Natural Bodybuilding News

The Anti-Doping in Sports Bill 2009 calls for the establishment of the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission. This is very much in step with the level of sophistication in monitoring athletes, being subscribed to by most nations where the sporting industry is a dominant factor. For The Bahamas, an anti-doping commission, if set up and operated properly, would result in full respectability.

This issue of doping is a most delicate one. Thus far, we have had a couple of situations in athletics, a few in bodybuilding and little or nothing else. We have been lucky and around the world today, The Bahamas is not tainted.

We are certainly not like that country in which a certain event was being staged earlier this year. Several dope testing agents came on the scene and contestants vanished. They knew what the findings would be.

The tendency to use enhancing drugs is powerful. The pressure to succeed and to compete at the high bar level is tremendous. In order to have a high productivity, athletes must consume supplements. There are many drug brands on the international market that give that extra push (but they are banned). More often than is acceptable, top flight athletes succumb to the temptation and reach for that extra edge. Some get by and others don’t. There is also the angle of ignorance. The list of banned substances is gigantic. Often, the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) adds to the list and the new items go unnoticed.

One could go to a pharmacy for an over-the-counter medication, only to find out later that it now contains a chemical that has just recently been banded. If the WADA folks come around and perform one of their random tests, the athlete in question ends up with a problem, sometimes a two-year suspension kind of a problem.

Yes, The Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission can play a major role for our athletes and federations. It must be well-structured and linked closely to all of the sports federations and other official entities that deal with athletes in competition. The task is a large one.

To show how demanding this undertaking is, six items from sub-section 5 (Functions of the Commission) as they appear in Part II of the Bill, follow:

The Commission shall be responsible for:

d. establishing a register for the Registered Testing Pool of national-level and international-level Bahamian athletes who are citizens or residents of The Bahamas and notifying such athletes and relevant national sporting organizations of entries made in the register.

e. directing the anti-doping program of the government specific to sports including the conducting of testing of athletes, planning, coordinating, and implementing the collection of samples, the management of test results and conducting hearings in keeping with the mandatory international standards set out in the code.

f. testing any athlete whether or not he (she) is a citizen or resident of The Bahamas.

g. notifying test results to athletes and, as the case may be, governments of countries other than The Bahamas, anti-doping organizations of other countries, or other signatories to the Code in accordance with bilateral or multilateral agreements entered into by The Bahamas with such governments, organizations or signatories.

h. entering into reciprocal testing agreements with national anti-doping organizations outside The Bahamas, in relation to any athlete.

i. encouraging and facilitating the negotiation by any sporting organization and anti-doping organization of any agreement permitting their members to be tested by authorized doping control teams from other countries.

j. cooperating with the testing and education initiatives of WADA and other anti-doping organizations.

It is indeed a tall order and very involved. Best wishes to those responsible to the government for the commission and how it functions.

Source - www.thenassauguardian.com

NaturalBodybuildingEvents.com provides the most comprehensive and up to date list of Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests and Results from those organizations which actively promote a drug-free lifestyle. Also provides information on Natural Organizations, Seminars, Trainers and Competitor Resources

VIRGINIA BEACH

The fire department’s hazardous materials teams investigated this morning a report of an unidentified white powder mailed to the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Mail room employees discovered the substance at about 9 a.m. in a pre-addressed envelope mailed to the network’s office on Centerville Turnpike, said John Turver, vice president of marketing for the network.

Officials evacuated and closed the building as a precaution and sent a sample of the substance to a state lab in Richmond for analysis, Turver said.

Preliminary tests ruled out botulism, ricin and anthrax, and final results identified the powder as whey protein, a supplement used in bodybuilding, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley, a spokesman for the fire department.

Four employees were exposed to the powder and reported rashes, but no other symptoms, Turver said. Paramedics were monitoring the employees, who will be decontaminated and sent to the hospital for further tests, Riley said.

The network’s office remained closed this afternoon, but will likely reopen Thursday morning.

Source - hamptonroads.com

Steroid user, mother hit bottom on journey to healthy lives

Paul Knobloch and Cynthia Johnson never liked what they saw in the mirror.

Knobloch, 41, a former steroid user, didn’t think he was ever big enough or strong enough, even when steroids and weightlifting added 100 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-2-inch frame.

“I was about 290 pounds, and all I thought was that I’d be good at 300,” Knobloch said.

Johnson, 42, shared Knobloch’s feelings, though she was trying to lose weight.

The mother of three had been heavy her whole life, but the pregnancies had left her obese. The 4-foot-10-inch woman weighed more than 200 pounds.

“The big moment for me was one day when I was taking a shower,” Johnson said. “I got so fatigued that I couldn’t hold my arms up to finish washing my hair. I thought, ‘Oh, my God. What have I allowed to happen?’”

Today, Knobloch and Johnson are leading healthy, fit lives.

Knobloch competes in drug-free bodybuilding competitions and owns Power Personal Training Inc., 2212 W. 15th St., a Millcreek Township gym that specializes in one-on-one fitness training.

Johnson has lost almost half of her body weight and works as a trainer at Knobloch’s gym.

But their journeys weren’t easy.

No steroids in prison

Knobloch spent five years in prison for selling steroids and marijuana.

He said that he got caught up in the steroids culture in the early 1990s and made some bad decisions, including selling drugs to his friends.

“I gained 25 pounds the first 90 days I took steroids,” Knobloch said. “I had what is called the Superman complex. I felt big. I felt strong. I felt marvelous.”

Steroids weren’t available in prison, so Knobloch went through withdrawal. He had lost 90 pounds when he was released in 1999 after appealing the sentence.

He said that he also gained perspective.

“Going to jail probably saved my life,” Knobloch said. “I don’t see anything else that would have gotten me out of that culture. Only jail or death.”

Knobloch lost his desire for steroids, but not weightlifting. He joined a gym and started training for bodybuilding competitions.

He said that he didn’t compete while taking steroids because he never felt his body was ready.

The results Knobloch wanted took longer to achieve without steroids. Even with regular weight training, his weight stayed around 220 pounds.

“A natural body gains five pounds of muscle a year, so your ability to manipulate your body is completely different,” Knobloch said. “I had to be much more careful about what I ate and how I trained. I also worked out less than I did when I took steroids because my body didn’t recover as quickly.”

