2009 Arnold Blog

If you are a trainer, strength coach, or just someone looking to gain more knowledge on exercise and health, this conference is a must for you!

With more then 40 hours of lectures to choose from, everything and anything sport training will be discussed. The Arnold Strength Training Summit features internationally known speakers, researchers, and practitioners and covers every discipline of exercise training including kids, athletes, military and protective services, and general health and fitness.

There are many lectures to choose from but be sure not to miss IFBB Fitness Pro Carla Sanchez who will be speaking again at the Strength Summit [ 10am on Sat ] at the Arnold, and will be around the VPX booth co-hosting video interviews this year at the Expo.

Also, Elaine Goodlad and Carla are very excited to be co-hosting the Bodybuilding.com live webcast finals on Friday night! For more info on the show click here.

Get all the newest Arnold Wallpapers from Bodybuilding.com right here.

Check out this awesome 2009 Arnold: Figure International Wallpaper and get it as your wallpaper now!

Get all your coverage of the 2009 Arnold  from Bodybuilding.com right here.

Listen in as Ironman Magazine’s Senior Editor Ruth Silverman joins Living Beautiful Radio with 2009 Arnold predictions and more.

Catch the latest show right here:
Living Beautiful Radio Player

LBR - Straight From Nancy Di Nino:

“Well this week on Living Beautiful Radio with of course, myself and Dr. Navarro, we did our annual Arnold Predictions for the women’s Figure, Fitness and Bodybuilding. Joining us was Ruth Silverman of Ironman Magazine who is our official contest correspondent. She is always a bunch of laughs and when the 3 of us get together to discuss the business of fitness… well it’s very much like “The View”. Dr. Navarro tends to put things more mildly but Dr. Ruth and I…we just like to tell it how it is. None the less, we seem to have the same opinion on who will most likely place where.

We did agree that for Figure, Gina Aliotti would keep her title. In fitness, with both Adela Garcia and Kim Klein out of the equation we agreed, “who would be crazy enough to bet against our girl Jen Hendershott???”. Lastly for women’s bodybuilding… we think Iris will do it like she normally does.

To listen to all our predictions, the show replays are now available online at www.LivingBeautifulRadio.com. You can even podcast this episode and other past shows to your IPOD and listen while you work out. The show is available now for replay or download.

So the Arnold starts this Thursday March 5 with the amateurs. Dr. Navarro and I will be running around getting official statements and comments from the ladies. On Friday you will find me at the women’s prejudging at the expo which starts at 12 noon. We will indeed be sitting with Ruth Silverman and we always find it interesting to see how close we were in our predictions. Sometimes, something completely off the wall happens and we sit and look at each other like “what the hell…” and then we laugh at ourselves!

On Saturday I will be joining Ruth for her post video wrap up of the women that she does for Ironman. You will be able to watch that on www.ironmanmagazine.com shortly after the weekend. And you know Ruthie and I will always give you the goods like it went down… and leave you with some entertaining lava!

Nancy Di Nino, Co-Host
www.LivingBeautifulRadio.com”

Thanks,
The Crush
View My BodySpace

2009 Fitness International: Oksana Grishina!

2009 Fitness International: IFBB Fitness Pro Oksana Grishina!

Photo Courtesy Of Isaac Hinds.

Check Out Our Upcoming 2009 Arnold Coverage Here!

Here is IFBB Fitness Pro Erin Riley going through her unorthodox training routine 4 weeks out from the 2009 Ms. Fitness International. To say Erin is "hardcore" is an understatement. Look for her to have a big impact this year on the pro circuit.

These were filmed at BodyGoals in Fairfield, NJ.

The 2009 4th Annual Arnold Boxing Invitational Championships will showcase beginner to elite level USA Amateur boxers in a USA Boxing sanctioned competition. We have added another RING and ready to start the competition.

Friday March 6th, 3:00 - 6:00, Former World Heayweight Champion of the World James Buster Douglas will be appearing to welcome youth amateur boxers and to introduce USA Boxing team member Vanessa Jackson.

More info click here.

