Here is the first video in the new video series by Ian Lauer IFBB Men’s Physique Pro and me! In this series we show you a whole new group of exercises designed to blast the glutes!
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Four Years Of Team Universe!
Here are stage shots from all 4 years that I competed at the NPC Team Universe (2010 through 2013), stacked in reverse chronological order. I almost didn’t compete at Team U in 2013 because I had never done exceptionally well at this contest. Needless to say, I am so thankful that I had the stubborn determination to get back on that stage, because my wish finally came true in 2013!
To those of you who might be getting discouraged, DON’T GIVE UP!!! I can honestly say I looked better in the shot from 2013 (far right) which was taken days before my 47th birthday, than in the shot from 2010 (far left), taken on my 44th birthday. It’s been an amazing journey!
2013. Pro Card year!
Overall Winner Masters 40+ Bikini
1st Place Masters 40+ Bikini B
1st Place Masters 35+ Bikini B
4th Place Open Bikini D
2012 Team U
12th Place Masters 35+ Bikini
8th Place Open Bikini D
1st Place Masters 45+ Bikini
11th Place Masters 35+ Bikini
8th Place Open Bikini D
13th Place Open Bikini D
A Fun Stage Shot After Bikini Open D Awards At Team Universe 2013
I have no recollection of what Denita Clark and I were chatting about, but I have a strong suspicion that we were talking about what foods we were planning to eat since Finals were over for us! It’s a fun shot! You can also see Stephanie Mahoe reaching for the 1st place trophy which got her a Pro Card win, and the lovely Justine Moore.
Venus Freeze Treatments For Cellulite
No, this is NOT me, but this shows how effective the Venus Freeze can be in reducing the appearance of cellulite.
I am a sucker for any non-invasive treatments that promise to reduce the appearance of cellulite or tighten loose skin. So when I kept hearing about the Venus Freeze treatment and its promises to address both of these issues, my curiosity grew. The Venus Freeze employs radio frequency waves to heat up treated tissues, causing it to contract, while magnets stimulate production of collagen and elastin. While many platforms will only treat the face OR the body, the Venus Freeze can be used anywhere on the body. You can expect to see response to the treatments after a few weeks to up to 3 months following the first treatment. The best results are seen when treatments are done weekly, for a total of 8 to 10 treatments. About 10% of people who undergo the Venus Freeze treatments will show no response, which is indeed frustrating both for the non-responder and for the practitioner who is administering the treatments. However, there is no way to determine who falls into that 10% until treatments are well under way. The good news is that the majority of individuals who undergo this treatment should see noticeable improvement in the areas treated.
Here’s where I was completely sold: the treatment feels like a hot stone massage, with no pain involved, and there is no down time. After enduring two rounds of the intensely painful BodyFx treatment, which incidentally did NOTHING to improve the cellulite on the backs of my legs, I was ready to try something that did NOT have me writhing in pain on a treatment table.
I had my first treatment last week at a wonderful facility called Laser Creations in Simi Valley, CA (http://www.lasercreations.org/venus-freeze-skin-tightening-and-body/) and am happy to report that I felt no pain at all during the entire treatment. It truly did feel remarkably similar to a hot stone massage, down to a couple of hot spots which were almost at the point of pain but not quite. After the treatment was completed, the area was massaged manually, and some fat pockets popped from this manipulation. It was a strange sensation, feeling those pockets pop, but I felt victorious because I knew that the technology was already bringing about an effect.
I noticed no change in the quality of my skin, nor did I see any improvement in the appearance of cellulite after the first treatment, but that is normal after only one treatment. I did notice that the more proximal areas (areas closer to my glutes and on my glutes) actually looked more pronounced with respect to the dimpling, but I think that has something to do with the localized swelling. I returned today for my second treatment in the series and experienced one spot which zapped me for a second, causing me to flinch. However, the rest of the treatment was fine, and the heat, though intense, was not painful at all. We got more pockets to pop today, but not as many as from the first treatment. I am very excited to see if visible changes begin to emerge after this second treatment! There are six more treatments left in the series for me, with cumulative effects expected over time. I also practice very clean eating and I drink 1-1/2 gallons of water a day, which will enhance the process of lipolysis (breakdown of fats in fat cells).
I am hoping that a noticeable difference in the areas treated will emerge shortly after my fourth treatment. As a physician who actively works in the field of aesthetic medicine, I am well aware that it takes the body about 5 to 6 months to fully generate a round of collagen, and that small, visible changes can be seen about 30 days into a Venus Freeze treatment regimen.
Video Review Of Cellucor Cor-Performance Whey Cookies And Cream Flavor
Creatine-Rich Foods or Creatine Supplements?
Original post can be found here:
Creatine has been established as an important component of maximal muscle growth, strength and energy in the world of weightlifting, hence its almost ubiquitous presence in pre-workout formulations. Though creatine can be formed in the kidneys and liver from arginine, glycine and methionine, weightlifters should supplement this production, either by taking powdered creatine supplements such as creatine monohydrate, or by consuming large amounts of creatine-rich foods.
