Pro/Am Contests Blog

Check out over 3,000 pictures from the JR Nationals at:

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

Check out the womens bodybuilding and figure pre-judging photos at:

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

More coming soon.

WW

Last night the men and women weighed in and the fitness/figure ladies had their heights checked. There are close to 200 figure competitors in this show and 100-110 men will be competing. The buzz of the night was all around Trey Brewer and what he would look like. He tipped the scale at 249lbs and I gotta give the dude props he made one helluva transformation from when I saw him in Pittsburgh a month ago. He definitely leaned up and is in decent condition. He still has a little on his back side that may or may not tighten up by the time he takes the stage on Saturday. One dude who is ginormous was Sean Allen. There’s a reason why people refer to him as "Big Sean" Allen. Sean weighed in at 280lbs and is in his best condition. He’ll be a force to reckon with in the super-heavyweight class. There were a number of guys in the lighter classes that are in great condition but anything could happen in two days. Some tighten up more while others will smooth out. We’ll have to wait and see how the men look until tomorrow but tonight the women will take the stage at 5pm.

The boys at the home office in Boise should be putting up photos from the check-in so look for those. Here are a couple until the rest are posted. You can also catch up on my female coverage on HARDBODY.com or on my LIFTstudios’ blog here on bodybuilding.com.

I’m all checked in the host hotel and surprise surprise surprise! I got me a doll garn good internet connection for once. If I weren’t on that blasted 27 Days of BB.com I’d be fixing to drink me a beer to celebrate. Aight I am annoying myself with the hick talk. All is well here in Chicago, hotel rooms are nice. Conveniently close to the airport. My cabbie was a moron and ran a read light then stopped in the middle of the intersection to back up. BRILLIANT. I’ll be taking the courtesy hotel shuttle.

I spotted NPC District Chairman, Lee Thompson as well as Nelson Almerico - husband to IFBB Figure Pro Paolo Almerico. I shared a cab with the lovely Brazilian Lulu Tigre, sister to Ana Tigre. Our flights arrived at the same time. IFBB Pro Lianne Seiwald was on my flight with one of her competitors. IFBB Pro Bridgette Murray texted me and said it didn’t look good on getting into Chicago today, she’s flying standby which can royally suck at times.

Check out my preview that is up on the site now for this show:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2008npcjrnat_preview2.htm

I’m going to check out the scene in the hotel lobby and then take a few photos at checkin tonight. Stop back throughout the weekend for more coverage.

Could "BIG SEAN" Allen be the next NPC Jr. Nationals Champion? We’ll find out in a few short days who will leave Chicago the overall champ. Michael Lockett was victorious last year who will it be this year? You may also recall Jennifer Gates won the overall figure crown and has gone onto win a pro show, compete in the Olympia and Arnold and is now considered a top pro in the figure ranks. This show will be one to watch. If you’re in Chicago say hello if not, check back as I will be covering all the action for bodybuilding.com in Chicago this weekend.

Sean posted this photo of himself in the MD forums.

The women of the NPC will take to the stage beginning at 5pm on Friday, June 20, 2008. This year’s NPC Junior Nationals is a pro qualifier for the figure and new this year, the fitness! It’s coined "Fabulous Female Friday" for good reason, many of the best physiques in the world will hit the stage. One of the coolest women you’ll ever meet, promoter extraordinaire Pam Betz tells me there will be over 180 females competing this year. Personally, I look for that number to be over 200 come show time. Competitors are notorious for procrastinating and sending in their entry forms at the last minute. Shocker, I know. The event will be held at the Regency O’Hare Hotel Ballroom, just minutes away from Chicago’s O’Hare airport. If you haven’t booked yet make certain you fly into O’Hare and NOT Midway airport. I made that mistake two years ago and it ended up being a $50+ cab ride to the hotel.

This is one of my favorite shows of the year and everything is in one spot. The venue and host hotel are connected which makes things very easy on everyone. There are a number of quality competitors from across the US competing in this show and will definitely be worth the price of admission.

