I believe this was shot in mid 2011 out near Las Vegas. It’s one of my favorite images!
A Favorite Image From LHGFX In A Tight Red Dress
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Make Your Fitness Goals Tangible With Photos!
Whenever I do initial consultations with weight management patients, I make sure to ask them what their ultimate weight loss goals are. Invariably my patients will mention a friend or relative who has the type of physique they desire, or they will mention a time in their lives at which they considered their own bodies to be ideal for them. At the end of the evaluation, I instruct my patients to find at least one picture of that ideal body and post it in a prominent place, either on a desk, bathroom mirror, refrigerator, or car dashboard. The whole point is to create a visual representation of the patient’s goal so that it becomes more tangible over time.
When I first began competing in 2009, I quite randomly picked a couple of images of female competitors whom I really admired, printed them, and placed them on my bathroom mirror. I saw these images daily and was able to visualize my goal on a consistent basis. I did not remove these images from my mirror until I moved in October of 2012, and when I did so, I moved the images to bulletin boards in our trophy room. By that time, I had collected five First Place national titles, and now regard the two competitors in those photos as peers. I had achieved my goal of attaining a level of fitness and exposure which was right in step with these ladies.
Another tip which I give to weight management patients is to take weekly progress pics so that they can monitor the subtle changes in their bodies over an interval period of time. What they might not see from week to week can be very dramatic when they compare their baseline photos to photos taken many weeks or months later. Over time it becomes easier to take these progress pictures. Getting into the habit of taking photos regularly also works EXTREMELY well for people in the midst of contest prep. I require my contest prep clients to take weekly progress pictures, which reveal subtle changes week by week and provide information which I can use in order to make changes in a prep plan. To this day I still take weekly progress pictures myself because I know the ritual keeps me on track with my goals.
In summary, there are two things you can do to visualize your goal:
1. FIND AN IMAGE OF THE BODY YOU WANT AND POST IT IN A PROMINENT PLACE.
2. TAKE WEEKLY PROGRESS PICTURES OF YOURSELF.
Visualize and make your goal materialize!
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What To Bring To Your First National Show Besides Your Physique
Originally published on mensphysique.com on Monday, 07 May 2012
So you competed in a national qualifier and got your qualification…fantastic! But now you may be wondering how to prepare for a national level show, what to pack, and generally what to expect at the national level. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen competitors who are newbies to the national circuit and have that deer in headlights look. They are completely stunned by the magnitude of a national show and intimidated by all the other nationally-qualified athletes who, for the most part, look amazing. Quite frequently these new competitors have no idea what to pack for a show outside of their local region and end up scurrying all over the place trying to procure the items they neglected to pack.
In light of this, here is a list of essential items to pack for a national level NPC/IFBB show, along with explanations. If you go to a national show fully prepared, you won’t have to deal with the stress of having forgotten something.
Board shorts (at LEAST two pairs, in case something happens to your main pair)
Dark towel (you don’t want to get tanning solution on the hotel towels because the hotel will charge you to replace them!)
Dark t-shirts (these make great pillowcases at the hotel)
Umbrella (you never know if it might rain)
Close-toed shoes
Flip-flops
Driver’s license or other ID
Cash for incidentals, cab fare
Basic toiletry items (toothbrush and toothpaste, moisturizer, hair gel, deodorant, razor)
A good skin scrub – sugar scrubs are much gentler on the skin than salt scrubs. Make sure the container is leak-proof and place in a Ziploc bag for extra security. If this is being packed in a carry-on bag, make sure the container is 3 ounces or less.
Touch up foundation or bronzer for your face to match up with airbrush color on body
Baggy pants with NO elastic at waistband
Loose brushed cotton or flannel button-down long-sleeved shirt
Socks (your tanned feet will stain the sheets!)
Underwear
Enough changes of casual clothes for the time that you will be at location
Nice outfit in case you feel inclined to go out to celebrate after finals
Diuretic (if your coach advises it)
Food – make sure to pack extra food. You can freeze your food then pop it in the microwave as you need it.
Supplements
Safety pins
Moist wipes – travel pack size
If you map out your packing strategy you should be able to remember to pack all the essentials.
