Recently I started the process of seeking out
of a landscape architecture company to design my new backyard. I put messages out to three different companies requesting information and bids for the job on a Monday. Within just two days, three out of the four companies responded with their details, qualifications, and estimates. Still waiting on the fourth company. So, pop quiz; which company is not going to get this job?
Now allow me to reframe this into the modeling world. A company (let’s say a magazine) needs to get a job done and they reach out to service providers to get this done (photographers, makeup artists, stylists and modeling talent). The magazine is on a routine deadline and really wants to hire you to be their cover model. So they send you an e-mail, but after a day or two, they don’t hear back. So the editor then sends a follow up e-mail (if you’re lucky). Maybe they give you a call or shoot you a quick text (if you are really lucky). Perhaps they even then shoot you a follow up message on Facebook (if you are really extremely lucky). And after all that, they still don’t hear back. Pop quiz again; which model is not going to get the job?..
I have a secret weight loss tip to lose 13lbs per year without dieting, .jpg)
lifting weights, or cardio!! It’s ice water. I know what you’re thinking…here goes Tim talking about the importance of water again. Let me explain the secret. Our bodies must heat up water to our body temperature. To do this we expend calories. It takes about 8000 calories to heat up 8oz glass of water to our body temperature. Now before you get excited and stop working out let me tell you these are “little calories”. The calories we are use to counting are kilocalories. There are 1000 calories in a kilocalorie. So to heat up one 8oz glass of ice cold water it takes 8 calories. So how does this equal 13lbs. Here’s the breakdown:
8oz glass = 8 calories...
I have always been an athlete and that competitive itch to compete never really leaves you. I love the sport of bodybuilding but I am happy about the addition of the Men’s Physique Division because I never really had a desire to be a mass monster in bodybuilding, which seems to be the direction the sport is headed to more and more. I have always liked the aesthetic portion of physique competition more, and that’s why men’s physique is so great. Guys who maintain great shape all year round have an outlet to showcase our physiques and compete.
I'll be the first one to admit...as a fitness competitor
the same old foods just don't fly ALL the time. Now, don't get me wrong, I do like what I eat every day even though 99% of the time it's the same stuff over in over again, just slightly tweaked a bit here and there. Breakfast can be one of the most repetitive meals for me especially, reverting to the classic eggs and oatmeal, only putting hot sauce or sugar free ketchup on my eggs and cinnamon and maybe a small number of blueberries on my oatmeal. This does get pretty darn boring day in and day out...and sometimes it leaves me craving something like pancakes, but HEALTHY pancakes. So, therefore I leave you one of my favorite recipes that you can really play with to suit your favorite taste/flavor...
So here I am 10 days out. This is a point in my 
prep where I’m glad to have a coach to help keep my head on straight. What I mean by that is you can start second guessing yourself. Am I leaning out too fast? Am I not lean enough?? Then you decide to make changes which can be detrimental to your success on show day. I always recommend having a second look!
Life has to come first before competing in most cases, which can also be a major challenge during your prep. For example, I am in the 6th year of my career, and my current month-to-date production is double that of any month prior! This is a great accomplishment, but has meant longer work hours, later nights and earlier mornings. With that being said, this has been and will continue to be the most challenging contest prep for me as well!
Having just returned from The Warrior Classic, an amazing
NPC Competition in Loveland, CO this past weekend I still can’t get That Smile off of my Face and out of my Heart! That Smile that is Unmistakable, That Smile that comes from Deep Inside, That Smile that is Real, That Smile that Changes Lives…
The reason I have That Smile is simple; because I witnessed first hand an entire Team of Athletes with That Smile! I am very fortunate and honored to say that I Coached 13 Competitors on Team 970Muscle who competed in 23 Classes in a large competition with 170 Competitors! You see… That Smile is contagious! Having been alongside with each Competitor throughout their journey made it all that much more special to see them with That Smile on their faces! You know, That Smile when you achieve something that you never thought you were capable of!
When I Coach a Competitor for a Competition, I have 3 Major Goals...