Visit: npcjrnationals.com for tickets and more show information.

PR girl Jenny Lewis ROCKED the stage at the NPC Junior USA’s last weekend in South Carolina. She took 6th place in her one piece, then stunned the judges in her two piece, earning her second place in that round. Overall Jenny placed 4th! Jenny is now training for Junior Nationals in June, and is sure to start the stage on fire again!  You go girl!

Congrats to our NPC Southern Colorado competitors, Nanci, Shawna, Cori, and Shelly! Shawna took 2nd place in the open B class, Cori placed 3rd in the open C class, Nanci placed 3rd in the Masters class, and Shelly placed first in the Masters Class, also in the C class open, Nanci placed 4th, and Shelly placed first.  Then Shelly came back around to win the Overall, and we took 1st as a team!!

Good job girls, let’s make this a summer to remember!

Last year at this time, I was preparing for my first show in Oklahoma.  As part of my prep, I decided to head to Dallas to watch the Europa, as I never seen a show before.

While attending the expo, I was approached by one of the show’s expeditors who asked if I would be doing the amateur show the next day.  I explained I had never seen a show, but was preparing for my first one to be 3 weeks later in Oklahoma.  After a lengthy conversation, he somehow managed to talk me into registering for the NPC show - for the next day!!

It turned out to be an unbelievable experience.  I was so unprepared and had no idea what I was doing, but managed to place 2nd in my class.  I was definitely hooked and ready to work even harder for the show in Oklahoma.  Turns out I liked competing so much, I did a total of 4 shows within 10 weeks and won 3 overall titles.

For 2007, I placed 6th at the Arnold Amateur, won the overall at the Ronnie Coleman, won my class at Jr. USAs and earned a pro card at Jr. Nationals!!  Here are some of my stats and photos so far.

All this in a short 10 months from even deciding I’d give competing a try.  Now, one year later, I’m headed back to the Europa, but this time as a pro.  It will be my pro debut and I can’t wait.  I already feel like I’ve achieved so much in so little time!

As I think back to last year on competition day, I have to laugh at how unprepared I was; my suits didn’t fit, I didn’t know how to pose, I put on make-up as if I was going out for the day, I hadn’t followed a strict diet, I’d never worked with a trainer or nutritionist, and was basically winging everything.  I never would have thought only a year later I’d be on the pro stage.

So, if you’ve ever asked yourself, "Should I try competing?", I would definitely say, "give it a try!"  All it takes is hard work, dedication, lots of sweat, and determination.  Anything is possible, but you have to put your best effort forward and go for it.

I just received permission from NPC National-Level Competitor Nicole Wilkins to repost her recent MySpace bulletin here on BodySpace:

"Best wishes to everyone competing in NY this weekend at Team Universe!!! Look for me on stage competing in both fitness and figure!!! At Jr. Nationals I placed 2nd (4 weeks ago) with a fall in my fitness routine. I changed some things up and now I am fired up more than ever!

IFBB Figure Pro Jessica Paxson-Putnam
with NPC Star Nicole Wilkins.

If you see me come up and say hi! I look forward to meeting all of you!  Wish me luck!!!!!”

Nicole
http://www.myspace.com/36550924
http://www.bodybuilders.com/nicwil.htm

Get your free computer backgrounds from the 2007 NPC Junior Nationals right here at Bodybuilding.com!

This week’s two featured wallpapers are Overall Winner Michael Lockett, and Figure Overall Winner Jennifer Gates!

Get yours today!  

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wallpaperoftheweek.htm

Hey guys… A lot of people have been messaging me about Jr Nationals and my placing, but of course it would have been nice to win… LOL or place higher… BUT, it was a great time.

Well, folks… I had second to LAST call outs! OUCH   What are you going to do? Live and learn and get bigger, leaner, better, whatever… This couldn’t possibly slow me down, I have come and I have seen and now, I know what i need to do.  Mission one… BURN both suits!