But judges liked Knobloch’s leaner look. He placed in his first bodybuilding competition and won another one soon afterword.

He turned professional in 2001.

Getting rid of baby fat

Johnson said she tried every diet pill and plan she could find. Some didn’t work at all, others helped her lose small amounts of weight.

Still, she was so overweight that friends would stop her at the grocery store and ask when the baby was due.

“I decided that I had to go to Weight Watchers and take exercise seriously,” Johnson said. “I started walking and being active outside.”

She also took over an Erie Times-News paper route with her children, and she spent early mornings carrying bundles of newspapers through her neighborhood.

By 2002, Johnson had lost 85 pounds, including some of her muscle tone.

“My skin was just hanging off me,” Johnson said. “I lost weight, and that was great, but I still didn’t have any figure.”

Johnson joined a local gym and started lifting weights. The strength training helped her lose another 20 pounds and gain muscle.

She also gained more energy.

“I would be up at the crack of dawn, ready to go to the gym,” Johnson said. “Before, I would have to drag myself out of bed. I was always exhausted, always lethargic.”

Johnson also realized that, like Knobloch, she wanted to help other people get fit.

She started working to get certified in personal fitness and was referred to Knobloch, who had opened his own fitness center after working as a personal trainer at local fitness centers.

“It took me a while, but I marched myself into Paul’s gym and asked him if he needed someone,” Johnson said. “I saw what he was doing, how he was helping people, and it made me speed up my certification.”

Johnson and Knobloch have worked together since 2004, helping people learn the importance of good nutrition, cardiovascular exercise and strength training.

Asked what they love most about what they do, Johnson and Knobloch both said it was making a difference in people’s lives.

“We change lives,” Knobloch said. “We help people lose weight, and improve their high blood pressure and cardiovascular efficiency. But we’re also helping them feel a little bit better about themselves.”

Source - http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090622/LIFESTYLES07/306229986/0/LIFESTYLES21

NaturalBodybuildingEvents.com provides the most comprehensive and up to date list of Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests and Results from those organizations which actively promote a drug-free lifestyle. Also provides information on Natural Organizations, Seminars, Trainers and Competitor Resources

A CHAFFORD mum is through to the finals of a major bodybuilding competition.

Fitness enthusiast Keri Graham nearly won the Southern heat of the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation figure competition.

She was placed second in the event held at Bognor Regis. And her finishing position means she’s booked her place in the finals in the autumn.

Keri, a dance teacher who’s lived in the borough for more than 10 years, had only trained for the event for three weeks before entering.

Her second place came as a big surprise to the 39-year-old mum.

She said: “I was beaten by Debbie Francis, but she’s been competing for a long time and I only decided to take part three weeks ago.

“I train at Ballantynes heath and fitness centre at Chafford Hundred and have always kept myself fit — usually training about three or four times a week. But once I made up my mind and decided to enter the competition I had to change this and I trained every day.

“I stepped up my training and cut out the carbs. It was all about training to keep muscle and lose any fat,” she said.

Keri teaches at primary schools for Dancemode which is based in South Ockendon.

Her favourite style of dance is street, and the dancing workouts have obviously helped the woman pose and go through the exhaustive routine needed to score hightly in the competition.

She’s now through to the British finals in October in Glasgow.

Keri was supported on her big day in Bognor by husband Gary and son Callum, eight, a pupil at Tudor Court as well as best friend Sarah Hutchinson.

Source - www.thurrockgazette.co.uk

The pervasive myth causing women to forever swear off weight training is the belief that lifting weights causes bulging muscles. The reality? Women simply do not have enough of the hormones that allow for increased muscle mass. In fact, women have ten to thirty times less of those essential hormones than their male counterparts. Unlike most men, women who seek to gain muscle mass certainly do not have an easy time accomplishing this goal. It takes serious dedication, a scientifically engineered diet, a technically precise weight training schedule, rigorous dietary supplementation, and for some, chemical enhancement.

The truth is that muscle mass does not suddenly appear because you dare to lift weights. However, women that simply accept this myth without scrutiny, miss out on all of the benefits that strength training offers.

Women who incorporate moderate strength training into their workout regime increase their muscle tissue. Yes, this means that when you step onto the scale, you will note an increase in your overall “weight.” But don’t stop reading! The bottom line is that muscle tissue weights more than fat. Thus, as you increase your muscle tissue, your “weight” will necessarily increase. Muscle by its very nature is “thermogenic.” This means that it burns fat. So, you may increase your “weight” as you gain muscle tissue, but do not become disheartened. Understand what this means and put it in perspective. The increase in relative weight, equates to an increase in muscle tissue not fat. And, an increase in muscle tissue translates into an increase in your resting metabolism. The simple truth is that muscle burns calories.

The denser your muscle tissue, the more calories you will burn even at a complete stand still. Those with dense muscles burn more calories by just engaging in their regular daily activities. In fact, research shows that for each pound of muscle earned, you will expend 35 to 50 more calories per day. So, if you gain three pounds of muscle, you will burn 40 more calories per pound, which equates to 120 additional calories per day, which translates into 3,600 additional calories per month and ultimately results in a weight loss of 10 to 12 pounds in a single year.

 Another reason that women should engage in strength training is its effect on the bones. Indeed, weight training is a powerful weapon against osteoporosis, a disease characterized by porous bone and low bone mass. Those plagued with osteoporosis have an increased susceptibility to fractures of the wrists, hips, and spine. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 28 million Americans suffer from this disease, 80 percent of which are women! In fact, statistics show that one in two women over the age of 50 will suffer from an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime. So, women, especially, should seriously consider weight training as a type of insurance against becoming represented in these startling national statistics.

NaturalBodybuildingEvents.com provides the most comprehensive and up to date list of Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests and Results from those organizations which actively promote a drug-free lifestyle. Also provides information on Natural Organizations, Seminars, Trainers and Competitor Resources.

1.  Set a Goal. Decide what you want to get out of your workout. Are you after Jennifer Aniston’s arms or a job with World Wrestling Entertainment? Are you lifting weights to improve function, health, appearance, or sports performance? Once this has been determined, you can better tailor your routine, choosing exercises that will target the proper muscles.

