Pro/Am Contests Blog

Well I leave for Baton Rouge, LA early in the morning to compete in the American Powerlifting Federation Teen and Master National Powerlifting Championships. Last year, I competed in the 56KG class (123.5lbs) and now I am going to lift in the 52KG (114lbs) class.

I am still cut from the NPC Texas Shredder last Saturday so I am lifting in the lighter weight class. This gives me the chance to set some new world records that I currently do not own. Since I was 16, I have always lifted in the 123 class. So I am taking advantage of the Figure show training to break the world records in the lighter class on Saturday. I will post the results on Sunday.

I am very pleased with my first figure contest. I took first place in the Teen division and qualifed now to go to NPC Teen Nationals in July.    I am sooooo happy with my victory in the teen division. Next was the class A Women’s Figure. Class A is women 5′4″ and under I am like 5′3.75″ So I was one of the tallest in my class.

There were 12 ladies in that group and was the largest and toughest class of the show. It was a very close contest and first place could have gone to at least 3 of us on stage. The girl I thought might beat me actually took third place and the girl that won I thought would finish third…..go figure (LOL)

Anyway I was very happy to take second in such a tough field of ladies. My goal was to make top five so when I placed second against the adult females I was very satisfied. I willl be going to NPC Teen Nationals in July to kick some butt at the National Level. Stop by my MySpace and look at all the pictures from the show and let me know what you think.

Thanks for all the support from all of my BodySpace & MySpace friends!

xoxoxoxo

Barbie Barbell

Think Alex Azarian’s color was completely ridiculous?  Wanna read his "apology"?

Think Grigori Atoyan should’ve beat Evan Centopani?

Throw in your $0.02… everyone else is!  Check out our forums for all the post-2007 NPC Nationals discussion:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5627701

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5631931

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5633271

Get in there! 

Looking for photos?  Click here!

Men’s Overall Winner:  Evan Centopani

Super Heavyweight:

1. Evan Centopani

2. Grigori Atoyan
3. Stephen Frazier
4. Real Johnson
5. Edward Nunn
6. Daryl Jones
7. Bryan Barth
8. Wondell Leflore
9. Victor Tringali
10. Joe Barker
11. Ambrose Middleton
12. Phil McDowell
13. Allen Fortney
14. Gabriel Latifi
15. Micah Hooker
16. Arkadly Makarov
16. Toby Slusher
16. Malik Ismeal
16. Ron Stevens
16. Jeffrey Long
16. Johnny McCarver
16. Zinjun Croon
16. Adam Young

Heavyweight:

1. Adorthus Cherry
2. Brandon Curry
3. Lee Banks
4. Abbas Khatami
5. Darrell Terrell
6. Anthoneil Champagnie
7. Curtis Bryant
8. Shaun Crump
9. Fred Smalls III
10. Jeff Schwartzer
11. Mark Erpelding
12. David Hughes
13. Ralph Garcia
14. Marion Benton
15. Randy Moore

Light Heavyweight:

1. Charles Dixon
2. Peter Putnam
3. Al Auguste
4. Monty Mabry
5. Manuel Torres
6. Prince Fontenot
7. Lance Johnson
8. Miguel Neil
9. Chris Nardoni
10. Norberto Rivera
11. Michael Yablon
12. Neko Roberson
13. Brett Becker
14. Joshua Fred
15. Tee Jay Hewitt

Middleweight:

1. Jose Raymond
2. Guy Cisternino Jr.
3. Alan Bailey
4. Devon Bender
5. Lorenzo Jones
6. Ronald Torres
7. Blas Montalvo
8. Darron Glenn
9. Robert Kreider
10. Julius Rumingan
11. Wilbert Lock
12. William Powell
13. Curtis Montogomery
14. Scott Trout
15. Arleigh Bumanglag
16. Jeremiah Graham
16. Theodore Atkins Jr
16. Narciso NOS Racoma Jr
16. Marcos Teixeira
16. Craig A. Torres
16. Brian Nipper
16. Daniel Sampeck
16. Guillermo Escalante
16. Mark Murray

Welterweight:

