https://rxmuscle.com/video/rx-girl-video/9804-the-ab-series-v-up.html
Category Fitness
Green Bikini Image From LHGFX
This was taken in August of this year…incidentally, this is the first suit I ever wore onstage…
Building Muscle The Vegan Way
By no means am I vegan or even vegetarian, but I appreciate the fact that many individuals have specific reasons for avoiding meat. Protein is an essential nutrient, but it is especially important for people looking to build muscle. Daily protein intake for the average individual should be around 0.8 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, but I recommend a MUCH higher intake for weightlifters. For example, though I am 119 pounds, I currently consume 150 grams of protein per day, spread out among 6 meals. But if I were vegan, I would consume 8 meals per day instead of 6. This is due to the fact that it can be extremely challenging to consume sufficient amounts of protein, resulting in more frequent meals and a greater variety of protein sources. Another challenge which vegans face is the fact that nuts and seeds have a high caloric density and are packed with fat, so their consumption must be monitored.
Below is a list of the best vegan protein sources.
Tofu
Tempeh
Lentils
Soybeans
Pinto, kidney, or black beans
Garbanzo beans
Quinoa
Almonds
Cashews
Walnuts
Peanuts
Sesame seeds
Avocado
Broccoli
Spinach
Kale
Sweet potatoes
Veggie burger
Veggie sausage
Soy Protein
SOCIAL MEDIA: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD?
Original post can be found at: http://www.rxmuscle.com/blogs/the-business-fitness-modeling-and-showbiz/9773-social-media-a-double-edged-sword.html
If you are serious about competing and want to build a career in the fitness industry then you have probably been exploring the various social media platforms and trying to build your name and brand. Of course, you want to push for the most followers you can get, as well as build a fan base which boosts your credibility in the eyes of supplement companies. As your numbers grow, your name will become more well-known and you can claim – without bluffing – that you have inspired thousands of people.
However, with more followers come more problems, most commonly the jerks and the haters. I heard an interesting comment from one of my friends today, which was: “The more successful you are, the more haters you have.” I have to admit that whenever I have to deal with a hater, I am rattled by such energy and will never understand how people can go out of their way to spread negativity. I guess you can’t please everyone, and of course there are going to be those who are jealous of your physique and your success. This is when the blocking feature on numerous social platforms can and should be employed. Don’t bother trying to appease such spiritual leeches. They are not worth the trouble.
Some fans and followers (thank goodness, it is the exception and not the rule) develop a distorted perspective in which they believe that they are connected or bonded to the fitness personalities they are interested in. This quickly turns into an obsession, with the fan holding onto a sense of entitlement which can be dangerous. If such a fan feels disregarded, a cascade of psychotic behavior can ensue.
Another dangerous and disturbing situation found in social media circles is the impostor syndrome. There are individuals out there who may claim to be you, and will use your likeness, your name and your titles to build fake profiles. I am sure you have worked your ass off to get to where you are now, so it is time to do due diligence and make sure that no one is taking your good name and wearing it. The small bit of flattery which may be at play is completely eclipsed by the creepiness and the invasion of pretending to be someone else.
Thankfully, the vast majority of people are level-headed and rational. However, as your numbers grow, you must be aware of the issues which may arise and take measures to protect your name and reputation in the industry.
New Ab Video Series on RxGirl – Exercise #6: Leg Drops
P28 And Muscle Egg French Toast
A couple of days after I wrapped my Pro competition season for the year, I had a sudden craving for french toast which I could not shake. The only way to satisfy this craving was to indulge in it by combining Vanilla Flavor Muscle Egg with apple pie spice and immersing two slices of P28 Bread into the mixture, then cooking them in a pan. I placed them on a plate, added slivered almonds and fresh berries, then finished them off with a light drizzle of pure maple syrup. It only took one bite for me to become hooked. I have been indulging in this dish a couple of days per week with only mild guilt since the main ingredients deliver a healthy portion of protein. While it is true that I could omit the fresh berries and maple syrup, these additions make the experience complete and supremely enjoyable.
If you enjoy pancakes, french toast and waffles but avoid them due to their high carbohydrate and fat content, why not make french toast with P28 Bread and Muscle Egg? The two food products together are a match made in heaven!
Where to buy P28 Bread: https://www.p28foods.com/
Where to buy Muscle Egg: http://www.muscleegg.com/
Evil Things In My Fridge
One of the casualties of hosting holiday events is that I always find myself saddled with a plethora of desserts which are difficult to resist. For example, I still have homemade fudge, vegan brownies, and vegan banana bread sitting in my fridge which I cannot throw in the trash, because I know all too well how delicious they are. The strange thing is that I have only a small quantity of savory leftovers from Thanksgiving, so I never ran the risk of getting tired of eating turkey and stuffing. Years ago, I would have indulged in whatever leftovers remained without much consequence, but now that I am firmly entrenched in the fitness world, there is no possible way that I would risk unraveling my efforts to remain shoot ready year-round. I hope this proves to people that it is possible to have decadent desserts around without feeling the need to indulge in them. I am not saying that there is no temptation, but I try to ignore the fact that they are in my house. I have a photo shoot in five days and keep reminding myself that it is right around the corner!
