Archive for the ‘IFBB News’ Category

Phil Heath Makes It Two in a Row With Sheru Classic Win in India
By Joe Pietaro for MuscleSport Mag

If anyone thought that Phil Heath’s victory at the 2011 Mr. Olympia was a fluke, the man known as ‘The Gift’ backed it up by staying in top condition and winning the inaugural Sheru Classic in Mumbai, India. He bested his good friend Jay Cutler for the second time in a week, with the former champion settling for the runner-up spot again.
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Kevin English Retains 202 Olympia Title Despite Tough Battle With Flex Lewis & Jose Raymond
By Joe Pietaro ~ for MuscleSport Mag

As he walked out of the Orleans Arena following a tough night at the office, Kevin English knew that he had been in a war. His usual adversary was not standing next to him on stage this time, but rather a two-pronged attack from both sides. Bobbing and weaving his way through the battlefield was not an easy task, but one that he met head-on and still come out the winner.
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Phil Heath Defeats Jay Cutler To Become 13th Mr. Olympia in Bodybuilding History
By Joe Pietaro ~ for MuscleSport Mag

They stood in the same spot on the Orleans Arena stage as they did a year ago, but on this evening it was Phil Heath who heard his name called as the winner. “The Gift” brought an incredible package to the stage and was able to knock out the champ – and his best friend – Jay Cutler, who was gracious in defeat.

“I’m actually happy right now,” Cutler said with a smile as he congratulated Heath on the win.
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Kai Greene An Olympia Factor After New York Pro Win
By Joe Pietaro

Needing a dominant performance in the 2011 New York Pro, Kai Greene didn’t disappoint. With the backing of an enthusiastic home town crowd, the Brooklyn native had it sealed up at pre-judging. Bringing a physique that won him two consecutive Arnold Classics, Greene was vastly improved from the last time we saw him on stage at the 2010 Mr. Olympia.
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202 To 212 and Under Keeping Division Intact and Wider
by Joe Pietaro

It may have seemed like just a formality as an IFBB memo dated May 10, 2011. It read:

To: All IFBB Professional League Male Bodybuilders
From: IFBB Professional League

Please be advised that the 202-lb and under category is changed to 212-lb and under. This change will take effect at the Sacramento Pro on November 5, 2011.

Short and to the point, but this can have a big effect on the future of not only the lighter class, but the men’s open, as well. Competitors that were on the bubble of making the 202 can now maintain a larger physique and still go head-to-head with the likes of Kevin English and David Henry. When Eduardo Correa and Seth Feroce both announced that they intended on moving up to the open class, it was a smart move by the IFBB to keep some of the popular names back in the 202/212.
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Confirmed Gary Strydom Comeback a Smart Business Decision
by Joe Pietaro

After much speculation, it finally appears that Gary Strydom will in fact be coming back to competitive bodybuilding at the IFBB Pro World Masters Championship on December 10, 2011 at the Fillmore in Miami Beach. The legendary South African confirmed this during a video interview with Shawn Ray of Musclular Development on April 15 at the FIBO show in Germany.

“Confirmation one hundred percent,” Strydom told Ray. “It is confirmed already. Signed, sealed and delivered (that) I’ll be there. So hopefully all of the other guys will be there and the show materializes.”
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Don’t Discount Kai Greene As a Top Three in the 2011 Mr. Olympia
by Joe Pietaro

In the months leading up to the 2010 Mr. Olympia, there was one name being thrown around as a possible to unseat the reigning champion and cap off a career year. But when it was all said and done and the sun rose the next day in the Las Vegas desert, Jay Cutler held up another Sandow and Kai Greene found himself on the outside looking in – even during the pose down.

‘The Predator’ fell from fourth place in his inaugural Olympia the year before to a disappointing seventh and the two-time Arnold Classic champion took a beating from the critics. In their defense, the Brooklyn, New York native did come in out of shape and had a distended midsection that was noticeable by everyone, including the judges.
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How Will Ronny Rockel’s 2011 Mr. Europe Grand Prix Win Transcend at the Mr. Olympia?
By Joe Pietaro

He’s been recognized for a while now as a top six contender, but Ronny Rockel has found the terrain rough to place higher in the ‘big two.’ After taking sixth at the Arnold Classic, the native of Germany found himself in the winner’s circle three weeks later at the 2011 IFBB Mr. Europe Grand Prix in Spain.

