FUSION at the Mr. Olympia Expo.

There was a buzz about FUSION this year at the Mr. Olympia Expo. Our team took care of business!


Big Ron Partlow interviewing Craig and Julie for Canadian Bodybuilding Radio.


Muscular Development in Poland is doing a feature on FUSION. Craig is representing!


Yet another interview...the crew was definetly busy.

74 and kicking ass.

74 year-old Tsutomu Tosaka of Japan proved this past weekend you are never too old to body build. Mr. Tosaka won the overall title at the 21st Japan Masters Bodybuilding Championship in Tokyo. The competition was for men over-seventy, and impressively had a field of seven competitors, all of whom were born before World War II, vying for the title. Apparently, Mr. Tosaka didn’t start bodybuilding until he was 40, but hasn’t stopped since.

The dumbbell with the dumbbell.

Warning! This post might disturb some readers.

In the gym one of the fundamental tools in our struggle to increase our muscle size is a dumbbell. But one Newport Beach, California resident took the use of a dumbbell plate waaaay too far. In an attempt to pump-up the size of his – um, "man muscle", ah, you know, his penis – he put his apparently wee "willy" in the dumbbell hole (no, not like the gag gift above). Then after two days of being unable to remove his "john thomas" from the hole due to swelling, and realizing that it turning black and ballooning to five time its normal size wasn't the kind of growth he was looking for, he went to the hospital. The docs had to call in the local fire department to cut the plate off. Which, they actually did without harming him. Think I'm lying? Nope, it was first reported in the Newport Beach Daily Pilot. Read it for yourself. The lesson to be learned here? Be happy with what you can't change, and focus on improving what you can, oh, and make sure to wash your hands after touching the dumbbells if you're ever in Newport Beach.

2009 Mr Olympia

Jay's done it. He's the taken back the title, and he's the only guy in history to ever take the title back from the person who took it from him. Arnold of course did regain the title in 1980, 5 years after losing it, but of course he didn't compete in the off years.

As usual there is some controversy over the placing. Dexter only landed 3^rd. Heath, who was expected to be a major player this year landed 5^th. But we'll leave the arguing to the message boards. All we have to say is congrats Jay.

The TOP 6 in 2009
1^st Jay Cutler
2^nd Branch Warren
3^rd Dexter Jackson
4^th Kai Greene
5^th Phil Heath
6^th Victor Martinez

FUSION at the WBFF World Championships.

There was a lot of build-up for this year’s WBFF World Championships at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. The bodybuilding forums and Facebook have been filled with chatter. Some people have been sceptical while others see the need for change in Canadian bodybuilding and have embraced what the WBFF stand for…giving back to the athletes. Well, after witnessing this year’s show it’s clear that the WBFF has taken over at the premier Canadian bodybuilding organization.

Not only does the WBFF have the finest production in all of bodybuilding but Paul Dillett and his amazing team have put together the largest prize purse in Canadian bodybuilding and fitness history. Giving away over 120 grand worth of cash and prizes, the athletes left feeling like they are finally getting what they deserve. The FUSION team managed to grab some cash and hardware of their own. Both Dan Ziccardi (Middleweight) and Dave Naugler (Pro Division) managed to take 3rd in their very tough classes and FUSION advocate Craig Bonnett took second in the Pro Division. Way to go guys we’re proud of you!

I’d also like to say, on a more personal note, that the highlight of my WBFF experience was meeting Wayne DeMilia. You know times are changing when one of the men who help build the Mr. Olympia is taking interest in what’s going on.

If you’re interested in seeing more of the WBFF stage, we’ll be uploading all the routines at BeingABodybuilder.com

The ContestPrep.ca team at the FUSION booth.

On-set With Stone Cold.

Long-time FUSION athlete, Paul “The Mauler’” Lazenby, has been in the movie bizz for a long time now. He has flipped for and fought with some of Hollywood’s best. From getting clocked in the face to making indecent proposals (on Ashton Kucher in the Butterfly Effect), Paul has done it all. Recently he found himself on the set of “The Stranger” for which he stunt-doubled Steve Austin. He said the last day was the best day ever and this is why: “I did a backward air-ram (compressed-air-driven catapult) away from an exploding car and landed on the next house’s lawn. INTENSE to say the least!”

WHAT?! My idea of an intense day is double dosing on some coffee. So, now I wait here…sipping on java thinking I have to re-consider the excitement level in my life.

Another Bodybuilding Murder.