2. Be Consistent. Once you commit to weight training, stick with it. True, a long day at work doesn’t provide much inspiration, but resist the urge to skip sessions. If you can’t do a lot, do a little. Something is better than nothing.

3. Learn Proper Form and Technique. Exercise is like medicine, it’s based on science. If you have no experience with weights, experts recommend investing in a couple of sessions with a personal trainer. One thing to keep in mind is to avoid hyper-extending or locking out any joints. This allows the muscle to relax, which is counterproductive. Also, be sure that your whole body is properly aligned in order to protect the lower back.

4. Get Tired. While many theories exist on the best ways to build muscle, recent research indicates that a single set of 12 repetitions with the proper weight can build muscle just as efficiently as three sets of the same exercise — good news for people trying to squeeze weight lifting into a busy schedule. Do a single set of exercises using a weight heavy enough to tire the muscles after a dozen repetitions. When you work a muscle to fatigue, you are releasing factors that build endurance and strength.

5.Muscles Are Sexy. Many women avoid weight lifting because they are afraid of looking too buff and muscular, opting instead for the treadmill or the elliptical machine to burn calories. In truth, weight training converts fat into lean muscle. Lean muscle burns more calories, aiding in weight loss. “It’s like having a V-8 engine instead of a 4-cylinder. You have a bigger engine to burn more calories because it takes calories to keep that engine running.

6. Vary Your Exercises. You can fall in love with your trainer but don’t fall in love with any one exercis. If you repeat the same exercise, you will overdo a particular muscle group. Everyone undoubtedly has a particular asset they may want to develop, but don’t overdo it. Use a full variety of exercises, machines and resistances. Try lifting free weights, water, household items, and even your own body weight. Changing it up will shock the muscles, challenging them to lift the weight.

7. Move Slowly. Don’t cheat by racing through your exercises. Remember, it only takes one set so be sure to get the most out of your time in the gym. Take one to two seconds to contract the muscle, hold the contraction for half a second, and then lengthen the release to three or four seconds. You are 20 percent to 40 percent stronger on the way down so following this time breakdown will maximize strength gain.

8.  Work Balanced Muscles Groups. People generally work out only what they can see, says Laskowski, “it’s as if they have a ‘Cadillac in the front, and a Volkswagen in the back.’” But too much time devoted to one side may create posture problems. Since, every muscle has an opposing muscle, be sure to work the entire pair. For example, follow stomach crunches with back extensions and bicep curls with tricep kickbacks.

9. Find Female-Focused Exercises. Women should pay particular attention to building strength in the upper back and shoulders. This will protect against poor posture later in life, a common problem related to osteoporosis. And don’t neglect your lower body — females are five to six times more likely to suffer a knee ligament tear. To protect against knee injury, focus on building the hamstring muscles.

10) Choose a Get-Buff Buddy. A lifting partner is helpful not only for spotting but for motivation as well. When your arms are feeling like Jell-O and you think you’ve got nothing left to give, a little encouragement from a friend may be all you need to push out that final rep.

11. Drink Caffeine Before Lifting. Although optional, a little caffeine may give you an extra boost of energy to lift after a long day. You may be surprised by the effects a cup of coffee or can of soda can have on your performance.

12) Be Patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day; you won’t be either. It takes time to incorporate the benefits of weight lifting. Changes in muscle fiber won’t show until four to six weeks, but in the meantime, your muscles are learning how to act more efficiently.

NaturalBodybuildingEvents.com provides the most comprehensive and up to date list of Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests and Results from those organizations which actively promote a drug-free lifestyle. Also provides information on Natural Organizations, Seminars, Trainers and Competitor Resources.

With his adrenaline pumping, Lueth goes into his first pose and flexes all of the muscles in his body simultaneously.

His face betrays the intensity of the action. To him, this moment was worth the previous 12 weeks of pain.

Lueth will get his chance to have a moment just like this on March 28 when he competes in the National Physique Committee Vitamin Shoppe’s Vancouver USA Bodybuilding Championship in Vancouver, Wash., a regional, all-natural bodybuilding competition.

Lueth, Western senior Stephanie Singer, junior Rory Callahan, and several other students from Western’s bodybuilding club plan on competing in the competition.

In addition to a full course load at Western, Lueth, Callahan and Singer are halfway through their 12-week preparatory training for the Vancouver competition that includes strict dieting, disciplined weight training and time management.

“Preparing is a pain,” Lueth said, “but the shows are just so much fun.”

The Vancouver USA Championship is the unofficial bodybuilding competition season opener, Singer said. Frank Bohm of Bohm Productions, the event organizer, said the championship is the first regional and national bodybuilding competition of the year.

Now in its 24th year, the competition has a strong following, Bohm said. Approximately 800 spectators show up for the morning pre-judging and more than 1,500 spectators attend the main event; the night show, he said.

During the night show, competitors display all of their hard work through posing routines set to the music of their choice, Bohm said.

To try and ensure competitors do not use chemical enhancements, Bohm said the competition has random polygraph drug testing where the competitor must answer questions about chemical use while hooked up to a lie detector machine.

Every year, competitors using chemical enhancement supplements try to compete in the show, Bohm said.

Polygraph testing is time consuming and expensive, but the possibility of getting tested usually keeps competitors honest, he said.

In addition to the competition, a miniature bodybuilding expo is set up outside the auditorium, where 20 to 30 booths sell everything from the latest supplements and t-shirts to food.

Bohm said he likes to bring some of the best pros in the world to the Vancouver competition to make guest appearances, such as Flex Lewis, winner of the Mr. Universe bodybuilding competition.

Lueth said when he practices posing, he flexes all the muscles in his body simultaneously.

Weight training stays consistently intense, with some slight modifications during the season, but is nothing compared to the contrast of on-season dieting, he said.

“The diet is as hard mentally as the workout is physically,” Lueth said.

Singer said her diet starts off strict but with some breathing room. Food consumption is scrutinized down to each calorie and monitored by eating foods that are nutrient-rich, such as chicken instead of beef, she said.

Singer said she eats food such as chicken, tilapia fish, oatmeal, walnuts and cottage cheese during the training period.

Slowly, over 12 weeks, Singer said she cuts out calorie-rich foods in order to trim fat for the competition. She said it helps her muscles ‘pop’ when they are lean.

