| 2006
is going by fast and it’s been awhile since I updated the Latest
News so, without further ado, here is the Latest!
Arnold
Classic Weekend
The 2006 Arnold
Classic was another blockbuster success! Arnold Schwarzenegger
and Jim Lorimar are to be commended for organizing the biggest
Fitness Event in the world each year in Columbus, Ohio. I was
lucky to attend my first Schwarzenegger-Lorimar Production way
back in 1977 when Frank Zane won his first Mr. Olympia contest.
I knew back then that I was witnessing something special and I
was right. Arnold and Jim have set the standard for excellence
and they show how entertaining and classy a Bodybuilding Event
can be.
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| With
my friends Steve Saitelbach, Frank Muzquiz and Dennis Durkin
at the Arnold Classic Expo. |
Meeting
THE MAN, Jim Lorimar himself! |
Beautiful
models are all over the Arnold Classic Expo! |
I attended
this years Arnold Classic with some friends of mine. I was at
the IronMan Magazine booth on Saturday and Sunday but it was only
for a few hours each day. This way, I was able to walk around
and enjoy the magnificent Expo much more than I was able to the
last few years.
My good friend
Dennis Durkin went with me to the Arnold Classic this year but
I also brought along my training partner, Frank Muzquiz and another
good friend of mine, Steve Saitelbach. Frank and Steve really
had a great time over the weekend as this was each their first
time at the Arnold Classic. After it was over, all of us couldn’t
wait to go back in 2007.
Weekend Birthday Bash!
Another year,
another birthday! Since my 43rd birthday landed on a Friday this
year, I decided to celebrate all weekend long. Hey, that’s what
birthdays are for, right? Of course, all bets are off during birthdays.
No dieting, desserts are not only allowed, they are encouraged
and enjoying oneself is the highest priority.
I started
off the birthday weekend by going out to lunch on Friday, March
10th. Later that evening, I went out with a bunch of friends for
Mexican food (I love margaritas!!) and even joined a mariachi
band for a song or two.
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| Enjoying
some Banana Creme Pie at Redstone |
Celebrating
the birthday on Day 2 with Dennis and some Iced Tea (sort
of). |
The
Mariachi Band wanted me to join them on tour but I had to
turn them down. |
The party
continued on Saturday with dinner and drinks at one of my favorite
restaurants, Redstone in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois (if you’re
ever in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by and order their chicken
flatbread pizza!). After dinner, my friends and I went dancing
at a local night club.
By Sunday,
I was pretty wiped out from all the drinking and eating but I
continued the celebration like the trooper that I am at my parents
house. I joined my Mom and Dad, my brother Don and his wife Jeni,
my sister Kim and her husband Eric and my nephews Sam, Joe and
Zane along with my best friend Dennis for a great dinner and the
mandatory cake and ice cream.
The older
I get, the more I realize how precious life is. Time goes by fast
and it seems to go quicker as we get older. That’s why birthdays
should always be treated as a special occasion. Another year on
this planet is always a reason to celebrate with your family,
friends and loved ones. I want to thank those special people in
my life who helped me celebrate this year!
“Real
Muscle” DVD is released!!
On April
3rd, 2006, my first DVD, “Real Muscle” was released! I was very
proud of my first DVD project. This DVD is designed for the drug
free bodybuilder that wants to know how to train to develop muscle
mass and strength without resorting to steroid use. I demonstrate
and explain the most effective mass-producing exercises to use
to develop size.
The “Real
Muscle” DVD is designed to educate and motivate natural bodybuilders
in their own workouts. Two sets are shown for each exercise featured
on the DVD. The first set is the “warm-up set” in which I describe
exactly how to perform each exercise for maximum effectiveness.
The second set is the “intensity set” where the same exercise
is featured without the narration. This set shows me training
with heavy weights and all-out intensity. A unique feature of
the DVD is that the second, “intensity” set is filmed in gritty
black and white in comparison to the first set which was shot
in color.
I want to
say thanks to my brother, Don, and to Dennis Kassitas who took
the time to come to Diamond Gym in Orland Park, Illinois and film
my workouts for a week.Without
their cooperation and dedication, this DVD would not have been
made.
The “Real
Muscle” DVD is available for sale on the internet through this
website as well as the Home Gym Warehouse (www.home-gym.com)
and at www.bodybuilding.com.
In the four months it has been available for sale, I have received
orders from all over the United States as well as South Africa,
Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.
The DVD has
earned rave reviews from all the people who have seen it. I have
a section on my website where customers can post their reviews
of my DVD as well as my book, “Natural Bodybuilding”, and I am
so happy to see that all the reviews have been so positive. I
worked hard on the editing and production of “Real Muscle” so
I’m glad that it has been so well received!
A good friend
of mine, Gary Cotter, liked the ”Real uscle” DVD so much that
he actually paid for a commercial to advertise it. The 30 second
spot ran on the cable TV channels in Chicago during the month
of June. Here is the 30 second commercial for those of you who
didn’t get a chance to see it.
