2010 Iron Man Blog

Registration is now open for the 2010 Bodybuilding.com BodySpace Spokesmodel Search Contest, Presented by Iron Man Magazine!

Sign up now to compete against other BodySpace members for a chance to become the next BodySpace Spokesmodel!  10 finalists will be flown down to Los Angeles next January to compete before a live crowd at the 2010 Los Angeles Fitness Expo during the 2010 Iron Man Pro weekend! 

Rules and Details here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2010-ironman-bodyspace-spokesmodel-search.htm

Registration Form here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/2010-ironman-bodyspace-spokesmodel-registration.htm

Forum Thread here:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=118414801

Note: Voting started Tuesday, September 1st.  Click here to vote for your favorite men and women:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2010-ironman-bodyspace-spokesmodel-voting.htm

The man behind Genr8 which is the company that has brought Vitargo here to the USA is none other than Anthony Almada.  If your not up to date with this man he was the inventor of creatine and then EAS which he sold to Bill Philips.  Anthony is full of information and willing to share it with anyone wanting to learn.  So needless to say he was busy all weekend answering questions about his new great product VitargoS2

Nick Scott is a True Hero and Inspiration, he was diagnosed as a paraplegic and told he was never going to walk again. Nick was on his was to football practice when his left front tire blew out and rolled his vehicle 5 times ejecting him from his seat and through the drivers side window and eventually collided with his car in mid-air.

Stop buy and meet Nick at the Bodybuilding.com booth at the Iron Man.

Nick was 300 lbs at the age of 17 and is now 180 lbs at 26. He decided that "the one thing you gain from losing everything, Is perspective"

See his full story at Nick Fitness

or check him out as The Male Transformation of the Week

Stop by his BodySpace and let him know what an amazing job he has done.

The 2009 ProFight Supplements Los Angeles Fitness Expo™ presented by Gaspari Nutrition and Bodybuilding.com, California’s largest health and fitness weekend, returns Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25 to the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, South Halls G & H.

Now in its sixth year, attendees will find more competitions, demonstrations, seminars and fitness exhibits then ever before. The weekend offers something for everyone from weekend workout devotees to those who make their career out of being in shape. Exhibits will offer the latest in fitness, diet, nutrition, strength and wellness products and services with tons of free samples and giveaways.

The ProFight Supplements Los Angeles Fitness Expo also offers 10 major competitions, including three all-new contests introduced this year:

Wardance Entertainment presents the AMERICAN STREET DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP V “Take it to the Floor,” where the best street dancers in the world will come to battle in Locking, Popping, BBoying and Hip-Hop competitions. ASDC will take place on Sunday January 25th.

THE GRACIE KIDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. This is the first event of its kind and based on the success of the 2008 US Nationals, which featured hundreds of Jiu Jitsu and grappling competitors from as far away as New Zealand, it is sure to be a big hit.
The inaugural FITEXPO SUMO GRAND PRIX, an International Sumo tournament. Event host, Troy Collins, President & Trustee of the United States Sumo Federation, brings his world-class competitors to the ProFight Supplements Los Angeles Fitness Expo stage in one of the oldest and most revered sports in the world.

Expo attendees will cheer on competitors participating in returning contests including Gaspari Nutrition All American Strongman Challenge, The Acid Zapper Scot Mendelson Pro Bench Press Classic, The Gracie US Nationals and Con-Cret USPF American Cup Powerlifting Championship.

IRON MAN Magazine will present The 20th Annual IFBB IRON MAN Pro Bodybuilding Finals, Saturday, January 24th at 8:00 PM. The IRON MAN Pro is the leading professional bodybuilding event on the West Coast and the only professional show in California, the Mecca of the sport. (Separate ticket required).

The Gladiator Challenge, pioneers in live MMA events, will return with REVOLUTION, 14 live MMA cage fights featuring some of the hottest fighters and biggest stars in mixed martial arts. This event will be held on Sunday, January 25 at 1:00 PM. (Separate ticket required).

