Monday, January 31, 2011

FitGems Radio...Coming Soon!

Here's the major news I promised you all:

After much deliberation and discussion, I've decided to take another step in the FitGems Network and create a late morning weekly radio show called FitGems Radio. The show will only 30 minutes long, but I plan to cover a lot in those 30 minutes each week.

Each week, I will talk about one specific topic about the industry from my own personal point of view for the first half of the show or a bit more (15-20 minutes) the remaining half of the show will be questions from listeners from over the globe. If a show is going on that weekend (for example, the Arnold, Olympia, Jr. USAs,Nationals, or even local shows you want promoted), then I would promote that and talk about some of the competitors, basically give a preview to the show.

If someone wants to do an interview through the show, then rather than talk about a specific subject, the entire time will be dedicated to the guest. We do an interview and take calls and emails from you all.

The first show is set for next Friday, February 10 at 11am Eastern/10am Central. We will be discussing social media in the fitness industry (message boards, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) If you would like to submit a question to me about social media, please email them to me at admin@fitgemsnation.net (Put FITGEMS RADIO in the subject line) prior to the show, or call us at (949) 203-4835 DURING the last half of our show. Deadline to email questions will be next Thursday at Noon.

Catch the first show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fitgemsnation/2011/02/11/fitgems-radio-episode-1. Should this be successful, this might expand a bit. Baby steps for now, though. Hope you enjoy this latest addition to the FitGems Network! :)

BREAKING NEWS: IFBB New York Pro Figure has been moved from July to May

IFBB Pro Figure competitors, for those that are planning to compete in the 2011 New York Pro Figure, a MAJOR change of dates has been made. This news was just posted on FLEX Online:

The IFBB New York Pro Championships is arguably the most prestigious show of the year behind the Olympia and the Arnold. This year pro figure will join the action on May 28 at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center. The NY Pro Figure Championships was originally scheduled to be held in conjunction with the NPC Team Universe in July (as it had been in past years). 

NY Pro promoter and IFBB Official Steve Weinberger said decided it was time to add figure to the esteemed Pro Championships in May. Steve said, “Figure has become a premier women’s event and it belongs on stage at New York’s biggest night of bodybuilding.”

Each year the NY Pro brings out the top names in the sport to compete and anyone who’s anyone in the industry to watch. It only makes sense that pro figure competes on the same day as the open men, under-202 men, and bikini divisions of the IFBB Pro League. May 28 just became one of the most exciting days in the IFBB and its happening on the world’s biggest stage: New York City!

With the addition of the New York Pro Figure, the New York show this year is shaping up to be one HUGE event. For more info on the show, including tickets and entry forms, go to www.bevfrancis.com.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

My Tribute to Jason Adams

I know I have quite a bit to write about, but I wanted to take this time to write about someone who has said to me over and over that I'm an inspiration to HIM. The man I'm talking about it Jason Adams.

The first time I heard of him is when I saw his post on Siouxcountry about his blog called Promoting Real Women (http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com), his blog dedicated to MMA and the fitness industry. I highlighted his blog on FitGems (http://fitgems.blogspot.com/2010/01/fitting-review-promoting-women.html) as it was starting to take off. I check out the blog every day, as it's one of the coolest and most unique blogs in the world right now, not just for the fitness and women's MMA (which I have a newfound respect for, thanks to Jason), but in ALL of sports. I follow a lot of sports and sport blogs, and I can't think of one blog that gives people a chance to shine like his. An interview blog?! That's beyond innovation, in my honest opinion.

Over 2010, his star began to rise and rise to unbelievable heights. He opened a fan page for his blog, which is now approaching 7,000 members (I see it reaching 10,000 by summertime). He decided to make me an administrator to the fan page, as well as a writer for the blog. For him to ask me to be an admin and guest writer meant a lot to me, as this is reserved for the females that have made the biggest impact of his life. I returned the favor by making him an admin to the FitGems fan page, a guest blogger, and also gave him his own special section on the main FitGems website as well as making him a top moderator for the site. I never looked back, as making him a part of FitGems was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

I've said this to him, and I'm going to say it here: I see Jason as an older brother of some sorts. That's how much respect I have for him. When you diss him, you diss me. I don't give a damn if you call me a jerk or a creep or perv(I'm used to it now, even know I know it's not true), but please don't stoop so low as to call Jason out of his name. He doesn't deserve the crap he's getting from certain people, who won't be mentioned here on this blog post.