Beef is hands down the richest food source of creatine, with two grams per pound of meat. If you are opposed to the idea of eating red meat, alternative sources of creatine are found in poultry and in fish such as salmon and tuna. Those of you who are vegetarian or vegan will be hard pressed to pull sufficient creatine from foods and will have to supplement via synthetic forms such as creatine monohydrate, micronized creatine, or creatine citrate.
You may be able to consume massive amounts of meat and supply your body with the 3 to 5 grams of creatine which are considered the norm in bodybuilding circles, especially if you are adamant about obtaining all of your performance substances from whole food sources, but that would require massive dedication and a lot of meat chewing! However, if you are in a building phase, then I truly believe that you are doing yourself a disservice if you are trying to get all your extra creatine solely from food sources.
The original form of creatine which was used by bodybuilders and which is still very much in use today is creatine monohydrate. This is the cheapest form of creatine, but it is poorly absorbed, which explains its tendency to cause bloating and digestive upset. Another negative aspect of creatine monohydrate is that some people don’t respond at all to it. If this is the case for you, then you might want to explore the different forms of creatine which are out on the market. The two best forms of creatine, in my humble opinion, are:
1. Micronized creatine – The micronized form of creatine features smaller molecules, so absorption is significantly better, eliminating the issus of bloating and diarrhea which are often caused by ingesting the non-micronized form of creatine monohydrate.
2. Creatine ethyl ester – This is by far the most absorbable form of creatine, but more expensive than the monohydrate form. You can find this substance in capsule form.
Another form of creatine which is at times used in some of the more popular pre-workout formulas is creatine nitrate. The extra NO2 makes creatine water soluble and also lends a decent pump to workouts. However, when purchased alone, creatine nitrate is costly and thus is not one of my recommendations.
If you want to enhance your creatine intake, consider food sources in combination with supplement sources so that you can obtain an optimal amount which your body is able to utilize.
Appearance In Winter 2013 Issue Of Muscular Development Latino
Calcium Pyruvate
Calcium pyruvate has gotten a lot of attention lately, being touted as a fat blaster extraordinaire by Dr. Oz and by other medical and health professionals. Supposedly there has been research pointing to calcium pyruvate’s effectiveness in mobilizing storage fat as a fuel source. The general recommendation is to take 1000 milligrams before each meal for a period of one week to jump start the body’s utilization of fat.
Here’s the big problem with such a claim. It’s completely bogus. In order to reap the fat blasting benefits of calcium pyruvate, you would need to consume 30 grams per day. That’s a pretty massive dose, and pretty expensive to boot. It would be a rare person indeed who would be willing to spend the serious coin necessary and take the massive amounts of capsules each day just to gain such a fat torching benefit. I know I wouldn’t do it. Calcium pyruvate is also very poorly absorbed, so when you load your body with high doses, you can expect to spend a LOT of time in the restroom dealing with a very uncomfortable aftermath. Also, if you are crapping out most of the supplement, you are just wasting money and wreaking havoc on your digestive tract to boot.
The main reason why calcium pyruvate is a recent hot topic is because Dr. Oz made a big deal about it, proving that media hype can make just about ANY supplement appealing because people want to believe in anything that is offering promise as a magic weight loss pill. Magic wand in a supplement? I don’t think so. I recently was told by a client that she was going to begin taking this supplement, despite my very unenthusiastic review of it. All I can do in such a situation is throw my hands up and say, “Do what you want, but I’m not recommending or endorsing this.”
The take home lesson here is don’t believe the hype when a new supplement comes on the horizon, especially one that promises to zap storage fat.
Back To The Drawing Board…How I Plan To Sculpt Myself For the Next Contest
Every time I step onstage I am acutely aware of what I bring, and my research on what needs improvement begins the day after the event, during which time I scrutinize my images to determine where to focus. I am CONSTANTLY punishing my gluteal region in an effort to make it as round, high, and tight as I can possibly manage despite my ever advancing age and the ravages of gravity. Unfortunately, my glutes began to deflate a few weeks ago, just in time for me to compete in two back to back events! It was frustrating to say the least.
I have already implemented a new regimen which should serve to plump up my rear view and lift everything up in time for my next competition. Another issue which I now struggle with is increasing deposition of fat in my inner thighs which makes my thighs look thick. This will be addressed with adjustments to my routine so that I can “run down” my legs a bit. Because I have been competing for a while, and because of my background as a trainer and coach, I know what I need to do to get myself dialed in. You had better believe the race is on to see how much I can accomplish and how quickly I can do it! Though I make my own adjustments, I do not recommend this to the average competitor. Invest in the advice and guidance of an experienced, practiced eye that can direct you to specifically correct or improve on weaker areas.
I honestly think it is important to always make a post-contest assessment, even if you get an overall win. You never know who will be at your next contest, so if you have an area which could use even the slightest bit of improvement, or if you need to make an adjustment on posing, suit color, or some other detail, make sure to address those issues in advance.
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