Callahan said planning his diet ahead of time is important because it is impossible to lose the weight needed to look lean in just a few weeks. He said negative stereotypes about bodybuilding stem from the diets.

“People who see us think it’s unhealthy,” Callahan said, “and it doesn’t have to be.”

In addition to the four hours Callahan, Lueth and Singer spend in the weight room six days a week, they try to find a way to balance competitive bodybuilding with a full-time Western course load and college life.

Singer said balancing the rest of her life with her lifting schedule means she has to work out at 6 a.m. and in between classes.

Callahan said he plans all his classes around his workout time.

He said when he first started dating his girlfriend, he made it clear bodybuilding was a priority and dates to movies might easily be replaced with evening workouts.

Singer said she tends to shy away from dinner invitations during on-season training because she has to micromanage what restaurants put into her food. Similarly, she said she cannot stay out late at parties because she cannot afford to wear her body out.

“Bodybuilding is a lifestyle,” Callahan said. “It’s something that you do all the time.”

Looking toward the future, Lueth and Callahan are both majoring in exercise science and do not expect to stop lifting anytime soon. Callahan said he hopes to be a personal trainer.

Singer said she wants to be a teacher. While she plans to stop competing at some point, she said her addiction to lifting will never cease.

Lueth said even though preparing for a competition takes Zen-like discipline and will power, being up on the stage presenting all of his hard work is worth the training process.

“The whole time on stage is like shooting the game-winning basket or catching the game-winning touchdown—but extended,” Lueth said.

Source  - http://westernfrontonline.net

NaturalBodybuildingEvents.com provides the most comprehensive and up to date list of Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests from those organizations which actively promote a drug-free lifestyle. Also provides information on Natural Organizations, Seminars, Trainers and Competitor Resources.

2009 World Powerlifting Federation Upcoming Meets 

Always contact Meet Director for up to date Meet details

April 18 & 19, 2009

International Open Championships and  BRITISH POWERLIFTING,BENCH PRESS & DEAD LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, Somerset
Entry to BPO by NO later than 27^th March
Meet Director: Greg Ashford (01373 859997)

April 25th to 26th,2009
GERMAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

POWERLIFTING, BENCH PRESS & DEAD LIFT
Venue: TBD
Entry to PAG by NO later than 27th March
Meet Director: Jorg Rodiger
info@powerlifting-ag.de

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May 3rd, 2009

IPO Open championships 

POWERLIFTING, BENCH-PRESS & DEAD LIFT
Renmore Community Center

Galway, Ireland                             Meet Info
Entry to:  IPO NO later than 12th April
Meet Director: Tony Mc Caffrey

^{JUNE 26 thru 28, 2009}

EUROPEAN POWERLIFTING CONGRESS

POWERLIFTING, BENCH-PRESS & DEAD LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Beach in the City, Stavangerweg 900, 1013 AX

Amsterdam, Holland

Entry to EPC by NO later than 15th May

Meet Director: Ed Fennema  EPC Website

^{SEPTEMBER 5, 2009}

United Kingdom Open

POWERLIFTING,  BENCH-PRESS & DEAD LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Venue: University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, Somerset

Entry to BPO by NO later than 15^th August

Meet Director: Greg Ashford (01373 859997)

2009 WPF WORLDS — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA,USA !!

Nov 10-15, 2009
WPF World Powerlifting Championship
WPF World Benchpress Championship
WPF World Deadlift Championship
Las Vegas, NV Riviera Hotel Casino 

December 7, 2009

BRITISH BENCH PRESS & DEAD LIFT OPEN

(Sunday) RECORD BREAKERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Venue: Four Seasons, Trallwn Road, Llansamlet, Swansea

Entry to BPO by NO later than 15^th November

Meet Director: Ken Williams (07970 625946)

For more information - http://wpfpowerlifting.com

2010 Meeting Schedule

NOVEMBER 7 thru 10, 2010

WORLD POWERLIFTING,BENCH PRESS & DEAD LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Venue: University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, England

Entry to BPO by NO later than 23^rd September Meet Director: Greg Ashford (01373 859997)

For more information - http://wpfpowerlifting.com

NaturalBodybuildingEvents.com provides the most comprehensive and up to date list of Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Contests from those organizations which actively promote a drug-free lifestyle. Also provides information on Natural Organizations, Seminars, Trainers and Competitor Resources.

BODYBUILDING prisoners have been handed almost €200,000 of new sports equipment — as frontline gardai were hit with budget cutbacks.

New figures reveal that Mountjoy Prison in Dublin benefited most from the cash spend, with €36,388 spent on sports, gym and recreational equipment. Prisoners at the nearby St Patrick’s Institution were given €11,113 of new gear, while lags in Wheatfield had €19,896 worth installed.

OVERTIME

Get-fit criminals were given the equipment upgrades as hard-pressed gardai faced cutbacks in frontline support.

The cuts have seen anti- gangland actions such as Operation Anvil reduced from seven to four days at week at stations in west Dublin — with armed night cover provided only over that period.

The forces overtime budget will be reduced a third, or €40m, this year, which frontline officers expect will have a serious impact on the battle against organised crime.

The second highest spend in the country was at the maximum security Portlaoise Prison, where inmates were given €28,214 of new sports gear last year, figures by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern revealed

The Herald recently told how some of the country’s most dangerous prisoners, including former gang boss John Gilligan, were set to get €35,000 in new gym equipment at Portlaoise in the coming six months.

The spend has been earmarked for new gym facilities at the prison, with inmates able to avail of the new equipment from early summer, when the machines will be delivered and installed in a new block.

The block has capacity for 150 inmates and is expected to house the most dangerous criminals at the jail, including Gilligan and Brian Meehan, the only man convicted of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

Among the other high-profile prisons which benefited from new sports equipment were Midlands Prison with €22,229, Cork with €27,714, while sex offenders in Dublin’s Arbour Hill were given €12,772 of new equipment.

MOTIVATION

The total spend on new sports equipment in 2008, across 14 prisons in the State, was €193,111.

Minister Ahern defended the spend, after being quizzed on the matter by Fine Gael, saying: “There are significant benefits to be gained from getting involved in physical education be it in a community setting or in the prison environment.

