“Basically, I love your message.”

That one line could have been enough for us to welcome fitness model Heather Leff into the MuscleSport Mag family, but we were sold the minute our eyes fell on the pictures she included in her initial e-mail to us.

That message was just the beginning of what has now become a working relationship, with the addition of Leff as one of our staff writers. Starting with the Summer 2011 edition of our online magazine, the 34-year-old Malvern, Pennsylvania native will be the head writer covering women’s bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini. But first things first.

Upon discovering our website and the “This Is Your Magazine” section, Leff knew that she was a good fit. “Why not reach out to the ones that truly represent what I’m about?” she asked no one in particular. “And once I saw your site, I knew that you were one of those companies.”

Although she began working out at the age of 16, Leff considers her ‘training’ to have commenced in her mid-20s. But she was far from your average young lady in the gym. “At first I bought into the light weight/high rep philosophy,” she recalled. “Then it clicked that the only way I’d see my muscles grow was to switch up my game and move heavier weight.”

Waking up at 5:00 AM six days a week to train is hardly an inconvenience for Leff. As a matter of fact, she treats it as if it were a second job. “Just saying I’ve made the gym a lifestyle isn’t an option,” she says rather convincingly. “I walk the walk.” She treats her diet the same way and quipped, “That’s all part of the deal. Can’t walk that walk without both feet in.”

Personal tragedy plays a part in Leff’s commitment to being healthy and fit. In 2008, she sadly lost an older brother to addiction and confided, “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him and the choices he made. That’s my motivation for only turning to positive things that make me feel good and are good for me.”

Asked when she knew that she had something special going, Leff told us, “I knew when I was voted into second place in this year’s Bodybuilding.com BodySpace spokesmodel semifinals. The response was overwhelming and it gave me the drive to make an impact.”

Leff has made such drastic gains that many people just assumed that she was a competitor, which she finds hard to believe. “Coming from the mindset where you never think you’re ‘enough’ is a difficult self-perception to shatter,” she said regarding her decision to wait until the time is right to enter her first show. “When I really think about it, I know I could do it. Part of my charm is being an overachieving perfectionist. So we’ll see what the future has in store.”

The one thing that we do know about the future is that MuscleSport Mag is a better product with Leff now on board.

Be sure to check out Heather Leff’s interview with Fit Over Fat.com:

http://www.fitoverfat.com/heather-leff-interview/

http://www.fitoverfat.com/wp-content/uploads/heatherworkout.pdf

Her Bodybuilding.com BodySpace page:

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/zephyr893/

Her interview on Cut and Jacked.com:

http://www.cutandjacked.com/interview-with-HeatherLeff

And follow her on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/hleffer

‘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?

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

Known as ‘Zap,’ Holitt was one of the more popular Gladiators over the six years she was a member of the cast. She also was the host of the Radiant Pro Women’s Strength Show.

Be sure to visit her official website, www.rayehollitt.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

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

Hidetada Yamagishi was the runner-up and many people felt that he should have won the show. The two other popular names, Darrem Charles and Sergey Shelestov, finished third and fourth, respectively.

In the fitness competition, Shannon Meteraud finished in first place for the second time in two weeks after also winning the New York Metropolitan on April 11. After placing in the top six at the Ms. International (Arnold Classic), she has continued to impress with her performance and appearance. 

The placings after that were a bit on the puzzling side if you go by what happened in New York City recently. In Orlando, Myriam Capes took second after finishing fifth at the New York Metro, and Tina Durkin fell two spots from third to fifth. Mindi O’Brien, who did not participate in Manhattan, made the top three at the Europa. Erin Riley actually moved up from sixth to fourth against a stronger field of competitors.

Nicole Wilkins Lee won the figure, with Heather Mae French and Monica Brant-Peckham following. Lee did well for herself after placing eighth in Ohio, as did French (seventh) and Brant (sixth) from back in March. The figure was, perhaps, the only predictable top three throughout the whole weekend in Florida.

In the women’s bodybuilding, the crowd did not agree with the judges decision as far as some of the placng in the top six went. It was hard to argue with Kyle gaining the win, but both Heather Ambrust (fourth) and Dayana Cadeau (fifth) received what could only be described as surprised reactions from the fans when their names were called. 

It was hard to tell the difference between Hendershott’s routine and when her name was called as the winner. The energetic blonde, who also won the competition in 2005, reacted so emphatically and was definitely a fan favorite. 

Originally from Lithuania but now a resident of Hicksville, New York, Raudioniene was stunningly beautiful and made an improvement from her third place finish at the 2008 Figure Olympia.

Dena Westerfield, who was our guest this past week on MuscleSport Radio, finished in ninth place in the Ms. International. She looked smooth during her posing routine in her first foray in Columbus, and a top 10 placing is quite an accomplishment.