity only deals the cards; environment and training plays the hand.” (1 p.1) It is possible for an athlete to improve in every phase of playing speed, whether it be maximum miles per hour, stopping and starting, feinting, faking and cutting, or multidirectional high speed acceleration with a complete “holistic” speed development plan. (1 p.1) Genetically gifted athletes may be fast with little work or preparation, but they are nowhere near their ge-netic limitations with regard to maximum speed.The most important factor to work on in order to increase your start, acceleration, and maximum speed is to in-crease “ground contact forces.” These forces are determined by the speed-strength of muscles pushing action away from the ground in the start, acceleration, maximum speed, and speed endurance. The athlete’s speed-strength to bodyweight ratio comes into play here. (1 p.5) Ground contact forces determine the maximum speed an athlete can reach. (1 p.5) For each pound of body weight 2.15 additional pounds of ground contact force are needed just to maintain an athlete’s starting, acceleration, and maximum speed. (1 p.5.) So, if an athlete packs on an additional ten pounds of mass, he will need an additional 21.5 pounds of ground contact force, regardless of the composition of the added mass.The deadlift, in my opinion, is the single best test for speed-strength (ground contact forces). It is technically simple and an athlete should strive for 2.5 times his body weight, though 2.2 times his body weight is considered good. Other good tests are the double leg press, and single leg kick back. One must also test for muscle imbal-ances, an example being the leg extension and leg curl. Ideally the ratio would be 1:1, however a 3:2 leg extension to leg curl ratio is acceptable. Testing the strength of the right and left leg comparatively is recommended.If athletes want to maintain their speed with added mass, they must focus on training speed-strength. Sport load-ing is the preferred method, using free weights (deadlifts, cleans, etc.). Resistive sprinting, with sleds, harnesses, weights, inclines (1 p.5), and, of course, sand, which my good friend Matt Poe introduced to me, also are helpful. We are going to look at how to effectively apply sprint-resisted training. The object of sprint-resisted training is to use resistance without retarding sprint mechanics. (2 p.483) The idea of “work fast” is crucial in any power sport and in improving speed. (1 p.4) A 10% or greater change in exter-nal resistance in general negatively impacts on movement kinetics and overall sprint technique, in most cases. (2 P.484) This formula is a guideline, not a rule set in stone. Analyzing sprint mechanics by a qualified professional is more valid than any formula. Two aspects of sprint mechanics must be emphasized to get the desired speed train-ing effect: Explosive arm and punching action and explosive leg drive off the ground. (2 p.483) When performing sprints, try not to drop below five percent of your maximum speed. (1 p.84) As long as a coach is timing, this is not hard to track.Weighted body suits, vests and shorts can distribute the load over each segment of one’s body. Stan Plagenhoef invented a weighted strap system that accomplishes this, probably the best on the market. (1 p.72) Plagenhoef’s suit has four sections: upper body, arms, upper leg and lower leg. This suit distributes the weight to attain spe-cific sprint loading. (1 p.72) Bosco’s research in 1985 showed that with proper use of sport loading, power out-put and sprint performance improved. The average improvement in vertical jump was ten centimeters after just three weeks of training. (1 p.72) A similar study at BYU on female athletes confirmed Bosco’s findings. Subjects increased vertical jumps five centimeters, using weight vests an average of ten percent of the participant’s body weight. (1 p.72)Some athletes are concerned with injury of the back, knee and ankle joints. Other’s prime concern is deteriora-tion of form, function and range of motion. This is highly unlikely, unless the vest or other weighted clothing fits poorly or the athlete ignores presented guidelines. Proper use of a weighted vest will strengthen key muscles and convert the gains made into the neuromuscular pattern of sprinting. (I p.72)The National Association of Speed and Explosion (NASE) has guidelines on which vests to use for different phases of training. For strength endurance 1 to 20 pounds can be used, and for speed and quickness 1 to 8 pounds.
