Global Gossip

Last night Nov 20 while training I saw a massive guy walk in the front door and as he had to turn to get thru the door I realized it was the 2009 British Champion who earned his Pro card this year after a long 9 years.  This year Zack was right on with his victory that pushed him into the Pro circuit.  It’s hard to appear massive in Venice with many guys weighing in the 280 and 300lb are these days.  However, Zack really stood out as was he not only massive but in good condition.  When I had the chance Zack and I spoke and this guys is so humble and down to earth it took me for a surprise.  When he learned I had just gotten out of the hospital he was very concerned with how I was doing.  He told him at the Pro level things are not just about mass so now he wants to add more detail and polish to his body.  He might look at doing the 2010 Europe and try to qualify for the Mr. O.  Zack if you come in like the British show I’m sure you’ll be on stage with Jay at the 2010 Mr. Olympia.

Trying here at Gold’s Venice you get the opportunity to see many talented athletes.  Armen Pogosyan from Russia is one guy that I’m sure you’ll see more in the near future.  I met Armen when I was in the hospital he stop by to give me some support along with Julien Greaux and Johnny DeBeer.  After I was back at Golds I found out that Armen tried his luck at the California Fitness Model contest and took a respected 2nd place.  So now this weekend he’s in Vegas competing in the Fitness Universe, where I’m sure he’ll do well.

What really impressed me was this guys background with all his education and experience.  He moved to the East coast about 5 years ago from Russia where he first received his B.S and Masters degree in Physical Education.  While in Russia he was also a Assistant Professor.  He first competed in Muay Thai where he was 2 time National Champion of Russia, then he competed in both kickboxing and arm wrestling.  Below I have listed a few of his past achievements.

• Fitness Model America, second place, Hermosa beach CA, October 2009
• National Thai-Boxing Champion of Uzbekistan, June1998
• National Thai-Boxing Champion of Uzbekistan, June 1997                        
• Second Place, National Thai-Boxing Championship of Uzbekistan, June 1999
• Third Place, National Kick-Boxing Championship of Uzbekistan, July 1999
• Third Place, National Arm-Wrestling Championship of Uzbekistan, May 2003
                                                              
• Member of National Thai-Boxing Team of Uzbekistan, 1996-2002
• Trained with the National Boxing and Arm-Wrestling Teams of Uzbekistan
• Trained with National Water Polo Team of Uzbekistan
• Competed in Uzbekistan Power Lifting Championship
• Competed in National Arm-Wrestling Championship of Kazakhstan
Armen has a wealth of knowledge and he is open to learn new things.  He has opened his own very successful personal training company and you can check out his Website: BodyEffectLA.com  Good luck in Vegas Armen

While walking into the Mecca of training, Gold’s Gym in Venice famous photographer Robert Reiff was doing a shoot with a new face to the US.  After Robert was finished I had the opportunity to speak with David Hoffman, a 29 year old bodybuilder from Koblenz Germany.  David, who like most bodybuilders I met from Europe was very polite and friendly.  Maybe some top guys here should take a few lesions.  David who has been here to train before said he’s been training for about 14 years and is now sponsored by Universal Nutrition.  In 2008 he place 5th at the World Championship but went on to win the overall at the German Nationals.  This year as a super heavy he made 4th place at the World Championship in Qatar.  With great shape and structure David should go far in the sport.

For Immediate Release
Email: jennylynnfitness@yahoo.com
Web site: www.jennylynnfitness.com

12-Time IFBB Pro Figure Champion, Jenny Lynn, retires!

Dallas, Texas – 10/30/2009 - After 10 years competing, IFBB Pro Figure Icon, Jenny Lynn has decided to retire.  She captured the very first pro figure contest in history, the 2003 Figure International. Jenny went on to win a total of 12 shows, the most of any other Professional Figure competitor, including two Figure Olympia’s and three Figure International’s throughout her eight year pro career.

Jenny is very thankful for her time spent on stage, largely because of the career she’s had the opportunity to create from it. “I have had an awesome career that I am very proud of. But, there comes a time in every athlete’s life when it’s time to step down. After 10 years competing and 31 contests later…it’s time. I’m not really sad to stop competing because honestly, the greatest success in my career has come from helping other people achieve their fitness and physique goals. I will continue to be involved in the fitness industry sharing my knowledge and experience and coaching competitors to follow in my foot steps”, says Jenny.