So when you get the chance, let Jason know how much you care for what he's doing for this sport. Let him know that you appreciate what he's doing. I sure as hell do. From the bottom of my heart, I know I can speak for the many female muscle athletes and female MMA fighters when I say...Thank You. :)

Plyos and Measurements (Melissa Cunningham's Journal Entry #6)

got in 30 minutes AM cardio.
M slept all night for mommy again!
i was really NOT in the mood to go to the gym...
wasn't feeling that great and ALMOST didn't go...
but i told myself that i would go to the gym and if i still felt blah,then i would just leave.
glad i went,cause it is plyo day ans this is the day i have 2 other ppl to share in the fun with.
misery really loves company!!
same routine as last time
cycle
1
box jumps
blurpies
ski lunge
lateral sprints
rest 1 minute on to
cycle 2:
lateral box jumps
mountain climbers
high knees
gazelle bounds
rest 1 minute on to
cycle 3
jump lunge
sumo squat with explosive jump
jump tucks
jump rope
rest 1 minute
REPEAT3x

it wasn't the funnest time ever,and the first cycle i was feeling blah,but then started to feel better.
after plyos got in
3x15 good mornings
3x30 leg press single leg jump presses with 1 minute mini squat hold
3x18 hip abd
3x18 hip add
and ended with 15 minutes on elliptical~2 miles.
i was wiped out but still feel like pansy for skipping out on cardio.
will make up for it tomorrow though.
speed work planned.
not sure if i will do 8x400 repeats or just a HIIT.....

OH also i did measurements this morning.
i wasn't planning on posting them,but figured i need to as a reminder to me,when i look back and see where i was 5 months after a baby.....
and of course to see how far i have to go in order to reach my goal #'s.

so here it is-(eeep!)
my current numbers and my goal numbers...
current:
waist (at navel) 22.5"
hips (widest part of rear) 31"
thighs (6 inches above knee) 15.5"
bicep-10"

GOAL:
in order to fit back into my teeny tiny suit this is where i was at my first pro show
waist-20.3"
hips-29.4"
bicep-9"
thigh-14"

so i have 8 inches to lose.
game on.

Pamela Wilson's Latest Blog Posts

Here are the latest blog posts from the latest Bodybuilding.com Military Challenge winner Pamela Wilson.


http://robandpamelawilson.blogspot.com/2011/01/it-didnt-work.html


http://robandpamelawilson.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-post.html

It's Official (Melissa Cunningham's Journal Entry #5)

13 weeks 5 days out.
contest prep officially started early this morning.
yes,i finally got myself on the TM and ran for 30 minutes this morning. (lil M slept ALL night for mommy!)
had a good workout at the gym and a little extra at home.
got in:
3x10 pullups
(got 5 in unassisted 1rst set)
4x15 seated row
4x15 kneeling lat pulldown
4x15 straight arm lat pull down
4x15 barbell curl
4x15 barbell row
3x30 mofos (single arm cable curls-10 reps facing cable,10 reps rear facing cable,10 reps lateral curl)
3x12 high and wide cable pulldowns
4x15 reverse flys on ex ball (home)
4x15 prone hammer curl on ex ball (at home)
went to a 30 minute abs class which was great! it wasnt the instructor im used to,but my abs were worked,and aside from a cheesy warm up,i enjoyed the class. i was challenged.
cant remember all we did,but i know we did weighted crunch ups,planks in all directions with both upper and lower body movements,and some other stuff in between...
since i was running out of time to get cardio in,i had to sqeeeze another mini HIIT in-
only 23 minutes to do cardio,sprinted on the evens this time,steady state was @7.3 (8:13 pace) the last 16 minutes)
2min@ 9.0
4min @ 9.5
6min @9.0 mph
8min@ 9.5mph
10min @9.0mph
12min@ 9.5mph
14min @ 9.0mph
16min @ 9.5mph 30 sec,10.0mph 30 sec
18min @10.0 mph
20 min @ 10.5mph
22min@ 10.5mph 30sec,11.5mph 30 seconds
got in 3.25 miles in 22 min.
faster than last time!!!around a sub 215k,give or take 15 seconds either way...

heres to a great week yall!

Monday, January 24, 2011

FitGems Nation's Women's History Month Celebration

For those that don't know, March is Women's History Month, a month that's set aside each year to celebrate the achievements of the women who have made an impact on the world.

I want to give thanks to every woman who's a part of this industry, so I'm going to give the entire month of March to all of you! FitGems will be hosting a Women's History Month Celebration and I want all of YOU ladies to be part of it.

What will I be needing from you? Whatever you want to provide. Here are a few suggestions to help you out:
  • Videos (your workouts/competitions/advice to aspiring and current competitors)
  • Poems
  • Guest Articles
  • Artwork
  • Podcasts
  • Contest Experiences
  • Etc.
My goal for Women's History Month is to show my appreciation for all of you. If you would like to participate, please email me at admin@fitgemsnation.net, and put Women's History Month celebration in the subject line.

The celebration will begin on March 1st and will end on March 31st. Hope to see many of you participate in this historical event! More info will be released in the coming days.