“In the prison setting, PE affords prisoners the opportunity to take control of one aspect of their daily life — their physical well-being — with the potential knock-on effect of increasing their motivation and confidence to tackle other identified issues such as substance abuse, and taking up educational or workshop opportunities.”

Source - http://www.herald.ie

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - CBS is developing a reality project in which ordinary Americans will compete in crazy strength competitions.

Shooting under the cheeky working title “America’s Strongest American,” producer Michael Davies (”Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”) shot a one-hour pilot in Las Vegas during the weekend.

“Strongest” will differ from the strongman competitions seen on networks like ESPN, where professional muscleheads compete for weightlifting titles. The challenges will be scaled to suit a more average physique. The project continues a recent trend toward networks developing lighter and more comedic reality fare.

CBS’ other reality projects in the pipeline include a series on arranged marriage, a missing persons investigative series, an auto obstacle course project and a competition show pitting neighbors against one another.

Ben Bailey (”Cash Cab”) and Michelle Merkin (”Celebrity Drive-By”) are signed as hosts of “America’s Strongest American.”

Source - http://www.reuters.com

The world’s largest multi-sport fitness festival in the world - the Arnold Sports Festival - runs Friday through Sunday in Columbus with more than 17,000 athletes competing in 37 events, including 12 Olympic sports.

More than 170,000 sports fans are expected to attend the events at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Ohio Expo Center and Nationwide Arena.

“There are few competitions anywhere in the world where you’ll find 165,000 people coming together for such a huge Sports Festival event,” said Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a press release. “It’s really spectacular.”

Schwarzenegger has attended the festival every year since it began in 1989 as a one-day professional men’s bodybuilding competition, and is scheduled to attend this weekend.

Already attracting more athletes than the Olympics, this year the festival adds the Arnold 5K Racewalk, which becomes the 12th Olympic sport joining archery, boxing, gymnastics, judo, fencing, karate, running, table tennis, tae kwon do, weightlifting and wrestling.

Also new is the Arnold Party With The Pros, a club-like party Saturday night at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, which will include photo opportunities with the pros, an appearance by Schwarzenegger, music, dancing and Las Vegas entertainment.

Of the 17,000 athletes attending, 13,000 youth athletes are expected to compete this year and have a chance to win one of nine $2,000 college scholarships presented by the Columbus Rotary.

“Governor Schwarzenegger and I originally saw the Arnold Sports Festival as an opportunity to celebrate excellence through sports performance,” said Jim Lorimer, of Classic Productions and coproducer for the festival, in a press release. “We value our partnership with Columbus Rotary and our joint commitment to youth through these scholarships.”

This year the Arnold Fitness EXPO hosts 700 fitness-related booths. Entry to the EXPO and most sports events requires a daily $10 EXPO ticket.

Source - http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2009/03/04/Metro/Athletes.Celebrities.To.Flock.To.Columbus.This.Weekend.For.Arnold.Sports.Festiva-3657889.shtml

NORTH STAFFORD, Va. (AP) — Gary and Jeremy Kessler will drive 300 miles next month to compete in “The Arnold,” a prestigious arm-wrestling event.

Truth is, the basement of their North Stafford home is as far as the father and son need to travel to practice their techniques.

Both are really into the sport, and their downstairs workout room has everything they need.

Inspiration comes from nearby trophies and plaques, cast in the shape of bulging biceps.

Perspiration flows freely as both do hundreds of push-ups and pull-ups to make their upper bodies strong.

Competition is stiff as parent and child go head to head in the age-old battle of experience versus youth.

Youth is the victor — at least at the practice table of the Kessler home.

On a recent night, Jeremy, 17, showed no signs of fatigue as his Gary, 44, challenged on one hand and then the other.

“You don’t have to pin me every time, you know,” Gary said.

“Yeah, I do,” his son answered, forcing his father’s hand to the mat once more.

The Kesslers got into wrestling about five years ago, after both saw matches and thought they looked interesting.

Gary joined the Northern Virginia Arm Wrestling group, and Jeremy started hanging out with him.

Both are quick to point out that arm-wrestling isn’t held in smoke-filled bars, where someone’s likely to get hit on the head with a beer bottle.

“Most guys are computer engineers, they’re wholesome family guys,” said Jeremy, whose father is a network engineer.

“It’s not like it’s pictured on TV,” added Gary, whose son is a junior at Brooke Point High School and a member of the academic team. “If it was, I wouldn’t be in it.”

Matches are orderly and organized, arranged by weight classes like other sports.

The father and son weigh the same — low 180s — and compete in the same class, for those between 155 and 176 pounds. (Both fast before weigh-in to shed that pesky water weight.)

That means, at the Arnold Classic Armwrestling Challenge in Columbus, Ohio, March 5-7, one Kessler could find himself squaring off against the other.

Based on their recent practice, does that mean the older Kessler doesn’t stand a chance against the younger one at the event known as “the Mecca of muscle”?

Not necessarily, said Dave Patton, a northern Virginia trainer who Gary Kessler considers the best lightweight arm-wrestler in history.

Patton says that Gary trains constantly, so his body is “broken-down” and sore. On any given night, he’s not in prime shape.

His strategy is to rest a few days before a tournament so all those hours of training pay off and he’ll be in peak condition.

“Gary doesn’t train for the practices, he trains for the tournaments,” Patton said.

Patton schools the Kesslers, and about a dozen others arm-wrestle regularly at his home in Centreville. He says it’s unusual for someone to improve as quickly as Jeremy has and even more unusual for both a father and son to qualify for an event as prestigious as the Arnold Classic.

Patton also likes the father-son bond.

“Jeremy’s kind of a quiet guy, but with his dad, he’s not,” Patton said. “He’s always busting his dad’s chops.”

As the two talked about the upcoming event, Gary often stopped in the middle of a phrase, and Jeremy finished his sentences.

“I forget a lot,” Gary said, “and he helps me remember. He’s young and smart, and I’m old.”

“Yeah, too old,” Jeremy added.

During practice, Gary explained the different techniques the two used. No matter what technique Gary tried, he got pinned by his son.

“It’s not my night,” he said, suggesting the two switch from left to right hands.

“Stop switching,” Jeremy said. “It’s not gonna do you any good.”

Gary mentioned that he used to be a boxer in his younger days, and that he won three Golden Gloves titles.

