Cast Your Vote Here!
Please, if you haven't done so already, cast your vote for our good friend - Candice Perfect - as she battles win a great contest offered through Flex Online!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Vote! For Candice Perfect!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Jamey Peters on the Cover
Jamey Peters is one of the accomplished stars in the world of NPC Figure. Her photos on HerBiceps.com are amongst the most downloaded in the industry. She places in the top at every show she enters, taking Class & Overall titles at the NPC Vancouver and the NPC North Western Championships. This great champion will soon be an IFBB Pro, placing 3rd in her class at this year's NPC Emerald Cup. As her physique continues to improve, she continues to market herself and make more contacts in an industry that never sleeps. Jamey Peters is precisely the kind of driven athlete that any company would love to have on their roster. She's social, personable, hard working, and disciplined. From her rock hard abs to her feminine beauty, this champion showcases the best qualities of a champion - both on and off stage. I am delighted to be able to help get the word out!
Monday, May 28, 2012
A Veteran Going Strong
Name: Laurie Eisenbrandt My Hometown is New Lenox, IL
Age: 54
Ht: 5' 4"
Contest weight: Anywhere from 120 to 126lb
Non contest weiht Anywhere from 137 to 150.
I have always been a physical girl, growing up on the farm, some chores included lifting bales of hay and pulling weeds in the beanfield.
I did a bodybuilding competition 18 years ago. There were more women involved then. In a class of 8, I took 4th. I had no idea how to properly train or what my diet should have been. That was the end of that for quite some time.
I has always been in the back of my mind to do it again. I was up and down with my weight over the years. Three years ago I did the P90X and got really great results. I liked the way I looked and got a lot of compliments. I did it 5 times through. I realized I could do better and with the encouragement from my personal trainer, Mike Wolfe. I was on my way. I did some serious heavey lifting and training from October 2011 on to the present day. I did everything he told me. I still do....
My diet in the beginning was eating clean, lots of carbs and lots of protein. About 3000 calories per day. In January I weighed 152 lb. We started cutting back the carbs and protein to prepare for the show on March 31st. Cardio was introduced into the workout sessions. The closer we got to the competition date the more I did cardio and the less carbs I was allowed to eat.
It all paid off in the end. I won the novice, the women's open and over all for that show. The weekend of April 7th, I won the novice, the women's open and masters and overall again. On May 12th I won the women's heavyweight open, masters and overall again. I got my pro card for the NGA Bodybuilding Association at this show.
This has been the ride of a lifetime. I love every minute of it, except leg day. Not very fond of leg day. I keep telling myself when I want to stop that I am in this for a reason and if I don't continue things will not work out they way I want. I press on. It has definitely paid off.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Watson, Crenshaw Place
Amy Watson, who recently won the NPC Lansing Grand Prix for Figure, took 12th in Class E at the 2012 NPC Junior USA's. Watson, who edged out Figure legend, Michelle Mosher to win the coveted Ms. Lansing title, brought a ripped, balanced physique that made it possible for her to place - something which fifteen other women were seemingly unable to do. Although Watson was unable to crack the Top 10, this performance is undeniably an improvement from last year at the Junior Nationals where she tied for 16th in her class with several other women.
Watson is a member of Jermichael "Jay" Pratt's Team Infinity, which title sponsored the NPC Lansing Grand Prix and will also be title-sponsoring the upcoming NPC Captial City. Both Watson and Mosher are members of the organization.
Another Team Infinity member and also a division winner at the wildly successful and stacked NPC Lansing Grand Prix, was Physique Star Elizabeth "Liz" Crenshaw. But in an interesting twist of events, Crenshaw appeared at the Junior USA's in the bodybuilding class. Her arms and upper body (I think) are what allowed her to place 3rd in her class. Her legs looked smooth for bodybuilding, but would have been ideal of physique.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Nuts 'N More Contest!
FigureBikini.com is proud to announce that we'll be having a special contest for one calendar month where 1-2 ladies will be selected each week to receive sample products courtesy of Nuts n More. If you're selected, all you have to do is submit a review of this product BUT as I always say, why half-ass anything that's related to your career. Yes, you could just submit a rinky dink typed paragraph review. But you could also include some shots. You could write a really articulate piece. Or, you could also submit a short video. I think once you check out the company's page and you see how many top level fitness industry competitors have lent their name and likeness, you'll start to understand just how revolutionary this protein-packed food supplement is!