With the competition stage behind her and far more available time, Jenny has several projects she’s working on. She recently filmed a new training DVD prior to the Olympia with her workout partner, Trish Warren. The DVD will be for sale on our websites by December 2009. Jenny and Trish also created an apparel company that offers fun, trendy tanks, t-shirts and hats in addition to top quality active wear.

Jenny will focus a lot of her attention now on contest prep coaching and sharing her knowledge with up and coming competitors around the world. In addition to working with competitors, Jenny also conducts a 12-Week Transformation Challenge on her website. Anyone can join January 1st-April 30th, 2010. The client who makes the biggest changes to their physique in their 12-weeks wins an all expense paid trip to come train with Jenny in Dallas, Texas for a weekend. This will be her 4th year offering her very successful Transformation Challenge. Jenny says, “its been without question, the most rewarding part of my career far beyond any contest win!”

Jenny is also working on coordinating several seminars across the US for 2010 and is working on e-books and workouts that will be downloadable from her website in the next couple months as well.  And lastly, Jenny is now offering in-home personal training where clients have the opportunity to either live with Jenny or have her stay with them for a period of time to learn first-hand everything involved in achieving their goals and leading a healthy lifestyle!!!

To enlist Jenny’s help in achieving your own fitness and physique goals go to:
www.jennylynnfitness.com

Last night I had the honor of attending the weeding of both my business partner and great friend Peter Mikhail.  It was a beautiful ceremony in Dana Point with a great fun filled reception at the Westin Hotel. A lot of people from the fitness industry were there but two of my favorites were my co-host of instructionalfitness, Sherlyn Roy and Mike O’hearn.  Sherlyn did the Ms.Olympia as her first year as a pro and will compete again in another week.  Sherlyns boyfriend Mike O’hearn was part of the wedding party and Mike had just finished some photo shoots the day before.  When you get to know Mike he is very down to earth and a caring friend.  Peter, came up with the ideal of our company instructionalfitness.com after he hired me to help him in his recovery from overcoming cancer.  This guy is no quitter and it shows in all aspects of his life.  His beautiful new bride Mikela, who is a successful Attorney is so down to earth and a giving person.  We wish them many happy wonderful years to come.

If you’ve been at Golds Venice within the past two years then I’m sure you have seen another hugh European making the gym his new home.  For 18 years Aiman Faour lived in Germany where he owned a gym, however he was born in Lebanon where he still owns a gym.  Aiman hits about 315 0r 330 in the off season and moves some heavy Iron, yet when he starts his contest diet his strength still is there.  I’ve trained with Aiman since my old partner Armin Scholtz( who was 360 lb) went back to Germany, and Aiman loves to bust his ass in the gym as he’s always pushing himself to the limit.  In the past we have worked with Charles Glass, then Val( trained Mike Mentzer ) but now Aiman has started working with Robert Sherman, who use to be Charles Glass training partner.  Robert has trained Will Harris, Silvio and now for the past 6 weeks Aiman.  With one week out from the Pro Sacramento Aiman is looking tight at 276lb.  We will see if this new edition to his team will make a difference on stage. Best of luck next week Aiman.

This is a repost from IntenseMuscle, another board I am currently a moderator for (Female Forums); The interviewer is a fellow competitor,   and friend Brandon Morrison; Brandon is interviewing Heather and her husband Dylan Armbrust immediately after her 2nd place IFBB OLYMPIA placing this year.  
This is at Dylan and Heather’s gym in Wheatridge, Colorado; its also my gym and its outstanding.  Heather, Phil Heath, Heather Mae French, all current and active members.  Congratulations to Heather and excellent job Brandon!

[link]http://www.teamskip.net/heathera.html[/link]

I was talking with IFBB Pro’s Silvio and Aiman Faour the other day about guest posing and training in the Middle East.  They suggested that I might want to call their friend Sami Al Haddad who was going to compete Nov at the IFBB world show in Qatar. Sami or “Blacksmith ” was born on 24 June 1973, in Muharraq, Bahrain. Today he lives in Manama, Bahrain, which is the capital and trains at Ghassan gym. I contacted Sami and even though he was tired with one week out from his show he still was very friendly.  This guy will do some serious damage on the Pro level with his great shape and sharp condition.

He started training in 1991 when he was 18 years old and started competing in 1992.  He has competed in the following contest.

