“The passion I have about fitness is causing my dreams to line up…and one day VERY SOON, I will be a top competitor.”

Burlington, North Carolina resident Andrea White does not mince words. She has her sights set and her mind made up, so who are we to doubt her? Since her younger days, perfection has been something she has demanded from herself. “Whether it be track and field or cross country, finishing on top of my event was the only way I felt like a winner, so that was the ranking place that I strived for.”

Utilizing many different activities to get her body in the condition she wanted, White even studied dance in order to tone her overall figure. But nothing gave her more of a thrill than being able to squeeze out extra reps in the gym. “I’ve often found myself the only woman at the pull-up bar or jumping in on a set to squat with the ‘big boys,’” she said proudly.

It was at a community recreation center where White reached out to the weight room coach and asked him about fitness competitions. “I was so pumped up with the information that he was giving me that I worked extra hard in the gym to further push myself.” White did not personally know anyone who entered these type of competitions so she did her own research by reading magazines and going online.

While she was doing the background work, White – who now trains at The Rush – was asked to assist at the rec center’s boot camp, which led her to start her own outdoor fitness program entitled “Just Do It for Christ Athletics.” She was able to feel the satisfaction when she and her athletes entered a 10K Road Race and were able to bring home trophies.

This is something that she hopes becomes common in her life as she prepares for her first competition. White does not have a trainer and is self-taught, and that will make the success even sweeter tasting. “I’ve learned through dedication and consistency that you can get started and make it through just about any journey,” she commented, “but to go that extra mile, it has to be in your heart.”

From the humble beginnings with the idea of just staying fit morphed into inspiring others to get in shape and now the possibilities are endless. “My dreams of reaching the stage in the best shape of my life are moments away,” said White.

And we’ll all be there to watch when she does.

‘This is Your Magazine’ is merely one of the reasons why MuscleSport Mag is far and wide better than any other publication out there. What other media outlet features the up and coming athlete, the same as if he or she was a professional in their industry? This is the place to get your face and story out there, and who knows what opportunities may arise from that type of exposure?

Then there is that second tier, the type of bodybuilder who may sneak into the top six in Ohio or Las Vegas and fair better at the next level of shows, such as the New York Pro, Europa Super Show or Iron Man Pro. Silvio Samuel is a perfect example of this.

In 2009, he won the Iron Man in January then placed fifth at the Arnold. At the O, he fell all the way to 13th place. When the competitor list for the 2010 Arnold Classic was released recently, Samuel’s name appeared on it as usual. But in a report that was just posted on Flex Online, El Matador has pulled out.

“I will take a break to put on the size I need to put on,” Samuel said in the Flex article. “I wanted to do the Arnold Classic, but after more thought I do not believe that competing so soon after the Olympia  is in my best interest. In order to make the impact I want to make, I want to make some improvements this year.”

Silvio plans on waiting until July to compete in the Tampa Pro, a show that he will need to do well at just to qualify for the Olympia, which he intends to enter.

Realistically, it may be a good strategy because multiple shows every year is a difficult task for any bodybuilder. If Samuel can bulk up a little as he hopes to do, he can jump up multiple spots in the Olympia. With the line-up set for Ohio, Samuel was probably not going to do much damage there anyway.

At this point in his career, Samuel winning the Arnold or O would be considered a huge upset. Him bowing out will not change the serious competition that expects to take place in Columbus three months from now.

At the recent FAME International Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a familiar sight took place as every competitor was introduced one by one and brought on stage at the commencement of the show. It definitely gave it the feel of a Broadway production and immediately livened up the crowd before their seats even were warm.

These athletes may not be as well known as Jay Cutler or Iris Kyle, but by individualizing them before they did their own routine put a name to the face. It gave the audience a closeness and almost family-like relationship with these men and women. A unique trait, to say the least.

By promoting natural bodybuilding and the BodyProud lifestyle, these athletes also gave the audience hope and a more realistic goal for themselves if they so choose. These physiques, while very impressive, are attainable if one dedicates his or herself to the right diet, exercise program and rest. The proof was right up there on stage under the lights.

Before the awards were given, all of the athletes were again called on stage to be given participation certificates. For many, that was as good as winning their category. A good number of them were competing for the very first time and when they first made that life-changing decision being in a show was a long-range goal. That in itself says a lot.

The top three in every category took home souvenir swords and this was another unique trait in FAME. A medal, crystal or statue is common but how many times have you seen a full-length Samuari sword and sheath being posed with at a bodybuilding contest?

