Pro/Am Contests Blog

The 2008 NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic was great! Metroflex Productions always puts on an incredibly organized, energetic, and efficiently expedited show! I was hesitant to follow through with the contest because I had actually spent more time OUT OF STATE than in Texas during the month before the contest.

I spoke at the World Scientific Congress of Golf in a symposium about the nutritional needs of golfers, as well as supplements for concentration and focus, as well as golf-related psychology. I also presented at the FASEB (Experimental Biology) conference in San Diego. Though these were great professional opportunities, traveling away from home a ton makes it exceedingly difficult to eat and train properly, though I did my best.

That said, I was not too confident going into the contest. I have a very well-rounded musculature, from years of consistent training and good nutrition, but my conditioning was sub-optimal. In any case, the announcement was made during the competitor’s meeting that a softer look would be favored for figure. Such comments are often delivered during a meeting, but with poor follow-through in the actual judging. NOT SO this time. Women with essentially *perfect* figure physiques of yester-year were over-looked in favor of prettier, younger, and more simply fit-looking women.

Generally speaking, I believe this is a positive trend. This kind of judging is exactly in line with the NPC criteria (as stated by the actual rules of figure). The NPC rules specify that the competitors should display a small amount of muscle with some separation, a small amount of body fat, and NO visible striations. A women cannot be as lean as the national level competitors of recent years and still meet these criteria. When judges who prefer a bodybuilding physique and conditioning judge figure by the same standards, the difference between figure and bodybuilding can become easily blurred. The point is to have two separate divisions, not simply to have figure contestents that look like miniature bodybuilders.

Kudos to the Texas NPC judges for choosing a figure-appropriate look in all classes and awarding the most stunning woman on stage (Jodie Minear) the overall figure title, even though it was her first show and she was not overly muscle-bound.

I also had the chance to take part in the Metroflex video interviews for the contest, which allowed me to meet Marzia Prince; she is an absolute doll and also very down-to-earth and well-spoken.

The next Metroflex show is the NPC Branch Warren in July. If you come, you may even get to see me sing again– who knows? 

Since leaving the Lone Star Convention/Expo Center (LSCC), I’ve been thinking about how to talk about my first competition yesterday.  Really though, words cannot describe very easily what it was like for me.  You’ll have to keep in mind that I’ve never even seen a show in person let alone competed in one.  I will try not to get sidetracked while writing this.

The venue was an excellent choice.  Now considering the sheer size of this show, it may not be able to be at the LSCC again.  I don’t think I was the only one that was surprised at the turnout.  There were about 80 competitors in all (figure, fitness, BB male & female) in total.  Actually, I think I was the last number of all the competitors and that was number 76.  There was a 77, but I think she was a no-show.

So anyway, for it being the first ever Branch Warren show, I think it was a huge success.  I heard there were over 1000 people in the audience.  Great turnout it seems to me.  There were some great booths.  Bodybuilding.com was there with a plethora of freebies (everything from BB.com air fresheners to iPod covers and supps, of course).  The guest posers were Odis McCullough, Dexter Jackson and of course Branch Warren himself.  All excellent performances filled with lots of loud music, awesome vascularity, mass and a lot of testosterone!

So to the point because it’s getting late!  I placed 8th out of 13.  Not great, but I feel very satisfied in my “performance” and how I appeared.  I had a renewed self-confidence that I haven’t felt in a long time.  I was one of maybe two competitors that didn’t have implants.  That kinda bothered me considering there were a total of about 20 of us.  And we’re talking some big ‘ol tah-tahs, nothing real natural looking.  Anyway, check out my photos (me in Class B - Sylvie Acklin).

Oh, look at the time!  Okay, so overall I am pretty proud.  I’ll blog some more tomorrow about it if I get a chance!

Sylvie

Having won the recent 2007 NPC Ronnie Connie Classic, NPC bodybuilder Odis McCullough has his eye set on the ever-coveted Pro Card this coming weekend at the NPC Team Universe competition.

I received permission from him to repost a few of his thoughts on the upcoming contest:

“Well everyone, I’m less than one week away from having my pro card! I got a chance to meet a lot of you at Branch Warren’s show last night. As you know, I opened the show with my guest posing routine. Let’s just say that 1000 people were rocking in their chairs. Yeah!!!!!! I rocked the house!!!!! I’ll get a video up of the routine as soon as it is available.

The Odis McCullough machine is on top of its game. I’ll be coming into NYC with what I call Unstoppable Momentum. So here we go. The definition of Momentum… “an impelling force or strength”. Whoo Weee! Impelling Force… That’s Odis… Strength… you know that’s Odis. I’m rolling into NYC with Unstoppable Momentum… I’ll say it a third time for charm… I’m coming to NYC with Unstoppable Momentum.

Odis McCullough at the 2007 NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic.

Oh you, my friends, are in store for a real treat. I’m going to put on a show like you’ve never seen before. Now how do you get that momentum going in your life? Well, I will tell you that it can start with the smallest of positive things. Like waking up with the thought of success for the day. Like closing your mind off to negative thoughts and people. Just one minute of positive thinking can turn your life around. Don’t believe me? Then I’ll give you an example.

