Progress NOT Perfection!
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- Created on Wednesday, 09 January 2013 23:30
- Written by Derek Trombetta, CPT & National Level MP Competitor
With
the onset of the New Year and so many people beginning their resolutions it is very important to talk about the idea of “perfection” that many of us hold or rather, society holds. You see, we live in an imperfect world so to expect and even aim for perfection does nothing but set us up for failure in the long run. The true skill is recognizing that life truly is a journey with many twists and turns and if through it all we strive for Progress and NOT Perfection we are able to make continual long-term improvements. The beauty is finding that it is our imperfections that make us unique, if we all were perfect, we all would be the same and what a boring place that would be!
New Year's Gym Rush Survival Guide
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- Created on Sunday, 06 January 2013 20:19
- Written by Reginald Simmons NPC MP Competitor
Ladies 
and gentlemen the darkness is upon us. It descends upon our gyms, fitness centers and health clubs like a plague. The plague cares not for gym etiquette, has zero appreciation for proper form, and will hog a piece of cardio equipment like nobody’s business.
The plague is known by many names including newbie, beginner or worst still: resolutionist. (Note: resolutionists are those people that make New Year’s Resolutions.)
According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, 45% of American’s will make a New Year’s Resolutions in 2012 and 38% of those will be weight-related. So, what that means is that the first couple months of 2013 are going to be extremely busy.
Fret not because all is not lost as the contagion can be contained and short lived.
Here are a few tips for surviving the early part of 2013:
Sharing Knowledge is Powerful
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- Created on Wednesday, 02 January 2013 21:43
- Written by Andrew Bukowski MP Competitor & Canadian Correspondent
Recently, 
I have learned some new techniques and exercises from fellow trainers and others in the gym that have helped me make drastic improvements in my muscular development and overall physique. I am reminded of when I first started working with my trainer, I quickly realized I had previously only gained minimal knowledge of training. I knew the basics of common exercises and an understanding of training techniques, but I was struggling to make consistent improvements. Limited as my experience was, I would not think to ask others in the gym for advice. Once I started working with my trainer, he taught me how to eat properly and train effectively. Literally ten weeks from the day I started training, I was able to shed over thirty pounds and had the opportunity to do my first photo shoot. It scares me to think if I had not been open to receiving this guidance, I would likely still be fighting the same weight loss battle today.
A Men's Physique Competitor's Problem
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- Created on Saturday, 29 December 2012 21:57
- Written by Tyson Downs CPT, MP Competitor
We, 
as Men’s Physique Competitors, have a problem. A serious problem. Let me explain. We enjoy pain. We enjoy discomfort. We enjoy getting up at 4:30 in the morning because others don’t do it. We don’t like to be normal. We push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. We push ourselves to a point that we didn’t know we could. We eat peculiarly, or as my kids say ‘food for our muscles’. We cook our food for a week at a time. We eat almonds out of a plastic bag, and drink protein shakes at family barbeques.
The problem? Our desire to succeed and build the best body possible can become an obsession and take away from other, more important parts of our life, namely our family, our religion, our job, etc.. So, how do we build a balanced life, while still having that same dedication and inner strength we strive for?
Let me share a couple things that I have done that has helped me to remain focused & committed, but helped me achieve balance in my life.
Pursue Your Passion
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- Created on Wednesday, 26 December 2012 20:55
- Written by Andrew Bukowski MP Competitor & Canadian Correspondent
There 
comes a time in our lives, when many of us find ourselves to be in somewhat of a “rut”. There are many reasons and/or circumstances for this, unique to every person and situation. I recently found myself in this position, before making a major change in my life, to finally pursue the career that I am truly passionate about. Ever since I was fourteen years old, I have been working in the restaurant industry, the last eighteen years of which was in management. For the longest time, I believed that this was my calling in life. I really enjoyed being able to welcome people into “my home” and provide them with the highest level of hospitality.
Why Did You Start?
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- Created on Monday, 24 December 2012 16:45
- Written by Derek Trombetta, CPT & National Level MP Competitor
No 
matter what we accomplish or what we are going through, we all at times will go through moments where we question what we are doing or just want to give up all together. These are the times that truly define someone who has the Warrior Spirit, you see, it is easy for anyone to give thanks, be excited, and have endless energy when things are going great and everything seems to just be happening in our favor. The times when the chips are down are the times we really have three choices to make; just stay where we are at, give in to the urge to quit, or realize why we started in the first place and snap out of it and make it happen! You see, to say that we all do not experience trying times would simply be naive, but in the grand scheme of this life and there being literally millions of things that go into what is happening at our present moments, we are also very naive to not realize that things are just as they should be! This is a concept that is very easy to say, but also very difficult to master; it takes the realization that our reactions and attitudes ultimately dictate our outcomes. It takes the realization that with millions of things coming into play to make a single moment, that there are far many factors other than just what we are currently doing. Above all, it takes the realization that people, things, and events do not in themselves cause emotions or dictate whether something is “good” or “bad,” but rather how we perceive them and if we treat life as a learning experience, rather than just something to mindlessly discount as if it isn’t our fault. Let me tell you, with the utmost conviction, that everything that we feel and experience is ultimately by our own doing, our greatest secret lies deep within ourselves, where we already have the answers!