This news comes courtesy of Woodtv.com

Bodybuilder found guilty of January murder.

Updated: Thursday, 10 Sep 2009, 8:15 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 10 Sep 2009, 8:15 PM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The man man accused of strangling a woman on Grand Rapids' west side was was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday.

Kenneth Ray Thomas, 38, was charged with killing 53-year-old Debra Jean Vanklaveren. Her body was found in her apartment January 5th in the 300 block of Indiana Avenue SW. Police originally thought it might have been a natural death, but changed their minds when they couldn't find her dog or car.



He will be sentenced October 8th to life in prison with no chance for parole.
Thomas' MySpace page shows he lived his life in the gym. Most of his pictures show him flexing in what appears to be a bodybuilding competition. He says on the Web site that his hero is Jesus and his faith is what keeps him strong.

How do I get my bodybuilder name?

"The Austrian Oak." "The Blade." "The Freakin' Rican." Bodybuilders have been sporting nicknames since the early days. Back in the late 1800s and early 20th century, bodybuilders didn't just pose in competitions – they performed feats of strength for paying audiences. It was just good business to sensationalize themselves. There's a reason Ed Fury didn't put Ed Holovchik on the marquee, or why a guy named Angelo Siciliano changed his name to Charles Atlas.

Plus, who wouldn't want be called "The King of Bodybuilders" like Clancy Ross? How about "The Shadow," as Dorian Yates was known? And what about Sergio Oliva's "The Myth"? There's nothing more manly than a good nickname, and for guys, isn't that what bodybuilding is all about – being the being the biggest, strongest, manliest man in the sandbox?

Truthfully, these names get created by the marketing and media guys, and sometimes they're a bit much. But getting a name and making it stick is two different things. So bring on the badass nicknames. They may feel a bit juvenile at times, but I guarantee you there isn't a guy out there who wouldn't be at least secretly pleased to be called "The Duke" and have it stick.

Creatine for Cardio?

Everyone knows that creatine is simply awesome for building muscle, and that cardio is essential for good strong cardiovascular health and speedy recovery from brutal workouts. But have you ever wondered what the effect of creatine and cardio together would be? Scientists did, so they set out to find out.

Scientists divided subjects into two groups: a group taking creatine and a group taking a placebo. Neither the study participants nor the researchers themselves knew which group was actually getting dosed with creatine. Both groups did an intense cardio program for 11 weeks, with three cardio sessions per week, each lasting for 45 minutes. The scientists were testing to see the effects of creatine on cardiovascular health, as measured by plasma lipid profiles.

At the end of the study, researchers found that the plasma lipid profile did not change in any of the study participants. In other words, creatine supplementation did not have any benefit for cardiovascular exercise beyond the benefit of cardio alone.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: Creatine is great for building muscle, and some evidence suggests that it may even help you use oxygen better. But, the verdict is in: It doesn’t help you get extra health or performance benefits beyond the ones you would get from cardio alone. Stick to using creatine for what it does best: building muscle!

Source: Gualano B, et al. Does creatine supplementation improve the plasma lipid profile in healthy male subjects undergoing aerobic training? J Int Soc Sports Nut. 2008 Oct 3;5:16.

Dave Naugler is coming in large for the WBFF World Championships!

We are just under a week away form the 2009 WBFF World Championships and people are getting excited, for good reason. Paul Dillett and the WBFF team have successfully brought some much needed class and production value to bodybuilding shows. You can expect to experience some great entertainment, amazing physiques and this is the inaugural year for the WBFF Pro Division. This means there is cash to be won! Finally there is an organization that is rewarding the athletes for their hard work and dedication.

One such athlete is FUSION team member Dave Naugler. After a disappointing placing at the CBBF nationals in Vancouver, Dave has vowed to come in larger and, judging by the photo’s he sent me, he’s delivering. From speaking with Dave I also understand he’s planning on adding a little something extra to the show…that’s the WBFF way.

September 19th at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga…be there!

Dave 'Ballistic' Naugler...coming in large.

God Versus The Gut.

Goodness knows I’ve been tempted by food, just like nearly every other person on the planet. A slice of something oh-so-sweet and fatty has been known to affect my cutting-cycle focus, but I never considered that chocolaty bit of heaven to be actually evil.

But natural bodybuilding champ and Christian church founder Ron Williams might just have another opinion. He’s recently come out with a book called Faith & Fat Loss, [www.faithandfatloss.com] which teaches how to fight the sin of gluttony. “Your belly becomes your God,” Williams says.