The question now is how to properly integrate this information into a training program. For a minimum of 20 minutes and up to thirty minutes, focus on proper mechanics and technique mastery, with no added resistance. Focus on a specific skill of your sport; a basketball player might practice a jump shot. The next step is drill mas-tery. You can begin by slowing the movements down, and as your confidence increases, move towards game-like conditions, with no added resistance. During the third step add the weight vest and shorts. They will serve as a superb training aid for strengthening, integrating and automating movement patterns. (1 p.77)Here are some guidelines for using speed vests: For the starting zone from 0-20 meters with 1-20 lbs of resis-tance for 15 to 30 minutes; Working the acceleration zone of 0-30 meters, use 1-20 lbs of resistance for 15 to 30 minutes. For the flying zone of 20 to 40 meters, use 1-4 lbs for 15 to 30 minutes. The 90% zone should use 1-4 lbs for 100 to 300 meters for 15 to 30 minutes. The speed endurance zone should use 1 to 8 pounds for 15 to 30 minutes, and for aerobic work use the same weight for 30 to 60 minutes. (1 p.78) Be aware of the periodization factor in resistance and intensity, and look at energy systems being used.The Austin Leg Drive machine is a helpful piece of equipment for specific sport loading sprint resistance. This piece of equipment is expensive and most people do not have easy access to it. We won’t look at it in depth be-cause of this. The action closely mimics the start and acceleration phase of sprinting. (1 p.78) Be aware of this piece of equipment and take advantage of it if you have access to it! Harness sprinting requires wearing a harness on your waist. You can pull another person or a sled. (3 P.262.) An advantage to harness sprinting is that near maximal velocity is achieved, but a constant load is placed on the hip flexors. Mike Boyle MS, ATC says of weighted sleds, “Weighted sled drills target the specific muscles used in sprinting and help to bridge the gap between form running drills and weight room exercises.” Boyle goes on to say, “Many athletes can squat large amounts of weight. Far fewer athletes seem to be able to run fast. A weighted sled teaches strong athletes how to produce the type of force that moves them forward.” Some coaches may spend too much time on sprinting technique and not enough on force application. Boyle has made this same point.
The surface an athlete trains on is important, whether it is grass, turf or sand. If your mechanics or speed is suf-fering, look at the resistance you are using and the surface you are training on. Both may need to be changed. With sleds keep the rest periods long to allow for full recovery. Russian sprint coaches developed speed parachutes. They overload the muscles during high speed sprinting. (3 P.262) Once the parachute is attached, short sprints of 20 to 50 yards are run for 3 to 15 repeti-tions. (3 P.262) Make sure proper sprint mechanics are mastered before using the parachute. A technique some athletes use is to run 10 to 20 yards with the parachute, then release it. This will cause the athlete to surge for-ward and overload the fast twitch muscle fibers. (3 p.262) Again allow long rest periods for recovery. An old school technique for developing leg power is running stadium stairs at the local stadium. The entire body will be overloaded during the sprinting motion. (3 p.262) First find stairs that will support your weight. The number of repetitions will vary because of the size of the stadium. Sprinting up the stairs at the Rose Bowl is different than sprinting up stadiums at a 2-A high school. Start conservatively and gradually build up intensity. (3 p.262) Perform different variations of stadium sprinting: One stair at a time, two stairs at a time. Advanced athletes may even add a weighted vest. Sprinting stadium stairs forces your legs to extend vigorously during the push off phase of the running stride, and you have to absorb shock as you land. This will develop dy-namic leg strength, not possible using a stair stepper machine, that will require minimal stride length with very little impact. (3 p.263)The law of acceleration states “a force applied to a body causes an acceleration of that body of a magnitude pro-portional to that force, in the direction of the force, and inversely proportional to the body’s mass.” (4) In terms an athlete can understand, if you weigh 200 pounds, the ground puts back 430 pounds of force, 2.15 lbs times the athletes body weight. This is true if you have mastered correct biomechanics while sprinting. Assuming correct technique, your body is in motion (4). Now add a 45 pound plate behind you. This added factor is going to put your body in a stage of muscle cell recruitment. The amount of energy being used is enough to just pull the sled. (4) When the athlete takes off the without the sled, he will feel faster. His muscles have remembered using the added resistance and they make sure those additional muscle cells will be ready for the next sprint. (4) With multiple repetitions the feeling turns into actually being faster.
The ground works like a trampoline. Shock is absorbed by the ground then shot back. Sand has multiple levels. In soft sand that is 3 feet deep, the athlete will sink around 3 inches with each step. The average shoe sole is one half inch. Every inch of sunken sand means you are running on two different levels. If you sink 3 inches, you will run on six dif-ferent levels. The soft sand absorbs 100% of the applied force, yet only throws back a small percentage at the athlete. You will be required to pull your legs and body out of six different levels. This will require a greater energy supply and greater muscular strength than a hard surface. (4) “Anaerobic hell” is the result, like late in the game when you have to dig deep. Acceleration must be accomplished without depending on the ground’s primary force reaction. Your ATP stores from the phosphagen system will de depleted at a much more rapid rate. (4) Training in sand, with a proper program design, will make you feel like you are accelerating down hill.
This is a program Matt Poe, a speed-training mentor of mine, recommends. These are his words and his template, to increase your forty-yard dash time. This is for someone with six weeks to prepare for the combine, looking to decrease his forty time.
With a sled and enough weight added to keep the correct biomechanics, try this pyramid at 200% effort:
Four 10’s in the sand, Four 10’s on the field. - 2 minute break Three 20’s in the sand, Three 20’s on the field. - 3 minute break Two 30’s in the sand, Two 30’s on the field. - 4 minute break One 40 in the sand, One 40 on the field. - And please do not throw up in the sand!
Sprint resisted training, utilizing proper mechanics, is crucial to any speed development program. If an athlete gets stronger in the weight room, he has to be able to create greater ground contact forces. Sprint resisted training bridges the gap between weight room strength and speed potential. Sprint resisted training will allow an athlete to perform when the rubber hits the road.