Everyone was a winner at the War Memorial on November 7 – the competitors and audience alike. If you have never attended a FAME event, words cannot do it justice. You need to witness it for yourself.

A chance meeting with George Farah in March has made an impact on the 6’1″, 245-pound Steiger. Competing in his first show at the NPC Mr. Buffalo promoted by Joe Lazzaro, Steiger took home an armful of trophies, including the Heavyweight Novice, Overall Novice, Open heavyweight and Overall.

IFBB pro Farah, who recovered from three gunshot wounds during a 1997 attempted robbery, was the guest poser at the show. The two met and ran into each other at the Pittsburgh Pro, where Farah placed fifth in the 202 division. “He told me that he wanted to make me a pro,” remembered Steiger. “His words were, ‘I promise.’”

In addition to being a competitive bodybuilder, Farah is a respected writer and guru within the industry and – lucky enough for Steiger – just happens to reside near him in Rochester, New York. The two made arrangements to begin working together in 2010.

In June, Steiger needed to make more room on his shelf after dominating at the Rochester Bodybuilding Championships, a national qualifier. He won the Super Heavyweight Open, Most Muscular and Overall.

Steiger has intentions on competing in the USAs or Nationals next year and figures that with the help of Farah, the sky’s the limit. “George has really taught me what it takes to do this the right and healthy way and people may be shocked that proper diet has everything to do with it but that is the true secret,” he said.

Keeping good company all around, Steiger’s girlfriend Amie Francisco won the NGA figure competition at the Rochester contest.

If Farah’s promise comes true, the Steiger Realty (www.steigerrealty.com) will have one less person on the payroll.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag entitled, “This is Your Magazine,” where we profile the up-and-coming and everyday athlete. If you would like to see yourself profiled here, please send your story and photo to joe@musclesportmag.com.

On Tuesday July 14, we will be joined by NPC competitor Taylor Boyd. The 300-pound behemoth from New Jersey is well known for his showmanship on the stage, with make-up and props that are a prelude to his posing routine.

MuscleSport Radio can be heard live every Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Eastern time onwww.blogtalkradio.com and all episodes are archived on Blog Talk Radio, MuscleSport Mag and iTunes.

Please feel free to join us and give us your opinion, ask a question or make a comment. Our call-in number is 347-884-8157.

UPCOMING GUESTS

July 21 – IFBB Figure Pro & Lingerie Football League player Heather Mae French

The King needs no introduction and the eight-time Mr. Olympia champion has made overtures towards returning to the stage this September in Las Vegas. We will be sure to get into the details concerning this incredible news.

His official website is www.bigroncoleman.com.

MuscleSport Radio can be heard live every Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Eastern time onwww.blogtalkradio.com and all episodes are archived on Blog Talk Radio, MuscleSport Mag and iTunes.

Please feel free to join us and give us your opinion, ask a question or make a comment. Our call-in number is 347-884-8157.

UPCOMING GUESTS

Taylor Boyd looks like a mixture between a heel professional wrestler and the guy chasing teenagers through the woods in a slasher movie. The 6’3″, 300-pound New Jersey native put on a show with make-up and costume props. The NPC competitor has three contest wins so far in his young career, the last being the 2008 NPC New Jersey Suburban in the super heavyweight division.

It came as no surprise when Boyd said that his favorite body part to train were his 31-inch legs. “During them (leg workouts), you get so much overall muscle growth it’s incredible,” he said on his official website, www.taylorboyd.net. The mass monster further stated that he doesn’t change things up too much when it comes time to get ready for a show.

“My training style is heavy compound movements for offseason and contest prep.”

He does drop down to approximately 260 pounds for a competition, still nothing to sneeze at. In an era of bodybuilding where freaky size is the ‘in’ thing, Boyd fits the bill and surely made an impression in Pennsylvania last summer.

This is part of an exclusive series by MuscleSport Mag on the 2009 NPC Bill Grant Classic, for which we are one of the show’s official sponsors. The show will take place on Saturday July 18 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The last date for competitors to file is April 13 and so far, George Farrah, Andy Haman, Jonathan Rowe, Nathan Worlsey (USA), Francisco Bautista, Raul Carrasco (Spain) and Darrem Charles (Trinidad) are the seven who are definitely in. Charles, who finished 11th at the 2008 Mr. Olympia, has to be looked at as the early favorite. 

There will be Fitness and Figure competitions, but women’s bodybuilding is not scheduled for the weekend.