1. Carlo Filippone
2. Stoli Stoilov
3. Tommie Robertson Jr
4. Jocelyn Jean
5. Victor Del Campo
6. Mark Harris
7. Daniel Stern
8. Perry McRae
9. Jesus Cabrera
10. Albert Diaz
11. Robert E. Lee
12. Brenton Robinson
13. Jesse Sabater
14. Omar Ventura
15. Ryan Walters
16. John Kalvaitis
16. Jason Croce
16. James Seger
16. Raymond Bessette
16. Kenyatta Wilson
16. Mohammed Shiraz

Lightweight:

1. Leonardo Ortiz
2. Travis Rogers
3. Jeff Olcsvary
4. James Williams
5. Leonardo Pacheco
6. Will Francois
7. Ray Douglas
8. Alex Azarian
9. Pernell Garrison
10. Kelly Bautista
11. Tim Ward
12. Chris Groetsch
13. James Miles III
14. Michael Tyndall
15. Kob Yan
16. Timothy Holder
16. John Caraccio
16. Otis Anderson
16. Joshua Olmeda
16. Chris Norton
16. Greg Cosentino
16. Rafael Gonzalez

Bantamweight:

1. Dave Candy
2. Fernando Abaco
3. John McKnight IV
4. Arthur Santellan
5. Andre Hill
6. Rafael Campuzano
7. Calvin Choy
8. Richie Langit
9. Tim Fernandez
10. Chris Darby
11. Jose Vargas
12. Jerry Bell, Jr.
13. Paul Gillison
14. Tom Silavanh
15. John Fama
16. Michael Echevarria
16. Steven Bell
16. Tim Sahr
16. Alphonso Jones Jr

Women’s Overall Winner:  Kristy Hawkins

Heavyweight:

1. Beverly DiRenzo
2. Nekole Hamrick
3. Michelle Neil
4. Kris Murrell
5. Gale Frankie
6. Julia Stamper
7. Jennifer Gutierrez
8. Sheilahe Brown
9. Jaime Kocher
10. Shelly Fields
11. Ellen Torrence
12. Tammy Jones
13. Debbie Baker
14. Lucy Wilson
15. Julie Peavey

Light Heavyweight:

1. Kristy Hawkins
2. Britt Ashley Miller
3. Karen Choat
4. Elena Seiple-Perticari
5. Amy Neal
6. Sylvia Cowan
7. Christina Rhodes
8. Cheryl Faust
9. Anna-Lisa Morris
10. Jenetta Thompson
11. Brenda Smith
12. Lisa Bruton
13. Akila Pervis
14. Myra Adams
15. Devon Keeth
16. Deborah Reboynas
16. Janelle Gallo

Middleweight:

1. Tina Chandler
2. Yasha
3. Janet Kaufman
4. Julia Korthage
5. Terri Harris
6. Tammi Burdelski
7. Yahaira Agosto
8. Carolyn Bryant
9. Kate Cooper
10. Lindsay Mulinazzi
11. Michelle Morrison
12. Pam Shealy
13. Ellen Woodley
14. Annette Costa
15. Denise McMahon
16. Patricia Houston

Lightweight:

1. Beni Lopez
2. Galina Serdtsev
3. Tammy Patnode
4. Tera Guzman
5. Kirsten Haratyk
6. Barbara Fletcher
7. Claire Rohrbacker-O’Connell
8. Cassie Faussett
9. Ann Marie Kam
10. Suzanne Germano
11. Kristen Mundo
12. Pamela Ty

Fitness Overall Winner:  Tina Durkin

Class A:

1. Kristina Rojas
2. Tonya Burkhardt
3. Breean Robinson
4. Mary Stockbridge
5. Victoria Larvie
6. Stephanie Irick
7. Angela Reineck
8. Babette Mulford
9. Cicely Kyle

Class B:

1. Tina Durkin
2. Siene Silva
3. Lishia Dean
4. Jessica Clay
5. Colleen Baldwin
6. Wendy Wolbert
7. Liz Ressequie
8. Tyler Marie Powers
9. Abby Rhoades
10. Venus Ramos

Class C:

1. Tanya Merryman
2. Traci Redding
3. Jo Marriner
4. Violet Mundy
5. Pam Drury
6. Alissa Carpio
6. Celeste Turner
7. Leigh Koester
8. Amanda Marinelli
9. Deidra Wesley
10. Betsy Harris
11. Sara Krajnik

See all the photos from Nationals here:

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

"Peter Putnam will be victorious in the light-heavies but Auguste and Dixon gave him a run for his money. Putnam is much, much improved from USAs. Dixon packs a ton of muscle but lacks the deep cuts in his legs and the conditioning that Putnam has.