CONTESTS WON:

Mr. Bahrain 1992-99
Mr. U.A.E 1996
Mr. Kuwait 1997-98
Mr. Asia 1993-94 (junior)( best poser)
Mr. Asia 1998
Mr. Qatar and Arab Gulf (Overall) 2002
Mr. Arab Gulf, heavweight and overall (2004)
Mr. MuscleMania World Champion, Pro Division (2007)
PDI Battle of the Giants, Norway (2007)
UPBF Battle of the Giants, Norway (2008)
IFBB Mr. Asia, IndiaNorway (2009)
OTHER PLACINGS:

Mr. Arab 98 (2nd place)
Mr. Middle East 97 (2nd place)
Mr. Asia 1997 (2nd place, 85 kg class)
Asian Games 2002 (2nd place, 85 kg class)
Mr. Asia 2003 (3rd place, 85 kg class)
PDI New York Night of the Champions 2006 (3rd place, Pro Division)
PDI London Night of the Champions 2006 (2nd place, Pro Division)
PDI France Night of the Champions, 2007 (2nd place)  
  
A very impressive list I think. Sami told he he follows a low carb diet and will stay on it for 10 to 12 weeks leading up to his contest.  At 5′7 he starts his diet at 231 pounds and steps on stage around 212 pounds. Good luck with your show Sami!

Chris Mordetzky returned to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on July 27, 2009 as "The Masterpiece".  Chris had been wrestling outide of the WWE before his comeback.  If you have ran into Chris at Golds Venice then Im sure you’ll agree he is a very friendly guy but when it comes to his training he’s all business.

I have known Chris for over 10 years and he told me before he ever started to lift at Golds that one day he was going to be a famous wrestler, now look at him.  This kid, back then had a dream and he didn’t let anything stand in his way.  Even as a pro wrestler he had many challenges to face from past injuries, suspension and then a peck tear.  These things just fueled his drive to be back on top.  But what is most impressive to me is how down top earth Chris has remained.  We just talked by phone and I wanted to know how is comeback was going but Chris was more concern with how I was doing since getting out of the hospital.  Keep your eye on this man as he will set a big impression upon the people that his life touches.

I have been very blessed in that about 4 or 5 years ago I became friends with Julien Greaux.  In 2002 Julien moved from St. Barts where he was born to the United States with only $400 in his pocket.  Julien said at the airport in Los Angeles he threw away his return ticket they way he couldn’t give and return home if things got rough.  Be assure he says that in the begining it was very hard.  But this guy is no quitter!  Julien, who has done martial arts since the age of 9 keep focused on his training and goals.  Since then he has appeared on more than 20 magazine covers, he’s a BSN athlete and recently Julien signed a big movie deal and is set to play the lead in a Martial Arts action trilogy entitled “Wings Of The Dragon”,  Filming of the movie will start soon.

Julien is always a positive person to be around and goes the extra mile for his friends.  When I was in the hospital Julien made sure he visited seeing if I needed extra food or supplements.  After I was released he took time out of his busy scheduel to help me design a rehab routine for myself.

Check your local magazine store as you’ll soon see Julien on the covers of both “Status Fitness” and “Maximum Fitness”

Well, if your serving in the Armed Forces this isn’t a time you’ll get to relax and get some sun but instead you’ll get to work 12 hours per day and room with 5000 other service members.  My nephew, who is a medic sent me a few pictures from his ship the USS Nimitz an aircraft carrier where they will spend the next 8 months at sea.  Shane said everyone trains during the free time and the ship holds different contest.  The last contest was a  mini-duathalon (9 mile run/20 mile bike ride). Shane who didn’t train for the endurance event got 2nd place but
was beat by a 23 year old officer who was a track star at the naval academy.  Shane keep up the hard training and thank you and everyone aboard the USS Nimitz.

Back in 2007 I was training at Golds Venice for my first return contest after a long layoff when I was lucky enough to meet this gentle giant from Chile.  His nickname “Toro” did him justice with his massive size and kick ass training style.  But from spending time at Golds and Max Muscle I got to know Christian Lobarede.  Christian outside of the gym was very laid back and relaxed as if never stressed, although like everyone he had his share of problems.  He was training at Golds in effort to improve his condition and mass as a pro bodybuilder.  Christian was always willing to take his time to help explain and teach me things.  I didn’t find out until later but on the day of my show Christian was there sitting in the hot sun to chear me on, however later in the day he had to go to th ER as he wasn’t feeling well.  Thinking it was pneumonia the Doctors admitted him but he was later released after a few days.  A few weeks passed but Christian starting getting worst and was placed back into the hospital but this time it would end his bodybuilding career on stage.  With his illness he returned back to Chile where he lived and worked.  He had to change his diet to a very low protein diet but as they say when one door closes another will open, and it did.  Christian went on to open 4 nutrition stores and last year he promoted 5 contest in Chile bringing guest posers like Jay Cutler, Ronnie Coleman…  This year he held one show in May and the next one is Nov 2009.  But the biggest reward Christian got was when he met Meryano Vy who is a Bikini and Fitness Model.  She was guest posing at a contest when they met and have been together since.  Christian got out of the hospital in California Sept 18, 2007 and he was married two years later on the same date in Easter Island.  He told me he thought that he couldn’t live without bodybuilding but his wife has made him see how good and what life can be like with the one you love.  Congratulations on your new begining together.

