2008 Arnold Blog

The Arnold Sports Festival was all I dreamed it would be: an expo as crowded as the seventh lair of hell, a funky cocktail of free stuff to get totally wired, and -to my delight- a 4th place finish in the B class of the Arnold Amateur Figure!  I’ll strike next at the Ronnie Coleman Classic in April.

When I got lost on my way back to the dressing room (despite the near hand-holding of some very handsome, large escort), I had my own crew of 17-year-old fans that took cell phone pictures with me.  What’s a girl to expect from running around a conference center in a near thong?

I learned that out trophies have a wire piece in the middle that holds the whole thing together.

I’ve also learned how to spell the word “amateur.” When I glanced down at the crack that would have severed my bronze statue’s feet from the rest of her perfectly sculpted body, I noticed I had a trophy for the “Arnold Amatuer.” I googled it just to be sure, and breathed a sigh of relief.

As we know, expos are a great time to make connections, in addition to competing or enjoying free caffeine-spiked goodies.  While at the Arnold, I met up with two men - one a best-selling fitness author and the other a prominent lawyer- who are writing a novel fitness and transformation book for men.  The authors learned about my writing through a new fitness marketing site, www.fittron.com, and recruited me to help edit and add to the nutrition tidbits in the book.  It’s an exciting opportunity–I’m looking forward to telling you all the details when it’s about to the hit the presses!

Two of my professors at Baylor also presented at the strength training summit, which is a conference held in conjunction with the sports festival put on by www.strengthpro.com.   All three of us took the same flight back to Waco, and I had the chance to pick their brains a little.    Dr. Willoughby is a stellar muscle researcher; this work significantly influences the recommendations for practical aspects of training and supplement formulations; he also does a significant amount of supplement testing.

Starting this month, I am going to review his studies on my blog and deliver practical, do-it-now tips based on Willoughby’s research.  The first blog, which is set to be posted this week, will review the Novedex XT trial done at Baylor University.  I have been perusing the forums and will address specific concerns I have seen there, including the effects of an increase of DHT, what an aromatase inhibitor does, etc.  Stay tuned!

I am very happy to announce I have placed 3rd. at the Arnold’s Classic in Ohio  I greatly appreciate all of the ongoing encouragement and support from my family and friends on this allready joyous occasion.

Detailed information for all Arnold Amateur Competitors:

A revised schedule of events for the 2008 IFBB Arnold Amateur Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships. Please read the information thoroughly prior to your arrival her in Columbus, Ohio.
Each competitor will be provided with a wrist band at the competitor check in, good for admission into the Arnold Fitness Expo from February 29 - March 2, 2008. Be sure to have this wrist band if you are in the finals on Saturday morning March 1, 2008. Expo officials will not permit you into the Expo area without your wrist band.

For those of you needing assistance with tanning, Ohio Tropics is available to help you once you are in Columbus. Contact them at mengelm@columbus.rr.com or by calling (614) 873-1784 to book your appointment now. Jan Tana will also be available for your tanning and makeup needs. Contact her at jantana@jantana.com to book your appointment. Representatives from both companies, as well as competition staff, will be back stage to assist you with all your pre-competition needs. No spray tanning will be done at the venue, so be sure to book your appointments accordingly.

NO TRAINERS will be permitted in the back stage area. Non compliance with this rule will result in your disqualification and possible suspension.

FITNESS & FIGURE PREJUDGING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, March 28, 2008 Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio

CHECK-IN: All fitness and figure athletes must check in at Veterans Memorial, Wayne Breem Room between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday February 28, 2008. To accommodate the change in height classes we request you utilize this extra time for checking in. Your meeting will start promptly at 6:00 p.m.

FITNESS ROUTINE ROUND (Veterans Memorial Main Stage) 7:00 p.m.
• Short Class 10 competitors, approx time 25 minutes
• Medium Class 5 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Tall Class 1 competitor, approx 5 minutes

FIGURE ONE PIECE ROUND (Veterans Memorial Main Stage) 7:45 p.m.
No competitor will do an individual presentation. Competitors will come out in small groups of six or seven at one time and go through the mandatory poses. At the conclusion of that assessment they will again take the stage as a group and be separated for comparisons.
• Class A 29 competitors, approx time 20 minutes
• Class B 9 competitors, approx time 7 minutes
• Class C 21 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Class D 18 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Class E 22 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Class F 27 competitors, approx time 20 minutes
*All class numbers subject to change upon check-in and the re-heighting of all figure athletes

FITNESS TWO PIECE ROUND (Veterans Memorial Main Stage) 9:15 p.m
No competitor will do an individual presentation. Competitors will come out in small groups of six or seven at one time and go through the mandatory poses. At the conclusion of that assessment they will again take the stage as a group and be separated for comparisons.
• Short Class 10 competitors, approx time 5 minutes
• Medium Class 5 competitors, approx time 5 minutes
• Tall Class 1 competitor, approx 5 minutes