“That explains what happened,” Jeremy said.

Gary smiled.

 Source - http://www.fosters.com

Rolla, MO. -

Rolla will be hosting the United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF) 2009 Midwest Regional Powerlifting and Single-Event Championships on Saturday.
The event will be held at the Christian Life Center, 305 E. 1st St. in Rolla.
The powerlifting meet will serve as a USPF national qualifier.

Weigh-ins will be Friday from 3-8 p.m. at Family Fitness while weigh-ins the day of the meet will be 8-9 a.m. at Christian Life Center.

A rules meeting begins at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday with the competition beginning at 10 a.m. and is free and open to the public.

Some of the top powerlifters in the midwest region will be on hand for the event.
Age divisions will be open, 13-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20-23, sub-master (35-39) and master (40-44, ect.).

Weight classes will include: Men — 114, 123, 132, 148, 165, 181, 198, 220, 242, 275, 308, heavyweight. Women — 97, 105, 114, 123, 132, 148, 165, 181, 198, heavyweight.

Jay Shelton is the meet director.

Source - http://www.therolladailynews.com

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Bellyfit, the evolution of fusion fitness for women, is providing instructor training courses in 13 cities across Canada, empowering women financially and physically. Bellyfit Instructors are in high demand and supplement their incomes, while participants overcome stress and fear caused by the economic crisis.

“Bellyfit connects women to their primal feminine while delivering a potent, holistic workout. Blending the power and wisdom of ancient cultures with the research and trends of the modern world: Belly Dance, Bollywood, African Dance, Pilates, Yoga, Meditation and a visionary musical soundscape are blended together within the framework of precision fitness,” explained Alice Bracegirdle, Bellyfit Founder and CEO. “Women become connected to their power in a profound way. In these tumultuous times, every woman of every age, background, religion and fitness level must be in her full power.”

Only a few years ago, Alice was a single mom on welfare escaping an abusive relationship. Inspired to heal and financially empower herself, she fused her expertise in holistic health, fitness, dance, music and yoga - Bellyfit was born. Now the owner of this successful company, she is facilitating similar success for others while setting new standards in women’s fitness. Bellyfit merges exercise and celebration, women can’t get enough.

The demand for Bellyfit is unmet and untapped.

“Once women get a taste of Bellyfit, they want more. Much more,” said Monique Salez, Bellyfit Instructor, “I can’t keep up with the demand. In this economic climate many families are under incredible financial and emotional stress. When mom feels healthy and happy so does the entire family. Classes are affordable so women can practice several times a week. I love that I’m earning money to help women de-stress, re-energize and let loose!”

“The Bellyfit training is powerful. The course is a great source of information on fitness, dance, spirituality, business and how to blend it all together to make myself, other women and the world stronger,” said Taiya Curle, Bellyfit Trainee.

Get Ready Canada. Bellyfit: Strong Women, Strong World.

For information on Bellyfit, instructor training courses, classes, photos and to view the trailer for the upcoming DVD, visit http://www.bellyfit.ca/.

Source - http://www.msnbc.msn.com

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 3, 2009 — The wedding bells are ringing, stress levels are rising and the last thing a bride wants to be worrying about is fitting into her dream dress. Thankfully a solution is here - Live in Fitness Enterprises presents “The Bridal Retreat.” A bride fitness retreat taking each bride down a multiple week journey to their bridal fitness goals. Whether looking to lose 100 pounds or just toning up for the honeymoon, the Live In Fitness Bridal Retreat is the answer.

Live in Fitness
This bridal fitness retreat takes brides out of their element and puts them in a luxurious, one-bedroom suite with ocean views in Los Angeles, CA where they will be staying the duration of the ride fitness retreat. Fitness Expert Eric Viskovicz welcomes the brides by helping them undergo multiple fitness assessments to determine their fitness level and goals for the big day. These assessments include the VO2max, measuring the maximum capacity of an individual’s body to transport and utilize oxygen during exercise, which reflects their level of fitness and the Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing, immersing the bride in water to accurately determine her percentage of body fat.

After results are analyzed, an itinerary for the brides stay is created, which includes training sessions, workout classes, meetings with a nutritionist, massages, motivational speeches, and delicious customized meals prepared daily by the chef and delivered directly to each suite. Every aspect of the bride fitness retreat is entirely taken care of, including the fitness program most importantly. This allows the brides plenty of time for wedding and honeymoon planning, instead of worrying about what their body will look like.

During the bride fitness retreat, brides will be training from 8am to 7pm with meals every couple of hours. Some activities offered include hiking, boxing, spinning, water aerobics, beach activities, bike riding, along with one-on-one training with some of the top trainers in America. This incredible retreat will be the only part of the bride’s wedding budget that they’ll continue receiving compliments on long after the knot is tied.

“The results from this bride fitness program are phenomenal, brides come in with a dream size and we make it happen. Brides have too many things to worry about; fitting into a dress shouldn’t be one of them.” says fitness expert and Live In Fitness owner Eric Viskovicz. For more information on the Live In Fitness Bridal Retreat please visit Live in Fitness.

Source - http://www.prweb.com

ARA) - Summer is the time of year people like to be tan. Some will spend hours baking in the sun to achieve that bronzed look, others will go to tanning salons. Both methods can be harmful to your health. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 90 percent of the one million plus new cases of skin cancer diagnosed this year will be traced to ultraviolet light (UV) exposure. Cancer Overexposure to harmful UV rays can also cause cataracts, immune system changes, wrinkles, and premature aging of the skin.

Sunless tanning is nothing new. These days, you can find tanning pills, sunless or self-tanners and bronzers that allow you to smooth, swipe or spray on a light bronze glow or a deep, dark tan.

A Fantasy Tan is applied via a special air brush system resulting in an even, natural looking tan. The formula as well as the specialized air brush system are the result of years of research and testing. What sets a Fantasy Tan apart from one you could achieve with a sunless tanning cream or lotion is its ability to evenly cover the body without blotching. “The airbrush sprays it on perfectly every time,” says Szurko.

Gail Doonan, 51, of Tinley Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, considers herself one of Fantasy Tan’s biggest fans. “I started sunbathing when I was a teenager and did it religiously until last year when I was diagnosed with skin cancer near my eye,” she says. “I promised my doctor I’d stay out of the sun from now on, but missed the look and feel of being tan.”