Several contests offering cash prizes are open to participation by ProFight Supplements Los Angeles Fitness Expo attendees. The Fittest Couple Contest offers $1,500 in cash and the Champion Nutrition Maxreps 4 Cash Contest offers four unique competitions with $2,000 up for grabs to individuals who can curl a 65 lb. barbell and bench press, pull up, or push up the most times.

Throughout the weekend, many leading fitness professionals will be presenting educational seminars and interactive demonstrations on subjects such as proper nutrition and dieting, exercise philosophies, making health and fitness your business and many more.

Speakers to date include: Jay Cutler, two-time Mr. Olympia, and Dexter Jackson, 2008 Mr. Olympia, both courtesy of FLEX; Dawn Harper, US athlete who brought home the gold medal for the 100 Meter Hurdle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics; Herb Dean, UFC celebrity referee; Brenda Kelly, international cover model and fitness writer; Roland Kickinger, renowned bodybuilder, fitness coach and star of the highly-anticipated Terminator 4 set for release in spring 2009 and Dr. Del Millers, nutritionist/author/personal fitness consultant with his popular cooking demos and more.

Explosive MMA demonstrations will include: Greg Jackson, creator of the Jackson Fighting System and Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine demonstrating the teacher/student relationship that has won them both glory in their chosen sport; Erik Bryant, Nick Papadakis, Brian Alagao and Roan Kalani Grimm from Smash League bring MMA to the next level with full contact weapon fight demos; KNOCKOUT Promotions offering hands on information on how to be the next MMA champion with techniques, defense, mental strength, nutrition and suggestions in cross training and MMA Worldwide and TapouT Magazine featuring live “Pro Practice,” an inside look at the world of mixed martial arts including fighters from southern California’s top gyms demonstrating how these school train the amazing fighters they are known for.

Other demonstrations include Shin’s Martial Arts Performance Team featuring kids 7-16 years old practicing traditional martial arts combined with high energy acrobatic skills and the Fitness Revolution Fashion Show showing workout wear you can wear out.

Up to the challenge? Reality shows hit the The ProFight Supplements Los Angles Fitness Expo both days with open casting calls for two hit ABC reality shows, WIPEOUT! and I Survived a Japanese Game Show. To learn more about the shows, view episodes and learn about requirements click Here.

The ProFight Supplements Los Angeles Fitness Expo sponsors are ProFight Supplements, Bodybuilding.com, Gaspari Nutrition, Champion Nutrition, Con-Cret, FLEX, Muscle & Fitness, SAN, Subway, GNC, Muscle Milk, BSN, Musclemag, NPC News, LA Health News, MMA Worldwide, TapouT, Oxygen, Powerlift USA, IRON MAN, IronMind, Westside Today, Home-Gym, Coast-to-Coast Media and GetBig.

Adult admission tickets are $15 per day or $20 for the full weekend, children 12 years and under are $5 per day and children under six are free. Show hours are Saturday, 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Plenty of parking is available. For more information on ticketing, exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities call (818) 545-0290 or visit www.thefitexpo.com

Your friends at The Los Angeles Fitness Expo

The Los Angeles Fitness Expo
January 24-25, 2009
Los Angeles Convention Center

(Los Angeles, Calif….October 14, 2008) Mixed Martial Arts is back at California’s largest fitness event, The Los Angeles Fitness Expo, presented by Gaspari Nutrition and BodyBuilding.com, Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, South Halls G & H. The Expo will feature two full days of MMA seminars and interactive demonstrations where attendees can learn from the best in the sport up close and personal. The latest in fight gear and clothing will be featured on the exhibit floor. Live cage fights, which were so popular at last year’s Expo, are also slated during the weekend.

“Mixed martial arts competitors are true athletes that employ the training and nutrition principals of strength, power and fitness, the cornerstone of Los Angeles Fitness Expo. We’re are excited to have the biggest names in the sport teaching and signing autographs at our show,” said Erin Ferries, Executive Director, The Los Angeles Fitness Expo.