Dave Palumbo is one of the most highly respected athletes in the bodybuilding world. His approach to training and diet has taken up so much space on Internet forums over the years that, if it were to be transferred to print we would no doubt have more volumes than Encyclopedia Britannica! The reason for all the interest is no mystery…his principles work! The number of athletes he has coached to success over the years proves this beyond a doubt. Plus, you cannot overlook the fact that he took himself from a 140lb track and cross-country runner in 1986 to a 268lb heavyweight competitor at the 1996 NPC Nationals in Dallas, Texas (where he placed a very respectable 4^th). Eleven years later his weight reached a massive 300lbs whilst still maintaining superb condition. It is clear that, when it comes to diet and training Dave is a master of the craft and now, thanks to the power of the DVD, you can have this ‘Merlin of Muscledom’ in your own living room, courtesy of the newly released….

DAVE PALUMBO’S HARD CORE NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENT SEMINAR

In this DVD you will experience the equivalent of a one-on-one consultation with the man himself as Dave goes into detail about his approach to diet and supplementation. Some of the analogies he delivers during this highly entertaining seminar illustrate his theories in a manner that not only makes perfect sense but also hammer the point home in a way that makes you think twice about doing some of the things that have held back your progress over the years. For example, training on an empty stomach (we have all done it, and a lot of us still do!) and following the traditional low fat diet road to weight loss. I won’t spoil the surprise or steal some of the glow from your ‘light-bulb’ moment when you hear what Dave has to say here but let’s just say you will be unlikely to make those mistakes again once you have seen this DVD!

The great thing about DVD’s like this is the fact that they provide global access to important information, giving bodybuilders the opportunity of a seminar with one of the sports masters regardless of their location.

This DVD has been highly anticipated by Dave’s legions of followers and there is no doubt it is destined to become as important an item to the bodybuilder of today as Arnold’s ‘Education of a Bodybuilder’ was back in the day when books were the only way to present information.

Now, talking of books, one item that has achieved a somewhat cult status in the bodybuilding world is…

DAVE PALUMBO’S PERFECT PRISON PHYSIQUE

Written back in 2006, this book is not just relevant to anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in prison, the key principles, thoughts and training techniques are valuable to anyone who calls themselves a bodybuilder. Here you will find chapters on basic nutrition, exercise selection and performance, training cycles, questions & answers and contest preparation. You will also find outlines of diets and supplement advice.

The unique thing about this book is the fact that it is, in essence, tailored to fit the needs of an athlete functioning with restricted resources. The restriction in this case may be related to prison confinement, however it is just as relevant to anyone who trains with limited equipment and a tight budget when it comes to purchasing food and supplements. It is also extremely relevant to the person who is always making excuses for why they can’t train or why they can’t make significant progress due to lack of resources.

‘Perfect Prison Physique’ functions as a great guide to bodybuilding for those wishing to take up the sport. Even as motivational tool this book is a worthwhile addition to your bodybuilding library. It is also quick and easy to read…leaving you plenty time to start working out once it has fired up your motivation!

DAVE PALUMBO…THE FUTURE

Getting back to our subject, Dave Palumbo, along with being in constant demand for private coaching and nutritional advice, Dave has just recently set up his own mega -site for bodybuilders www.rxmuscle.com which will also be the breeding ground for many spin-off multi media projects. In addition to this, Dave’s supplement company SPECIES NUTRITION (which her runs with his fiancé, fellow bodybuilder Colette Nelson) has become one of the fastest growing nutrition companies in recent years. Yes, it is fair to say that life is busy for Mr. Palumbo; what’s more it doesn’t take a mystic to predict that it is about to get a whole lot busier in the years that lie ahead!

N.B. To purchase Dave’s DVD and/or ‘Perfect Prison Physique’ book go to www.davepalumbo.com. You can also check out some of the best supplements available to bodybuilders today at www.speciesnutrition.com

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’

She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com.

Unlike the Mr. Olympia (as seen in the photo), where the prejudging takes place the day before the Finals, the line-up at the Arnold can either take advantage of that or have it go against them, depending on how they come in. They will not have to be concerned with keeping that tightness if they have it, but also do not have the time in between presentations to make up for any weaknesses or bloating. 

Because the posing routines have not been as original and, for lack of a better word, important as in the past, that is the main reason why the prejudging has taken on even more importance. One competitor who can and will make up points during his posing routine is Kai Greene, who has brought an unorthodox but very entertaining style to the stage.