Doonan went out and bought some sunless tanning lotions, but says they didn’t work as well as she’d hoped. “My skin got all orange and blotchy. It was terrible.” To cheer her up, one of Doonan’s friends recommended she get a Fantasy Tan, a service available at a salon not too far from where she worked.

“I love the coverage, and how natural it looks,” says Doonan. “People often ask me if I just returned home from vacation. They don’t realize I haven’t spent any time in the sun at all.”

The ingredients are safe for skin, and the tan lasts for seven to 10 days.

Source - http://www.ksbitv.com/technology/801052.html

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Fitness expert Ryan Shanahan to promote kettlebells as the ultimate fitness tool

Minneapolis, MN February 23, 2009 — KettleWorx announced its sponsorship of Ryan Shanahan’s “I Love My Kettlebell” national media tour. Shanahan, creator of KettleWorx and the world’s leading expert in kettlebell fitness, will be appearing on a series of television newscasts across the country to promote awareness of kettlebells as the ultimate fitness tool.

“It’s the fastest and most effective fitness and weight loss tool available, but most people still don’t know what a kettlebell is, or how to use it,” said Shanahan. “Once people discover how easy it is to slim down and tone up with just three, 20 minute KettleWorx sessions a week, they really will ‘love their kettlebell’.”

 It’s the fastest and most effective fitness and weight loss tool available, but most people still don’t know what a kettlebell is, or how to use it  
 Once people discover how easy it is to slim down and tone up with just three, 20 minute KettleWorx sessions a week, they really will ‘love their kettlebell’.  
 We’re seeing more interest in kettlebells as a result of recent endorsements by athletes like Lance Armstrong and celebrities like Katherine Heigl and Penelope Cruz .

But people need expert training if they are going to get the same benefits celebrities enjoy, which is why we partnered with Ryan in the creation of KettleWorx and now support his national media tour.  

“We’re seeing more interest in kettlebells as a result of recent endorsements by athletes like Lance Armstrong and celebrities like Katherine Heigl and Penelope Cruz,” said Steve Roberts, CEO of FitnessWorx, LLC. “But people need expert training if they are going to get the same benefits celebrities enjoy, which is why we partnered with Ryan in the creation of KettleWorx and now support his national media tour.”

Ryan Shanahan appeared yesterday on the KTVK Phoenix program “Good Morning Arizona” and today on KNSD-TV in San Diego. He has previously appeared on the CBS Early Show, on the WTXF show “Good Day Philadelphia,” and on KARE 11 in Minneapolis - St. Paul. Planned future appearances include “AM Northwest” on KATU in Portland and with KING 5 in Seattle.

About Ryan Shanahan
Ryan is the world’s leading kettlebell expert and the developer of KettleWorx - the most comprehensive kettlebell training program available. Over the last 20 years he’s played professional hockey, represented Canada at the World Duathlon Championship, completed 22 triathlons and 2 marathons. Having trained with nothing more than a 20 pound kettlebell, Ryan recently earned 2nd place at the Heavyweight Drug Free Bodybuilding Contest.

About KettleWorx
KettleWorx is the global leader in kettlebell fitness and offers a complete kettle bell workout program on DVD for home use. Designed to emulate a true personal trainer experience, KettleWorx is appropriate for men and women of any fitness level. Users are led through a series of gradually more challenging workouts that comprise the “Six Week Body Transformation.”

For more information, visit www.kettleworx.com

Source - www.prweb.com

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Prolab Launches Cardio Blast at 2009 Arnold Classic Where Show Attendees Can Sample Products, Meet TEAM PROLAB Athletes, and Join Prolab’s VIP Club

CHATSWORTH, Calif. - (Business Wire) Prolab Nutrition, Inc., a premier provider of high-quality sports nutrition products for bodybuilders and elite athletes, is officially launching its new Cardio Blast pre-workout supplement at the 2009 Arnold Classic, the nation’s largest health and fitness consumer trade show. The three-day Arnold Classic takes place March 6-8, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio, and comprises more than 700 exhibitors featuring sports fitness supplements, equipment, apparel, and training tools. Attended by over 165,000 visitors and 17,000 athletes, the Arnold Classic offers free entertainment, exciting athletic competitions by professionals and amateurs, and other fitness events.

Attendees visiting Prolab’s booth (#644) will have the opportunity to taste Cardio Blast, a convenient, three-ounce, on-the-go liquid shot to be taken up to 30 minutes before workouts. Each serving of Cardio Blast contains a powerful blend of clinically-tested ingredients, including Caffeine, L-Carnitine, and Chromax® Chromium Picolinate†, along with Green Tea Extract, Biotin and Evodia Rutaecarpa Extract, to help fitness enthusiasts blast through their workouts. This great-tasting, sugar-free, pre-workout “shooter” is designed to assist in burning fat and calories, boosting metabolism, increasing mental focus, and promoting thermogenesis.*

According to Dr. Michael T. Yatcilla, Prolab’s Research and Development Vice President, “Cardio Blast is perfect for men and women who want to intensify their workouts and reduce recovery time.” *

Packaged in a unique, single-serve ready-to-go container (no refrigeration needed), with a great-tasting blue raspberry flavor, the cutting-edge Cardio Blast provides a powerful “blast” that ignites energy, promotes peak performance, and improves muscle recovery. Cardio Blast will be available from BodyBuilding.com, Prolab.com, and other retailers, as well as throughout the U.S. at sports nutrition specialty stores (average U.S. SRP is $20.99 for a six-pack of single-serve vials).*

Also at Prolab’s booth TEAM PROLAB athletes will be available for interviews, photos, and autographs during the Arnold Classic. The TEAM PROLAB athletes to appear include: Moji Oluwa, a Southern California-based personal trainer, with a background in Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming, soccer and track, who is competing in the 2009 Arnold Classic Amateur Bodybuilding event (open men, middleweight division); TJ Humphreys, a bodybuilding competitor featured in dozens of fitness, training, and bodybuilding articles who is also an international cover model for industry magazines including Muscle & Fitness® and Status Magazine®; Patrick Richardson, an IFBB pro who is preparing to compete in the 2009 Tampa Pro and Europa Pro in Dallas; Angela Terlesky, an IFBB pro who is preparing for the 2009 IFBB competition in New York; and, Vanessa Adams, an NPC National Level Figure competitor who is transitioning into bodybuilding and will be appearing in her first bodybuilding competition this fall.