The Gladiator Challenge, pioneers in live MMA events, return to present REVOLUTION, 12 live MMA cage fights featuring some of the hottest fighters and biggest stars in mixed martial arts. This event will be held on Sunday, January 25 from 1 - 4 PM.

Tedd Williams, The Gladiator Challenge promoter, stated, “It’s great to be back at the Los Angeles Fitness Expo, bringing the best of the sport up close and personal to the city of Angels.”

The Los Angeles Fitness Expo’s complimentary MMA seminar track will be hosted by celebrity referee Herb Dean, featuring many of today’s top fighters and coaches. Up-to-the-minute updates on fighter appearances are available at www.thefitexpo.com

New 2009 Los Angeles Fitness Expo events include:

• Wardance Entertainment presents the AMERICAN STREET DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS where the best street dancers in the world will come to battle in Locking, Popping, BBoying and Hip-Hop competitions. ASDC will take place on Sunday January 25th. Master street dance classes will also be offered.

• THE GRACIE KIDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.This is the first event of its kind and based on the success of the 2008 US Nationals, which featured hundreds of Jiu Jitsu and grappling competitors from as far away as New Zealand, it is sure to be a big hit.

• The inaugural FITEXPO SUMO GRAND PRIX, an International Sumo tournament. Event host, Troy Collins, President & Trustee of the United States Sumo Federation brings his world-class competitors to the Los Angeles Fitness Expo stage in one of the oldest and most revered sports in the world.

Expo attendees will also cheer on competitors participating in returning contests including:

The Iron Man Pro XX, All American Strongman Challenge, The Scot Mendelson Pro Bench Press Classic and USPF American Cup Powerlifting.

The Los Angeles Fitness Expo offers something for everyBODY! Attendees will find over 250 exhibits offering the newest in fitness, diet, nutrition, strength and wellness products and services. During both days of the Expo, many leading fitness professionals will be presenting educational seminars and demonstrations on subjects such as proper nutrition and dieting, exercise philosophies, making health and fitness your business and many more.

Adult admission tickets are $15 per day or $20 for the full weekend, children 12 years and under are $5 per day and children under six are free. Show hours are Saturday, 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Tickets for REVOLUTION are sold separately. Plenty of parking is available. For more information on ticketing, exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities call (818) 545-0290 or visit www.thefitexpo.com

PR Contacts:

Monica Gillen
(714) 271-4081
mcatg@earthlink.net

Mary Anderson-Harris
(818) 729-9291
aharrism@pacbell.net

The 2008 Iron Man Pro had over 18,000 attendees, this year is going to be even bigger and better. There are going to be more events, more prizes, more people and more fun. This is California’s largest fitness expo, so its something you don’t want to miss.

For more information check out the Official Website

Reserve your tickets today!

Pro Fight Supplements Los Angeles Fitness Expo (FitExpo) is coming on January 24 and 25, 2009 to The Los Angeles Convention Center with two full days of amazing competitions and demonstrations, informative speakers and seminars, a giant exhibition hall, and much more! Check out our tentative schedule and floorplan and make your plans to be with us. Full details about all the events are available at www.thefitexpo.com

Don’t forget that there will be open auditions for ABC Television’s returning hit summer series WIPEOUT and I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAMESHOW both days! And we know that attendees are in training now for the Champion Nutrition MaXReps Competitions, The Fittest Couple Contest, and the Bodybuilding.com Bodyspace Spokesmodel Search: good luck to everyone getting ready for all our contests at The Los Angeles Fitness Expo 2009!

I flew out to LA from Houston on Valentine’s Day, checked into the hotel adjacent to the Convention Center and waited anxiously for my boyfriend (Rich) to meet me there to have our Valentine’s dinner.  Come to find out, when I checked into the hotel they made a mistake and were supposed to have a “special” room reserved for me.  Instead they told me that the room was not ready and gave me a different room than what was planned.  Well, unfortunately, that ruined my boyfriend’s sweet surprise to have flowers, balloons and a gift bag full of goodies waiting for me.