The Final Weeks Leading into The Excalibur 2012
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- Created on Saturday, 15 December 2012 19:23
- Written by John Franco, CPT & MP Competitor
Well 
the Excalibur contest has come and gone, what seemed like a long 24-week prep came and went quickly.
So many lessons learned from that journey I feel I must share with you today.
In my previous article I wrote about trusting those we have entrusted to coach us; however what I did not prepare for was what if your coach isn’t available or unable to see you within that final 48-hour pre contest window?
Fit at ANY Age
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- Created on Thursday, 13 December 2012 23:43
- Written by Guest Contributor: Tom Cinzori
You
have that moment when you look in the mirror and the person staring back at you is old? Yikes! What happened? The face once free of wrinkles now has crow’s feet around the eyes, the perfect hair is thinning or grey or both, and the bright eyes are now drawn and tired. Perhaps all a bit dramatic, but nonetheless, there is no doubt, we are all facing the effects of aging. I look at many of my peers who are in their late 30′s and 40′s…who have accepted age…and with it a sedentary lifestyle. They have accepted the low energy, the beer gut, the fatigue, the soreness, the loss of agility. Although we can’t waive the magic wand and push off the aging process for good, we can certainly make huge strides to ensure we can stay super fit and active while we age! I’m 41 and in the best shape of my life…and I hope to continue to make great strides towards my health and fitness. I know I can’t stop time, but I am determined to make sure that as I age, I look great, feel great, and have the energy I need to live a full life.
Challenges Facing The Older Athlete
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- Created on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 23:10
- Written by Michael J. Brickhill, Fitness Arizona Champion
Are 
you entering middle age with a renewed focus on a healthy lifestyle? Are you proud of what you have accomplished in the gym at your age? Are you excited that you have some gray hair but your six-pack is easily visible? If so, you might decide to show your new body to the world at a local men’s physique or sports modeling competition.
There is a place for every athlete at these competitions, including those in the “masters” divisions. However, unique challenges face older participants. In this article, we will focus on the four traits that you need to find success: conviction, compartmentalization, consistency, and concentration.
Just Starting or Going All The Way -- Get in Line
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- Created on Sunday, 25 November 2012 23:05
- Written by Tom Terwilliger Former National BB Champion & IFBB Pro
I
will never forget the first painful and humiliating day I worked out at a “real gym”. The place was called Future Man and as a skinny teen with no muscle and even less discipline I was anything but that.
Up until that point I had only been messing around with some old school machines and a few dust covered dumbbells at the High School gym near my house. I was just a beginner, knew nothing about training and was inconsistent at best. What I did know even then was that I wanted to build big muscles and look like the guys I saw on the covers of the body building magazines.
Not everyone who trains is pursuing a National championship title but we all have one thing in common, a desire to improve.
Get S.M.A.R.T About Motivation
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- Created on Monday, 19 November 2012 18:32
- Written by Reginald Simmons NPC MP Competitor
Motivation is a facet of exercise that is vitally important for individuals seeking to maintain or reach peak fitness levels. If fact, maintaining the big MO is the subject of countless articles, videos and Facebook status updates. And, when you think about it, fitness trainers, coaches and boot camp instructors make a living helping to motivate people to try hard and to do more.
You may be asking yourself where motivation fits with diet, exercise and sleep. And, I would suggest that motivation isn’t in direct competition with the aforementioned but an underlying component of all three. If you’re motivated to reach your goals then you’re more apt to engage in behaviors that support those goals, right? You are more likely to eat the proper foods, training in #beastmode and bank the proper amount of Zs.
Mind Over Matter at The National Level
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- Created on Monday, 19 November 2012 18:17
- Written by Reginald Simmons NPC MP Competitor
I 
recently had a chance to review individual and comparison photos from the 2012 NPC Nationals held in Atlanta. The show had an astounding 900 competitors across the various divisions and by the time all was said and done, 62 individuals became IFBB pros. When looking specifically at Men’s Physique, approximately 7 percent or 12 of the 177 entrants reached professional status.
As I clicked through the photos, I began to wonder what separated the winners from the “professional” winners. I mean let’s face it, anyone that’s on that stage is a winner, but rules dictate that only a handful can turn pro in a given year. In looking at the photos, you could point out physical differences between this guy and that guy but it’s almost like preferring a Ferrari over a Lamborghini. At the end of the day both cars are amazing. So what is it that separates one competitor from another?