But it’s not just the temptation of food that Williams addresses. Faith helps counteract the stress caused by events such as abuse, neglect or trauma – which Williams describes as “soul wounds” – that can cause people to be overweight or obese. The four-part plan involves reading Scripture, prayer, exercise and eating balanced, nutritious meals. If you’re really interested, you can wade through this 12-minute 700 Club interview [http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/ron_williams042209.aspx ] with Williams.

I have to say, I don’t factor God into my training, but it certainly illustrates that there are all types out there. And if it’s what works for you, go for it.

TABOO: Female Bodybuilding Documentary.

Taboo: Female Bodybuilding
by Tech9

Following Sam Stone on Facebook.

If your Facebook friends are anything like mine you can always bank on someone posting their bodybuilding progress pix. At any given time I can follow the bulking goals of one person and then hop on over to the National preparations of another. It’s always cool to see how each person deals with common difficulties. Some people post on-going motivational quotes to keep them in the right mindset. Others ask for their friends to give honest critiques of their physiques. It’s all rather engaging and I hazard to guess, the ability to now compare yourself to the competition before the show is going to bring a harder working and more dedicated bodybuilder to our sport.

One such bodybuilder is a guy from England named Sam Stone. He contacted me because he was very curious about our products. I gave him some words of encouragement and some supplement guidance. I followed his updates and he proved to be more dedicated than I would have thought. He was always posting updates and telling his followers how he was doing. In fact, the only real break from his bodybuilding progress that I saw was a sweet car he bought! True to his mission, he remained focused, stayed on his diet and come contest day he managed to snag 2nd at the Junior UKBFF SW Championships and qualified for the British Finals. Wow…I can’t imagine what that felt like for him. Way to go Sam…you’ve earned it.

Upon talking to him after his competition he showed his true colours by saying: “I need to be tighter!” That’s a sign of someone who’s going to have a strong future in this sport.

Cardio gets your heart pumped now – but what about later?

Cardio burns calories immediately and gets your heart working. But did you know that different kinds of cardio can work your heart differently? And did you know that working your heart differently has different effects on your blood pressure? It’s true.

A Belgian study tested the effects of two different kinds of cardio exercise. Participants exercised over three 10-week periods, and during the first and third periods, they did either higher or lower intensity exercise. In between, the participants were sedentary. The only thing that the researchers changed was the intensity of the exercise the participants performed for one hour per week three times a week.

Before, during and after the study, researchers measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR). They found that endurance training at both lower and higher intensity significantly affected systolic blood pressure levels, but – and here’s the important conclusion – chronic cardio exercise did not significantly reduce systolic blood pressure. They also found that if you want to lower your resting heart rate, you need to do high-intensity training.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: If you want to do cardio, know how it affects your heart. If you want to lower your blood pressure, increase intensity. To lower your resting heart rate, increase intensity. And, the research seems to recommend avoiding excessive bouts of long cardio, as this has no effect.

Source: Cornelissen VA, Verheyden B, Aubert AE, Fagard RH. Effects of aerobic training intensity on resting, exercise and post-exercise blood pressure, heart rate and heart-rate variability. J Hum Hypertens. 25 June 2009; doi: 10.1038/jhh.2009.51.

The National Roller Coaster.

What a roller coaster ride it was for the FUSION team this past weekend at the 2009 CBBF Nationals in Vancouver. There was a lot of public support for Dave Naugler going into this event. His prep was spot-on and it looked like he was on his way to a top placing. Backstage there was magic in the air as Dave began the countdown to his appearance. When he took off his team suit in the staging room everyone went silent…he looked amazing! But something happened…between that time and when he got onstage Dave’s physique changed slightly and he missed the mark. He wasn’t put in the top 6 callout and this ended his bid for the 2009 CBBF Championships. We were all crushed and confused…but that’s bodybuilding.

On the up side, FUSION has recently signed a 21 year old powerhouse named Darnell Collins. He has only been training for 2 years but he is truly one of those guys you know has greatness knocking at his door. At his young age, he has a well balanced physique with plenty of densely striated muscle…maturity beyond his years. It would appear the judges thought so too because they awarded him the title of Junior Mr. Canada. Way to go Darnell and welcome to the FUSION team!

To conclude; bodybuilding is bodybuilding and no one can predict the out come. FUSION is extremely proud of Dave and Darnell for representing the company so well and for inspiring others. Next stop…WBFF World Championships.