The Heavyweight class is a battle and one that will come down to Curry and A.D. Cherry. Cherry will most likely be victorious as Curry wasn’t as sharp as he needed to be and still needs to have some size to his quads.

Super-Heavyweight Class will be dominated by Evan Centopani and he will most likely get the overall…"

Mark Mason is shooting photos for Bodybuilding.com this weekend at the NPC Nationals.

He has put together a list of competitors that made the first round call outs.  Check out the picture galleries as the prejudging ends and the competitors go get some rest to prepare for the finals all day tomorrow:

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

Evan Centopani

The first round call outs in the women’s fitness one-piece division were:

Fitness Class A:

Kristina Rojas
Breean Robinson
Angela Reineck
Tonya Burkhardt

Fitness Class B:

Siene Silva
Jessica Clay
Lishia Dean
Colleen Baldwin
Tina Durkin

Fitness Class C:

Alissa Carpio
Traci Redding
Sandi Stuart
Tanya Merryman
Violet Mundy

First round call outs in the men’s bodybuilding were:

Bantamweight:

Dave Candy
Fernando Abaco
Art Santellan
John McKnight

Lightweight:

Jeffery Olcsvary
Travis Rogers
James Williams
Leonard Ortiz
Leonardo Pacheco

Welterweight:

Jocelyn Jean
Carlo Filippone
Tommie Robertson
Stoil Stoilov

Middleweight:

Jose Ramond
Gaetano Cisternino
Alan Bailey
Devon Bender

Light Heavyweight:

Al Auguste
Peter Putnam
Charles J. Dixon

Heavyweight:

Abbas Khatami
Darrell Terrell
Adorthus Cherry
Lee Banks
Brandon Curry

Super Heavyweight:

Edward Nunn
*Evan Centopani
Grigori Atoyan
Real Johnson
Stephen Frazier
Daryl Jones

Iron Man Magazine has a ton of great NPC Nationals prejudging photos online.

Take a peek here:

http://www.flexonline.com/news/268

Our own forums here on Bodybuilding.com also have some great Nationals coverage:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5603901

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5613451

(Thanks, j_neatherlin!)

More great Nationals coverage here:

http://www.figurerx.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=304

http://www.ftppv.com/ftvideo/showthread.php?t=2593&page=7

http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php?t=17237

http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php?p=381515

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=181190.25

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

http://blog.bodybuilding.com/ProAmContests/category/pro-am/npc-nationals/

http://insidebodybuilding.blogspot.com/

http://www.hardbody.com/news/category/npc-shows/

http://www.bodysport.com/

Here’s the schedule for tomorrow’s events:

http://www.nationalbodybuilding.com/schedule.htm

Keep this list handy… Throughout the weekend, when you’re looking at Nationals photos, you can reference the competitor numbers to this list of athletes, and place definitive names with faces!

Fitness Class A

1 Victoria Larvie
2 Kristina Rojas
3 Cicely Kyle
4 Stephanie Irick
5 Babette Mulford
6 Breean Robinson
7 Angela Reineck
8 Tonya Burkhardt
9 Mary Stockbridge

Fitness Class B

10 Liz Ressequie
11 Siene Silva
12 Jessica Clay
13 Lishia Dean
14 Colleen Baldwin
15 Tina Durkin
16 Wendy Wolbert
17 Venus Ramos
18 Abby Rhoades
19 Tyler Marie Powers

Fitness Class C

20 Betsy McNally Harris
21 Alissa Carpio
22 Pamela Drury-Graef
23 Jo Marriner
24 Leigh Koester
25 Amanda Marinelli
26 Traci Redding
27 Sara Krajnik
28 Sandi Stuart
29 Deidra Wesley
30 Celeste Turner
31 Tanya Merryman
32 Violet Mundy

