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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.
Nutty For Nut Butters
If I had to pick one class of food which is allowed in my kitchen but which is dangerous due to its calorie density, it would be all the nut butters which are safely sequestered in my cupboards. Though I do not enjoy shopping, I will stop dead in my tracks if I am in a grocery store and see a shelf of nut spreads, and will peruse the ingredient labels while imagining what flavor punch each one would yield. Thank goodness I do not have any nut allergies and can sample any type of nut butter that exists.
You may be wondering which nut butters are my favorites and have earned the right to sit on my kitchen shelves. I will start off by saying that basic peanut butter varieties usually will not make the cut, and are edged out by more exotic blends and different nuts. Without further ado, here is my list of favorites, in no particular order:
Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams – This is a mixture of dark chocolate and peanut butter and in my estimation is the most delectable of any dark or milk chocolate peanut butter I have every tried. I cannot live without this stuff! The following link has all the peanut butter varieties this company offers: http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/peanut-butter-1.html
P28 White Chocolate Peanut Butter – This nut spread is so addicting that it should almost be illegal. The balance of sweet white chocolate with peanuts is fantastic, and you get the added bonus of whey protein which boosts the protein content to 14 grams per serving. I also love all the other P28 varieties, and the other varieties have earned places on my shelf, but this one is my favorite. https://www.p28foods.com/baked-goods/p28-high-protein-peanut-butter
Almond Butter – I like several different brands, including Trader Joe’s, Once Again, and MaraNatha.
Being Grateful
Most of us are bombarded with countless stressors and may grumble regularly in response to the onslaught. Though I wish I could brush off daily frustrations with grace, I frequently find myself grumbling when I have to navigate through a particularly rough day. Our society is running at a lightning pace, so rapidly that it is next to impossible to allow ourselves an opportunity to stop and enjoy the moment. We bitch and moan about traffic, spilled coffee, being late for appointments, our cell phones losing their charges, etc., and in the process stir up anxiety and discontent in our lives, when we should be grateful for the many gifts and blessings that surround us.
It is easy to think that if we stop for a moment, everything will come crashing down, when in reality that is usually NOT the case. I have taken a baby step in my incredibly busy life lately, and have spent the last few weeks making sure to spend a few minutes every morning petting and snuggling with my cats, enjoying their calm and loving energy, and remembering to breathe and pause before the craziness of day to day life hits. I also am keenly aware of the struggles of a couple of dear friends who are dealing with cancer right now, and cannot even imagine how tremendously difficult their lives must be now that circumstances have caused mundane annoyances to come to a screeching halt. When life is stressful but somehow comfortable in its frenetic rhythm, a catastrophic event or illness will obliterate that false comfort. Suddenly leaving the toilet seat up or getting the wrong food order at a restaurant doesn’t have the same impact or importance.
Now that Thanksgiving is approaching, those of us in the United States will get a yearly reminder to be grateful for all the wonderful things we have. However, I hope that people around the entire globe will embrace the approaching holidays with a renewed appreciation for life and the loved ones around them. It is a blessing to live with good health, surrounded by those we love. If you are fortunate enough to have both, allow things to slow down enough for you to take notice of your surroundings. Put the computer aside, enjoy the outdoors, spend time with your pets or children, visit your relatives, laugh with friends. You might not believe it, but you are allowed to put things aside briefly. The world won’t come crashing down if you do.
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
Another Amazing Beach Image From LHGFX, August 2013
Facebook Is NOT A Dating Site
I am extremely tired of the random strangers who find it necessary to troll around women’s Facebook profiles, look up relationship status, assess degree of hotness, then send suggestive and annoying emails in an effort to snag a date. Since when was Facebook designated as a dating website? When I get an email from someone who clearly has no idea who I am but simply came across my profile image and thought I was hot, my defense mechanisms are triggered, and I will not even bother to reply to the majority of such communications. I also fail to see the point of flirting with someone on the other side of the globe. Is it THAT difficult to meet eligible partners in one’s own country? Also, how does one propose to meet the object of his desire if she resides thousands of miles away in another country? This is of course assuming that the lady is interested, which in my case is NEVER applicable.
I am well aware of the cyberstalking that occurs when a man is interested in a woman he encounters online. To be honest, it is rather creepy. In the past four years, I have been asked out online via Facebook far more than I have been in person, and have been harrassed by men who were desperate to date me, even when I was in a committed relationship and cohabiting with my man. Some men will not take no for an answer and will pester a woman to the point where she must employ the blocking feature simply to get rid of the guy. I have had men call me every name in the book, threatening and insulting me when I rejected their cyber advances.
Ladies, be hyper-vigilant with these men! Do NOT allow them to manipulate you. The blocking feature on Facebook is a valuable tool, so USE IT. Men, be respectful and understand that most women will not be receptive to a complete stranger asking her out on a date via a non-dating website. If a woman rejects your offer to take her out, bow out graciously. Don’t be a jerk and insult her simply because your ego is bruised. Such behavior is sociopathic and misogynistic.
Facebook is a great social media site, so don’t abuse it.
Sexy Beach Image From August 2013 – LHGFX Photography
New Ab Video Series On RxGirl – Exercise #4: Ball Crunch
http://www.rxmuscle.com/video/rx-girl-video/9659-the-ab-series-crunch-on-ball.html
Do you want a 6-pack or just a flat stomach? Then “The Ab Series” is for you. Check out today’s exercise: The Ball Crunch!
Want Shapely Legs? Try This Routine
If you have good upper body definition but are noticing that your legs are lagging behind in the definition department, try the following routine two to three times per week to add lean muscle mass and shape. Perform each exercise in a superset in order without resting. Once you are done with a superset, pause for 30 to 45 seconds, then continue with the next one.
Stacey Naito’s Leg Blast For Shapely Legs:
SUPERSET #1:
4 x 15 leg extensions
4 x 15 jump squats
4 x 15 plie squat holding dumbbell between legs (Go very low so end of dumbbell touches floor. Come up only partway.)
SUPERSET #2:
4 x 15 prone leg curls
4 x 15 one legged lunge jumps (Hold onto Smith bar for support. Perform all reps on one leg, then switch.)
4 x 15 one legged leg presses
SUPERSET #3:
4 x 20 butt blaster machine
4 x 15 outer thigh machine
SUPERSET #4:
4 x 20 seated calf raises
4 x 20 non-weighted one legged standing calf raises
dr. stacey naito's blog 