FIGURE TWO PIECE ROUND (Veterans Memorial Main Stage) 9:30 p.m.
No competitor will do an individual presentation. Competitors will come out in small groups of six or seven at one time and go through the mandatory poses. At the conclusion of that assessment they will again take the stage as a group and be separated for comparisons.
• Class A 29 competitors, approx time 20 minutes
• Class B 9 competitors, approx time 7 minutes
• Class C 21 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Class D 18 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Class E 22 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Class F 27 competitors, approx time 20 minutes

FITNESS ONE PIECE ROUND (Veterans Memorial Main Stage) 11:00 p.m.
No competitor will do an individual presentation. Competitors will come out in small groups of six or seven at one time and go through the mandatory poses. At the conclusion of that assessment they will again take the stage as a group and be separated for comparisons.
• Short Class 10 competitors, approx time 5 minutes
• Medium Class 5 competitors, approx time 5 minutes
• Tall Class 1 competitor, approx 5 minutes

Announcement of the top ten competitors in each class at the conclusion of the Fitness One Piece round in the main auditorium at Veterans Memorial.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2008 FINALS FOR ALL FITNESS & FIGURE CLASSES 10:00 a.m.:
Main expo stage at the Columbus Convention Center. The top ten in each fitness and figure class must be in attendance.

MENS AND WOMANS BODYBUILDING PREJUDGING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday February 29, 2008
CHECK-IN: Early check-in and weigh-ins are available to all male and female bodybuilders starting at 2:00 p.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. Thursday February 28, 2008 at the Veterans Memorial Hall, Wayne Breem Room. FINAL WEIGH-INS will be held Friday, February 29, 2008 in the same location from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. with the competitors meeting to follow.

WOMANS Bodybuilding (Veterans Memorial Hall Main Stage) 9:00 a.m.
No competitor will do 60 free posing round. Competitors will come out in small groups of six or seven at one time and go through the symmetry round then move right to the comparison round.
• Lightweight Class 17 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Middleweight Class 10 competitors, approx time 15 minutes
• Heavyweight Class 5 competitors, approx time 10 minutes

MENS BODYBUILDING (Veterans Memorial Hall Main Stage) 9:45 a.m.
• Batemweight Class 5 competitors approx time 10 minutes
• Lightweight Class 5 competitors approx time 10 minutes
• Welterweight Class 5 competitors approx time 10 minutes
• Middleweight Class 12 competitors approx 20 minutes
• Light Heavyweight Class 24 competitors approx 30 minutes
• Heavyweight Class 8 competitors approx 15 minutes
• Super Heavyweight Class 14 competitors approx 20 minutes
Announcement of the top five competitors in each class at the conclusion of the mens prejudging in the main auditorium at Veterans Memorial.

The finals and awards for Male and Female bodybuilding will take place on the main Expo stage in the Columbus Convention Center on Saturday, March 1, 2008. The top 5 athletes in each class will need to be present with routine music by 8:30 a.m at the main Expo stage inside the Columbus Convention Center

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2008 FINALS FOR ALL MENS AND WOMANS CLASSES 10:00 a.m.:
Main expo stage at the Columbus Convention Center. The top five in each mens and womans bodybuilding classes and the top ten in each fitness and figure class must be in attendance

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
• Introduction of Fitness top ten in one piece swimsuit, all classes
• Introduction of Figure top ten in one piece swimsuit, all classes
• Womans bodybuilding top five routines for each class immediately followed by awards
• Mens bodybuilding top five routines for each class immediately followed by awards
• Introduction of Fitness top five in two piece swimsuit immediately followed by awards
• Introduction of Figure top five in two piece swimsuit immediately followed by awards
• Womans Bodybuilding overall posedown followed by award
• Fitness overall posedown followed by award
• Figure overall posedown followed by award
• Mens Bodybuilding overall posedown followed by award

* All athletes will be given a wrist band for entrance into the Columbus Convention Center Main Expo Hall for the duration of the weekend. This wrist band will need to be displayed for you to gain access to the event hall for the finals on Saturday morning

I call this post, "Abstaining from Aunt Bea’s Super-Fantastic Apple Pie — Nuances of Winter Contest Prep…"  LOL, here goes…

No wonder competitors are dropping like flies — cold weather dieting is a — well, it’s a bitch.  The process started when I went home to NY for the holidays.  I cranked away on the Stairmaster circa 1992 at the local Y, and followed that with a trip to my parents to be greeted by dad.

“Why don’t you eat something normal?”

There are no vegetables in season; cardio outside may give you a little touch of the hypothermia.

In the Texas summer heat, being at 10% body fat is a real advantage; 100° air is in balance with my body and I save on electric.  Lately, I have been freezing.  The other night, I literally woke up in the middle of the night and loaded everything in my linen closet on top of my bedspread.  I woke the next morning in a mess of shams and hand-towels.