Womens Bodybuilding Lightweight

35 Beni Lopez
36 Kirsten Anne Haratyk
37 Claire Rohrbacker
38 Pamela Ty
39 Galina Serchtsev
40 Anne Marie Kam
41 Barbara Fletcher
42 Suzanne Germano
43 Tera Guzman
44 Tammy Patnode
45 Kristen Mundo
46 Cassie Faussett

Womens Bodybuilding Middleweight

48 Julia Korfhage
49 Denise McMahon
50 Janet Kaufman
51 Tina Chandler
52 Michelle Morrison
53 Lindsay Mulinazzi
54 Tammi Burdelski
55 Pam Shealy
56 Carolyn Bryant
57 Ellen Woodley
58 Yasha
59 Annette Costa
60 Kate Cooper
61 Patricia Houston
62 Yahaiva Agosto Vives
63 Terri Harris

Womens Bodybuilding Light-Heavyweight

65 Amy Neal
66 Karen Choat
67 Kristy Hawkins
68 Myra Adams
69 Cheryl Faust
70 Britt Ashley Miller
71 Elena Seiple
72 Devon Keeth
73 Anna-Lisa Morris
74 Brenda “Bee” Smith
75 Jenetta Thompson
76 Christina Rhodes
77 Lisa Burton
78 Janelle Gallo
79 Sylvia Cowan
80 Deborah Reboynas
81 Akila Pervis

Womens Bodybuilding Heavyweight

83 Debbie Baker
84 Julia Stamper
85 Beverly DiRenzo
86 Jennifer Gutierrez
87 Yamila Marraro
88 Sheilah Brown
89 Gale Frankie
90 Nekole Hamrick
91 Kris Murrell
92 Julie Peavey
93 Tammy Jones
94 Shelly Fields
95 Lucy Wilson
96 Ellen Torrence
97 Michele Neil
98 Jaime Kocher

Mens Bodybuilding Bantamweight

100 Jose Vargas
101 Alphonso Jones Jr.
102 Jerry Bell Jr.
103 Dave Candy
104 Paul Gillison
105 Fernando Abaco
106 Steven Bell
107 Rafael Campuzano
108 Michael Echevarria
109 Chris Darby
110 Tom Silavanh
111 Andre Hill
112 Timoney Fernandez
113 Richie Langit
114 Art Santellan
115 John Mcknight IV
116 John Fama
117 Calvin Choy
118 Tim Sahr

Mens Bodybuilding Lightweight

119 Alex Azarian
120 Jeffrey Olcsary
121 Kob Yan
122 James Miles
123 Travis Rogers
124 Chris Norton
125 James Williams
126 Leonardo Ortiz
127 Tim Ward
128 Wills Francois
129
130 Timothy Holder
131 Greg Cosentino
132 Michael Tyndall
133 Rafael Gonzalez
134 Chris Groetsch
135 Ray Douglas
136 Pernell Garrison
137 Leonardo Pacheco
138 Joshua Olmeda
139 John Carraccio
140 Otis Anderson

Mens Bodybuilding Welterweight

141 Omar Ventura
142 Perry McRae
143 Robert E. Lee
144 Daniel Stern
145 Jocelyn Jean
146 Victor Delcampo
147 John Kalalitis
148 Albert Diaz
149 Ryan Walters
150 Jesse Sabater
151 Kenyatta Wilson
152 Brenton Robinson
153 Carlo Filippone
154 Tommie Robertson
155 Mark Harris
156 Mohammed Shiraz
157 Jesus Cabrera
158 Jason Croce
159 Ray Bessette
160 James Seger
161 Stoil Stoilov

Mens Bodybuilding Middleweight

164 Blas Montalvo
165 Theodore Atkins
166 Jeremiah Graham
167 Wilbert Lock
168 Jose Raymond
169 Arleigh Bumanglag
170 Curtis Montgomery
171 Marcos Teixeira
172 Ronald Torres
173 Gaetano Cisternino
174 Brian Nipper
175 Alan Bailey
176 William Powell
177 Craig A. Torres
178 Scott Trout
179 Robert Kreider
180 Lorenzo Jones
181 Daniel Sampeck
182 Julius Rumingan
183 Mark Murray
184 Nos Racoma
185 Devon Bender
186 Guillermo Escalante
187 Darron Glenn