Nuts 'N More butters aren't just revolutionary in their marketing approach, but take a moment - or take several minutes - to read up on how much nutrition each serving provides. Most mainstream nut butters have about 6-8 grams of protein, they're loaded with sugar, and they have a combination of both good and bad fats - only most people are oblivious. And even mainstream "natural" butters are hadly that. Nuts 'N More butters have 14g of protein and they're fortified with whey isolate and flaxseed. That's right, these butters are not only packed with protein, but you're also getting your essential fats.
Evertyhing sounds awesome! But what do these butters taste like? I haven't tried them yet, but when I do, you can rest assured I'll be giving you a text and video review. There will also be 1-2 ladies selected each week for the upcoming month. I will be picking winners along side Becca's Corner editor Becca Johnson. If you really want to try this product, drop me a line. If you're REALLY want to get sample this product and you REALLY want to be proactive about getting your name out there by networking yourself and giving an honest take on a seemingly awesome product, how could I turn you down?
Monday, May 21, 2012
Francine Slobodnik of Team FAB
2012 Arnold Classic Bikini Class A Champion
2012 Fox Cities Showdown Bikini Class A Champion
My name is Francine Slobodnik and I am currently a student at Benedictine University completing my undergrad in Nutrition/Dietetics. I am a proud member of Team FAB Iron Diva sponsored by Pride Nutrition. Team FAB is a group of women that represents strength and beauty, and women who have spirit in their step and a fire in their eyes that screams – our destiny is NOT by chance- it is by CHOICE!
My competition history is actually very short, (just like me!) The first show I did was the Arnold Classic and going into one of the biggest show of the year, I decided to do this because I said to myself: “either go big or go home” and I knew I had what it takes and the discipline and more importantly the heart and dream. What helped me stay motivated was a particular quote by a woman named Oprah Winfrey -"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.” I then did the Fox Cities Showdown on April 28th, and got 1st again which qualifies me for Nationals!
Some background information about me is that I am of Polish decent and I am proud to represent that part of me. On my free time, even though I restrict certain things for competing I volunteer at my local food pantry in Naperville on the weekends.
Living a healthy lifestyle has always been a part of my life. I have been dancing professionally since I was 4 years old and even danced on the Benedictine dance team.
I’ve always been a big fan of food, hence my major, however learning about what certain foods does to your body and mind has always fascinated me. After I graduate Benedictine, I plan on becoming a registered dietitian and hopefully helping and educating others to take small steps to improve their lifestyle. My favorite part of this whole experience is the mentally portion. Being able to dream it and then have it become a reality has not only been eye opening but a blessing as well.
The physical, mental and spiritual aspects of my life are all intertwined just as everyone else’s. For someone to be happy and healthy, they simply just need to keep all these aspects of their life balanced. Overall, my mission is to implement my courage, knowledge and discipline in others and be a positive role model for other women around the world. Being 4’11 isn’t always easy, especially in the fitness industry, but as my mother always tells me, "big things come in small packages!
http://teamfab.us/the-team/team-f-a-b-bios/francine-slobodnik/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UTcxt5_iB0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIMj05mOSkc&feature=relmfu
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Becca's Corner
Becca Johnson is one of our best friends and promoters on Facebook. She's always helpin us out for anything StrengthAddicts or FigureBikini.com related, and now, she has her own column!! Also known as Top NPC Bodybuilder Larry Neri's girlfriend, Becca has been very helpful to our pages, and with her column, she'll be a writing about a variety of issues.
One topic of special interest, however, is writing about what it's like dating/being in love with a competitive athlete. This subject is very important for men and women that have are in a relationship with a competitive physique star. It's important to understand what all is required for contest prep, keeping up connections to the industry, and moving ahead. Who knows, one day Becca may compete as well - or maybe not. But Becca's Corner will address so much, that there's no real way to preview this great project. All I can say is, check each month to see what's new - and definitely "like" that page because I have a feeling Becca will keep you guys very entertained - not to mention - informed!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Makin Him Proud
Alma Villanueva
Age:41
Ht:5"1
Contest wt: 94
Regular wt: 100
Hometown: Sterling Heights, MI
My first contest was at the Redford Theatre in 2010, where I made top 5. I took 4th place and my second contest (this one in September at Cobo Hall, I took 2nd place). Then I went onto Nationals, the Jr usa, and then the IFBB championship last Sept, where I took Top 5 (placing 3rd).