If you look at any of the to bodybuilding magazines then I’m sure you’ll know Binais.  This guy is full of talent and surprises.  I was lucky enough to be at a contest with Ifbb Pro Armin Scholtz and saw my friend Johnny DeBeer with Binais.  We all went out to eat after the contest and Binais was just one joke after another.  I would later see him many times when I was doing a shoot at Milos gym The Koloseum in Fullerton Ca. or Golds Venice.  I’ve always felt connected to Binais as we can talk about training and diet or business or even spirtural things.  He’s not just a musclehead.  One day Binais and I were joking about all of our friends getting married except for we were the last two left.  To my surprise I found out yesterday that he’s now engaged.  It seems he found the right girl, who from what my friends tell me he adores.  Her name is Cat and besides being beautiful and a fitness model she is a surgeon.  What more can a guy ask for.  Binais has been staying busy opening his new supplement business along with bringing GASP clothing to California.  Binais has went from being born in Montenegro and getting his blackbelt in Judo at age 16.   At which that time his family moved to Sweden and Binais started weight training.  When he relocated to America he went on to compete in Bodybuilding before going full time into Fitness Modeling and acting.  I don’t think anything can hold this couple back!

My good friend from Hawaii Shavis Higa has had a impressive career as an amateur bodybuilder.  From winning shows in Hawaii to taking 1st place in three different weight classes within 3 years in a row at the USA.  Shavis always come in thick and hard for each contest and when I ask him if he had any secrets he said " I just keep everything the same the last week, why should I change what got me to that point."

In the past year Shavis wife who is an RN took her first step on stage and did very well in her first contest.  I can only guess how their kids would do in the sport!  In the past Shavis has stuck with only doing the USA wanting to win each weight class he entered and now with his backing from Gaspari Nutrition he will do the 2009 Nationals next month, along with a guest posing spot in Hawaii.  He just might walk away this time with that Pro card!

The man behind bringing Vitargo to the Us is none other than Anthony L. Almada (M.Sc.), who is a scientist and a sports supplements pioneer. He performed his undergraduate training (B.S.) in physiology and nutritional biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine and California State University, Long Beach. He then performed his graduate (M.Sc.) research at the University of California, Berkeley, exploring the impact of exercise upon tissue antioxidant status and kinetics, including vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q and glutathione. In 1992 Anthony co-founded Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS).  Later, Anthony co-founded a medical food company and, working with university researchers, developed a clinically validated product to prevent HIV wasting.  He has collaborated on over 50 university clinical trials, ranging from AIDS/HIV and ALS to zinc metabolism in osteoarthritis.

I was first introduced in 2007 to Vitargo by Mr. O Jay Cutler and CEO of John Scotts Nitro supplements.  I was in love with the product and wrote to Anthony about a sponshorship as I was getting back on stage at the Masters Nationals.  At first Genr8 said no but upon writing Anthony and sending pictures he invited me to meet with him and the inventory of the product from Sweden.  Would my world change from that night as not only did they accept me as Ambassador for Vitargo but I would later become good friends to my mentor Anthony.  If you ever have a chance to speak with Anthony you will see this guy is so full of knowledge it’s scary.

Moving forward to this year at the Arnold Classic there were two bodybuilders working the booth, Ernie "Mongo" Chang of Hawaii and myself.  However, since that time Genr8 has exploded into so many other sports from Kettlebell contest, Cycling, Armed Forces training along with many more.  At the Mr. O for 2009 Genr8 introduced two other Pro bodybuilders on their team.  Shawn Ray who everyone knows is now the Chief Consultant/Strategist, Physique Sports for the company.  Also Shawn Rhoden was a sponshor athlete of Genr8 that used only Vitargo as his carb source while on his diet that took him to 1st place overall at the 2009 North America bodybuilding contest.

So if your looking to for that extra edge in your training give Vitargo a try!