Tribute to Jack LaLanne, "The Godfather of Fitness"

As you all probably have heard by now, Jack LaLanne, considered by many to be the "Godfather of Fitness" passed away Sunday afternoon due to respiratory failure due to pneumonia. He inspired millions of people all over the world to get active before fitness became a well-known phenomenon. He helped make fitness a big part of many people's lives.

Photo credit: Tri Star Products


In my honest opinion, if it wasn't for Jack LaLanne, there would be no Kiana Tom, no Jillian Michaels, no Jennifer Nicole Lee, no Jamie Eason. Dare I say this...but fitness would probably be a mere afterthought right now if it wasn't for Jack. If there was anyone who defied "fitness icon", it was Jack. He lived, breathed, and slept fitness for what seemed to be his entire life.

I'm too young to remember his shows, but I do remember seeing his many infomercials about his juicer and wanting to own one (which I will buy soon). He seemed so vibrant and full of energy. I'm always like "Why can't more people live by his example?" Who knows? Maybe there's that someone out there who will be that next true fitness icon. Yes, there are those fitness experts that come and go, but very few have the longevity as Jack did and still does. Because of that, he will continue to motivate others to live healthier lives. Gone but truly not forgotten, and won't be for quite some time.

On behalf of FitGems Nation and the MILLIONS of people you have inspired over the years to live healthy lifestyles, thank you for giving people a reason to live. Thank you for being an inspiration.

"Love live living long, and loving every minute of it!"-Jack LaLanne

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Giant Sets and a mini HIIT (Melissa Cunningham's Journal Entry #4)

well,i wasn't as tired as yesterday in the gym and got in a decent workout-
the run down:
3x10 pullups
giant set of:
4x15
kneeling lat pull down
straight arm lat pull down
4x21's
giant set of:
4x12
wood chops
4x15 rope rows
4x12 rope curls

4x12 hi cable curls
2x failure "running the rack"
giant set of
2x20
hip ups with med ball
up and overs with alternating oblique twist
1 min plank on elbows

ended with a mini HIIT,due to not having enough time for 40 minutes worth-did get in 24 minutes though of 1 min on/1 min off
2 minute warm up,sprinted on the odds
2 min-@ 7.0mph(steady state)
3 min- 9.0mph
5min -9.5mph
7min-9.0mph
9min-9.5mph
11min-9.0mph
13min-9.5mph
15min- 9.0mph
17 min-9.5mph
19min-9.0mph
21 min-9.5mph
23min-9.5mph 20 sec,10.0mph 20secs,11.0mph,10 sec,11.5mph 10 seconds
got in 3.25 miles-3.1 right around 22 min :)

tomorrow is chest/triceps and lots of cardio,cardio,cardio.....
OH and off subject but i found a local triathlon in April that i really want to do!!!!
should i go for it????

Friday, January 21, 2011

2nd Annual FitGems Awards Results

Congrats to everyone that won an award at the 2nd Annual FitGems Awards. There were some that kinda shocked the crap out of a lot of people...including yours truly. But that's what makes these awards special. YOU are the ones that not only decided who would win, but YOU were the ones that got to decide who was going to be nominated in the first place!

Without further ado, here are your winners:

COMPETITOR CATEGORIES

Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Iris Kyle

Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Erin Stern

Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Trish Warren

Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Vanessa Prebyl

Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Margaret Negrete

Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Wendy Fortino

Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Lena Mislin

Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Sherrie Carnicle

International Female Bodybuilder of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Zoa Linsey (Canada)

International Fitness Competitor of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Regaine Da Silva (Germany)

International Figure Competitor of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Rose-Marie Romero (Australia)

International Bikini Competitor of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Nathalia Melo (Brazil)

Breakout Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Cathy LeFrancois


Breakout Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Ava Cowan 

Breakout Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Trish Warren

Breakout Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Vanessa Prebyl

Breakout Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Natalie Ariel

Breakout Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Wendy Fortino

Breakout Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Lisha Dean

Breakout Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Rebecca Staggs

Competitor Who You Would Love to See Return To the Stage in 2011
Jenny Lynn 

Fitness Entrepreneur of the Year (Model/Trainer/Spokesperson)
Jamie Eason

Moment of the Year (when certain people win a competition, return to the stage, retire, etc. This is for any federation and can be about any of the divisions)
Monica Brant joins the WBFF after being in the IFBB for 15 years


Ones to Watch in 2011(Top 3 from a list of 6 people in each category)

Pro Female Bodybuilders

Zoa Linsey
Monique Hayes
Amber DeFrancesco

Pro Figure Competitors
Candice Keene
Ava Cowan
Courtney West

Pro Fitness Competitors
Myriam Capes
Stacy Wright
Venus Nguyen

Pro Bikini Competitors
Jessica Putnam
Vanessa Prebyl
Kristal Martin

Pro Women's Physique Competitors ((NOTE: These are names of those who you FEEL can do well in women’s physique, plus there’s no guarantee that a pro women’s physique show will take place in 2011)
Lori Steele
Juliana Malacarne
Meriza DeGuzman

