Tribute to Jack LaLanne, "The Godfather of Fitness"

As you all probably have heard by now, Jack LaLanne, considered by many to be the "Godfather of Fitness" passed away Sunday afternoon due to respiratory failure due to pneumonia. He inspired millions of people all over the world to get active before fitness became a well-known phenomenon. He helped make fitness a big part of many people's lives.

Photo credit: Tri Star Products

In my honest opinion, if it wasn't for Jack LaLanne, there would be no Kiana Tom, no Jillian Michaels, no Jennifer Nicole Lee, no Jamie Eason. Dare I say this...but fitness would probably be a mere afterthought right now if it wasn't for Jack. If there was anyone who defied "fitness icon", it was Jack. He lived, breathed, and slept fitness for what seemed to be his entire life.

I'm too young to remember his shows, but I do remember seeing his many infomercials about his juicer and wanting to own one (which I will buy soon). He seemed so vibrant and full of energy. I'm always like "Why can't more people live by his example?" Who knows? Maybe there's that someone out there who will be that next true fitness icon. Yes, there are those fitness experts that come and go, but very few have the longevity as Jack did and still does. Because of that, he will continue to motivate others to live healthier lives. Gone but truly not forgotten, and won't be for quite some time.

On behalf of FitGems Nation and the MILLIONS of people you have inspired over the years to live healthy lifestyles, thank you for giving people a reason to live. Thank you for being an inspiration.

"Love live living long, and loving every minute of it!"-Jack LaLanne

Fitness Week on Promoting Real Women (Day 3)

Jennifer Nash interview:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/jennifer-nash-interview.html

Tips on Choreographing A Routine by Viko Newman:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/tips-on-choreographing-routine-by-viko.html

Also on the Promoting Real Women fan page, Jason has posted several Youtube videos of several competitors from the past and present of women's fitness. 

Fitness Week on Promoting Real Women Blog/Fan Page (Day 2)

Blog by LeslieRae Newton called Sacrifice:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/sacrafice-by-ifbb-pro-leslierae-newton.html

Stacy Wright films a short video:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/stacy-wright-fitness-week-video.html

Blog by Debbie Fowler titled Fitness At Any Age:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/fitness-at-any-age-by-ifbb-pro-debbie.html

Fitness Week Kicks Off on Promoting Real Women Blog/Fan Page

Today began Fitness Week at the Promoting Women fan page and blog. Big ups to Jason Adams on creating this special week, as the fitness division is one of the most exciting parts about this business and they deserve as much recognition as they can get.

Jason kicked it off in a big way with an interview with the one and only Carol Semple:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/carol-semple-interview.html

Seriously, how big is that to get a former Fitness Olympia champion to kick off Fitness Week?! :)

He also posted a poem by fitness competitor Babette Mulford:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/poem-by-babette-mullford.html


To close out Day One, he posted a You Asked It segment with one of the youngest and most talented IFBB Fitness Pros in the world today, Victoria Larvie:
http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com/2011/01/you-asked-it-with-victoria-larvie.html

If you haven't join his fan page and are following his blog, you might need to start doing that. As I've mentioned in the past, Jason's a great person to know and is one of the guys who truly respects this industry. If you think the kickoff of Fitness Week was impressive, just wait until you see what happens over the next six days. You might get a special treat from yours truly "Hint Hint".

Anyways, hope you all enjoy Fitness Week on Promoting Real Women!!

Pledge for Pushups (Stacy Wright's Fundraiser)

Stacy's going to be "pleding for pushups" to raise money for the 2011 season!
Photo credit: Muscular Development

To help raise money for the 2011 competition season (her first as an pro fitness competitor), IFBB Pro Stacy Wright has created her own fundraiser, by pledging for pushups! She's challenging herself to see how many pushups she can do, and you out there can pledge any amount per pledge. 10 cents per pushup, 10 dollars per pushup, 50 dollars per pushup...whatever you can pledge will do. This is definitely one way to put the FUN in FUNdraising.

My hats off to Stacy for coming up with a unique way to not only get money to compete, but to establish herself as someone who's willing to go the extra mile to make a name for herself and stand out. 

To get involved please email Stacy at Stacy@StacyWright.net with your pledges! She will be post the final pushup video on her website blog. When that happens, we'll let you all know when that will take place.

Good luck to you, Stacy!

IFBB FIBO Pro Germany

For those that don't know, there is going to be an IFBB show in Germany this year (on April 16, to be exact)! This is a special contest, as this is the ONLY contest to be held in Germany and one of the few outside the U.S. This is also one of the few contests for competitors of women's fitness this year as well.