He was pretty bummed when I sent him a text and didn’t mention anything about the surprise waiting in my room. Instead, one of the bell boys came up and delivered everything to me, but at that point it was no longer a surprise.  My man is the sweetest though!  The flowers were orchids, which are my all time favorite, the balloons were giant and kid-like, just like me, and the goodies inside, well, some were personal and some were cute clothes, like the pants I’m wearing in these pictures.  He did so good!!

For dinner that night, his label got us reservations at Craft in Century City.  It is a beautiful fine dining restaurant but without the stuffy atmosphere.  We got to see Nick from the All American Rejects while we were there.  He is on the same music label as my boyfriend, so that was really cool.  The food there was incredible! It is served a la carte and family style.  We even had dessert, which was a giant gourmet peanut butter cup with peanut butter ice cream.  When we left they sent us home with carrot and cranberry apple muffins in take home bags for breakfast the next morning.  It was awesome!  I knew I’d need to do a few extra plyos the following week to be in the shape I wanted for the Arnold, but it was worth it!  Definitely go check it out!

The next morning we headed over to the expo at the Convention Center, where I was surprised to see that even at a larger venue this year the hall was fairly full.  There were lots of vendors and a large area set up for American Gladiator auditions.  I thought it was lucky that the boybuilding.com booth was close to the end where we could see the stage and close to the area where the auditions were being held.  I got to see tons and tons of people try and run obstacles on the slick floor and do pull-ups until they were blue in the face.

My buddy Valerie Waugaman, better known as the personality Siren on American Gladiators, was there to motivate and cheer everyone on.  It was great to see her and hear all the cool things she has been up to.  I expect big things, so keep your eye on her.  She is a very determined and ambitious person, not to mention super fun!

The following day at the expo I got to watch the World’s Fittest Couple competition, which was really impressive.  They performed amazing routines demonstrating strength and flexibility.  I do well just to walk in high heels and not trip and fall.  I also got to see my friend Amanda Harris, better known as Barbie Barbell.  She was at the All American EFX booth.  We chatted a little while about our plans to work out together and to do a photo shoot at the Arnold a few weeks away in Columbus, OH.

Another big highlight of my weekend was that I got to see my friend, Callie Marunde and her beautiful baby girl that resembled her daddy, Strongman Jesse Marunde, who sadly passed away last year.  He is terribly missed but I was very happy to see Callie doing so well and to hear that she was preparing to compete in Poland on behalf of the US this year.  Please take a look at her website:

www.marunde-muscle.com

and offer your support and encouragement.  There is an awesome community of people there. I plan to poke my head in on occasion and say hello as well.

The last day at the expo was not quite as busy as the two days prior, so I got to play a little bit and be a part of the Power Plate demonstration.  This machine vibrates at a super quick pace which makes for an unstable platform in which to perform your exercises.  Aside from feeling a bit funny at first, it really seems to force you to engage more muscles and your stabilizers to complete the exercises.

The entire trip was a great time.  I have gone two years in a row now and at the rate it is growing I have no doubt that there will be more and more people attending year after year, including me!

Last Sunday, ten couples took the stage in hopes of becoming The 2008 Fittest Couple. The couples posed, flexed and performed a routine to showcase why they are worthy of the title. In the end only one couple would reign supreme at The Fit Expo’s annual contest. The first place couple would received $2,500 cash and a photo shoot with IRONMAN Magazine’s top photographer, Mike Neveux.

Judges for the competition were IRON MAN photographer MERV, former fitness-model Brenda Kelly and last year’s female half of the fittest couple winner. There were a number of worthy couples but in the end the routine of Dena Weiner and Rado Pagac put them in the winner’s circle. The two were beyond elated when their names were announced. Look for their photos in an upcoming issue of IRONMAN magazine.

Dena and Rado showing their strength and flexibility.

The winning couple got a leg up over their competition.

I just got back from the Fit Expo in Los Angeles and WOW I had a blast!

I got to meet many of my friends from MySpace that live in California and that was great that they took the time to come by and see me at the EFX Nutrition booth. I got to spend some time with my sweet friend over at Bodybuilding.com, Jamie Eason.

Me and BodySpace Member Charla!