Josh Bryant Copy Right 2009. All Rights Reserved
Sources1. George B. Dintiman , et al. NASE Certification Book .
2. Janet C.Harris, et al. Essentials of Strength Training & Conditioning.
3. Fahey, Thomas D. ISSA Specialist in Sports Conditioning
4. Poe, Matt “Understand the Sand.” Intensity Magazine
AUG 2009 CHAMPION SERIES ALYSSA STROUD
Photos submitted by Alyssa StroudReflexion Imagery
This month we are happy to showcase a young up and coming NPC competitor from Webb City, Missouri. Originally from Dal-las, Texas Alyssa has been fascinated with muscle and the idea of lifting weights since she was 13. Alyssa first competed in July of 2007 at the Missouri State Body-building Championships and won her class and the overall. A couple of months later in August she decided she needed more stage experience and entered the Arkansas State Bodybuilding Championships and also won the overall there. After those two wins she decided to try her hand on the National stage. In 2008, she competed at Jr. Nationals, placed 9th at the North Americans and 8th at the Team Universe. Most people would consider that a successful season and would look forward to the nest season. Alyssa came back in 09 and started the season off with great suc-cess at the Jr. USA’s with a 2nd place finished and followed that up with a strong 7th place showing at Jr. Nationals a few weeks later. However, after Jr. Nationals Alyssa could no longer deny her true feelings about figure, and bodybuilding. She says “I finally decided a few weeks after the 09 Jr. Nationals that it’s what my structure was made for. It’s disheartening to not embrace the structure and muscularity I have while competing in figure and knew that the only way I would be happiest is if I decided to cross over into female bodybuilding. I feel I’m hindering my budding of a bigger and better physique in this sport if I continue to stay in figure. I believe that I will excel in female bodybuilding as I have on the national stage in figure. I’m more curious now than ever to know what I can make of my potential.”If a person takes a look at Alyssa’s stage pictures it’s not hard to understand why she is making the switch to female bodybuilding. She has a tiny waist along with broad shoulders, and has a frame that could carry a lot of muscle.She already has the mind set of a true bodybuilder. Not only are legs and back her favorite body parts to train but she also admits Arnold is her favorite competitor of all time. She says “I feel cheesy saying this at times, but I have always been in awe of the great Arnold Schwarzenegger. I loved him in all of the Terminator movies Predator movies, and basically anything he has acted in. I watched him before I read up on his amazing accomplishments in bodybuilding, and I have been in admiration ever since.It’s not often that a young competitor like Alyssa, who is only 21, that is climbing the latter of success so quickly will just stop and start over in a new sport. Figure and bodybuilding are two sepa-rate sports in every way possible, but after getting to know Alyssa just a little bit through this interview there is no doubt in my mind she will be on that National stage fighting for her pro card very soon. She is currently in the offseason trying to gain the mass she needs for her new endeavor. Look for Alyssa to show up on a bodybuilding stage in the late for fall or early spring. To catch more of Alyssa you can find her at www.siouxcountry.com.
22nd Arnold Classic Active Aging Festival Amateur Fitness, Figure & Bikini Amateur Men’s & Women’s Bodybuilding Amateur Strongman ArcheryArmwrestling Badminton Bench Press Boxing Cheerleading & Dance DanceSport–Youth/Senior EXPO Fencing Figure International Figure Skating
Fitness Fashion Show Fitness International Fitness Training Seminar Grappling/Ju Jitsu Gymnastics Judo Karate Martial Arts Festival Ms. InternationalParty With The Pros Powerlifting Pump & Run (5K) Strength Training Summit Strongman Contest Table Tennis Tae Kwon Do Weightlifting Wrestling
MARCH 5-7, 2010 COLUMBUS, OHIO USA
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THE ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL DEBUTSNEW WEB SITE AT
ARNOLDSPORTSFESTIVAL.COMColumbus, Ohio – ArnoldSportsFestival.com will debut with a new look and expanded capabilities on Monday, August 3, 2009. Developed in partnership with leading internet marketer People To My Site, the new site will feature in depth coverage, news, video, and diverse photographic representation of the Festival’s 40 sports and events.
“Each year the Arnold Sports Festival grows in the number of athletes, sports, and exhibitors,” said Jim Lorimer, Producer of the nation’s largest multi-sport event. “The new site will allow every Festival fan and fitness enthusiast to receive breaking news regarding athletes, ticket promotions, newsletters, events, and visitor information. For the first time we will feature a wide selection of Arnold Sports Festival videos featuring the Arnold Fitness EXPO (March 5, 6 & 7) and record setting performances by more than 17,000 competitors.”
700 Exhibit booths will be featured at the 3 day Arnold Fitness EXPO showcasing the latest trends in fitness apparel, supplements, and equipment. Sport celebrities and national champions visit the EXPO daily. 175,000 visitors are anticipated in 2010.
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