As of press time, there are only TWO competitors for women's fitness, and they are Minna Pajulahti and Regiane Da Silva. However, not on the list but hoping to compete in women's fitness are Camala Rodriguez and Stacy Wright.

IFBB Fitness competitors: if you want a chance to see a different country and compete to get a chance at competing in the Fitness Olympia at the same time, I highly encourage you to enter this contest. If you need money, send out emails to your fans, family, and friends. Post it on your websites and Facebook fan pages and profiles. A little can go a LONG way.

For more on the FIBO Pro, go to http://www.pro-championships.com/index.php.

Hope to see many of you make the journey to Germany in a few months!

NPC Fitness Spotlight for January 2011: Paula Williams-Gulman

The first NPC Fitness Spotlight of 2011 goes to Paula Williams-Gulman!

Photo credit: Bodybuilding.com

Paula is among one of the must muscular fitness competitors in the NPC right now. Her muscle maturity is nearly second-to-none in the sport, which has helped her out in her fitness routines. Showing off her biceps has become somewhat of a trademark in her routines as of late. Her muscle maturity should come as no surprise as she's been competing and being a fitness instructor and personal trainer for 15 years. She was part of the Ms. Fitness USA federation for 10 years, and then moved to the NPC and has competed for 5 years. This year will be her sixth year in the NPC, as she aims to earn her pro card and join the IFBB elite.

In addition to being a NPC Fitness Competitor (as well as a Judge), she's a wife and mother of two girls, a PTA member, a soccer mom, a small business owner (She runs Paula's Personal Training) and a dog lover.

In 2010, she came ever so close to getting her pro card, placing in the top 3 at the Jr. Nationals and North Americans, and winning a couple of shows in the process. 2011 might be the year for the self-proclaimed "Firecracker" of the NPC Fitness Division.

For more on Paula, visit her website at http://www.paulaspersonaltraining.com/.

Photo credit: Muscular Development

COMPETITION HISTORY:
2010 IFBB North Americas-3rd
2010 NPC Junior Nationals-6th
2009 NPC Junior Nationals-9th
2009 NPC Jr. USAs-3rd
2008 NPC Team Universe Fitness-5th
2008 NPC Northern Classic-1st Figure Masters, 2nd Fitness
2008 NPC Junior Nationals-3rd
2008 NPC Bill Pearl High Desert Classic-1st
2008 NPC Empire Classic-1st
2008 NPC Emerald Cup-1st, 5'3 and Under Fitness, 4th Masters Over 35 Figure
2008 NPC Vancouver USA Natural Classic-5th Figure Short, 2nd Fitness
2007 NPC Emerald Cup-5th Figure

IFBB Fitness Spotlight for January 2011: Camala Rodriguez

The first IFBB Fitness Spotlight of the year 2011 belongs to rising star Camala Rodriquez!

Photo credit: Bodybuilding.com

Camala is one of the IFBB's top rising superstars in any division these days. Camala won her class in both fitness and figure at the NPC Rocky Mountain and NPC Northern Colorado in 2008. In 2009, she just needed one contest to become an IFBB Pro, and that contest was the 2009 Jr. Nationals. She would not only win her class (Class C), but she would also end up winning the overall fitness title as well. Her exotic looks, crowd-pleasing routine, and balanced physique at the show was ready to take on the pros the following year, and, well...let's just say her rookie year is one that could set the tone for her for years to come in the pro rankings.

2010 was one of those years that a pro competitor can only dream about, but takes forever to attain what Camala did. Camala competed in the 2010 Phoenix Pro, and in her pro debut, she placed third, which guaranteed her a spot at the 2010 Fitness Olympia, which went on to become argualy the most star-studded one to date. She would get an invite to the 2010 Fitness International, and placed 6th place, which is awesome for a rookie competitor. Her next contest would be the Europa Show of Champions in Orlando, where she would end up winning her first pro show. Her last contest of the year would be the 2010 Fitness Olympia, where she placed a respectable 10th place, making her one of the 10 best fitness athletes in the world today.2011 will see Camala compete in the 2011 Fitness International and hopefully another Fitness Olympia. If her 2010 year is any indication, expect Camala to take the IFBB fitness division to new heights in 2011 and beyond.

Photo credit: Muscular Development

COMPETITION HISTORY:

2010 IFBB Olympia-10th
2010 IFBB Europa Show of Champions-1st
2010 IFBB Fitness International-6th
2010 IFBB Phoenix Pro-3rd
2009 NPC Junior Nationals-1st Class C and Overall Fitness Champion
2008 NPC Rocky Mountain-1st Class D Figure, 1st Class B Fitness, Overall Fitness Champion
2008 NPC Rocky Mountain-1st Class D Figure, 1st Fitness Tall, Overall Fitness Champion