Shaving is the cheapest hair removal method, especially for more
hirsute individuals who want to don the stage with a minimal amount of body hair. Keep in mind, though, that this method can result in uncomfortable itchiness as the hair grows back. If this is something you feel you can handle, then let’s discuss the best approach to this method.
A good way to prep for a massive assault on body hair is to clip the hair either with a small pair of scissors or an electric clipper. Some men will often abandon shaving after completing this step, but others will carry through with removing the remainder with a razor. Once this is done, it is always best to hop in the shower and allow the water and steam to soften the hair and open up the hair follicles for easiest shaving...
Rankings following the Team U competition held in Teaneck, NJ. It was a small show but clearly not lacking talent since 4 of the top 20 ranked competitors earned their pro cards this weekend.
Fitness models beware of the random guys with cameras. 
Men’s Physique is going to breed a whole new crop of young unaware talent for these creeps to prey on. I don’t think they will be devoured but certainly will be much easier to be taken advantage of as the new guys look to get noticed and are all too trusting.
They will approach you at a show and say, “Can I snap some photos of you.” So you think to your self: more exposure and pictures, right on. WHAT!!! You didn’t even ask their credentials. Check out this guys business card. If the guy doesn’t have one, don’t let him shoot you. If it looks like he purchased a bulk pack of business cards at staples and did his printing on the computer. Don’t let him shoot you! A business card should be a reflection of who he is and what he represents with his creative lens. Now the scenario gets worse. He already has some candid’s of you at the show and now he says “let’s go out back of the show and snap some real photos for you.” (That just sounds weird, kind of like hey little kid want some candy)
Is a sponsorship really a benefit for you? It seems like every time you turn around the corner someone is begging to be sponsored. The idea sounds great, free supplements, trips to all the expos, cash money, and fame. Is it really that way though? Many sponsored athletes have to work their ass off, stay conditioned year round, and give up weekends and other free time while working a full time job. Many times these athletes are working for free supplements at best and get very little publicity. I know what you’re thinking….free supplements are awesome. Sure free supplements are awesome, but the time invested in the working for the company supplying the free supplements is taking away from your free time. What if you had to work 6 weekends a year and promote a company daily to get $500 a month in supplements. So you’re getting $6000 in supplements. That’s a lot, but half the stuff you probably don’t want to take or don’t need. Now what if you took the 6 weekends, travel time, and your daily commitment and invested that time in building your own business. What would that do for your business, your own finances?
As a fitness model it is very important to fully prepare for a photo shoot. Proper preparation is just as important as all the exercise and diet steps you did to get in photo shape. Remember the photos will live forever and represent you. So you want them to be the best possible in every way.
A good EVEN tan is a key part of having great photos. There is nothing more frustrating for a photographer or client than to have a great model with a bad tan. For the purpose of photography a tan should not be as dark as a stage tan for competition. That is a stronger different type of lighting source. The comment that always make me nervous is when a model says “don’t worry I tan even naturally”. Unless you are like a chicken on a rotisserie it’s pretty tough to end up with a truly even tan.
Therefore the best two solutions are...
We are here with recent Tall Class 
MP winner at the USA’s Nick Garton. Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
Thank you! I love nothing more than a new challenge and I relished the opportunity to train with the goal to compete like I had when I was playing football in college. There are so many ex-athletes like me out there that have never lost the passion for competition and still workout and maintain a healthy physique and finally we have an outlet display our hard work...
When you really think about weight training,.JPG)
it all comes down to those last 2-3 reps. For most people that work out with weights they have 2 major goals in mind to increase their muscle size and strength. In order to achieve these goals you have to be willing to push your muscles further than they have gone before, in order to force them to grow and adapt to the demands you are placing on them. Sure there are lots of techniques to confuse the muscles and numerous different exercises to implement in order to work them from every possible angle, but in the end it still all comes down to those last 2-3 reps...
