cray17’s BodyBlog

For those that are unaware of what I’m doing, I’m doing my part in supporting the female part of the industry by creating FitGems. Long story short, it’s my way of giving tribute to all the ladies who have worked or are working hard in perfecting their physiques, whether it’s women’s bodybuilding, fitness, or figure, and regardless of the federation you participate in as well (IFBB, NPC, NABBA, FAME, Fitness America, etc.)

Here are the sites I’ve created as my way of supporting this great industry:

http://fitgemssite.wetpaint.com

http://fitgems.blogspot.com

http://www.myspace.com/fitgems

For those who have either joined or have either at least checked any of the sites out, I thank you so much for the support. It means a lot to me, and the support means a lot to these competitors. Simple things like that is one of the things that keeps them in the game and keep them pushing themselves to and beyond the limits of the norm.

Ladies, keep doing what you’re doing in the gym. You are never alone…

I’ve went to the Olympia blog page and posted what I think of this year’s female portion of the Olympia. To see my post, check it out on the link below.

http://blog.bodybuilding.com/OlympiaBlog/2008/09/02/my-predictions-for-the-figure-fitness-and-ms-olympia/

Well…I’ve been working on my blog (http://fitgems.blogspot.com) , and later on I’ll post links to topics I’ve written about over the summer. But now, I want to talk briefly about something I’ve start a few days ago. I’ve started a social network site on Wetpaint, to go along with my blog. I think this could be the beginning of something cool, as I’ve never taken on something this big before. I’m inviting everyone to this site: fellow competitors, models, photographers, fans, supporters, etc. Here’s the site:

http://fitgemssite.wetpaint.com

If you would like to be a moderator, PM me or email me. Thanks!

P.S. I’ve also been on a personal quest to be healther. I’ve went from being 250 pounds at the beginning of the summer down to 236 pounds today. To say that I’m beyond stoked would be an understatement. Peace out!

Hey there. Long time no see. Sorry about that; I’ve been busy with getting things done before the college semester comes to an end.

Anyways, I’ve created my own blog site for the world of female muscle called FitGems. Mind you, It’s gonna be a few days before I get this running really good, but hopefully this will be the start of something cool. I’m pretty darn excited about it!

http://fitgems.blogspot.com/

The opening intro explains what and who I will cover. I hope this can become BIG! BTW, this doesn’t mean I’ll stop posting here. In fact, I’m hoping to highlight another Yahoo group within the end of the month.

I can’t thank you all enough for taking the time to read these and giving these women your support. It means more than you probably realize. That’s all. Peace! 

Okay, I’ve put this off for too long, but here’s my first Yahoo! Group highlight for 2008: Sabrina Gibson!

WOW! I remember seeing her pics from the NPC USAs in 2004 and was immediately blown away by her conditioning and muscularity. I usually don’t do this, but I recommend any videos from the 2004 NPC USAs for Sabrina alone. She was that good. Many people thought she had the contest in the bag and a pro card that day, and sure enough, it happened. In all honestly, I expected her to make an immediate impact on her becoming a pro. But…I found out something else; she’s a member of the Marine Corps stationed in Japan! It’s always good to see someone in the muscle community (male or female) serving in the Armed Forces. 

In addition to fitness and being in the Marine Corps, she’s done bodybuilding and powerlifting, as well as being a personal trainer. Jugding by her past accomplishments, there’s really no limited for this amazing person. I hope one day she will be able to compete in the States again soon. If not, I think I can speak for everyone as we say “Thank you” for serving the world in times of need.

Here’s her list of accomplishments:
2005 Charlotte Pro Fitness ~ 8th Place
2005 Europa Supershow ~ 8th Place
2005 Emerald Cup Pro Fitness ~ 11th place
2004 USA Championships ~ 1st place short (Earned IFBB Pro Card)
2004 Emerald Cup Bodybuilding and Fitness ~ 1st place short &Overall/National Qualifier
2002 Goodfellow AFB Bench Press Competition ~ 1st place
2000 Budapest Fitness Championships ~ 7th place
1999 NABBA Universe ~ 6th place
1999 NABBA Britain Finals ~ 3rd place
1999 NABBA Midlands Pro-Am Oscar Awards ~ 1st place
1999 USAFE Powerlifting Championships ~ 2nd place
1998 NABBA Novice Miss Britain ~ 1st place
1998 Miss East Britain Figure ~ 1st place
1996 Brooks AFB Powerlifting ~ 1st place
1996 USPF Texas Cup Powerlifting ~ 2nd place

Her Yahoo fan club:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/sabrina_gibson/?yguid=192910232

Well, I did promised at least one more Yahoo! group spotlight before the year was up, so I’m living up to my word. My last Yahoo! Group spotlight of the year belongs to…Heidi Fletcher!