Lenay Hernandez Heads to her First Figure International

By: Isaac Hinds

IFBB Figure Pro Lenay Hernandez took the competitive figure stage by storm in 2008. She entered the NPC JR USA as her first national show and left with the overall crown. A few months later she was on the Olympia Figure stage knocking on the door of a top ten finish. Now she heads into the Arnold Classic to compete in the Figure International. I caught up with Lenay as she heads into one of the most prestigious shows in the IFBB.

What’s your name? Lenay Hernandez

Where do you currently live? Miami, Florida

How many years have you been training? 7 years

How many years have you been competing? 9 months

Your age? A quarter of a century, figure it out -ha ha

How tall are you?  5′2 1/2″  

Contest History?
1st - Jr. USA overall *turned PRO
2nd - IFBB Houston Pro *qualified for Olympia
11th - 2008 IFBB Figure Olympia

How did you find out you had been invited?
A little birdie sent me a txt message telling me the list was out, hint hint Isaac!!

How’s your prep going for the Arnold thus far?
My prep is going great, training hard and challenging my body to the limit, it just gets better and better-a lot of work though its not easy but totally worth it.

Goal for the Arnold?
I’m not going to BS, top 6 is my goal!!!

Did you ever imagine you would be on the Arnold stage?
I did imagine it, just not this quickly.

What have you been working on in your off season?
I’ve been trying to get my delts fuller and rounder and lean my quads a little more

Give us a sample of one of your days when it comes to your meals.
We carb cycle a lot but for the most part egg whites and oat meal, chicken, telapia, sweet potatoes ( which I love) and a whole lot of broccoli. No more peanut butter.

Favorite supplements when dieting?
Glutamine, fat burners, protein, multi-vitamins and my omega 3’s.

What supplement could you not live without?
My fat burners, they get me through my cardio.

How much cardio do you do a day?
Two sessions, anywhere from and hour and a half to 2 hours.

What type of cardio do you get the best results from?
I do a lot of intervals, mostly stairs or I walk at very high incline and incorporate sprints here and there in addition to the elliptical.

Favorite bodypart to train?
Delts!!

What music are you listening to while training?
I don’t listen to music its just the weights and me. No one else I focus and its my time to grow- just me and the weights.

One thing people may not know about you?
I love sushi, napping, massages and I’m a total stay in home movie girl. I’m also a hopeless romantic.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A lawyer or a cop.

You’re also working towards becoming a police officer, tell us about  that. Where are you at on that and what’s next?
I am in the process, hopefully I will get hired very quickly we are more than half way through, after police I’m thinking of going back to school and obtaining my bachelors in something.

What will we see you eating after the show?
The vanilla cup cake you owe me w/ butter cream frosting. Haha. And most likely sushi or pasta

You like to lift heavy. Why do you lift heavy and aren’t you afraid of getting big and bulky?
I lift as heavy as I can, the more muscle u have the more fat u burn. I diet and train hard - I will not get bulky and big, its just a myth.

If you weren’t competing in figure what would you be doing?
Some sort of sport. I love being active and staying healthy and fit. It’s my lifestyle.

Any tips for women just getting started in competing?
Yes, love what you do. Its mind over matter. It takes discipline and dedication. No one said it would be easy but they said it wold be worth it!!! And NEVER give up or doubt yourself. The mind is a very powerful tool.

Thanks Lenay. We’ll see you in Columbus.
You are very welcome Isaac. Thank you for making my cardio on the elliptical go by so quickly.

My goals for the AC Figure International are to come in how my fans want to see me- conditioned and a bit more blonde! Ha!
This will mark my 15th (straight!) time at the AC Expo to work and my 8th time to be on stage between Fitness and Figure! Hard to believe I have made so many years in a row..  time flies!

I am honored to be invited and looking forward to seeing everyone again throughout the show!

Please visit my ‘On Tour’ section of my site to find out exactly what booth(s) I’ll be — might change at the last minute before the show!
Can’t wait!

Stay Fit, Love Life & God Bless U!!
Monica Brant-Peckham
www.monicabrant.com
www.femcamp.net
www.MOJOWellnessPros.com

For more on the Arnold click here.