New Ab Video Series on RxGirl – Exercise #5: Decline Bench Crunch
Fit For Stage…There Is A Difference
Original post can be found here: http://www.rxmuscle.com/blogs/the-life-inspiration-and-dedication/9699-fit-for-stage-there-is-a-difference.html
We all know that the general population is pretty resistant to the idea of packing on the massive amounts of muscle which are seen in men’s and women’s bodybuilding. This has made the men’s physique and bikini divisions incredibly enticing since these divisions are represented by a lesser degree of muscularity. However, it drives me nuts when I hear people proclaim that they are going to jump onstage and compete simply because they are reasonably fit.
I am not referring to people who have realistic expectations and who understand that there is a tremendous amount of work and prep that must go into delivering a great package onstage. I am referring to the self-assured, short-sighted individual who thinks that he or she represents the division without recognizing areas which need to be fine-tuned.
I have recently heard a number of fit individuals tell me that they feel they are ready to hit the stage without any preparation or fine-tuning since, in their minds, there is no distinction between what they have to offer and what competitors work so hard to achieve. To me this is an extremely disrespectful approach to the sport.
Those of us who compete are constantly aware of the need to achieve a personal best and take being onstage and representing our divisions very seriously. We understand that the work needs to be put in if we need to round out pec development, work on taper, or fine tune our level of conditioning. So when some newbie comes along expecting to grab a spare pair of board shorts, slap on a Mystic tan and rock the stage, I can’t help but snicker. I know that the newbie who adopts such a cocky attitude can be found dejected post-contest, shocked that his fit body didn’t take down the rest of the competition.
If you have yet to compete and have yourself convinced that you have nothing to learn about the division or the culture, you need to abandon such an attitude and instead learn some humility. There are so many outstanding representatives of the sport who are willing to guide new competitors and offer constructive criticism that you would be foolish not to avail yourself of their experience and knowledge. Make the journey one in which you LEARN and GROW.
List Of 2014 Pro Bikini Events
IFBB LEGENDS PRO BIKINI CLASSIC
Feb 1st – Las Vegas, Nevada
BIKINI INTERNATIONAL
Feb 28-March 1st – Columbus, Ohio
AUSTRALIA PRO
March 7-8th – Melbourne, Australia
MUSCLECONTEST.COM PRO
March 8th – Culver City, California
ST. LOUIS PRO
March 8th – St. Louis, Missouri
NEW ZEALAND PRO
March 15th – Auckland, New Zealand
BATTLE ON THE BEACH
March 28-29th – Daytona Beach, Florida
EUROPA SHOW OF CHAMPIONS
April 11-12th – Orlando, Florida
PITTSBURGH PRO
May 3rd – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
IFBB EUROPA DALLAS
May 9-10th – Dallas, Texas
NEW YORK PRO
May 17th – New York, New York
TORONTO PRO SUPERSHOW
May 30 -31st – Toronto, Canada
IFBB DENNIS JAMES CLASSIC
May 31st – Phoenix, Arizona
IFBB NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRO BIKINI
June 7th – California
Promoter: Ted Williamson/John Tuman
GREATER GULF STATES
June 20-21st – New Orleans, Louisiana
IFBB PATRIOTS PRO BIKINI CLASSIC
July 5th – Las Vegas, Nevada
TAMPA PRO BODYBUILDING WEEKLY CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 8-9th – Tampa, Florida
ORANGE COUNTY MUSCLE CLASSIC
August 9th – Culver City, California
IFBB DALLAS PRO
August 16 – Dallas, Texas
ST. LOUIS PRO
August 23rd – St.Louis, Missouri
IFBB PITTSBURGH MASTERS PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 30th – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
BIKINI OLYMPIA
September 19-20th – Las Vegas, Nevada
IFBB KOREAN PRO
September 27th- Korea
EVL’S PRAGUE PRO
October 4th – Prague, Czech Republic
IFBB NORDIC PRO
October 11th – Lahti, Finland
FORT LAUDERDALE CUP
October 18th – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
EUROPA PHOENIX
October 25-26th – Phoenix, Arizona
SACRAMENTO PRO
October 30-November 1st – Sacramento, California
IFBB IOWA PRO
November 8th – Davenport, Ohio
IFBB IRONGAMES PRO
November 8th – Culver City, California
IFBB TIJUANA PRO
November 14-15th– Tijuana, Mexico
IFBB RUSSIAN PRO
November 28-29th– Russia
IFBB FERRIGNO LEGACY
November 28-29th – Santa Barbara, California
