Site Unification

I thought it over as well as talk with some friends, and , nder careful consideration, I'd decided to unify the social network site and message board together into one site (http://www.fitgemsnation.net). I think this will be better than having five thousand sites, as quality is better than quantity. The official site was moved to Ning a while back for those that were part of the first site earlier this year. It's not fair to all of you to go from one FitGems site to another when it can all be done in one take.

If you need any assistance on the unified site, please email me at admin@fitgemsnation.net.

Thanks!

Chris
FitGems Founder
http://www.fitgemsnation.net

Petiton for Kiana's Flex Appeal Remake

During the late 90s into the early 2000, ESPN aired a very popular fitness show called Kiana's Flex Appeal. Kiana Tom, the show's star and a Bodyshaping alumnus, became a household name and was responsible for not only getting many people into shape and helping them reach healthy goals, but she gave people a reason to get up off the couch and bed. Her inner and outer beauty helped her become one of the most popular fitness personalities on the planet. Reruns are shown every Monday-Friday at 7AM Eastern/6AM Central on ESPN Classic. Kiana Fitness is looking to return to ESPN with NEW episodes. But the team needs your help!

Go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/198207829 or http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/view?pid=198207829 to sign the petition. Once 50,000 signatures are made, this will be sent to ESPN for review. If you have any questions, contact Steve at steve@kiana.com. Also check out her official website at www.kiana.com.

Together we can bring one of the top fitness shows ever back to television for the new generation!

Go beyond a competitor...Become your own brand!!

You know how entrepreneurs talk about location, location, and location being the difference maker between having a successful business and a big old failure? Well…that same concept applies to each and every woman in the female muscle industry. But instead of location, location, location, it’s more like promotion, promotion, promotion. You’re probably going, “What in the hell is this dumbass talking about?” I’m talking about selling yourself to the masses (NO…THIS DOES NOT MEAN DOING AN ESCORT SERVICE OR HAVING A ONE NIGHT STAND FOR A FEW BUCKS!). I’m referring to making your own “brand”; setting yourself apart from the typical standard of a particular category. Female bodybuilders flex on and off the stage, fitness competitors have high-energy routines and built physiques, and figure competitors have healthy, athletic looking bodies with well-done make-up and hair. But…what makes certain others “better” that the rest? Not much, except they have perfected the art of promotion. Monica Brant and Timea Majorova are two of the most popular competitors in the world, not just by their physiques alone, but by how they were able to market themselves. Don’t believe me? I’ll point out some of the elite and tell you what they have such big fanbases:

Julie-Shipley Childs has a huge fanbase due to her days competing at the Fitness America Pageant when they were shown on ESPN back in the day (when they actually had more things to watch other then Sportscenter). Yes, female muscle has a regular place on television, but Not only that, but she decided to elevate her game and compete in the NPC, which wasn’t long as she earned her pro card and has become a member of the fitness elite ever since. Another one that have followed the TV competition path is Kim Lyons, who went on to become a top celebrity personality as a trainer on NBC's hit show, The Biggest Loser.

World Wrestling Entertainment was the platform for fitness models/champions Joanie Laurer (Chyna), Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, and Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria). All four of these ladies have went on to become household names and have been instrumental in showing women that you don’t have to be a size negative 10 to be attractive. Both Chyna and Torrie have among the highest selling Playboy magazines by WWE Divas in history…while the issues that had the cookie-cutter types have been duds compared to the Ninth Wonder of the World and the self-proclaimed Covergirl. Victoria has been regarded as one of the toughest and most respected Divas in the world by many fans. And don’t even get me started on Trish Stratus. Long story short, this is her world, and we’re just living in it.

Jennifer Gates has become arguably one of the top figure competitors today, and her rookie year was nothing short of legendary. But among her first exposures was paysites like FTVideo, HerBiceps, Femflex, and TomNine. That was when I first saw her. Needless to say, she became a major fan favorite and one of IFBB’s top figure pros after that. Paysites are great if you know where to go and who to trust. Ask around in order to find the best ones out there.

Recently, the world of politics got a touch of female muscle as Collete Nelson made a huge splash in 2008 when she campaigned for the McCain campaign, as she portrayed a She-Hulk for McCain, rivaling Obama Girl.

I can tell you other things that others have done to make names for them, some that are very innovative, and some…well, less that ideal, but that would take way too long. Bottom line, you can compete and compete and compete, but to make a name for yourself you must be able to become a brand. Experiment with all the options out there (as well as create and find your own promotional tool) and find out what works best for you, and then…tell the world, “Ready or not, here I come!”

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Just thought I'd take this time to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you all get what you wanted, and to all the young ones out there...hope Santa visited you last night!

As we all know, things are not as well as they could be, with the economy and all. I wish things could be better, and who knows? Things could get better as time progresses. However, to be quite honest, we should all be thankful for what we already have instead of what we don't have. Thank God everyday for He brought us life.

I'll leave you all with the last words from The Christmas Song:

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although its been said many times, many ways,
Merry Christmas to you.

