2010 Iron Man Blog

Placing in the top five at the Iron Man 2008 was one of the most honorable and for filling experiences of my life!  To add to the excitement of my placing was meeting all the wonderful people during the show in which I can proudly say that I have become great friends with.

I have been training actually all year since my first show with the NPC at the Iron Man last year. For I have competed in several shows during the year in which I had to continue to watch my nutrition and exercise pretty much non stop - though of course after each show I had my cheat days. 

My training has fluctuated through the year as I have learned different things from so many people. However if I could sum it up (which is quite hard to do) I would say that in the end I have learned for my body that high intensity intervals and heavy weights is the best way to achieve the best look for my body.

I rollerblade all over NYC streets as my transportation which is great for the glutes… though I stop two weeks before a show just in case of an accident also to make sure my legs are not puffy!

Nutrition for me is basically of the normal foods that one would eat to stay healthy. However again as I strongly believe that everyone’s body is different! For me, I have been on different food plans and tried different ways to achieve the ultimate figure for myself. In the long run I do know that what might seem ideal for someone else, or the “norm” of a bodybuilder, is not right for me.

As I was told, and quite true indeed, that I did appear a bit too skinny. This I know mainly had to do what I ate prior to the show! I know that because after the show when I do eat - that is when I should compete because my body fills out. It is trial and error, and following my gut instinct.

So even if I were to explain in detail what I ate, I feel that it would be inappropriate. For I do not want to write something that someone else might take as the right thing to do for them! To reiterate we are all the same in a sense, just have different body chemistry. And what might work for me will not work for someone else and visa-versa!

I hope that I can show this as I compete at the Arnold next week. Which is not much time, however being that I was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader at a young age, and continued to work out ever since, I have conditioned my body so that it actually does not take long for me to react and change!

I do take the supplements Gakic, Leukic, and two weeks before a show stopping Creakic (Creakic on cycles). But I never take the recommended dose. I take much less, I am only five feet and 104lbs so I don’t think it would be great if I did. I do love the product and find it works great with my body chemistry!

I adore BodySpace… it was the best site I have ever joined and I am proud to be part of it!! It is so amazing! The people here are great, kind, wonderful, gosh I could go on however I think I would run out of room! 

The support and inspiration I have received from other people here has been quite incredible. I just wish I had enough time to get back to everyone. I am not the person that sits by the computer much, although I have found myself doing so for hours here conversing with everyone!! I love answering anyone’s questions hoping that they help - which I have been told they do. 

As a personal trainer and life coach I love what I do and could not imagine doing anything else. I thank God that I have been given the ability to help others. In reality isn’t that what we are all here for, is to help each other and find love and live a healthy life?!

I send many smiles to everyone in hoping they will help them smile… Smiles are contagious! As well as smiling and laughing helps lead a healthier life!  I want to thank Bodybuilding.com and everyone that works here… you are all so very awesome!

I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with all of you guys and the members, and getting you all to keep SMILING! 

Debbie Bell
http://contest.bodybuilding.com/bio/3739/
Change Your Body - Change your life!!!
I live and breath by that and always - always keep smiling

Post by:

We now have a photo gallery in place for the NPC Figure Pre-judging from earlier today.

Check it out, here:

http://contest.bodybuilding.com/galleries/contestgallery.php?competitionid=2209&typeid=1&eventid=3&typeid=1

Post by: bbcom_developer

Here are the Iron Man NPC Figure results - congratulations to all of the contestants, ladies!

OVERALL:  Monica Mark 

Overall Winner, Monica Mark shown above with IFBB Fitness Pro Tanji Johnson, and IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Troy Alves.

Short Class (A):

1) Monica Mark
2) Cindy Martinez
3) Debbie Bell
4) Kathryn Payton
5) Sirvan Ergili

Medium Class (B):

1) Dawn Kirkham
2) Michele Cogger
3) Dena Gunnoe
4) Vanessa Van Overmeer
5) Venus Ramos

Tall Class (C):

1) Danielle Edmonds
2) Alecia Rankovic
3) Soumaya Wilmore
4) Hilary Fonseca
5) Allyson Ellenson

Thanks to GeneX Hwang for posting these results on MySpace.

Post by: bbcom_developer

In case you weren’t aware, two of our very own BodySpace members are competing at the Iron Man later on today (in the NPC Figure division).

Their names are:

• Dr. Venus Ramos
• Vanessa Van Overmeer

Venus took 3rd place at last year’s Iron Man in NPC Figure (Class B).

Tune into the live webcast tonight to see how these two veritably vivacious competitors place!  Good luck, ladies! 

Venus Ramos:

Vanessa Van Overmeer:

Post by: bbcom_developer

Last year’s NPC Figure Class A and Overall Winner was Halcyon (Halcy) Duarte, soon to be one of our guest bloggers here on this blog.

Who will it be this year?  (See below for a list of tentative amateur 2007 Iron Man figure competitors.)

NPC FIGURE COMPETITORS (tentative)

Franci Alberding
Debbie Bell
Noreene L. Castillo
Michele Cogger
Danielle A. Edmonds
Sirvan Ergili
Kathy Fehringer
Dena Gunnoe
Dawn Kirkham
Elizabeth Laub
Cindy Martinez
Monica Mark
Megan Payan
Kathryn Payton
Tanya M. Peale
Venus Ramos
Alecia Rankovic
Diva Richards
Ann Treesukosol
Vanessa Van Overmeer
Soumaya Wilmore