Actually I did okay in the red suit for Eastern USA’s but the new black suit was HORRIBLE on me, but that is the way it was sent to me and there was nothing I could do. It’s tough winning first and then crashing down, but it is Nationals and at least I know what I need to do. I have always had legs, what the hell happened this time to them…?

I will tell you, I need a nutritionist to help me so this does not happen again. I leaned out and I think I just starting eating into muscle, because I was bigger at the Mets where I placed first and seven weeks later took it’s toll. I lost size overall and hardness, so if someone can help me so this does not happen again, that would be great.

Competing is what i do… I will be back next year at Jr Nationals and I will not be getting second to last call outs… LOL, hell no! Oh and congrats to Pamela Soper! You looked great sweetie and it was good finally meeting you 

I made some amazing amazing contacts, meet some awesome chics and learned A LOT. I can look back at the pictures and know I looked good. I know how hard I worked, this is NATIONALS!! I am striving for that Pro Card like everyone else, but will I get it?? Hell yes!  It is just not my time, but it’s what I do and I don’t plan on throwing in the towel any time soon.

I have been looking into working under a new nutritionist to get my diet tight for next season and get back to where I was at the Mets in NY. I won that show and I looked a lot harder there, I know this. The 6 months of diet with back-to-back shows took a toll and it happens… Next year I know what to do. 

You guys are really all so supportive and awesome, ya know how to make a gal feel better.    I have the summer pretty much off as of now, competing again in Nov, but my body is asking for a break at the moment! Going out Sat night with my girls and going to live it up and hahah Party Like a Rockstar and it’s well deserved. 

So… keep watching… FUTURE PRO IN THE MAKING!! Thank you to all that put on a wonderful show in Chicago and congrats to the amazing competitors… WOW what competition… that is what I like… going against the best.  Who wants to win with no competition? I wanna win against the best. 

Love ya guys… Happy Summer xoxoxox

Tishalyn xoxoxox

PSS I feel like a fat blob right now from eating. I am doing Fitness this fall in NPC for sure… But I am not giving up Figure, just don’t want to ruin my body again before Jr Nationals 2008!

Lift Studios’ famed webmaster and fitness industry guru, Isaac Hinds, was on the scene in Chicago this past weekend taking scores of hilarious video clips.

Check out all 24 of his 2007 NPC Junior Nationals video clips here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2007npcjrnat_vids.htm

Including this one of the Men’s Final Posedown:

Having problems with the video?  Click here for the downloadable Windows Media version.

I was a competitor at Jr Nationals this past weekend and, wow, all the athletes looked great - it was a tough show!

For as many athletes as there were, the show was ran very well. It took a lot of people to put this thing together and make it run as well as I thought they did.

I thought I should have placed a little higher than I did - I took 11th place in Class B (#95)… If I would have opened my back I would have placed better.  Any suggestions on how to practice this?

(See my photos here.)

The results are in!

Refresh page often for live up to date results.

http://contest.bodybuilding.com/contestresults.php?compid=2314

WW

What a day!

Just finished adding over 2,000 pre-judging pictures from the 2007 NPC Junior Nationals!  They are broken down into specific categories and weight classes.

Check them all out at:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2007npcjrnat.htm

The finals results and pictures will be added to the site directly after the show.  Who do you think will win?

Will Ginger Redeker get her pro card?  What do you think?

W

GeneX Hwang and Walt Ostarly have also taken a great batch of photos from the 2007 NPC Junior Nationals in Chicago this weekend.

Check out Gene’s site for his photos (scroll down to the bottom of the page):

http://tour.ftvideo.com/showgal.php?g=content/genex/contests/2007/jrnats/4488/7_9&s=6

And Walt’s MySpace profile and bulletins for his photos:

http://www.myspace.com/waltostarly

Bodybuilding.com Writers Gina Ostarly &
Ginger Redeker @ 2007 NPC Jr. Nationals
Photo by Walt Ostarly.