Amateur Female Bodybuilders
Margaret Negrete
Alyssa Stroud
Natalie Ariel

Amateur Figure Competitors
Jackie Haas
Wendy Fortino
Heather Grace

Amateur Fitness Competitors
Lisha Dean
Paula Williams-Gulman
Jennifer Bishop

Amateur Bikini Competitors
Sherrie Carnicle
Rebecca Staggs
Kendra Warren

Amateur Women's Physique Competitors (NOTE: These are names of those who you FEEL can do well in NPC women’s physique and/or they have mentioned that they will be competing in the new division next year)
Tracy Bodner
Melissa Dettwiller
Vanessa Price

Fitness Entrepreneur (Model/Trainer/Spokesperson)
Ava Cowan
Brittany Beede
Jamie Eason


MISC. Categories

NPC Show of the Year
Jr. USAs

IFBB Show of the Year
Olympia

Female Physique Site of the Year (non-competitor
Hardbody News (http://www.hardbody.com/news)

Female Competitor Blog of the Year
Rebecca Staggs (http://rebeccastaggs.blogspot.com/)

Photographer of the Year
Dan Ray

Blogger of the Year
Isaac Hinds

Industry Blog of the Year (by a fan, industry member, company, etc.)
Promoting Real Women (http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com)

Female Physique Paysite of the Year
Muscle Angels (http://www.muscleangels.com)

Male Supporter of the Year (through shows, message boards, donations to competitors, etc.)
Dave Palumbo


Female Competitor Site of the Year
Stacy Wright (http://www.stacywright.net/aboutme.htm)

Supplement Company of the Year
MAN Sports


To view the entire show chat again in its entirety, check it our below:



This Monday, I have four special awards to hand out that were not voted on by the public. Come back here Monday afternoon to find out the recipients of these special awards.

Once again, congrats to the winners! Let's see who has what it takes to be on the ballot for NEXT YEAR'S awards!! :)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Contest Prep: Legs/Shoulders (Melissa Cunningham's Journal Entry #3)

"tired" is an understatement today.
i know I've been sleep deprived for the past few months now,totally normal after having a baby,i know this. BUT i think this lack of sleep is catching up with me?
i had to drag myself in the gym and only had a so-so workout.
what i got in:
4x15
hip sled ss with
4x15 weighted sumo squat
4x15 prone leg curl ss with
4x12 donkey kicks
3x15 good mornings ss with
3x1 minute weighted wall squats
giant set of:
3x12
Arnold press
lateral flys
upright rows

ended with 30 minutes on the elliptical ~4.5 miles

was planning on so much more today-wanted to get in walking lunges,step ups,hip abd/add,leg press jumps,and a HIIT.
*sigh*

i have really got to get myself together here.
14 weeks is not very long time to bring my best physique ever to the stage.
usually i can get by with 6-8 weeks of prep before a show,HOWEVER,i am giving myself the full 14 week time frame to get myself ready.
i was going to give myself 12 weeks,but i think i am going to need to the 14.....

am planning on posting measurements at the end of the month,and every 2 weeks after that.
MAYBE a progress pic or two......

so the fun is about to begin,
the running is about to pick up
intensity is about to pick up......

tired of talking about it,its time to be about it...

game on.

2011 FitGems Sponsorship


FitGems is proud and happy to announce that we will be sponsoring someone for the 2011 season! Before we do that, we would like to recognize and congratulate Victoria Larvie on her sponsorship last year. Thanks to the sponsorship, she was able to take it and help out with her finances for 2010. She is planning to compete this year and will needing your help. Details here if you are interested. We will be helping her out as well. Good luck Victoria!!! :)

Now going back to THIS YEAR'S sponsorship...Competition requires a LOT more than just going to the gym for weeks and weeks (possibly months, depending on who you are). There are things to consider such as the purchasing of suits, tickets, hotel rooms, etc. You have to take care of your business PRIOR to getting to the stage in addition you take care of business ON the stage.

Like last year, this sponsorship will take care of some of your expenses for the contest of your choice (the more money/services/products is raised, the more expenses we'll be able to cover for the winner) Depending on how big the fund gets, more than one sponsorship award may be given away. The FitGems sponsorship will be awarded during Arnold Weekend 2011 to a deserving individual chosen by a secret panel. To be fair, I will NOT be on the panel.