Mom’s
Birthday!
On Sunday,
April 30th, I was happy to join the rest of my family to celebrate
my Mom’s 65th birthday. I know she’s my Mom and I’m biased but
I have to honestly say that I couldn’t have asked for a better
Mother than the one I got. I am amazed at my Mom’s love, energy,
happiness and joy for life. She has a sign in her kitchen that
says, “Live Lots, Laugh Often and Love Much”. That pretty much
encapsulates her attitude toward life.
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My
Mom celebrating her B-day with my sister Kim and my cousin
Terry. |
With
my Mom, my brother Don and his wife Jeni. |
The
Happy Couple - my Mom and Dad. |
My Mother
and Father have been happily married since 1960 and they continue
to enjoy life today as much as they did 46 years ago when they
were first married. My Mom recently took up painting which has
become a major passion of hers. Over the last three years, she
has drawn over 150 beautiful water color paintings. I have several
of her artworks hanging in my house and I’m just as proud of her
work as she is.
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My
Mom blowing out her birthday candles with the help of her
grandson, Zane. |
My
Family (Left to Right) - my sister-in-law Jeni, Me, my Dad,
Mom, sister Kim and brother-in-law Eric. Front row, my nephews
Sam, Zane, Joe and my brother Don. |
As with many
families, my Mom is the cement that holds our family together.
She makes a special effort to stay in touch and spread her love
to everyone in our family. Every nephew, niece, cousin, brother,
sister and grandkid receives a big hug and a kiss from my Mom
at every one of the many parties that she holds at her house.
As I said in the first paragraph, I’m amazed at her love and enthusiasm
for life. I know that we can’t pick our parents so I have to say
that I was very blessed to be this lucky to have the Mom that
I have. Happy Birthday Mom and Many More!!!
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Each
overall winner won a free copy of my "Real Muscle"
DVD. |
Posing
with Bud Turner and his wife Shelly |
2006
NPC Natural Grand Prix
On May 6th,
2006, I was a guest at Kevin Noble’s 2006 NPC Natural Grand Prix
Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Belvidere, Illinois.
Kevin is one of my favorite people in the bodybuilding world.
He has tirelessly promoted bodybuilding events for over 25 years
but, more than his years in the game, I am impressed by Kevin’s
honesty and integrity. He is one of the real Good Guys in the
sport of bodybuilding.
I was on hand
at Kevin’s show to sell copies of my new training DVD, “Real Muscle”
as well as my book, “Natural Bodybuilding” and my new Real Muscle
T-shirts. I also handed out complimentary copies of the “Real
Muscle” DVD to all the overall winners at the competition.
I was cheering
for my friend Bud Turner who was competing in his first bodybuilding
contest. I had helped Bud in his preparation for this competition
so I was hoping he would do well since I knew how hard he had
worked for this day. I designed Bud’s diet and helped him with
his posing and our work together paid off because Bud was ripped
and ready on contest day. I was happy for Bud and his beautiful
wife Shelly on his successful fourth place finish in the Masters
division. It was a lot of hard work and dedication but it paid
off. To read more about Bud’s Success Story, click here.
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Joe
Silzer winning the overall Natural Mr. North America
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With
Joe and the other overall winners at the Natural North America.
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2006
ABA Natural North America Championships
Another friend
of mine competed later in the summer at the 2006 ABA Natural North
American Championships. Joe Silzer, a former training partner
of mine, took first place in the Men’s Open Division. I believe
that Joe is one of the best drug-free bodybuilders in the country.
He works extremely hard in the gym and he has really made some
great progress in his physique over the last few years.
Joe was planning on entering the NPC Team Universe this year but,
after the contest was unexpectedly moved up almost a month earlier
than its normal scheduled date, Joe could not get ready in time.
In addition, Joe was already committed to coaching his son Jake’s
Little League Baseball team. Joe is a true family man with four
children that he raises along with his wife Danielle.
Joe may compete
in the ABA Natural Mr. Universe contest later this year in Hollywood,
California. I hope he does because he has a great physique and
I know for a fact that he is a true natural bodybuilder. Joe and
I have endless discussions on the phone concerning drug-free training
and dieting. We talk about how hard it is to develop the physique
and compete hard, ripped and full without the advantages of using
steroids and other drugs.
I was also
a judge at the ABA Natural North America and I had a chance to
talk to the president of the ABA, Denny Kakos, after the show.
We came to an agreement that I would promote my first bodybuilding
competition next year. I am going to take over the promotion of
the ABA Natural North America for 2007. With a full year to prepare
for next year’s contest, I will have lots of time to line up sponsors
and get the word out about next year’s Big Bodybuilding Event.
I am really
looking forward to being a promoter for the first time! After
more than 30 years of attending bodybuilding contests, I think
I have an idea of what makes for an entertaining competition for
the audience as well as the competitors. If you are reading this
now, make plans to attend the 2007 ABA Natural North America contest
next year. I promise you it will be a Great Time!!
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