Monica Brant-Peckham

New Competition Highlights Pageant Physique

Columbus, Ohio — A new National Physique Committee (NPC) competitive division will be showcased at the 2009 Arnold Amateur Competitions. The 2009 NPC Amateur Bikini Championships will be held Thursday, March 5, 2009 at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Athletes in this division will be evaluated on the overall balance and shape of their physiques, physical appearance, complexion, skin tone, poise, and overall presentation.

Mike Davies, Co-Promoter of the Arnold Amateur competitions commented, “This division is a welcome competitive opportunity for a wide range of amateur contestants. These are athletes who train to achieve a sleek yet less athletic physique. Their body fat tends to be a bit higher and their training focuses on intense aerobics and limited weight training. There are many athletes who wish to compete on stage without the intense training required for Figure and Fitness competitions.”

IFBB Professional Fitness Competitor Julie Palmer added, “The sanctioning of this new NPC division is an avenue to bring a new league of competitors to the NPC amateur ranks. Ultimately, it will increase the number of Figure and Fitness athletes who arise in time from the NPC Bikini division.”

Each competitor will be asked to walk on-stage alone and perform a Model Walk that will include a walk to the center stage, a front stance, rear stance, and full turn in front of the assembled NPC judges. Competitors will be judged wearing a two-piece swimsuit and heels.

Two divisions will compete as up to and including 5’4 and those over 5’4. Awards will be presented to the top ten in each division. The Overall Champion will receive a limited edition Arnold Fitness Weekend jacket and a one-year subscription to Posedown Magazine.

For more information go to arnoldsportsfestival.com

I was fortunate enough to have an interview with the defending Figure International Champion Gina Aliotti. Will she repeat as champion? We’ll just have to wait until March 6 to find out.

http://www.fitgemsnation.net/page/fitgems-nation-exclusive-1

The Arnold is only 3 weeks away, get all your information about the Festival right here.

The 2009 Arnold Sports Festival, the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend, will be held March 6-8, featuring 38 events including 12 Olympic sports. Over 17,000 athletes will compete. Learn more here.

For information on Webcasts, results, reviews, pictures and more check out the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival Main Page right here.

2009 Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International and Figure International competitor listings;

Arnold Classic

Ahmad Haidar
Branch Warren
Dennis James
Gustavo Badell
Johnnie Jackson
Kai Greene
Marcus Haley
Moe Elmoussawi
Ronny Rockel
Sergey Shelestov
Silvio Samuel
Toney Freeman
Victor Martinez

Ms. International

Heather (Policky) Armburst
Dayana Cadeau
Iris Floyd Kyle
Maria Del Carmen Gomez
Rosemary Jennings
Debi Laszewski
Cathy LeFrancois
Mah-Ann Mendoza
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Betty Pariso
Brenda Raganot
Isabelle Turell
Betty Viana-Adkins
Dena Westerfield

Fitness International
Jessica Clay
Regiane Da Silva
Nicole Duncan
Tina Durkin
Heidi Fletcher-Sullivan
Bethany Gainey
Tracey Greenwood
Oksana Grishina
Jen Hendershott
Tanji Johnson
Shannon Meteraud
Mindi O’brien
Julie Palmer
Erin Riley
Trish Warren
Nicole Wilkins-Lee

Figure International

Gina Aliotti
Huong Arcinas
Monica Brant
Heather Mae French
Amy Fry
Adela Garcia
Jennifer Gates
Sonia (Adcock) Gonzales
Lenay Hernandez
Georgina Lona
Juliana Malacarne
Zivile Raudoniene
Kristal Richardson
Felicia Romero
Sherlyn Roy
Chastity Slone
Brenda Marie Smith
Erin Stern
Latisha Wilder

I had the privilege to talk to Bethany for a few seconds and ask her about the upcoming Fitness International.

Here is what she had to say;

“After just missing the Olympia in 2008, I have really worked hard in the off season to prepare for 2009. We (my trainer & I) changed up some of my conditioning and I teamed up with a new choreographer to put on a really good show for the fans!!!

I am excited to be competing in my 3rd Fitness International and I feel confident that I will bring my best yet!"