In addition to tastings at the Cardio Blast juice bar, visitors to the Prolab booth will receive FREE samples of N-Large2™ (chocolate flavor), Pure Whey (Cinnamon Oatmeal flavor), Thermo Fire®, Nitro Fire®, and Humino MAAX™ (while supplies last), as well as training and nutrition information. Prolab’s booth will also offer attendees prizes such as Prolab t-shirts, shaker cups, and Prolab VIP Club memberships. For more information on the 2009 Arnold Classic, please visit www.arnoldclassic.com.

About Prolab Nutrition, Inc.

Widely recognized as a premier sports nutrition company, Prolab Nutrition, Inc. has been providing professional and aspiring bodybuilders and elite athletes with high-quality sports nutrition products since 1989. Prolab helped pioneer a sports-specific approach to athletes’ nutrition, with a comprehensive product line that allows athletes to customize their nutritional supplement program to meet specific training and physique goals. All Prolab products feature specialized formulas designed to support training and nutrition goals at every level of an athlete’s regimen.*

Prolab’s reputation as a premium-quality brand is due to its focus on delivering high-quality nutritional products. This high level of product quality assurance is one of the key factors that sets Prolab® products apart from other sports nutrition products. Prolab is one of the few sports nutrition companies that undergoes rigorous manufacturing quality control to ensure high-quality products.

Prolab Nutrition, Inc. is owned by Natrol, Inc., a premier marketer and manufacturer of premium branded nutritional supplements. Prolab products are available throughout the U.S. and in many foreign countries, including independent health food stores, sports nutrition specialty stores, and military bases throughout the world, as well as from Prolab.com and other online retailers. Information on Prolab products is available by calling 1-800-PROLAB1 (1-800-776-5221) or by visiting www.prolab.com.

About Natrol – CONSUMER. TECHNOLOGY. NUTRITION.

Natrol, Inc., headquartered in Chatsworth, CA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Plethico Pharmaceuticals Limited. Plethico Pharmaceuticals Limited (BSE: 532739.BO: PLETHICO), an herbal/nutraceutical-focused Indian Company, engages in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical and allied healthcare products in India and internationally.

Natrol, Inc. has a portfolio of health and wellness brands representing quality nutritional supplements, functional herbal teas, and sports nutrition products. Established in 1980, Natrol’s portfolio of brands includes: Natrol®, MRI, Prolab®, BioSil®, Laci Le Beau®, Promensil®, Trinovin®, Nu Hair®, and Shen Min®. The company also manufactures supplements for its own brands and on behalf of third parties. Natrol distributes products nationally through more than 54,000 retailers, as well as internationally in over 40 other countries through distribution partners and its UK subsidiary.††

Consumer needs are central to Natrol’s focus. The company pledges to deliver nutritional products with uncompromised service, quality, and innovation through the best that science, nature, and technology can offer. For more information, call 1-800-2-NATROL (1-800-262-8765) or visit www.Natrol.com.

†Chromax® is a registered trademark of Nutrition 21, Inc. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,087,623; 5,087,624; and 5,175,156. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

††BioSil™ is a trademark of and manufactured by Bio Minerals n.v., Belgium.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you have or suspect a medical condition, are taking prescription drugs, or are pregnant or lactating.

Taylor Public Relations (TPR)
on behalf of Prolab Nutrition, Inc. and Natrol, Inc.
Stacy Taylor, 714-791-0848
Stacy@TaylorPublicRelations.com

Source - www.earthtimes.org

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A VETERAN muscle man gave young bodybuilders a big lift during a visit to South Tyneside.

Bill McFadyen, 73, wowed special guests at Fellgate Fitness Centre, Jarrow, including the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Coun Alex Donaldson and his wife Brenda.

Billed as the strongest man on the planet over 70 years old, the OAP bodybuilder is on course for a new world record, which he hopes will last for 100 years.

Mr McFadyen, who travelled to Jarrow from his home in Stranraer, Scotland, is the subject of a film to be shown later this year at movie star Robert Redford’s Sundance Festival in Utah, US.

Neville Cresdee, 62, who helped organise the visit after reading about the veteran bodybuilder in a Sunday newspaper, said: “Bill proved a real inspiration to the young bodybuilders who came along to see the demonstration.

“Despite a recent injury, Bill is still determined to set a record lift of 182kg, which would be a world best for someone his age.

“He’s in fantastic condition and he gave tips to people who turned up at the event, and posed for pictures with the Mayor and Mayoress.”

Mr Cresdee, of Hedworth, Jarrow, added: “A few local bodybuilders tried to take Bill on, in terms of lifting weights, but most of us didn’t get anywhere near him.

“I dropped out at 85kg, and it just shows what kind of superb condition Bill is in. It was great to see local bodybuilders at the event, which really inspired them.”

Mr Cresdee added that film of the Jarrow event has already been featured on YouTube, ahead of the veteran muscle man’s US movie appearance later this year.

Source - www.shieldsgazette.com

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After years of avoiding violence by hunkering down at home, on a steady diet of TV, cigarettes and hearty food, many have emerged out of shape. Some are heading to the gym.

As Iraq awakens from a years-long nightmare of sectarian violence, many Baghdad residents are thrilled by signs of their newfound stability: manicured parks, fully stocked markets and the absence of militias.Not so thrilling: their own reflections in the mirror.

After retreating into their homes to escape violence and living off a steady diet of satellite television, cigarettes and hearty, high-calorie food, many have emerged from their homes out of shape. Some are heading to the gym.“Before, we worried only about being killed by a militia or bombing,” said one man at a Baghdad gym. “Now, you will not die by an [improvised explosive device], you will die of heart attack.”

The renewed interest in fitness has also spawned a new class of entrepreneur — gym owners who offer personal trainers and guarantees that customers will lose weight and shape up for anywhere between $20 and $150 a month.At perhaps a dozen or so packed fitness centers, owners are importing sophisticated cardio and weight machines from the United States, along with truckloads of fat burners, weightlifting supplements and detoxifying teas.

Source - latimes.com

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