Mens Bodybuilding Light-Heavyweight

190 Manny Torres
191 Joshua Fred
192 William Ayoubi
193 Anthony DeAngelis
194 Miguel Neil
195 Anthony Todd
196 Prince Fontenot
197 Eric Underwood
198 Al Auguste
199 Curtis McGovert
200 Christopher Donaldson
201 Chris Nardoni
202 Justin Dees
203 Danny Samaniego
204 Neko Roberson
205 Brett Becker
206 Lance M. Johnson
207 Dario Ferrer
208 Peter Putnam
209 Charles J. Dixon
210 Mike Yablon
211 Kert McLean
212 Shaun Lasley
213 Stephen Connally
214 Norberto Rivera
215 Joe McRee
216 T.J. Hewitt
217 Jason Wojo
218 John Dural
219 Monty Mabry

Mens Bodybuilding Heavyweight

221 Marvin Harper Jr.
222 Shaun Crump
223 Randy Moore
224 Jeff Schwartzer
225 Jack Colten
226 George Asmus
227 Steven Preza
228 Tab Hunter
229 Abbas Khatami
230 Curtis Bryant
231 Marion Benton
232 Darrell Terrell
233 Mark W. Smith
234 Eric Perkins
235 Adorthus Cherry
236 Mark Erpelding
237 David Fenty
238 Anthoneil Champagne
239 Ralph Garcia
240 Chulsey Graham
241 Lee Banks
242 Brandon Curry
243 Nate Brock
244 Michael Moore
245 Louie Magnone
246 Fred S. Smalls
247 Eric Shannon
248 Marvin Phillips Jr.
249 Brandon Lowe
250 David Hughes
251 Sean Calder
252 Chad Martin
253 Henry Everette

Mens Bodybuilding Super-Heavyweight

254 Allen Fortney
255 Edward Nunn
256 Phil McDowell
257 Ambrose Middleton
258 Evan Centopani
259 Gabriel Latifi
260 Toby Slusher
261 Maik Ismeal
262 Joe Barker
263 Johnny McCarver
264 Victor Tringali
265 Grigori Atoyan
266 Andy Snyder
267 Wondell Leflore
268 Real Johnson
269 Micah Hooker
270 Bryan Barth
271 Stephen Frazier
272 Jeff Long
273 Arkadiy Makurov
274 Zinjun Croon
275 Ron Stevens
276 Adam Young
277 Daryl Jones

Thanks to Iron Man Magazine for the list.

Weigh-in’s at this year’s NPC Nationals in Dallas, Texas started last night, and wow, this is going to be a great contest!

Check out this sampling of photos I’m taking for Flex Magazine:

Evan Centopani

Alex Azarian

Peter Putnam

Stephen Frazier

Lee Banks

More Nationals buzz on Getbig and Flexonline.

Stay tuned for more photos and Nationals coverage on BB.com:

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

Big Kris Murrell, "Special K" as some of her fans call her, is prepped and ready to go at the 2007 Dallas NPC Nationals according to a conversation with her prior to weigh-in’s last night, Thurs. Nov. 15th.

Take a look and listen to this beautiful mass diva, taped Tuesday Nov. 13, 2007!

Having problems with the video?  Click here for the YouTube version.  Video courtesy of John Hawley from MusclePaparazzi.org.

I was recently contacted by Bodybuilding.com to do a brief interview before NPC Nationals this year.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1.  Please introduce yourself (name, occupation, how long bodybuilding & competing, best placings, etc.).  Also please send a photo or two if you have one.

Hi - my name is Jason Wojciechowski - or Wojo for short.  I just finished my Ph.D. in Immunology from Duke University.  I’ve been competing for about 10 years in organizations ranging from the now-defunct ANBC, MuscleMania, and now in the NPC.  I won the NPC NC State Bodybuilding Championships in 2005 along with the light-heavyweight class of the Jr. USA and placed 10th at Nationals out of 38 competitors.

2.  Will you try something different in the days leading into the show in comparison to what you have done in the past? If so what? And do you feel you are taking a risk of the new strategy backfiring?