My friend, who's a bodybuilder, told me I should compete. From there she introduced me to her friend, who did my diet prep. I proceeded to author my own workout plan - and I got straight to work. I didn't have a trainer, but I knew what I had to do. My posing suit is from swimwear.com.
Meals
Meal One: oatmeal 4eggs white
Meal Two: whey protein and stawberry.Meal Three: chicken and broccoli
Meal Four: chicken and sweet potato
Meal Five: chicken salad
Meal Six: fish and asparagus
Workout Routine Monday: legs 15 3set squat 15 3set abs 50 reps This sport is very important to me, but it's something I'm doing for my husband, who passed 8 months ago. I am just following his dream, making it my own. I hope to make him proud; I know he's with me.
Tues; stermaster interval 20 min curl 15 3set then run 20 min interval
Weds: 15 3set arms curl 15 3set abs run interval 20 min
Thur: legs and squat
Fri: off sometime
Saturday: arms and abs
Sunday: legs squat, abs run interval 20 min
Editor's Notes
Some people train, diet, and compete in hopes of getting some recognition, others do so in hopes landing a contract or becoming a star; some want to reach a milestone, to chart their own growth, a crowning jewel to place on the top a mountain of sacrifices in what might be the biggest lifestyle transformation of their life. These are all great reasons to compete and to get into the world of fitness, but to go through all that pain and suffering - al the heartache of poor placing, the money... to do that to honor someone's memory, that's a beautiful thing - to do that for your significant other, that's passed - that's got be the warmest, most romantic act of true love that could ever be realized. I know that Alma's husband can see her and what she's doing. True love never dies - it lives on.
Good luck Alma, I know you're going to go far, and I know the ladies here (the regulars), they'll have your back. It sounds like do plenty of national shows, so don't be surprised if AT LEAST half a dozen ladies pat you on the back - literally. I know you don't need it, but we care. What you're doing is so beautiful that it goes 150miles beyond whatever could be achieved with a physique and tanning oil.
Beautiful - you're a beautiful person.
Shelly Cannon Rules!
"I want to thank Team Long and especially Sarah Long for all she does. Also my family and friends for their support. Couldn't do it without them. Very much looking forward to competing at Jr. USAs on Saturday in Charleston."
- Shelly Cannon
Shelly Cannon is a true friend to FigureBikini.com and a great role model for ladies throughout the fitness industry. She's a young woman that has the discipline to go far in this sport, the genetics to stand up against the best, the heart of a champion, and a humility that's rare in a sport dominated by big egos and delusions of grandeur.
FigureBikini.com is an unassuming page - we know we work with small group of champions, but when the day comes that we take over - and we will take over - this small group of champions will be the people we help most. I am so proud to have Shelly on this page, and if you're not familiar with her, then by all means drop her a line or read her feature and contributions here. Shelly Cannon is so much more than a flawless physique. She's a wonderful person too :).
Friday, May 11, 2012
It's Taralin Time!
Name: Taralin "Gold"
Age: 32
Height: 5 feet exactly! (lol)
Contest Wt: 111
Regular Wt: 120
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA
When/why I started training:
I was deployed to Iraq while serving in the Army and decided in 2006 I wanted to achieve all my dreams because you never know when you will lose out on living every previous moment in life; so I followed my dream to become a fitness model & competitor:)
My competition Diet:
Below is a typical day of my competition diet 2-3 months out -
7 AM - 3 egg whites/1 tsp PB/ 1/4cup oatmeal
10 AM - 4 oz. lean ground turkey/ 1 cup veggies (broccoli, green beans)
12 noon - 4 oz. tilapia, 1/4 cup brown rice, 10 Asparagus
3 PM - 3 egg whites
5 PM - (pre workout meal) 1 can tuna/ 3 oz. Sweet potato
6-830 PM - workout
830 PM - 3 oz. chicken/ 1 cup veggies
Go to bed & do it all over again!Love it!