At only 4′11, she is one of the shortest figure competitors out there today, but is also among the most entertaining competitors as well. She added another title this year: arguably the most improved physique of any fitness competitor. She didn’t look bad to begin with by no means, but 2007 was her physique breakout year. Many…MANY people (including yours truly) couldn’t believe her conditioning. She could easily enter a lightweight bodybuilding contest without a problem. That’s how much she has improved. If she keeps the physique up, as well as her routines, she will be a force to reckoned with in the fitness world for as long as she wants to.

I can’t read minds and predicts the future, but don’t be the least big surprised if Heidi picks up a well-deserved first pro win, and finally makes herself a name among the fitness elites in 2008. As the old saying goes: It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but it about the size of the fight in the dog

Her Yahoo Group/Fan Club:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/heidi_fletcher/?yguid=192910232

I will have another Yahoo! Group spotlight hopefully by the end of the year. Sorry about the lack of info as I’ve had other committments over the last few weeks.

Anyways, I’ve created so many groups/fan clubs over the last couple of years that I decided to put them all together in one place:

http://groups.msn.com/FitnessFigureFanClubs/

So for those with MSN/Hotmail accounts, join and support! If you don’t have one, get one for this. HAHA! Anyways, I hope everyone out there has a fit and fabulous holiday season and be safe! Good luck to everyone competitng next year and for those who are just trying to live healthier lives.

Happy Holidays from the "Unofficial Fitness/Figure Ambassador"! LOL… 

For those that are interested in wanting to know how I felt about the 2007 Fitness/Figure Olympia, as well as the retirement of a legend (Ronnie Coleman), check out this link:

http://blog.bodybuilding.com/OlympiaBlog/2007/10/25/my-olympia-post-thoughts/

I would like to know what you think about it. It is a lengthy read, thought. Thanks!

Well, the Olympia is said and done for another year, and this Yahoo! group highlight definitely turned some heads at Olympia weekend. I’m talking about fifth-place figure competitor, and a MAJOR threat to the Figure International title…Amanda Jo Savell!

They say figure is nothing more than a bonified beauty contest, and these ladies don’t have to train hard and heavy to look amazing. Hmm…hehehe…uhh, try telling Amanda that. She hasn’t gotten the memo yet. HEHE! She is one of those females that you have to take a second glance (not a stare, pervs!) and say to yourself, “Is she real?” The answer is yes…she’s really that beautiful, she’s really that built, and if you’ve ever seen her in the gym, she is one of the strongest females in figure today. She’s not afraid to hit the weights and hit them hard. It could be because she’s a former bodybuilder. It could be her Southern mindset since she’s orginally from the Volunteer State and now lives in the Lone Star State, cause you know what they say about things in Texas, right?! Whatever it is, I don’t think the fans want her to stop. Yours truly doesn’t want that to happen either.

Judging by the success she’s had in figure so far, it lookes like she made the right decision to go to that instead of staying in bodybuilding.  And 2008 could be her breakout year, as the last two Arnold Classics, she placed thrid and second respectively. Her top five finish at the O automatically qualifies her for the big dance next year. Will Amanda be the future of figure? If she has her way, come 2008 season,  ”The South will rise again!”

 Her Yahoo! group/fan club:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/amanda_savell/ 

My next Yahoo group spotlight belongs to someone who just qualified for the Olympia in two weeks and just won her very first pro figure contest…Miss Andrea Dumon!

This woman is pound for pound one of the most built figure competitors out there. Great arms, small waist, amazing legs (especially her calves), and as an added bonus…she can do the mecca of all muscle control: the famed pec bounce!

Her accomplishments are what champions are made of. She was hooked to the sport around 2001, and has turned heads ever since. She turned pro in 2005, and she has never looked back. Last year, she competed in many competitions, including her first Olympia. This year, she placed sixth at the Houston Pro, ninth at the Europa Pro, and just recently won her very first pro figure contest: The Atlantic City Pro! Her emotions on that night told the whole story of what it was like for her winning her first event as an IFBB pro.

She now prepares to enter amongst the elite again as she is in her second straight Olympia. With what she has accomplished so far in her career, the possibilties are endless for one of the best-built females in the IFBB today.
Her Yahoo fan club/group:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/andrea_dumon/