This time I’m leaving sodium in my diet the entire time and won’t drop it at all come showtime.  I also likely won’t cut water. Each contest prep is an experiment and I learn new things each time I diet.  This strategy could potentially backfire, but I am consistently making progress on a daily basis, so chances are I should be ok if I continue what I’m doing until the time I step onstage.  Usually it’s the things you change at the last minute that end up backfiring.

One other thing I’m doing differently this time around is continuing DC Training throughout my prep.  I have been extremely happy with this system of training in the offseason and it’s worked equally well for my pre-contest diet.

3.  Is this show a team effort or have you prepared by yourself?

I am very lucky to have a great team behind me for my prep - the foundation of which is my girlfriend Rae who has been extremely supportive and helpful (www.TrainwithRae.com).  Also Kevin DeHaven of ISS is doing my diet prep as he has in the past.   He truly is an expert and I feel blessed to have his guidance and friendship.  Also, True Protein has supplied all my supplement needs, which is a huge help.  Finally, my family and friends and daughter are also very supportive - Jenn, Debbie, Steve, Micah, Dante, and Ari.

4.  Who do you see as your main competition and why?

Everyone who shows up is my competition.  I don’t count anyone out.  On any given day someone can step up and surprise everyone.

5.  What is the strangest strategy you have practiced in preparation for the 2007 Nationals?

Nothing really strange.  Pretty standard contest prep by conventional standards.

6.  Have you cheated on your diet? If so, how did you cheat?

No way.  I don’t cheat.  Oh wait - I think I might have had an extra tbsp of natural peanut butter once or twice but that’s about it.  If anything I usually eat less than I’m supposed to.

7.  What has been your main focus of motivation to be the best you can be come November 16th?

To improve from last time.  I got 10th last time around so this time my goal is to beat that, whatever place that may be.   For me competing isn’t a race or an end result.  As long as I continually get better I’m happy.  If I don’t place any higher but look better, that’s still a success in my eyes.

8.  What supplements have been most beneficial for you contest preparation?

I’ve used True Protein supplements almost exclusively for this diet prep.  Specifically, I use their BCAA Boost, beta alanine, whey protein, and waxy maize.

Jason Wojciechowski
www.jasonwojo.com

I was recently contacted by Bodybuilding.com to do a brief interview before NPC Nationals this year.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1.  Please introduce yourself (name, occupation, how long bodybuilding & competing, best placings, etc.).  Also please send a photo or two if you have one.

Name:  Breean Robinson
Occupation:  personal trainer
How long bodybuilding: 4 years in fitness
My best placing:  Overall, 2006 Jr Nationals

2.  Will you try something different in the days leading into the show in comparison to what you have done in the past? If so what? And do you feel you are taking a risk of the new strategy backfiring?

I will not, what I have found in the past to work for me continues to do so!

3.  Is this show a team effort or have you prepared by yourself?

It has been a team effort, while I have done my own workouts I have gotten help from Brenton Robinson on my contest diet.

4.  Who do you see as your main competition and why?

Anyone and everyone is always competition, you never know who is going to miss their mark or have their best day ever.

5.  What is the strangest strategy you have practiced in preparation for the 2007 Nationals?

Strange??  Guess I don’t really feel I do anything too out of the ordinary for my prep!

6.  Have you cheated on your diet? If so, how did you cheat?

Nope, 14 weeks straight!  That’s our method, once you start dieting, you diet all the way hard core, no cheats!  It’s not fun, but it works for me.

7.  What has been your main focus of motivation to be the best you can be come November 16th?

I want that pro card!  I set out with that original goal in the very beginning and would love to accomplish it at this show… This is the first time my family will be able to watch me and it would be the icing on the cake for me to get it in front of them!

8.  What supplements have been most beneficial for you contest preparation?

BSN Thermonex and Nitrix have been great for me!

Breean Robinson

I was recently contacted by Bodybuilding.com to do a brief interview before NPC Nationals this year.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. Please introduce yourself (name, occupation, how long bodybuilding & competing, best placings, etc.). Also please send a photo or two if you have one.