Rules:
1. Participants must be a member of the site OR fan page by no later than February 28, 2011 to be eligible for the sponsorship. If you join the site, either send me a PM (private message) or leave a comment on my page saying that you are submitting your name into the competition. If you are a member of the fan page, email me at admin@fitgemsnation.net, letting me know that you are submitting your name to the competition. When you get a reply from me, you are officially entered into the contest.
2. The competition the participants are competing in must take place sometime within the 2011 season after the Arnold 2011.
3. Participants can be either pro or amateur competitors, and they can compete in any division, as well as any federation.
4. Participants must write three blogs:
  1. An mini-autobiography about yourself (one page)
  2. One journal entry talking about your journey to the particular contest of your choosing.
  3. Your personal lists of do's/don'ts in being a competitor.
(If you are part of the main site, you can post them yourself. If you are just part of the fan page, email me your blogs at admin@fitgemsnation.net, and they will be posted on the main site)

5. The winner will be awarded their via PayPal. If there are other parts to the sponsorship that need to be awarded to the winner, it will be mailed on Arnold Weekend, and the winner should receive their other winnings (hopefully) no later then 4-6 weeks after the contest has ended.

The fund starts at $200 USD (United States Dollars), begun by Jason Adams and myself  If you would like to contribute to the FitGems Sponsorship Fund, click on the donate button below. If you have any questions about the sponsorship and how your company/organization can get involved, email me at admin@fitgemsnation.net and put FitGems Sponsorship on the subject line of your email. Donations (money, photoshoots, products, etc.) will be accepted until February 28, 2011.

Good luck to all participants!!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Pledge for Pushups (Stacy Wright's Fundraiser)

Stacy's going to be "pleding for pushups" to raise money for the 2011 season!
Photo credit: Muscular Development


To help raise money for the 2011 competition season (her first as an pro fitness competitor), IFBB Pro Stacy Wright has created her own fundraiser, by pledging for pushups! She's challenging herself to see how many pushups she can do, and you out there can pledge any amount per pledge. 10 cents per pushup, 10 dollars per pushup, 50 dollars per pushup...whatever you can pledge will do. This is definitely one way to put the FUN in FUNdraising.

My hats off to Stacy for coming up with a unique way to not only get money to compete, but to establish herself as someone who's willing to go the extra mile to make a name for herself and stand out. 

To get involved please email Stacy at Stacy@StacyWright.net with your pledges! She will be post the final pushup video on her website blog. When that happens, we'll let you all know when that will take place.

Good luck to you, Stacy!

In the Gym Again-Again....(Melissa Cunningham's Journal Entry #2)

yay! finally the girls are feeling better,(and no school delays for my son)so it was off to school for B, preschool for A,and to the baby child watch for M!
got in chest and triceps and plan on ab workout at home later tonight,as with evening cardio-didn't have enough time to get in the distance today at the gym.....

what i got in today:

4x15 pec dec

4x15 DB flat bench with Arnold twist ss with

4x15 skull crushers

4x15 DB kick backs ss with

3x8 push ups with feet on ex ball and hands on upside down BOSU

4x15 cable crossovers ss with

4x20 pressdowns/reverse pressdowns (10 reps each,consecutive)

4x15 dip machine



ended with 24 minutes on the TM 2.9 miles a little over 8 min pace-



not enough time for cardio caused i got wrapped up in contest prep talk from a few other gals who are doing the same shows. as it turns out, i am 14.5 weeks out from INBF (WNBF pro qualifier) show and 15.5 weeks out from the IFPA Pro show,1rst one of the year...

eeeeep!



but it was good to be able to talk with other ppl at my gym about prep and posing and all that good stuff.....



hope all are having a great day!!

New Elite: Kimmie Morgan

Photo credit: FLEX Online

Every year, there's seems to be that ONE competitor that just stands out and makes you take notice. You look at that competitor and say "Now SHE'S the ideal competitor" or "She has the ideal look". Fans try to find a flaw to their physique and overall beauty, and try as they might, they can't. They're THAT good. Monica Brant is one of those competitors. So is Juliana Malacarne. So is Gina Aliotti-Silva. Those three names (according to countless of you out there) represent what many people feel figure SHOULD be. After this past year, you can add Kimmie Morgan to that list.

In 2010, Kimmie joined the very popular and successful Team Bombshell, and she represented them proudly in the local ranks by placing 2nd in the Open Short Class at the 2010 Battle of the River Championships in Chattanooga, TN. She would follow that impressive debut with a short class and OVERALL figure victory at the 2010 NPC Southeastern Golds Gym Classic in Glasden, AL. The message was clear as day...Kimmie's ready for the big time.

Kimmie would make her National debut at the 2010 NPC USAs in Vegas, and although she didn't place in her class, she gained quite a bit of fans due to her impressive conditioning, overall muscularity, and elegant stage presence. She went on to compete at the IFBB North Americans, placing 13th out of 14 in a competitive Class A. She was noticeably softer this time around, but her now-trademark muscularity and stage presence was still there.