Competing On A Budget
Originally published on RxGirl.com on Sunday, 14 October 2012. The original post was published with white text on white background, so the only way to read it on the site is to highlight the text. To make things easier for everyone, I have copied and pasted the article here for you to read.
http://www.rxmuscle.com/rx-girl-articles/6778-competing-on-a-budget.html
Several weeks ago I calculated the total amount which has been spent by my sponsors and by me on all costs associated with the half dozen national qualifiers and the thirteen pro qualifiers I have competed in since 2009, and almost fell over in my chair. I am by no means blessed with disposable income so I can honestly say that my drive to compete has required a tremendous amount of financial and personal sacrifice. However, I realize that many of you prefer to keep expenses to an absolute minimum, so I offer a number of suggestions on how to meet the financial demands of competing without putting undue strain on your wallet.
1. Set a specific competition budget and stick to it. I have a separate “show fund” in which I set aside money for competitions and am well aware of what I can and cannot afford. I know competitors (and I admit I have foolishly pushed myself to the limit in the past) who have paid a show entry fee then later came to the realization that they could not afford the other expenses for the event and had to back out of it. Once a budget is set, it is important to limit oneself to the number of competitions which will keep one within budget. This can be challenging, especially when one is on a mad quest to chase a national qualification or pro status.
2. Look for a sponsor. I have had competitors ask me how to obtain sponsorship and who also lament the fact that it is exceedingly difficult to land sponsorship from a supplement company. My response to this is that sponsors can come in all forms! Here are some suggestions for potential sponsors:
Fans
Friends and family
Business associates
Fitness clothing companies
Smaller supplement companies
The trick to asking for sponsorship is to graciously ask for assistance in paying for an event. Remember that even a small amount will help. I have competed at events which have been sponsored by a number of entities, with the tan covered by one, entry fee covered by another, flight by yet another, etc.
3. Stick to nearby contests. It makes sense to compete within your geographic area if you are trying to keep costs down. If you are competing at local and regional events, make sure these events are within reasonable driving distance from where you live. National-level events are much trickier since they are fewer in number and take place in very specific areas. If your budget allows it, you may consider competing at pro-qualifiers provided 1) your budget allows it, and 2) you limit the number of pro-qualifying events you enter.
4. Stay with friends. If you are considering competing at an event which is far from where you live, consider asking friends or family who live near the venue if it is possible to stay with them.
5. Purchase a used competition suit. Many competitors will retire gently used suits and put them up for sale. This is a great way to get a suit without breaking the bank. Keep in mind that you should determine whether your body is similar to the competitor who has worn the suit, as this will greatly affect how the suit fits YOU.
6. Bling out your own suit. A competition suit encrusted with crystals can range from several hundred to thousands of dollars and can really kill a competition budget! A great option is to purchase a plain suit then purchase crystals, beads or sequins from wholesale supplier online, then apply the embellishments yourself. Please refer to my article on How To Bling Out Your Own Suit for more details on how to do this. By choosing this option you will save a considerable amount of money. In addition, you can customize your design, making your suit truly one-of-a-kind.
7. Do your own makeup. Out of the eighteen competitions I have been in, I only had my makeup professionally done four times, and that was in 2009 and 2010. Since then, I learned how to apply makeup for the stage and as a result, have saved a significant amount of money. Please refer to my article, Perfect Stage Makeup for pointers. Also make sure to PRACTICE a couple of times before the contest so that you don’t wind up with a disaster on the big day. There are plenty of great tutorial videos on YouTube which will walk you step-by-step through makeup application for a smoky eye.
8. Do your own hair backstage. Generally speaking, you really don’t need to get too fancy with your hairstyle. For figure and bikini, either flatironing for a sleek look or adding big, soft curls will look nice onstage. Fitness, women’s physique and women’s bodybuilding may necessitate putting some hair up if you have hair that is long enough to get in the way of your routine. Make sure to use either smoothing serum for flatironed styles or hairspray for curls so that things stay in place. However, do NOT make your hair so stiff that you cannot gracefully move it off your back during your back pose.
9. Apply tanning solution yourself. This is a tough one, since I always have my tan done professionally. However, if you are truly on a tight budget, it is certainly possible to apply tanner yourself. The only limitation will be when you need to tan your back. There is a tool which you can purchase called Xen-Tan Hard To Reach Back Applicator which does a decent job of evenly depositing self-tanner on hard to reach areas if you aren’t able to find someone to help you apply your tanner. This clever device is available at a number of sites, including Neiman Marcus, Zappos, 6 PM, Amazon and Ulta. I merely chose the Ulta site because that is where I purchased mine.