Name: Daryl Jones
Occupation: Bodybuilder, Icon for the King of the Cage, & Actor
How long bodybuilding: I have been competing since 1994, I have been training since 1979 (no typo!)
My best placing: North American 2006 2nd place Masters Heavyweight “oh” so close!!!

2. Will you try something different in the days leading into the show in comparison to what you have done in the past? If so what? And do you feel you are taking a risk of the new strategy backfiring?

This time what I’m doing different is I’m not allowing “anyone” to tell me or even suggest what they feel I need or should do in this final stretch. As some of my “closet” friends have told me I have been doing this long enough to know what to do and I agree no one knows me better than I know myself.

3. Is this show a team effort or have you prepared by yourself?

“No,” I have prepared this entire journey “all” by myself , & I’m very comfortable with this!

4. Who do you see as your main competition and why?

Myself, because in the past I have let others change my original plans and at the end of the night I have said to myself I should have just done it my way!

14 Days Out.

5. What is the strangest strategy you have practiced in preparation for the 2007 Nationals?

I lost all my body fat with-out doing “any” cardio, I let my diet and weight training take the fat off! I never thought this was possible “but” it is!

6. Have you cheated on your diet? If so, how did you cheat?

Over the years I have always cheated on my diet with what we call cheat days, this year in preparation for the shows I have kept myself from doing this knowing why cheat if you want to look like a pro and win your pro-card! I think cheating is what amateurs do!

7. What has been your main focus of motivation to be the best you can be come November 16th?

Really studying and understanding the life style of the pro bodybuilder and spending less time focusing, and keeping up with people who don’t have a pro-card!

8. What supplements have been most beneficial for you contest preparation?

Protein protein and more protein from all sources food and MuscleTech Hardcore, that’s what worked best for me this season!

Later,

Daryl Jones
www.superheavyweight.com

The Swami Says…  "I’m right 99% of the time!"

Check out my 2007 NPC Nationals Preview with guest co-host Alex Azarian, the Armenian Atlas!

Click on the play button to view:

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

The 25th NPC Nationals are in Dallas this year, and I will be going! Leaving Friday morning from LAX at 7am, but it should be a great show.

Who will win? There are a number of fan favorites, and some that we already know to be in excellent shape, but as we have seen in the past, predictions mean little. But check out the pictures, and after this weekend, there will be quite a few competitors who will give up the amateur status for the coveted IFBB membership!

Scott from MySpace has put together a great women’s bodybuilding photo preview for this year’s Nationals.  See a photo of nearly every contestant!

Check it out here on his blog:

http://scottsspotlightbbathlete.blogspot.com/ 

It’s wonderful having a beautiful wife (JanHorn) that cares so much about me and about herself. She takes time no matter what to get her workouts in. She takes time no matter what to do her cardio when she needs it.

Now that she has come so close to getting her pro card (several times) that this off season she is taking it more serious than past off seasons. I don’t know if me getting my pro card was motivation but whatever it has worked!

Figure competitors take exercise just as serious as a bodybuilder but they don’t get as much credit for being as extreme. Let me tell you they are just as extreme. What makes it even harder is you have to be careful how you come into a show. Not too hard, not too smooth. The trick is get hard and just relax more on stage. Or, at least looked relaxed. There is really no such thing as being relaxed on stage. Just let your guard down one second at Nationals and there goes one placing.

My Lovely Better Half, Jan Horn.

Now the fun stuff. A figure competitor will eat all your food. No matter how long it took you to prepare, it’s not safe. I’m talking about my contest prep food. The food that takes hours to prepare and measure out. Our laundry is five loads a day when she’s dieting. You got the morning cardio clothes, the after cardio clothes, the workout clothes, the after workout clothes, the evening cardio clothes, then the after cardio clothes because a figure competitor ain’t sittin’ in any sweaty clothing.

And they are going to look good no matter where they go. There not like us bodybuilders, we don’t give a rats a*@ what we look like and we’ll wear the same thing we worked out in to the mall. Of course she’ll let me know I need to change. A figure competitor is going to look good when they go somewhere so they don’t understand bodybuilders. They get their nails done every week, toes too! They get a new outfit every two weeks and their hair must always look like their ready to go on stage. But I will say one thing after all the bitching I do, I sure am glad I’m married to a figure competitor! 

Mike Horn