There are those out there who want her to be a part of some paysites such as HerBiceps, Femflex, Muscle Angels, etc, as her build is MORE than acceptable there. Others (myself included) think she could run away with the new women's physique division. Whatever she decided to do, expect Kimmie to make a name for herself in 2011 and beyond, and don't be surprised if she happens to become an IFBB Pro in the process. Keep a close eye on Kimmie in the coming months ahead; she's going places in this industry.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Clarification on "Share Your Passion...Share Your Journey"

Yesterday, I posted an opportunity for the female athletes to share your journey with the world (http://fitgems.blogspot.com/2011/01/share-your-passionshare-your-journey.html). I've been asked about a few things that I should have clarified on earlier, so let me set the record straight on a few things.

If you already have a blog and would just want to advertise your blog on FitGems, just send me the link to your blog at admin@fitgemsnation.net, and I'll post it and promote it. If you want to post your writings on the FitGems journal, email me your writings and I'll post them on here and I'll send you the links, so you can post it on your website, Twitter, Facebook fan page, etc.

If you have any questions beyond that, feel free to email me at admin@fitgemsnation.net. For those that have already sent me your beginning posts, thank you. For others on the fence about doing this, I highly recommend you give this a go for at least one of your contests for this year. It's a great thing knowing you have people that will support you in your journey through the good times and the bad, and everything in between.

Press Release-- Zaler to Partner With Muscle Gauge Nutrition

For Immediate Release January 6, 2011
Muscle Gauge Nutrition Partners with EZ Whey
Fitness Entreprenuer Emily Zaler to Endorse, Promote Muscle Gauge Products

Los Angeles – Muscle Gauge Nutrition and rising fitness entrepreneur Emily Zaler today announced a partnership that makes Zaler the official face of the fast-growing nutritional products company through licensing, promotional and marketing opportunities.

Zaler joins forces with Muscle Gauge after successfully launching The EZ Whey LLC, a training, dietary and fitness lifestyle business, in 2010. Her expertise in authoring clean eating recipes, training professional athletes and fitness modeling experience complements Muscle Gauge’s vast line of award-winning body building, fat loss and fitness supplements.

“The EZ Whey and Muscle Gauge joining forces is a natural partnership between two booming companies and will offer our customers even more of the fitness lifestyle products that they love,” said Muscle Gauge CEO Robert Reed. “We are thrilled to welcome Emily and the EZ Whey to the Muscle Gauge family.”

A key benefit of the partnership is Zaler’s use of Muscle Gauge products in all of her fitness cooking and recipe writing, currently seen each month in Physique and World Physique magazine, across the world wide web on various fitness websites, as well as in her cookbook The EZ Whey-Clean Eats that Taste Like Cheats.

“I am extremely honored and excited to represent Muscle Gauge Nutrition in everything that I do, from cooking to media appearances to trade shows,” Zaler said. “I can’t wait to start building the Muscle Gauge brand and know this partnership will deliver great results to our customers.”

## Muscle Gauge Contact: Robert Reed musclegauge@gmail.com
EZ Whey Contact: Emily Zaler ezwheycookbook@gmail.com

About Muscle Gauge
Muscle Gauge Nutrition http://www.musclegauge.com is a privately owned nutrition and supplement company that launched in 2009 and is one of the most cutting edge and fastest growing companies in the global nutrition supplement industry. Using GMP compliant and FDA regulated guidelines, Muscle Gauge ensures the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices, and includes private label services for its products, a unique feature that has directly contributed to its rapid growth.

About Emily Zaler
Named the “2010 Fitness Talent of the Year” by FMI Events (www.fmievents.com), “2010 Rising Star of the Year” and “2010 Readers Choice Award” from World Physique Magazine (http://www.worldphysique.com)

She received her Bachelors of Science in Exercise and Wellness from Arizona State University, a Certified Personal Trainer by the American Council on Exercise, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Author of The EZ Whey Cookbook, CEO of The EZ Whey LLC, personal fitness chef, and internationally published fitness model and magazine columnist.

Learn more about Emily and The EZ Whey at her website:
http://www.emilyzaler.webs.com

 

Melissa Cunningham's Journey

Melissa Cunningham is a figure competitor aiming to get her IFBB Pro card. She's a mother of three, and is making her return to the stage this year after taking time off in 2010 to have her third baby. Here's a post from Melissa today:

Speed work yesterday! the good,the bad and the ugly....

yay for finally jumping back in with the HIITs!!!!!!
yesterdays run and work out went great!
the good:
was in the gym over the weekend
got in good workouts
started the speed play again after 2 month hiatus
felt good the entire time
15 wks 5 days out from 1rst show of the yr
16wks 5 days out from 1rst pro show of the year-hoping to qualify for the Yorton cup!!

the bad;
no gym today due to a LONG night with baby M. taking her in to the dr today to see whats going. fussy,coughing,snotty nose,ear pulling,very very very little sleep,yadda yadda yadda....
hoping i can work around my children's seemingly never ending sicknesses so i can get in the shape that i need to. now granted,family is ALWAYS first over the gym,but some days i will have a brief opportunity to sneak in a run or workout-i just have to make point to make the most of those times,even when im tired,:)

the ugly:
i still cant find an NGA show to do before the cutoff date that is within reasonable driving distance.
the ones i found are 5 days past the cut off,AND coincide with the IFPA pro bowl. i need to compete at this event in order to qualify for the Yorton. the other IFPA shows are not within reasonable driving distances fro me.
so,im in a pickle over this!!
eep!