Four years ago, I stood over my mother who had been a vegetable for over a year after a stroke. She was dying… and I had to let her go. My mother, the person I loved the most in the world. My girlfriend at the time kept me from falling apart. But the pain and anger in my heart soon drove her out of my life too. I felt like God had betrayed me. I had done my best to be a good person… but He was taking my mother away from me.

Then I lost the second most important person to me, my girlfriend Kristin. Damn!!! I felt like dying would be better than all that pain. One night about six months after my girlfriend left, I had a dream about my mother. She only said one thing to me… “I Love You.” I woke up the next day and promised her that I would never be negative again. Oh sure, I’m tempted… but I never let negative thoughts stay in my mind. How, you ask?

By keeping positive thoughts in my mind! You can do it, too. Because you are a champion! I love you all. Come see me next Friday and Saturday in New York. You won’t be disappointed!

Thanks again to my good friends, Branch Warren and Brian Dobson. They had over a thousand people come out to Branch’s first show. You guys ROCK! I met some great, motivated people yesterday. I hope I had a positive influence on their lives. See you this week in New York. Much love Everyone!

Now try what I talked about and watch the great results. Then e-mail me and let me know how great it works for you!  Good Luck and remember to always consult a physician before starting an exercise program.”

Until next time, LIVE LONGER and LIVE BETTER!

Odis
http://www.myspace.com/meditate101

Tomorrow is my first figure competition. The 2007 NPC Branch Warren. I can’t even begin to explain what this journey has been like for me. I’m feeling all kinds of emotions, but mostly thankful. I’m so thankful that I have some of THE greatest people in my life who are so incredibly supportive. So yeah, I’ll let you know how I did and if by chance I do look particularly good I’ll post some pics, LOL.

So thanks to all of you who have supported me. That would be: my co-workers who think I’ve gone completely batty and can never understand why I can’t go out to lunch with them or why just that one cookie matters. My family who has two extra places at the after church table at Ryan’s. My friends who don’t get to see too much of me because I’m sweating it out in the gym. My new friends who I’ve met in the gym and through this new lifestyle (you’ve got my respect!) who keep encouraging me and told me to enter to begin with (Jeremy!)

But mostly I want to thank the most incredible man in the world and that would be my husband. Thank you Willie for helping me when I needed you to weigh my food, backed off when I was grouchy because I was carb-depleted, pushed me when I thought I would fail, and shaved me before my tan LOL, I love you! Thanks for being who you are to me–my solid ground!

Now off to check-in!

This is just a reminder that tomorrow, July 7, the NPC Iron City Gym/Branch Warren Bodybuilding, Figure, Fitness and Strength Extravaganza will take place in Conroe, Texas. The contest will be held at the Lone Star Expo (9055 FM 1484, otherwise known as Airport Drive) and the venue’s telephone number is (877) 843-6346.

For ticket, contest, and vendor/sponsor information please call Metroflex Gym at (817) 465-9331 or visit:

http://www.metroflexgymproductions.com/bindex.htm

Hotel information can be obtained from calling Metroflex or the MetroflexGymProductions.com website.

You may also e-mail Brian Dobson directly at brian@MetroflexGym.com

Thank you and if you can make it there tomorrow, take lots of photos and send in a review! 

Yesterday my husband called me at work to tell me my suits were finally in.  You know up until last night (3 days out), I didn’t even know what color they were!  But they’re here and they are quite stunning.  Vandella did an incredible job on them.  The one piece is black velvet with purple/turquoise kind of glittery effect.  There are tons of crystals all around the border and across the straps in the back.

One problem though is that the bust padding comes down very low (like underneath my breasts) which is kind of annoying, but the hubby says worst case it’s an easy fix.  The two piece is a kind of wet look turquoise with tons of crystals again and a pretty crystal piece on the string between the tah-tahs.  Willie was absolutely in awe we I had them on.  I was scared to death.  Very tiny pieces covering me, LOL.  It’s hard to think about all of those people looking at me wearing those little garments.  It makes me *so* thankful and proud of myself that I kept to my discipline no matter how difficult it got.

I would like to go into this contest with more muscle, but when I think that I technically haven’t had an "offseason" I am pretty darn pleased.  I actually have some vascularity in my abs and arms.  Pretty exciting!  Today I have really got to practice posing.  I’ve also decided to just have the tan done by a pro.  That way it’s one less thing I have to worry about.  Definitely worth the $75 and I’ll get to meet Mary Hobbs!

So I also have to think about the jewelry and the make-up.  I will just do it myself.  I can’t quite make sense of paying $75 min for makeup.  No way.  I just hope I can do a good job!  Today I’ll make my "things to bring" list.  I am also thinking a pedicure.  Yeah, for sure.  If for nothing else to treat myself.  I think I deserve it.  Actually, I think I deserve much more, but a pedicure is a good start!

Sylvie