Rockel has brought an incredible proportioned physique to the stage but had been stuck below the top three. His diminutive stature was the obvious reason why he would hear his name called after the likes of Branch Warren, Jay Cutler, Dennis Wolf and Phil Heath but that is something out of his control.
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Branch Warren Dominant in 2011 Arnold Classic Win
by Joe Pietaro

The 2011 Arnold Classic will be a memorable one in the Warren household. Not only did Branch take home the winning trophy from Columbus, Ohio, but his wife Trish placed third in a highly competitive Fitness International. Hopefully the power couple brought some empty suitcases with them from Texas to carry back all of the new hardware.

Also included in that was another Most Muscular Award for Warren and he brought a package to the stage that was his best. Not only did he look hard and dry, but Warren was proportioned from his traps to his calves.
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Arnold Classic Prediction: Branch Warren, Dexter Jackson, Evan Centopani
by Joe Pietaro

The staff here at MuscleSport Mag has done quite well in predicting the winners and placings in both the Arnold Classic and Mr./Ms. Olympia the past few years, so we feel confident in giving it another shot. With the Arnold Classic nearly upon us, this figures to be a close battle for both bodybuilding titles.

For the men, we will have a new champion with two-time winner Kai Greene choosing to sit this one out. Will someone such as Victor Martinez or Dexter Jackson reclaim the title? Or will Branch Warren transcend his Most Muscular Awards into first place?
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Sugar in Coffee and Energy Drinks a Health Concern

With increasing serving sizes of beverages, consumers need to pay more attention than ever to how much sugar they’re taking in, doctors say. Consuming high quantities of sugar and caffeine may be a double whammy to promote both weight gain and sleeping problems.

Starbucks recently announced a new-sized 31-ounce drink, the “Trenta,” which will be in stores this spring. The mega-sized coffee joins the ranks of other energy drinks that can pack plenty of caffeine and calories. Ellen Schuster, a University of Missouri nutrition expert, says that Americans should be wary of extra calories and sugar in the quest for bigger, bolder drinks.
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Deficiency of Dietary Omega-3 May Explain Depressive Behaviors

ScienceDaily – How maternal essential fatty acid deficiency impact on its progeny is poorly understood. Dietary insufficiency in omega-3 fatty acid has been implicated in many disorders. Researchers from Inserm and INRA and their collaborators in Spain collaboration, have studied mice fed on a diet low in omega-3 fatty acid. They discovered that reduced levels of omega-3 had deleterious consequences on synaptic functions and emotional behaviors.
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Hormonal and Molecular Responses to Exercise Differ by Age
Source: Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Findings Lend New Insights into the Effects of Aging on Muscle, Reports The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

Newswise – Differences in muscle responses to exercise in older versus younger men reflect differences on the hormonal, molecular, and gene-expression level, reports a study in the January issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

The differences include genetic up-regulation of a key enzyme related to muscle breakdown in older men. The results help in understanding the “molecular control points” for aging-related muscle atrophy—and may lead to new approaches to mitigating the adverse effects of muscle wasting in older adults. The senior author was Chad M. Kerskick, PhD, CSCS, ATC, NSCA-CPT, of University of Oklahoma, Norman.
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Why Health Freedom Will Ultimately Overcome Big Pharma Mischief and FDA Corruption
by Mike Adams

Do you find yourself frustrated with the lack of progress in the fight for consumer rights against Big Pharma and the FDA? Take comfort, my friends, in knowing that even though we did not achieve the victory we wanted in this latest legislative effort in the United States, we did stand up and be heard. Hundreds of thousands of grassroots supporters of natural health contacted their senators and let their voices be heard. As a result, senators Hatch, Enzi and others are now on the record stating that Senate bill S.1082 will in no way restrict access to nutritional supplements. That’s a small but notable victory that would not have happened without the outpouring of support from natural health advocates like you.

What lawmakers now know for certain is that we will stand up and speak out against any threat to our collective health freedoms. We will contest every bill or amendment that favors corporate interests over consumer interests, and we will hit back with a wave of public protest that fills their phone lines, fax machines and emails with mindful comments and concerns from action-oriented citizens who demand real representation.
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FDA, FTC crack down on caffeinated alcoholic drinks

Alcoholic energy drinks are seen in a cooler reflecting overhead lights at a convenience store Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, in Seattle. Following a vote by the state Liquor Control Board Wednesday morning, Washington state is banning the drinks effective Nov. 18. The ban comes after nine Central Washington University students were hospitalized after a party last month, where authorities say they drank the caffeinated malt liquor beverage Four Loko. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Alcoholic energy drinks are seen in a cooler reflecting overhead lights at a convenience store Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, in Seattle. Following a vote by the state Liquor Control Board Wednesday morning, Washington state is banning the drinks effective Nov. 18. The ban comes after nine Central Washington University students were hospitalized after a party last month, where authorities say they drank the caffeinated malt liquor beverage Four Loko. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (Elaine Thompson – AP)
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