BUT moving on to the good again,let me post the workout had last night before i forget:
3x10 pullups (8 of these unassisted) i actually got 4 by myself the first set.
happy about that but still VERY discouraged,seeing as i used to be able to do 10 or more of these with ease pre pregnancy.
i will get there again soon!
4x15 giant set of:
kneeling lat pull downs
reverse grip pull downs
straight arm lat pulldown
4x15 superste of;
rope rows
hi cable bicep curls
4x15 superset of
21's 94x21)
wide grip cable pull downs
giant set of:
3x10
DB hammer curls
lateral curl
standard curl

3x15 superset of
weighted crunch
1 min plank on elbows
1 min alternating plank on elbows to push up position
1 min slow and controlled mountain climbers

then the speed workout. not my best ever,but not bad considering i had 2 months away from any type of speed.
the workout: 1 min on/1 min off-speed on even #'s
5 min warm up @6.0
6 min-7.0mph
steady state @7.0mph
8 min @8.5 (7 min pace)
10 min @ 9.0 (6:40 pace)
12 min @ 9.5mph (6:18pace)
14 min @ 9.0
16 min @9.5
18 min @ 9.0
20 min @9.5
22 min @9.0
24 min @ 9.5
26 min @9.0
28 min @9.5 first 30 sec,10.0 15 sec,11.0 last 15 sec (5:18 pace)
29-40 min @ 7.0 (8:34 pace)
got in 5 miles
3.3 miles in 25 min sprint time...sub 22 5k....
so not bad!
AND this run was my very first run with an ipod. seriously,where i have been? welcome to technology Melissa,LOL!!!

anyways,all the kids are up now,time to get ready to go to the dr for M.
hope all are having a happy Monday!! 
 
For more on Melissa, visit her blog at http://melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com.
 
 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

IFBB FIBO Pro Germany

For those that don't know, there is going to be an IFBB show in Germany this year (on April 16, to be exact)! This is a special contest, as this is the ONLY contest to be held in Germany and one of the few outside the U.S. This is also one of the few contests for competitors of women's bodybuilding and women's fitness this year as well.

As of press time, there are only TWO competitors in both divisions. For women's bodybuilding, competing thus far are Skadi Frei-Seifert and Andrea Zürche. For women's fitness, competing thus far are Minna Pajulahti and Regiane Da Silva. However, not on the list but hoping to compete in women's fitness are Camala Rodriguez and Stacy Wright.

Ladies in women's fitness and women's bodybuilding, if you want a chance to see a different country and compete to get a chance at competing in the Olympia at the same time, I highly encourage you to enter this contest. If you need money, send out emails to your fans, family, and friends. Post it on your websites and Facebook fan pages and profiles. A little can go a LONG way.

For more on the FIBO Pro, go to http://www.pro-championships.com/index.php.

Hope to see many of you make the journey to Germany in a few months!

Follow the Journey of Pamela Wilson

Pamela Wilson won the latest Bodybuilding.com Military Challenge contest. She will be blogging about her journey into the 2011 season and her sponsorship with Bodybuilding.com. Here is her first blog of the year, if you are interested. 

http://robandpamelawilson.blogspot.com/2011/01/did-i-paint-myself-orange-for-this.html

As you know, I have the upmost respect for anyone (male or female) who puts their lives on the line in the military to fight for the freedom I respect everyday, so my heart respect goes out to Pamela and all the living and current soldiers around the world, not just the U.S. Please bookmark her blog and follow her on her quest this year.

Please bookmark Pamela's journal as she gets ready for the 2011 season!

Vitrix Model Team Online Model Search

Yesterday (January 15), the Vitrix Model Team opened up their voting for their first-ever online model search contest. There are 61 hopefuls competing in the January contest, ranging from fitness models to IFBB competitors.

To view bios, pictures, and video of all the competitors for this month, click here and vote for your favorites. You can vote once every 24 hours until February 15th. This is going to be done every month, so you can click here to enter future contests. Monthly winners receive a free photo shoot as well as makeup, hair styling, and a wardrobe styling consultation. Images from the shoot will then be featured on the Vitrix Model Team website (www.vitrixmodelteam.com) along with any video captured and/or blogs provided by the winner at the discretion of the hosting company. The winner/winners are also awarded a trip to Las Vegas including economy air fare and accommodations for two nights in Las Vegas for the scheduled photo shoot. In addition, all monthly winners will have an opportunity to be considered for membership on The Vitrix Model Team which includes an endorsement contract with Nutrex Research.