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2242675&;productId=xlsImpprod4141877&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat90022
Make sure to apply a thin, even layer and allow to dry before applying the next layer. The number of layers you will apply will depend on your base skin tone and the brand of solution you decide to use, but you should plan on applying two to five coats of color.
As for the solutions which I consider the best for stage, I love Jan Tana High Definition Color and Liquid Sunrayz. Bronze Angel by Dream Tan is also great. Some people love Pro Tan so this brand may also work well for you. However, I personally cannot use this product as it fades immediately on me, hence my hesitation with this particular brand.
I hope these tips will enable you to compete at the shows you have your eye on! Best of luck!
To The New Model On The Block
Originally published on mensphysique.com on Monday, 02 April 2012
Modeling for the first time can be a bit daunting, especially during fitness shoots in which your physique is being prominently displayed. However, there are some guidelines and tricks to make the experience a pleasant one and one in which you can maximize the chances of producing strong images. The single-most important thing is to follow the photographer’s lead with posing, since prominent fitness photographers have developed considerable skill in posing the human body in the most flattering manner possible. This doesn’t mean that your work isn’t cut out for you, but the following posing tips will become easier over time as you are asked to do more shoots. It’s actually a good idea to practice modeling poses in front of a mirror so that you can more clearly assess how your body looks in certain poses.
Generally speaking, a wide leg stance displays your muscularity in the best fashion since it makes your waist appear smaller and enhances the bulk of your quads. Make sure to stagger feet so one foot is a few inches more forward than the other. You will shift your weight onto this foot and flex your quads while bending knees slightly. To make your upper body look as wide as possible, widen your shoulders and keep your back straight in order to enhance your v-taper.
Once your pose is established, you will flex muscle groups one at a time, such as quads, then delts, then pecs, then arms and finally abs. Get used to holding a pose! You may need to hold a pose while fully flexed for a couple of minutes. Which brings me to facial expression…quite often you will be asked to relax your face and flash a genuine smile which belies all the tension you are employing in your muscles, which can definitely be tricky. Your face needs to be a calm and happy sea, while the rest of your body is a raging storm of muscle contraction. This may take longer for some men to learn than others, and those men may keep praying for those shoots in which their facial expression needs to be intense, grimacing and full of power. Successful fitness models have mastered this trick and know that is essential in order to land certain covers and ad campaigns.
Above all else, have fun with the shoot, ask for a short break if you are tiring out too quickly, and maintain a positive and pleasant attitude.
Selecting Board Shorts For The Stage
Originally published on mensphysique.com on Sunday, 16 October 2011. The text on the original post is all messed up, but I have repaired it here.
Many men aren’t exactly gifted with the ability to determine swhat looks best on them, especially when selecting board shorts to wear up on stage with glaring lights assaulting them from every angle. Here are a few tips to selecting a great pair for your competition.
1.Make sure to pay attention to proper fit. The shorts should hit low enough in the waistline to flatter your lat spread and make your waist appear nice and tapered. The shorts should also make your rear end look nice and lifted without any excess material creating a sagging or diaper effect. Make sure you don’t go too tight though! The shorts should not ride up your crotch or make the shape of your bait and tackle highly visible! Make sure the rise in the front lies flat and does not bunch up across your lower abdomen. Also make sure the rise isn’t so low that the shorts look like they are about to fall off.
2.Blues, greens, reds and orange tones tend to look nice on stage. Avoid khaki, brown, and dull gray as they tend to look very drab under stage lights. Be careful with white as it can become severely discolored by the spray tan solution.
3.Prints are okay, but don’t go too busy! You can select shorts which have a color blocking on them, or which have a print on them, but don’t go for a very wild pattern. You want the judges to look at your physique, not at the distracting graffiti print splashed across your shorts!
4.Try to find a pair that is distinctive so that you don’t end up wearing the same board shorts as another. In fact, it is always a good idea to have an extra pair on hand at a show in case this occurs.
Sexy Couple Shot By George Kontaxis
This is Ian Lauer and me in Malibu from a couple of years ago, shot by the amazing George Kontaxis. I think you can tell that Ian and I were very much a couple then, but we are now just very good friends. He remains one of the most important and special people in my life and I am blessed to know him.