Whining aside, there are advantages to being in shape in the dead of winter.  Local photographers, without Bridezilla or graduating seniors consuming all of their time, are bored and far more likely to collaborate on an artistic project.  Also, if you want to go for an overall title at a smaller show, you’re already in shape for it!

If you’re not competing, you really should come to the Arnold Expo.  If you enjoy bodybuilding supplements or hot women, it’s a little slice of heaven.  If you are a meathead/science dork (like me) then check out the StrenthPro Strength-Training Summit.  Two of my profs from Baylor are speaking and I may assist them if I don’t make it to the amateur figure finals (I’m trying to see it as a win-win )  I’ll also be at the Hardfitness booth, probably on Friday.

So in conclusion: train hard; eat clean; check the date, love your state!

Ok, so here I am, 3 weeks before my competition. I was invited to compete at the biggest show of the year, the Arnold Classic.  After only 2 years of competition, I am gonna be competing against the best physiques in the world!

It’s a long and hard journey to get there. I have so many shoots and contracts booked before the show. Hard to focus!!  My diet is really getting into me now. I will go for a leaner and harder look then the one I had at the 2007 Figure Universe. I just hope I make it to the top 10 so I can make the finals!!!

I heard there is a lot of politics at these big events so I have no clue what’s gonna happen. It’s my first time in an NPC show. They
have never seen my face, so hopefully I will leave them a good impression. Like always, I go there with my head up straight, go there to have the best time of my life, have fun and be proud to be onstage!!!

Wish me luck!!  See you soon!

Michèle Levesque

Here is the competitors list:

Body:  No.; Competitor; Hometowns

Lightweight

1. Glenda Bozett Northport, New York
2. Millie Cleveland Smiths Parish, Bermuda
3. Ellen Ferra Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
4. Antoinette Gast. APO, AE
5. Maryann Glascock Fairfax Station, Virginia
6. Cindy Goodrich Seattle, Washington
7. Lisa Janusz Lewis Center, Ohio
8. Karen Jones Ft. Worth, Texas
9. Dee Lazard Houston, Texas
10. Genevieve Moreno Eugene, Oregon
11. Shona Pryce Riviera Beach, Florida
12. Penny Ruff Hiram, Georgia
13. Lori Snyder DuBois, Pennsylvania
14. Joanne Stewart New Zealand
15. Ebony Thomas Lansing, Illinois
16. Carrie Walend Lorain, Ohio

Middleweight

1. Barbara Barnowich Halethorpe, Maryland
2. Colleen Brock Lakewood, Ohio
3. Tammy Jackson Fresno, California
4. Alisha Morrow Peoria, Illinois
5. Holly Nicholson Las Vegas, Nevada
6. Christy Resendes Fairhaven, Massaccucetts
7. Ayeda Silent Clayton, Delaware
8. Carrie Simmons Philadelphis, Pennsylvania
9. Alicia St. Germaine Harrison Twp, Michigan
10. Becky West Malibu, California

Heavyweight

1. Marylynne MacKenzie Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
2. Fie Ottosen Loesburg, Virginia
3. Evy Rustad Oslo, Norway

Glenda Bozett
http://www.glendabozett.com
Gold’s Gym Personal Trainer

I am extremely excited to be doing the Arnold Amateur this year.  I will be competing in fitness as that is where I belong!  Fitness might not be as popular as figure but remains the most exciting part of the competition due to those high flyin’ routines.

Many of the girls competing I already know, and cannot wait to meet more.  Figure on the other hand, all I can say is ‘wow’! There are so many of you!  THIS is going to be one high quality event.

I am so glad the organizers decided to open this event up to international competitors.  It adds variety, flavor, and showcases the various styles of fitness, figure and bodybuilding presented all over the world.

To all my fellow competitors - I wish you all the best in your training, and a crave free diet!  See you in Columbus….

Allycat

This year’s Arnold Classic is a mile marker for me. I decided to enter after hearing that the show is Feb 29th. My 50th birthday is Feb 28th. So for me its personal. This is the present I have given to myself.

My goal is to stand under a Arnold Classic banner with a trophy at my feet. I plan to make a birthday post card that says..  Linda is celebrating 50 years of health and fitness!  You can see me in the figure "C" class amateur division.

Linda Smith
Charlotte, N.C.
Train/coach/IFBB PRO Johnny Stewart

I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be competing in the Arnold Classic Amateur. The competitiors are strong and I am fortunate to be among them. This will be my first National Level show and I hope to bring my best to the stage.  I have been training hard, put on about 5 lbs of muscle for symmetry, and dieting is going good. I am proud to say I am probably one of the few competitors that can actually say I am a grandmother!  Training and competing keeps me young!

Also, I am excited to be working for Isatori at the Expo. handing out a new product, so look for me and say hello!  

Stacey Pillari