You are Greater Than You (You > You)
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- Created on Friday, 16 November 2012 17:54
- Written by Derek Trombetta, CPT & National Level MP Competitor
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ago there was a man who each day walked to town around a large mountain, the same as many others did. Each day this man would pick up a stone from the mountain and place it to the side of his path, this went on for many years. Soon others began to do the same as they saw the man slowly moving the mountain from their path! Now, sometime the stones would fall down, sometimes someone else would put them right back, but most of the time they stayed right where they were placed. As more and more people joined in, the once mighty mountain was dwindled away to nothing and the path they ventured became a straight line! What is the moral of this story? Well, as individuals we can only do so much, but collectively we can move mountains! By committing to something greater than ourselves we are able to truly help this world and gain the most satisfaction in our own lives!
How does this apply to fitness?
The Ups and Downs of a Contest Prep
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- Created on Friday, 02 November 2012 23:27
- Written by John Franco MP Competitor / Personal Trainer
Competing
is much more than bringing a nice physique to the stage. What most people don’t understand is that even though Men’s Physique is considered a “Beach Body Physique” there is still a lot of work and preparation that goes into preparing for a show.
On July 1, 2012 my coach Anthony Racanelli and I decided to compete in the NPC Titans Show Oct 20, 2012. This gave us 16 weeks of preparation time. After the first 6 weeks we were on target dropping from 220lbs to 210lbs then the expected happened. Literally overnight, no exaggeration, my body weight increased right back to where we started at 220lbs...
Wanna Know a Secret?
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- Created on Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:37
- Written by Derek Trombetta CPT, Fitness Coach
If 
I told you that I could tell you very simply the key to unlocking your ultimate potential, making everlasting progress, being successful, and finding happiness; would you wanna know?
Seriously… Take a few seconds to think about what I just said; most everyone’s reaction would be an immediate “YES!”
Don't NEED It...BE IT!
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- Created on Tuesday, 16 October 2012 15:49
- Written by Tom Terwilliger, Achievement Mentor, former National Body Building Champion, IFBB Pro
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was recently asked for some advice by an old friend who has been competing as a body builder for several years. Over his 20 plus year career he’s had some great success but he has also dealt with some frustration and disappointment.
His goal has been to capture a prestigious IFBB pro card which continues to elude him. He’s come close on several occasions and in my opinion, with a few minor adjustments has everything it takes to achieve his objective.
“Do you think I should go for one more pro qualifying contest before calling it quits?”
Choose Your Attitude: The Power of "Positivity"
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- Created on Thursday, 11 October 2012 13:03
- Written by Andrew Bukowsky, Canadian MP Competitor
As 
I take a moment to stop and reflect on this past year, which has brought about such an incredible amount of change in my life, I can’t help but realize how my life has truly been impacted by consistently projecting positive energy. It was only just more than one year ago that I first began my journey to improving my health and wellness, beginning with an unbelievable transformation of losing over 30 pounds. Trust me though; this journey has not been without stress and struggle. I have definitely had moments when I had hit a plateau, or faced difficult times with work, or simply the intense pressure of preparing for back-to-back Men’s Physique competitions. There have been many times when I have allowed doubt and negative influences to impact my state of mind and/or progress towards my goals. Over time, I have learned to recognize these negative influences or thoughts, and shift my focus to the many positive things I have in my life.
Victory Through Humility: IFBB Pro Matt Christianer's Account
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- Created on Tuesday, 25 September 2012 20:38
- Written by Matt "Swoll" Christianer, IFBB MP PRO
As
I sit here on my flight to Dallas, headed to the Europa for Myotropics, I finally have a little uninterrupted time to reflect upon the last week and a half. As usual, my life is a roller coaster. Everything from my show life onstage, my business projects offstage and my personal life seems to intensify and become more complicated by the second.
Back in April, I competed at Jon Lindsay’s LA Grand Prix where I placed eighth. I had just come off my first pro win two weeks prior and was severely disappointed with my placing. I am not afraid to admit that I was a bit embarrassed since I had my entire family fly from across the country just to see me onstage in LA...
Don't Inhibit Your Day Job
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- Created on Tuesday, 18 September 2012 01:29
- Written by Derek Trombetta CPT, Fitness Coach
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truly is amazing to see all of the new life that Men’s Physique is bringing into the competition realm of the National Physique Committee (NPC) and the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB), literally growing by the day! Seeing so many who stopped competing, are changing divisions, and never have competed entering into contests week after week says a lot for the division and it’s excitement! With there being so many new to the sport, there also comes a lot of people with overall inexperience and sometimes with inexperience can come ignorance, this is where looking at those that have been successful within the industry for a long time and learning from their mistakes/successes and adding your own twist is crucial! If you want to know the best way to climb a mountain, ask someone who has done it before! Having been involved with the NPC for over 13 years now and always trying to stress balance in life, I feel that it is very important to discuss how the Fitness Lifestyle can and will enhance all other aspects of your life as long as you let it! Conversely, it can also tear you down if you don’t strive to find proper balance.
Are You Healthy?
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- Created on Tuesday, 11 September 2012 19:26
- Written by Tim Staggs CPT
Being 
healthy is more than just about the way you look. As competitors we focus on the way we look since on stage that is the majority of the judging. The important question is, are you actually healthy? There are many things that go into being healthy. You cannot judge someone’s health by the way they look. Some good looking people are very unhealthy...