Here are the standings following the Jr Nationals in Chicago, IL. This I would have to say was probably the deepest show in every category that I’ve been to this season. Usually there are a good number of competitors who look like their trainers did them a disservice but not this time. Here are the standings following this show. Let the debates begin. LOL
1. Bobby Ashhurst 33
2. Kevin Perod 32
3. Jesse Lehman 30...
Each and every one of us has been bestowed
with the ultimate blessing; the power to make our own way, yet very few people will utilize this Gift to it’s full potential. So many will spend their time and energy becoming what others or society feels that they should be and to lose yourself is to waste what has been given to you!
I challenge you to look deep inside yourself and find that Dream that you have always wanted to make a reality!...
We are here with John Lee, winner of the Tall Class MP
Division at the Europa in Dallas this past weekend. Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
This division is a God-send for those of us who have a specific belief in the ideal male physique. I admire the bodies of pro bodybuilders but never pursued bodybuilding seriously. I wanted to retain my athleticism and continue practicing martial arts. I valued form and function and did not want my body to exceed a certain weight limit. When this division came to existence I was immediately drawn to it.
Can you tell us a little about the Competition you just competed in?
The Europa Super Show in Dallas TX is a combination of IFBB Pro Show and NPC Shows. It is probably the top 2 or 3 biggest competition in the country after the Olympia and the Arnold in terms of industry attendance and drawing power. In the Men's Physique division there were over 50 competitors split into 2 groups. In my class (Class B 5'10” and Over), there were over 20 competitors. Being backstage was an awe-inspiring experience because of the caliber of the competitors who showed up in TX this weekend.
How did you feel after pre-judging?..
I am 3 weeks out from my 6th contest 
of the year and personally the most important one. In 3 weeks I will be competing for IFBB Pro status in the new Men’s Physique division. This will be my final competition for the season and hoping to bring the best package to the stage in order to win and become a new pro in the division. Over the next few weeks I will be doing updates of progress with detailed information on my diet, training, and other helpful tips that I hope others can use to bring a great package to their next show as well!
My diet changes frequently but as of right now here is an example..:
If you’re looking for a great way to start 
the day while staying healthy, here you go! This shakes packs 480 nutritious calories. About 9 grams of healthy fats, 54 grams of carbs, and 47 grams of high quality protein. The protein includes 12 grams of a Tri-Sorb protein blend. It’s a unique blend of highly absorbable proteins. First is a non-GMO soy that has been processed to remove isoflavones that can impact estrogen. Soy is a complete protein, easily digested, and adequate consumption can help the body reduce cholesterol and c-reactive protein. Studies show that soy can build lean muscle as good, and in some studies better than whey proteins. We then use a whey concentrate, and the newest technology in whey hydrolysate. This is the most concentrated and 'clean' protein on the market today, and is very expensive. The key reason is it builds lean muscle. The FDA allows it to be called a 'fat loss accelerant' as a result the only protein that can use that claim....
Here is a great back routine I did this past week.
The focus is on the whole back. Remember to be slow and controlled through all of your movements for maximum results!
Perform 3 sets of 8-15 reps of each exercise. In your last set, the weight should be intense enough that you are struggling for your desired number. Mind over matter! For an advanced burnout, do a drop-set the 3rd set of each exercise...
For those who want to improve their overall muscular and aesthetic look, try performing movements that you are not used to performing. The act of recruiting new muscles that you aren't used to using will not only help improve performance, but it will develop certain muscles that you you're not used to seeing. This may be because you are only used to pressing, curling, and calf raises for your legs. Well, all that is fine and dandy, but what about the plantar flexion involved from grabbing the pavement on the balls of your feet and pulling as you stride. Think about all of the lower calf muscles like the soleus and the peroneals on the sides of the calf that activate during these movements. Or, perhaps, the classic run on Venice Beach after a night of eating those multi grains. The grabbing of the sand; the use of your arms to pull; the abdominal control: these are all things that one can experience when trying new forms of exercise.
I often am in the gym looking around, especially viewing things from a trainer's perspective...so many exercises for the core/midsection that people are doing TOTALLY wrong and can actually make the physique look worse. Here I am going to break down a few of the exercises that are commonly butchered at the gym, making me grimace and just shake my head in dissatisfaction.
In no specific order:
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