If you have never met her, you need to! She is one of the prettiest models in the business and has the best personality you could ever imagine, her beauty is much more than skin deep! I got to spend some time with bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler and he is a super sweet guy too. Flex is responsible for me coming on board with EFX Nutrition and now I get to work with Flex and that is awesome!

Me and Texas State NPC Chairman Lee Thompson!

I saw many of my friends from the NPC in Texas at the Expo as well and they all came by to wish me well, I feel like I am part of the family already! I also got to see my good friend Dave Palumbo who I met at the Arnold 2 years ago. He just finished an article on me and it will be coming out in the very next Muscular Development Magazine. Thank you Dave:>)!!!

Me and Ms. Fitness Olympia Adela Garcia!

I was also interviewed by Iron Man Magazine and I will be coming out in a future issue with them too. Overall the LA Fit Expo was a great success and I look forward to next year’s show!

peace,

**BB**

Im in Phil Heaths seminar. This is what he is saying.

"I know that I had to give up basketball when sometimes I would try to dribble the ball between my legs and it would always hit my calfs."

He dieted mainly on tuna on his first show. He used to eat oats straight out of the tub, no water, nothing.
The day before his first show he had to sleep in his car because his friends were having a party upstairs (on college campus)and he couldnt sleep. He had to use his cell phone as his wake up alarm, but more of his friends kept calling to wish him good luck in his show, thus he didnt have any sleep. He said that due to this he looked bad but ended up winning the show.

He loves sweets so he makes sure that he doesnt have them in the house.

His competitive career has been focused on each day as he cannot predict the next. He told his step son who plays games four hours a day to dedicate this amount of time to his school. He was having trouble with certain subjects so once applied he passed his exams. Phil does the same, dedicates time to his weaknesses to become a winner

Over the past couple of years he has realized that if he wanted something that he hadnt had before, he had to do something he didnt do before, thus he began to eat clean throughout the offseason.

His biggest challenges were to be honest with himself. He shot picks of himself in his bedroom to be objective with himself on a consistant basis.

His is an internet junkie when it comes to learning about nutrition, training, anatomy etc so he knows that he is more educated than everyone else and keeps improving.

He said that everyone trains hard, diets hard but Phils focuses more on consistancy. He doesnt want to get to the end of the year and know that he missed a meal, supplement, workout or cardio session.

He writes all of his articles that are seen published in FLEX magazine.

He did an hour and half of cardio this morning and 30 mins of weights

He said he is going to come in bigger and fuller in the back and chest for the Arnold. He will continue to keep his sodium very low, carbs will remain low.

Video clips are starting to trickle in from our crew on the ground in Los Angeles, and are already available here on Bodybuilding.com.

There are currently 6 video clips available from this morning, so check ‘em out here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2008ironmanpro_vids.htm

Keep checking back throughout the day for even more videos as the weekend continues both at the Iron Man Pro and the Los Angeles FitExpo! 

Keep checking back throughout the weekend to see all the coverage from the Fit Expo and various events. My favorite shot of the day was of Amanda Carrier, a cover model, who was working the BSN booth. SMOKEN HOT and showing off her gunz here.

It’s been an eventful day 1 of the IRONMAN / FIT EXPO. Ron Avidan and I started the day off by visiting GOLD’s GYM VENICE where Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler was putting on a camp and sporting his MUSCLE TECH apparel. Jay was looking huge and lean. We did a video with Gold’s gym that you’ll see here later featuring them as the GYM OF THE MONTH. Lots of other industry people were seen in the gym before heading to the FIREHOUSE. We made the short walk over to the famous eatery and joined a number of people for lunch. The weather is absolutely perfect with temperatures in the upper-60s. Dining at the firehouse was Ron Avidan, Kris Gethin, Kevin Horton, Bob Chic, Lee Thompson, Dan Solomon, Larry Pepe and myself. A few people dined on the "Bob Bowl" but I opted for the bodybuilder’s breakfast which was 8 eggwhites, 3 whole grain pancakes and a buffalo patty. DELICIOUS! If you’re in Venice, definitely check out GOLD’s GYM and stop by the firehouse. Check out some of the video footage from the meal later here on bodybuilding.com.