Here’s a pic of Darnell with his hardware…see what I mean :-)

Pete loves sausage.

As we mentioned earlier, Furious Pete Czerwinski, bodybuilder and world-class competitive eater, would be doing a stunt for Sausage Fest, a BBQ concert put on by Toronto radio station 102.1 The Edge.

What did he do? He ate 20 Sausages in 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Yummmm. That's a lot of protein.

Hulk no dance.

Uh-oh Lou Ferrigno is angry, and we don't like him when he's angry. We mentioned before that Lou was interested in being on the upcoming season of Dancing with The Stars, but it looks like Lou didn't make the cut.

And he was pissed.

His wife/manager Carla had this to say, "The producers told us he would have made an excellent contestant, and when you compare him to some of the 'so-called' celebrities they picked, it just does not make any sense at all," she told Radar Online. "[The producers] never even had the class to give Lou a call and tell him that he was not going to be chosen. Lou is an American icon."

I can understand why they're upset. To be passed over is one thing, but to have a nobody like Ashley Hamilton (look him up, I know I had too) get on the show, it leaves you wondering what really went on during that selection process.

Then again, maybe it's the fault of this leaked audition tape.

Just kidding! Please Lou, and you too Carla, don't get angry at me!

Eat protein at Joe’s

What's the mark of a serious bodybuilder in training? It ain't muscles – nope, that would be too easy. Give up? It's a cooler. Eating can be a real drag, and of course, all that cooking isn't much fun either. Ah, for a world where there's a restaurant for bodybuilders on every corner instead of a McD's. While that isn't the case, we can at least raise a glass (of whey) to those places that do make a menu with the musclemen in mind.

The granddaddy of them all has to be The Firehouse in Venice, California, not too far from Muscle Beach. Every major bodybuilder has traveled to the mecca of Muscle Beach at least once, and chances are, once he was done, he went to The Firehouse to eat. (Hint, hint to the bodybuilding tourist.) Love it or hate it (they apparently have sushi on the menu now), you have to acknowledge its place in history.

If you're living in New Jersey or New York, you have some great joints to eat at. First, you can stop in at Muscle Maker Grill to get your protein and complex carb fix. Now with eleven locations in Jersey and more planned, they may not be McD's, but they're trying. Their menu has everything a growing bodybuilder needs, including whey protein smoothies, wraps and entrees such as lemon pepper chicken with steamed broccoli on brown rice. Or, if you find yourself in Manhattan, stop by The Pump and build the perfect meal of steamed veggies, protein, a tasty sauce and some good fats.

If you find yourself on the other coast, I've heard good things about Rocky Cola Cafe. Though their website seems to be on the fritz, I've heard this Fifties-diner-style restaurant has a pretty solid bodybuilder menu. You'll find a location in Montrose, California, and another in Hermosa Beach.

Going to Florida? Get your chicken and rice on at either Chick-N-Grill or Chicken Kitchen. Both menus are similar: Order a Chop at one or a Chop-Chop at the other, and you'll get grilled chicken with rice (you'll want brown, of course), and if you like, you can add beans, tomatoes and some less-than-healthy choices.

That's just a taste of the bodybuilder-friendly restaurants out there. I know there are hundreds more, and that's not counting the places that do requests. Guess what? I'd like to hear them all. Where do you go in your hometown that has a specific menu for gym rats like us? Let me know.

 

FUSION Athlete, Jodi Boam, Kills It at the Nationals.

Jodi Boam is such a phenom. Only in her early twenties, she’s been able to skyrocket onto the national stage and make a commanding presence, taking on girls a decade older than her. Jodi's dynamic gymnastic ability combined with a fine-tuned physique nabbed her 3rd in the fitness short class. Putting the icing on the cake, she also walked away with the best posing routine. She is the first female athlete FUSION has sponsored and we are stoked to see this young star do even more damage next year at the CBBF Nationals hit Toronto.

Congrats Jodi!

Last pic of Dave Naugler before the Nationals.

Well, there's no doubt that Dave looks a little zoned-out here, but that's what it's like at this stage of the bodybuilding game. Dave is only 5 days out from stepping onstage at the CBBF Nationals and what an impressive prep it's been. Everyone at FUSION if proud of him. We'll be there cheering him on and taping the experience for an up and coming episode of Being A Bodybuilder. So...here is the last pic of Dave before we see him in Vancouver...STOKED!