I'd love to thank - My husband & best friend (without him it would be difficult) My coaches Ingrid Romero & Joe Discuillo (Team Edge!!) - I truly am driven because of them and their support Of course all my Team Edge girls! (Candice Perfect, Heather Donahue, Jasmin Rodriguez, Becky Padilla, Michelle Ulibarri, Tiffany Taitt & any other beautiful ladies I forgot you are ALL beautiful!!) Lastly my sponsor, Matt owner & operator of Nutrishop Thousand Oaks, CA - the place to get all your high quality supplements!! I love each and every one of you all and am blessed to have you all in my life :)
My plans for 2012 -
I plan on continuing to raise the roof with Team Edge and compete in Jon Lindsays NPC - Culver City, CA 7/21/12.
Hopefully to continue to model with amazing Fitness photographers & graze even one fitness magazine soon - what an honor that would be!
Lastly just to LIVE life to the fullest and never give up on my continuous dream to be the best and healthiest I can be! I wanna spread the motivation! Life is beautiful!!!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Darshaun's Path to Success
Name: Darshaun Oyston
Age: 43
Height: 5’ 3”
Contest Weight: 114
Regular Weight: 122
Hometown: Las Vegas
I began training over 20 years ago but became diligent and driven to achieve my first fitness goal of losing the weight I had gained from pregnancy; which was 70 lbs. After two (2) years, I had obtained my goal, dropped all pregnancy weight and had found a new passion; a love of fitness. I continued to train and sculpt my body into a fairly muscular state. I could work my way around any gym as well as any bodybuilding man and took pride in that fact. Over the years, I took many classes in addition to hitting the free weights and found my niche in boxing aerobics. Today my regime consists of five (5) days of weight training, two (2) hours of boxing class and four (4) hours of cardio on the rolling stairs and/or treadmill.
Last August, through the support of my best friend, I decided to train for my first bikini competition. It was then in November that I had found what I believe to be one of my callings. Once I step on stage, I become a different version of myself; someone who is strong, sexy and confident. While I have quite a large support system, it would be my best friend, Bren Grusman I would like to thank the most. If it had not been for her urging and instilling the, “yes I can” attitude in me, I never would have done that very first show. While competing in my second show, I found Team EDGE. I was honored to be accepted to be a part of such an up and coming group. Even though we are many miles apart, I feel as close to my coaches as if I lived in California. They guide me through my diet and training routine on a weekly basis and support me in all my endeavors. I am lucky to be a part of such a wise and accomplished team.
I have always eaten fairly clean but do enjoy my share of junk food. While in competition mode, however, I stay honest by journaling everything I eat and stick to the basics of a high protein, low carb, sugar and fat diet. This consists of the regular, what I like to call, bikini diet which is chicken, fish, brown rice, green vegetables, egg whites, oatmeal, rice cakes, almonds, apples and peanut butter. My diet is tweaked every week by my coaches either adding or taking away an item depending on how my body is responding.
I have several goals for 2012 that will mold my path for 2013. First and foremost, it is my goal to improve my physique each show I do and hope to become qualified for Nationals and the USA’s within the next two (2) shows I compete in. I would like to show the competition world that it’s never too late to pursue and achieve a dream. I am doing my first photo shoot of three (3) scheduled in May and am excited to see the outcome of these photos and what level I am next catapulted to from them. I am currently studying for my NASM personal training certification and am training clients in addition to myself. I would like to take that to a full time level incorporating teaching fitness classes once I have competed in several more shows as that is where my passion is right now.
Hope this is what you need but please by all means let me know if you require anything further.
Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Teams - Pro's & Amateurs
Teams, like competitors, should be grouped in two divisions - the professional and the amateur. There's nothing wrong with being an amateur - you're learning the ropes and you're getting progressively better (at least let's hope so). But some groups don't necessarily offer you the best conditions to grow from.
Let's say for example, a certain group is fixated with idolizing its founder - in some situations this might be called a cult of personality, where everyone in the group tries to live accordingly to the will of the leader. If the person running the group is a woman - there's usually a maternalistic relationship (if it's a man, then paternalistic), where the leader takes the form of a parent.
These groups are dangerous because everything comes second to appeasing the person on the top of the mountain. The athlete's own training, however, as well as their nutrition, posing, and self-marketing, are of a lesser priority than what's best for the collective good of the team. You're a team player right?Sound like a cult? This how David Koresh got started, only he was quoting from the Bible, not Muscle & Fitness magazine.
