Webmaster Will’s Blog

PBW Announces AM Radio Distribution!

As part of its on-going initiative to bring bodybuilding to the largest possible audience, Pro Bodybuilding Weekly announces its latest syndication deal that brings bodybuilding talk radio to more than 60 AM radio stations throughout th e U.S. and the Virgin Islands.

For more info, go to:
http://probodybuildingweekly.com/pdf.html (PDF)

WW

New Rochelle, New York - April 24, 2007

Doing our part to support amateur athletes, CONTROLLED LABS is proud to announce the signing of competitive "PowerBuilder" Eric Helms. CONTROLLED LABS is one of the fastest growing nutritional supplement companies nationwide, focusing on products that safely improve athletic performance and fat loss. Since 2005, CONTROLLED LABS has gained popularity within the bodybuilding community with it’s ongoing support of the fitness / nutrition community, unique business strategy, and cost-effective products featured in major retailers like Vitamin World, Vitamin Shoppe, and major internet stores like bodybuilding.com.

Stats:

Name: Eric Helms
Born: April 22, 1983 Oakland, CA
Height: 6′1"
Weight: 220lbs
Contest: 180lbs
Years Training: 3

Growing up, Eric was never a very physical child, he was active in some sports but didn’t excel. Studying Karate and learning Japanese philosophies such as Bushido, he learned to meditate at a very young age and these practices interested him far more than the physical aspects. He enjoyed the focus on being balanced and controlled and eventually these concepts and disciplines would play a role in his life. After 9 years of studying Isshinryu Karate, Eric moved from the Bay Area to Sacramento where he stayed active in martial arts, discovered breakdancing, and ran track (hated it). But still, he had not found anything at this point that was his physical "calling".

Aim high…

In the Air Force, Eric stayed fit and disciplined and was soon promoted to Physical Conditioning Flight Commander (responsible for the physical conditioning of every trainee in the squadron), and he excelled at it. His friends dragged him to the gym to lift weights, but he wasn’t hooked on the bodybuilding lifestyle and lifted "like a fool". Two and a half years into his Air Force career, someone very close to him was raped. Located across the country and feeling powerless, Eric was eating himself up inside with anger, couldn’t sleep, and couldn’t cope. At Eric’s request, a close friend introduced to him what would become his life: Bodybuilding

Inspiration:

Inspired by the writings of Arnold himself, Eric starting hitting the gym regularly and imitated the training styles of the golden era bodybuilders. During his very first hardcore workout, Eric threw up (and threw out his back), but he was in the gym the next day, learning from injury and working around it. Eric’s world became protein shakes, george foreman grilling, and stories of Mentzer, Arnold, and Columbo. When they weren’t eating, talking about bodybuilders of the past, or hitting the iron, Eric and his friends would learn everything they could from books, magazines, and bodybuilding.com.

Transformation:

Focused on nutrition, dedicated in the gym, and trying every legal supplement under the sun, Eric grew from a 174lb runner to a bulked up 220lbs within 2 years. After the Air Force, he got certified as a personal trainer and transformed from 220lb @ 16-18% body fat to 215lb @ 12% body fat. With competitive bodybuilders constantly asking Eric for advice on bodybuilding nutrition and training, he started thinking seriously about competing.

Powerbuilding:

In 2006 Eric helped organize (and competed in) a local powerlifting competition, benching 320lbs (RAW) and deadlifted 495lbs (RAW) at a bodyweight of 209lbs. He placed second in his weight class, third place overall best deadlift, and had a blast. At this competition Eric met a man In his 60’s (former Mr. Alaska) that had over 30 years of experience as an NPC and INBF head judge. Mr. Alaska told Eric that with his obvious dedication, he could become a great bodybuilder. As a "test judge" at a local INBF show Eric got to see his first contest, and the confidence and grace of the competitors displaying their hard work touched something deep inside him. There was no looking back… he would compete.

New Challenges:

After getting married and moving back to California, Eric realized that in California he would face the toughest competitors in the sport. Inspired by today’s natural champions like Rob Hope, John Hansen, Phillip Ricardo Jr., Rodney Helaire, and Layne Norton, Eric decided to stay natural and see what could be accomplished with intelligence, spirit, and the genetics he was born with. January 1st 2007, Eric began his contest prep for his first show: The INBA Silver and Black 12th Annual Muscle Classic hosted by the Oakland Raiders on May 5th…. a test of himself and how far he can take his body.

Upcoming shows:

INBA Silver and Black 12th Annual Muscle Classic (May 5th)
INBA Southern California Natural Bodybuilding Championships (May 12th)
NGA Mr. and Mrs. Natural California Bodybuilding Show (June 30th)

Eric Helms on his CONTROLLED LABS sponsorship:

"I am blessed to have been given this opportunity by CONTROLLED LABS to be sponsored, and it only motivates me more to be the best bodybuilder I can be. Currently, the sport of Bodybuilding is not at its height like it was during the 1970’s, and although I love the IFBB and I respect the athletes and champions in that federation, I would love to see the world of Natural Bodybuilding expanded in an effort to broaden the perception of bodybuilding. I don’t wish to change the IFBB or the spirit of bodybuilding’s "Mass Monster" side, I only wish to do what I can to bring everything that bodybuilding is to the table: a healthy, disciplined lifestyle, and greek like god physiques with perfect symmetry and aesthetics…. physiques presented by the likes of Frank Zane, Arnold, Mike Mentzer, and Serge Nubret of bodybuildings golden era."