Ron and I then made our way to the LA convention center to pick up Big Will from Bodybuilding.com. The traffic in LA blows goat balls to say the least. I could never live in LA but must admit the sunshine is nice. We picked up Will and headed to the host hotel where we saw a number of industry people checking in and heading over to the venue. The rooms are spacious and the internet speeds seem to be pretty decent. When you travel to a number of shows there are a few things that are important… A good internet connection, good water pressure in the shower and a comfortable bed. Everything else is pretty much eh, whatever. We grabbed our camera and video gear and headed over to the venue. The walk is only a couple of blocks from the hotel which is awesome.

The hall in which the EXPO is in is MASSIVE. There is an octagon set up, tons of booths, a stage where performances will be taking place and lots to do. There were tons of people through the halls and many booths said they already had to get more samples and supplies sent in for the rest of the weekend. The show venue for the IRONMAN looks like it will be pretty sweet with it’s signature stage lighting looking great. The show will be webcasted here on bodybuilding.com at 10 a.m.

The athlete weigh-in went pretty smoothly with Lonnie "the swami" Teper at the mic. Swami’s best line of the day came when Dave Palumbo chimed in from the audience and asked him, "What did I miss"? Lonnie responded with, "Your pro card." OUCH! The Swami showing no love to Jumbo Palumbo. A couple competitors rolled in late… Desmond Miller and Silvio Samuel. Silvio was sporting all white attire and looked like he had just gotten in from the Bahamas. Sil looked great from the preview he showed the crowd. Toney Freeman weighed in at the heaviest weight of 290lbs. Toney hasn’t shown anyone what he’s looking like and he could be dangerous. Phil Heath seemed tired and out of it, which means he’s ready to rumble and is in great condition. Ron, Kris, Will and I made our way around the expo and did a few interviews and took a number of photos.

When the day’s events were over we headed back to the hotel which was jam packed with people. Siren and Wolf from American Gladiators where in the hotel lobby. We had a WOLF OFF to see who had the best wolf cry and Valerie "siren" Waugaman had the best. Check out some of the videos we got from the hotel. Ron and I also learned that "The Experts" are HUGE in Japan. A big shout out to all our Japan fans! Lonnie, Ron and I made our way down to a dive restaurant called, "The Pantry" which had some awesome food. We interviewed a few guys from "MAX REP" who were delusional and picked King Kamali as their favorite to win the show. I’m not sure what these guys are smoking but holy smokes no chance. We did a few more video interviews in the restaurant and then proceeded back to the hotel. We managed to do an interview with a homeless man pushing a wheel-chair and when LT asked him who he had winning the IRONMAN he responded with, KING KAMALI. What the hell is going on with all the Kamali love? We ran into Dennis James who was comedic as always and a group of Japanese women thought LT was stalking them. Again more amusing videos will be posted.

I grabbed a drink with Bodybuilding.com’s man in the Advertising department, Paul and we chatted a little biz. It’s now 1:30am LA time and I need to hit the hay. It’s a big morning tomorrow and lots more to come here on bodybuilding.com. Thanks for checking out the site and check back for continual updates throughout the weekend.

Hi everybody!

The Iron Man in LA is here and I have the honor to be a guest speaker at The FitExpo at PROPTA’s seminar: "Women Only."  The seminar is going to include myself (Marika Johansson), Adela Garcia, Tanji Johnson and Sherry Goggin. Women will be able to ask questions and get info about different levels of training and diet.

I will be at PROPTA’s booth and from time to time at Bodybuilding.com’s booth also during the weekend, signing and selling pictures and my DVD "Cinderella Story."  Check out PROPTA at www.propta.com.

This is going to be a great event with one of the toughest fields we have seen in many years in the IFBB Men’s Pro division.

So welcome to the 2008 FITEXPO AND THE IRONMAN PRO IN LOS ANGELES, ALL THIS WEEKEND!