In keeping with the (usually) small, backward teams you should watch out for, there's usually a chosen one (or two). Usually these small teams are fronts for 2nd rate up-and-coming gurus that then promote one or two athletes at a time. Because teams are largely a women's phenomenon (primarily found in Figure & Bikini), these groups usually only have one star they push, with one sidekick (other teams that may have a woman and a man, but again... few bodybuilders will join a team, it's a common sight in the fitness industry).
I'm sorry to have to be sexist here -- but women are generally more emotional than men; couple that with drastically low carbs and you have the optimal conditions to pull a fast one, to really dupe a person. It's easier to con women in these situations than men. Hate me all you want for saying so, but the proof's in the pudding. How many men do you know are scraping by to hand the money they don't have (prolly comin from their diet, supp, or training budget to give it to a woman that teaches five or ten male bodybulders how to be better bodybuilders? I doubt you'll find too many of these situations. Sorry.
In smaller (usually local) operations, women join these clubs with the hope of winning a few rinky dink local titles to get some momentum at the regional and national level. Very few of the women that drop the big bucks, while living on shoestring budgets, see themselves being amateurs for very long. It's easy to sell salvation to those that feel the end is near; it's easy to sell pipedreams of pro cards and supplement contacts to the woman that thinks she has the God given genetics of Ingrid Romero, the posing skills of Corey Everson, and the untapped ahtleticism of Kelly "Flying" Ryan at her prime. Sadly, it's these poor delusional basketcases that fund the madness that gives the soapbox guru the means to keep the sharade going. These kooks will never win a local show much less ever go pro. It's sad. But what's more depressing - the fact there's women this delusional - or - that there's teams that take their money and water their hopeless dreams with even more ridiculous accolades and distant, some might say totally non-existent, objectives that lay ahead for them?
Some of the leaders of these teams are essentially streetcorner hustlers, ready to comfort a sobby widow by the graveside of her husband, ready to milk her for all she's worhth like so many gifted psychics that litter the backpages of tabloids and have made it to daytime tv.
The Chosen One(s)
No matter how much she pays, she'll never have the favor that the chosen one(s) has - chosen by the leader. Her friends and family can tell her what's up till their blue in the face; the ATF blasted similar attempts at reasonsing, through PA systems in Waco, but that didn't stop the Branch Davidians - they stayed at Mt. Carmel, as I'm sure many of the shortsighted, feeble minded members of small, local 'teams' will keep paying and keep playing (along), as the chosen one(s) keeps raking in those empty wins that build up that tiny fire at the regional level and that little bit of smoke nationally. It doesn't really amount to much. The judges at Nationals, the USA's, Team Universe... they don't care if you won the Ms. Main St. There - you either bring it - or you don't.
Do politics play a role in national judging? Perhaps. But why on Earth would anyone pay to get screwed? Well.. competitively-speaking?
I don't like to make broad generalizations, but sometimes when you do so, you spare people from potentially problematic situations, even though I'm sure there's a great many local teams that stand to the test and do great work by and for their members. I'm not sold on the majority of them though.
If a woman asked me about joining a team, I'd point her to Team Edge, Bombshell, SAVE Fitness, or Oddo's Angels. These are the professionals - in terms of teams. If I was a woman looking to compete and I wanted to help myself, get an edge, network, and develop lasting reltionships, I'd invest the $500-$1,500 in a team that would really help me reach my goals. In the end, when you pay the big bucks - you're really investing in YOURSELF - you shouldn't be investing in the career of the girl that wins ALL THE TIME or the guru that promotes shows and has his/her face or his/her name on every flyer, every handbill, every webpage, or every tangible or intangible piece format known to man (woman).
The investment should be in YOU - the person paying. You'd think this would be pretty elementary, but if you're a brainwashed, delusiional robot - this might seem like the biggest no-no, the ultimate in treachery and betrayal, the most selfish, backward load of crap you'd ever want to be associated with, gotta check with the "coach" if you can think this way, better not let the other girls hear you read this to yourself, gotta "get to group" later, can't be late. lol
Got feedback on this story? I'd like to hear it and share it!
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