With the goal of becoming a Natural Pro within the next 3-4 years, becoming an accomplished powerlifter, staying natural, and lifting raw…. please join CONTROLLED LABS in welcoming Eric Helms to the CONTROLLED LABS team !

New Rochelle, New York

Doing our part to bring symmetry and aesthetics back to bodybuilding, CONTROLLED LABS is proud to announce the signing of amateur bodybuilder MarkAnthony Doublet. CONTROLLED LABS is one of the fastest growing nutritional supplement companies nationwide, focusing on products that safely improve athletic performance and fat loss. Since 2005, CONTROLLED LABS has gained popularity within the bodybuilding community with it’s ongoing support of the fitness / nutrition community, unique business strategy, and cost-effective products featured in major retailers like Vitamin World, Vitamin Shoppe, and major internet stores like bodybuilding.com.

Vision…the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be…

First introduced to bodybuilding by his father (a former competitor) MarkAnthony envisioned himself becoming very active in the health and fitness industry by competing and working with athletes. Now a nutrition graduate, personal trainer as well as a natural competitor, he is here for the long hall… and his vision has paid off. He competed in his first bodybuilding show in 2005, and is currently preparing for his fourth contest on May 26th, 2007.

Contest History:

INBF 2006 27TH ANNUAL INBF NATURAL HERCULES CHAMPIONSHIP - Placing: 6th WNSO Fame NYC - Placing: 3rd WNSO Fame Big Apple - Placing: 2nd

MarkAnthony on nutrition:

"Just like every beginner when I started lifting, putting on weight was my only concern. Taking in over 5000 calories a day and lifting everything at the gym I took myself from 192lbs to 230lbs in two years. By age 20, looking more like a powerlifter then a bodybuilder, I was not happy with my symmetry and decided something needed to change. That change was not so much my training style but diet and supplements. The past 4 years I have really paid a great deal of attention to my eating, being consistent and writing it all down. Still experimenting with my ratios and finding out what my body likes, there’s no doubt diet is a big part of bodybuilding and reaching your goals. Every year I try something different with my calories and ratios to see what works best."

MarkAnthony on training:

"From day one, my training intensity has been what Dorin Yates would call “Balls to the Wall”. I stick to a 4 day split of chest & shoulders, legs, back and finish off my week with arms. Each muscle group is trained with
2-3 exercises, 3-4 sets, 8-10 reps, heavy and to failure. Cardio will be increased depending on the date of a show. My style of training stays the same in the off/on season but my diet is what truly changes for a show."

MarkAnthony on supplements:

"Supplements are the icing on the cake. With out the actual cake mix you have nothing, but once you have the cooking down the icing can make a huge impact. I’ve experimented with a bunch of different combination of proteins, creatines and amino acids but have never really found that Boom, until I discovered Arginine and Ornithine. The combination of these two amino acids is amazing. Not only do they give you a great pump but they definitely have increased my strength and size. I take both when I’m trying to put on size or maintain my muscle mass when dieting down for a show. The only down fall is all the pills I have to pop in a day. I recently found out about a product that combines both amino acids but also gives me a nice hit energy, WHITE FLOOD by CONTROLLED LABS. This drink is definately the icing on the cake."

This vision has paid off…. and we are proud to welcome MarkAnthony to the CONTROLLED LABS TEAM !

from J.M. Manion himself:

ADELA GARCIA MAKING LEAP TO COMPETE IN IFBB PRO FIGURE
(But She’s Not Done With Fitness Just Yet!)

Two-time IFBB Fitness Olympia & Two-time IFBB Fitness International champion Adela
Garcia has targeted the 2007 IFBB Houston Pro Figure on July 21st to make her debut on
an IFBB Pro Figure stage. It appears that Adela will be the first IFBB Professional woman
to take advantage of the new ruling that was approved at the 2006 IFBB Professional
League Pro Committee meeting held at the IFBB Olympia.

The ruling states that IFBB
Professional women can compete in any of the 3 sports, bodybuilding, fitness or figure, at
any time during the competitive year. The only restriction is that they cannot compete in
more than one sport at an IFBB
competition that offers multiple women’s
divisions.

Adela’s reasons for competing
here are simple, it’s close to home, she
wants to branch out to holding fitness
camps in the Houston area and it’s 3
weeks before she steps on stage to
compete in the 2007 IFBB Europa Super
Show Pro Fitness.

The physique rounds
have been Adela’s strongest rounds in
IFBB Fitness and she has consistently
scored in the top two of those rounds in
every contest she’s entered since 2004.
“Everybody has asked me for years if I
would ever consider doing a figure contest
but at the time I did not want to make a
total commitment to just compete in
figure, which is the way the old rules
read,” Adela stated. “Now that the rules
have been changed I can give it a try.

I
have a feeling it won’t be my last time
competing in IFBB Figure and I think a
few of the other girls may try it now too.”
As you read, Adela is still competing in
IFBB Fitness and does plan to compete in
the 2007 IFBB Fitness Olympia. She
enjoys competing and feels that the new
ruling opens up fresh opportunities for her
competitive career.

—

Crazy stuff! What do you guys think, can she compete in figure and succeed like she has with fitness?

WW

The goat here, better known as Will the Webmaster for the last 7 years here on Bodybuilding.com.

I am starting this blog as a way to keep all of you in the industry up-to-date with the current news in bodybuilding.  More to come on the when, why and what… but here is a preview/intro to what is to come.

—————> See next blog…

WW