Picture Perfect With The Ladies: How To Model With A Female
Originally published on Tuesday, 29 November 2011
You may have modeled alone numerous times and are comfortable with your poses. This may lead you to think that posing with a woman is no different. However, there are numerous points to keep in mind any time you are at a shoot in which you are expected to pose with a lady.
First of all, don’t allow nerves to distract you from performing as expected. What helps tremendously with getting over any nervousness is to chat with the woman before the shoot in order to establish a comfort level. You don’t have to discuss anything in particular, but at least get an idea of her personality.
Be aware of the goal of the shoot. If the goal is to shoot a cover or an ad, you will most likely be the center of focus since many covers showcase the man while using the woman as a type of accessory. Fitness photographers are typically excellent at posing their models, which means you need to be able to follow direction without offering commentary on the poses you are being asked to do. If the photographer tells you to open your shoulders, or turn your head slightly more to the right, then just do it. Sometimes these microadjustments may be challenging since you have to hold a pose while also flexing and looking like you are having the time of your life. But all these elements are key in conveying the proper energy and mood through the images.
Move slowly between each pose and give the lady time to adjust as well. Remember that she needs to be in the proper pose as well. If you are asked to touch each other, perhaps with your hand around her waist and her hands on your chest or shoulder, be respectful of her. That being said, make sure that when you are both in a pose in which you are touching, you both look like you actually like each other, even if you can’t stand each other. Your poses and your facial expressions need to be genuine and believable.
Remember to carry yourself in a professional manner during the shoot. It doesn’t matter if you have the hots for your modeling partner remain a professional. If you must, you can ask for a date WELL after the shoot is over!
Why You Should Build A Show Strategy
Orignally published on mensphysique.com on Saturday, 01 October 2011
Perhaps you have already competed in risk-bookshelf-board-game-2one or more shows, or you are thinking of entering your first competition in men’s physique. The last thing you should do is enter a show with no forethought as to which shows might be better for you than others. If you want to get your feet wet, you may want to avoid the bigger shows right out of the gate because they can be intimidating and downright discouraging.
If you are selecting your first show, choose one that is local to you, a national qualifier, and one that is scheduled far enough out so that you have enough time to prep. I have seen many male and female competitors jump into a show at the last minute with little to no prep. If you are a seasoned competitor who always looks show ready, that’s one thing, but if you are not yet stage-worthy, you could damage your chances of placing high at future shows in the same region.
Remember that there are countless shows all over the United States throughout the year, so don’t rush into it. Plan things out and take your time. If you get a national qualification, great! But don’t rush onto that national stage just yet. The national circuit is quite different from the local and regional ones, and you could end up being a very small fish in a huge pond. This can be quite deflating, especially if you have done well at the local level. Keep in mind that the national shows gather the best of the best from all over the country (and Canada and Mexico for the North American), so don’t be surprised if your jaw drops when you see the caliber of competitors at national events.
While NPC USA and NPC Nationals are outstanding shows, they are huge shows and perhaps not the best ones to select for your national debut. If possible, ease into one of the other events. If you are in the south, consider Jr. USA. If you are near Chicago, consider Jr. Nationals. East coast residents could target Team Universe, while Canadian and Mexican citizens will have IFBB North American as their only national option.
Whichever competitions you select, make sure you bring your best physique possible onto that stage, and above all else, have fun up there!
Dry Skin Is Not Sexy
Originally published on mensphysique.com on Wednesday, 07 September 2011
There is nothing sexier than a man with a chiseled physique whose skin is like polished wood, healthy, smooth, and even. Yet I see so many male competitors who don’t seem to care about the appearance of their skin, and who sport an epidermis which looks and feels like a piece of driftwood.
Healthy skin that glows looks amazing onstage, takes spray tanner better, and reflects the optimal diet which competitors should be practicing. So how does one get such healthy skin?
There are general guidelines which should be followed:
Avoid long hot showers
Moisturize regularly, preferably right after you shower
Wear sunblock regularly
Increase water intake
Consume healthy fats with omega-3 fatty acids
Exfoliate with scrubs, washcloths or loofahs
Since skin is the largest organ system, and also since it reflects a person’s overall health, it is imperative to take the above steps to ensure that your skin will look its best.
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