Arnold Classic 2009-The list

This has been posted at Hardbody News, Bodybuilding Weekly, Siouxcountry, Feminine Bodybuilding, and many other places. For those that are unaware, the Arnold lists have been revealed. Here are the ones that will be competitng in March,

Ms. International
Heather (Policky) Armburst
Dayana Cadeau
Iris Floyd Kyle
Maria Del Carmen Gomez
Rosemary Jennings
Debi Laszewski
Cathy LeFrancois
Mah-Ann Mendoza
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Betty Pariso
Brenda Raganot
Isabelle Turell
Betty Viana-Adkins
Dena Westerfield
Fitness International
Jessica Clay
Regiane Da Silva
Nicole Duncan
Tina Durkin
Heidi Fletcher-Sullivan
Bethany Gainey
Tracey Greenwood
Oksana Grishina
Jen Hendershott
Tanji Johnson
Shannon Meteraud
Mindi O’brien
Julie Palmer
Erin Riley
Trish Warren
Nicole Wilkins-Lee
Figure International
Gina Aliotti
Huong Arcinas
Monica Brant
Heather Mae French
Amy Fry
Adela Garcia
Jennifer Gates
Sonia (Adcock) Gonzales
Lenay Hernandez
Georgina Lona
Juliana Malacarne
Zivile Raudoniene
Kristal Richardson
Felicia Romero
Sherlyn Roy
Chastity Slone
Brenda Marie Smith
Erin Stern
Latisha Wilder

I'll be highlighting each competitor from now until the Arnold arrives...hopefully. Congrats to everyone that got an Arnold invite!

Why I Created the FitGems Nation

It has been a long road creating something that competitors, fans, and everyone else involved in this industry can come together and help support the sport they love and live for. Here's my story...

It started out by me making fan clubs on Yahoo for those I liked quite a bit. The first one I created was of IFBB Pro Christine Pomponio-Pate. From there I created others for people such as Julie Shipley-Childs, Jane Awad, Jennifer Gates, and Sherrie Carnicle, to name a few. The fan clubs were met with great response not only from fans but the competitors themselves. Then I got involved in participating in message boards. I'm in more message boards and sites than I dare to count at this point in time. There are some that I enjoy more than others, and the ones I enjoy the most are the ones that show respect to the women who push their bodies to the limit and beyond.

Long story short, I decided to post my thoughts and opinions about the industry though a blog this summer, thus bringing the FitGems Nation, my personal conribution to the sport, to life. (http://fitgems.blogspot.com) I've had the honor so far of having a few interviews on the blog with some of the top names in the business, including the new Fitness and Figure Olympia champions, which is quite an accomplishment for someone's who new to this kind of stuff. Then the thought of a cool social site ran through my head, so I created a social site on a social network place similar to Ning. However, the vision I wanted was limited on the site I used to hold the FitGems site on, so I moved it to Ning (http://fitgems.ning.com) and never looked back. Then the thought of a cool social site ran through my head, so I created a social site on a social network place similar to Ning. However, the vision I wanted was limited on the site I used to hold the FitGems site on, so I moved it to here and never looked back. After the move, I purchased the domain of www.fitgemsnation.net, and knew I had something special that people could be proud of. Not bad for a 22 year old supporter, huh?

I've accomplished quite a bit with these sites, which all began in 2008. I'm hoping as time progresses that I can do more for the great ladies of this sport. I'm hoping to attend a show in the near future (which I'm saving up money now for), as well as create some kind of sponsorship (either from scratch or partner up with a site, company, or something of that nature), as well as a promotion tool for the athletes that will be explained on a later date.

I'm gonna make this very clear...I'M NOT A SAVIOR FOR THIS SPORT, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE LOOK AT AS SUCH! All I am is a fan and a supporter who wants to give back to something I've admire and respected for years. I do hope the fans out there do what they can to support these women, as they need all the support they can get. As long as there is female muscle, I'll do what I can to support the sport. Ladies, you are all absoultely amazing. Keep following your dreams and keep pushing yourselves to bring out the very best in YOU, as a true winner is never satisfied.

I'm gonna leave you all with this:
We are not promised a tomorrow, but let's live like today will never end.

StratusFACTtion Guaranteed-My other project

In addition to the FitGems Nation, I've been working on a new project dedicated to my all-time favorite female wrestler, Trish Stratus. It's something along the lines of a Chuck Norris facts page, but instead it's a Trish Stratus facts page. This was created out of humor and not made to be taken serious. I'm hoping Trish herself will take a look at this page and get a good chuckle out of it. I certaintly did after I realize what I created. LOL.




http://trishstratusfacts.wetpaint.com

Speaking of Trish, to the surprise of...none, she was the favorite on last month's poll in regards to who would make a great IFBB competitor with 54% of the votes. Trish as an IFBB fitness or figure competitor. One word...EPIC! Torrie Wilson was second with 5% of the votes. Melina, Terri Runnels, Jackie Gayda-Haas, and others got 3% a piece. Mickie James and Candice Michelle receive 2% a piece. Eve Torres and Michelle McCool received 1%. I'm gonna apologize right now about this post. After I made the post, I left out some key people by mistake, most noticably, Beth Pheonix. I can't believe I left her out, and for that, I apologize.

Now on to the last poll of the year. It's official that the NPC will have a bikini divison net year with the IFBB to follow suit in 2010. My question is: If it were up to YOU, which division would you rather have in the NPC or IFBB: a bikini or physique divison? Or why not both..or neither of them at all? I'm gonna post my thoughts on this matter soon, and I would like you to voice your opinions (good or bad) after I make the post.

Hope everyone enjoyed Thankgiving and are getting ready for Christmas! Yes, the holidays have arrived! Meaning...the Arnold Classic list should be coming out sometime this month. Can't wait!!!