For those thinking about entering for next month or any month in 2011, please do so. This is a great opportunity to be part of one of the top emerging female groups in the fitness world today. Good luck to everyone in this month's contests and to others that will be entering next month and in the months ahead!

Fight for Leslie

For those that don't know, IFBB Pro Zoa Linsey's sister, Leslie, has recently been diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She's a mother of 10 who also just recently got out of an abusive marriage. Tomorrow, she will be going though surgery to help eradicate this cancer.

A website and Facebook fan page has been created in her honor and to help Leslie fight arguably the biggest fight of her life. We at FitGems Nation are encouraging you to help out the family of Leslie and donate to help cover cost of surgery, and to make sure her family is taken care of. I personally will be donating my own money in the coming weeks ahead, and to show our support, for every sale that is made on the FitGems Online Store (http://www.cafepress.com/FitGemsNation) from now until the end of February, proceeds will go toward Fight for Leslie. It's our way of giving back to a family that needs all the help they can get right now.

For more information on Fight for Leslie, visit their website at http://www.fightforleslie.com and "like" their Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fight-for-Leslie/193032177380328.

2nd Annual FitGems Awards Show Has Been MOVED

Dear FitGems Nation readers, followers, fans, and supporters:

Apparantly, I was told TODAY that the family might be going out of town on Monday, which was originally when the FitGems Awards were scheduled to take place. If that's the case, I won't be near a computer to do the awards. However, there's a chance we might not be going. But to keep down confusion, the award show will be rescheduled for January 21st at Noon Central time. I repeat, the show is moved from January 17 to January 21. The time will remain the same (Noon Central time).

I apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused some of you.

C-Ray
FitGems Nation

Share Your Passion...Share Your Journey

If you haven't noticed...it's time for competitions again! I know all of you ladies have your journeys you go though. There are fans out there that think you are born with your competition bodies...and we all know that's not the case. We also know that the road isn't as easy as others might think.

What I would like to do is offer you ladies a chance to share your journey to your contests on the blog. You can look at it as a journal of some sorts. I don't care if you're getting ready for a pro or amateur competition, I don't care if it's a big competition or a local one. It also doesn't matter what division you compete in or what federation you're a part of. I'm giving you the opportunity to share your journey with the world.

How do you do that, you ask? Just email me at admin@fitgemsnation.net with your journal entries and I'll post then on the blog for you. I won't edit them as this is YOUR journey told in YOUR own words. You determine how many journal entries you want to send to me. Good ones, bad ones, awkward ones, whatever. As long as they are REAL entries and true to yourself. Hopefully this will make people understand what it takes to be part of this industry.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A Fitting Review-"Iron Bizz"

For those that know me, you probably know about my friendship with the man that people know as dallas3. Some of you know who dallas3 is by his real name, but let me give you an insight on the type of guy he is. He's a cool dude who respects this business and the ladies involve. Most people probably know him via his involvement in female muscle boards such as Siouxcountry, Muscular Development, and RxMuscle, among others. He's been at the Arnold and Olympia a few times and is respected by many of the female (as well as male) athletes. I'm very blessed to call him one of my first true friends of this industry.

He runs a blog called Iron Bizz (formerly called Fit Stop Central), which is aimed at talking about the financial aspect of this sport. In his words, Iron Bizz "provides resources for female physique athletes who want to make a career in the bodybuilding and fitness industry" As we all know, the fitness industry is not a cheap one by any means. What he does is point out some of the tips that competitors have used to stay financially active in this industry. Over time, you will see the blog take a slightly different approach by putting more focus on the sponsored athletes, and not just the ones who are at the top of the heap, either. If you have not bookmarked Iron Bizz yet, I HIGHLY recommend you do so ASAP. You'll be glad you did.

Visit Iron Bizz at http://ironbizz.wordpress.com.

Iron Bizz: Body Tight, Career Right.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

2nd Annual FitGems Awards Ceremony

Thank you to everyone that voted in the 2nd Annual FitGems Awards! The amount of votes I received were beyond what I expected for this, and I can't thank you all enough for voting. The ceremony will take place on January 17th at Noon Eastern time. That's when all the awards will be announced, including four special awards that were not voted on by the public:

Photo Shoot of the Year
FitGems Inspirational Award
FitGems Memorial Award
and the award that Jenny Lynn received last year, the Legendary FitGems Award

Next week, I'll reveal the names of the recipients of each of these special awards.

Join us LIVE on January 17th here at http://www.fitgemsnation.net/page/fitchat-1. Hope to see many of you at the 2nd Annual FitGems Awards Ceremony in about a week or so! Remember: Dress to impress! LOL. :)