1. Whitney Jones
2. Missy Terwilliger
3. Kristine Duba
4. Chika Aluka
5. Rosi Mena
6. Danielle Chikeles
7. Derina Wilson
8. Shannon Siemer
9. Stacy Dawn
10. Mandy Polk
11. Natalie Graziano
12. Debbie Fowler
13. Nicolette Spencer
14. Deborah Sizemore

1. Margie Martin
2. Alana Shipp
3. Isabelle Turell
4. Keri Watkins
5. Jacqueline Fuchs
6. Judy Gaillard
7. Virginia Sanchez-Macias
8. Laura Carolan
9. Aleesha Young
10. Angela Debatin
11. Shawna Strong
12. Irene Andersen
13. Kim Buck
14. Patty Corbett
15. Maryse Descanps-Manios
16. Elizabeth Meza-Gomez

From Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Loredana Tudor’s passion for sports dates way back to her early childhood years. Loredana practiced rhythmic gymnastics at age 4, and competed as a professional.

In 2006, Loredana began college, giving up on her past athletics but adding fitness to the mix. Her studies in veterinary medicine like, anatomy, nutrition, physiology and physiopathology, were very helpful with her new found love for fitness. Loredana began applying her studies to her own body and saw the changes it had on her.

Training since 2011, Loredana has made the decision to compete. She is currently training for a 2015 show, the National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship, where she will be competing in the Bikini/Fitness division.

Loredana ‘s training is straight forward and simple. She trains twice a day, cardio for one session and weights in the other.

Loredana ‘s biggest battle comes in the kitchen, not in the gym. “Temptations are everywhere and that “one bite” trap is easy to fall into,” she adds.

White bread, fried food and sugar are all off the acceptable food list. Loredana also doesn’t drink soda or alcohol and sticks to plain water with lemon.

“You need to be strong, motivated and aware of your value and you have to bring the best on stage! Every day I have an hour of me time in order to fight my fears and clear my head. The weight lifting training, proper diet, will, perseverance, dedication and habits made me what I am today: a fit strong woman. As a life principle I am looking for improvement every day and I want to be better than yesterday. There is no I can’t. There is I won’t!”

Loredana adds; “I have always been fond of individual sports that make you alone responsible for your evolution and this time I am ready to be the best. And I will be! I will never give up!”

It is with very heavy heart that we share the passing of Kris Clark. Kris lost her battle with esophageal cancer in the evening on August 8th, with her children at her side.

Kris was an NPC national level competitor and competed several times in the NPC USA Championships as well as Masters Nationals. Kris also competed in powerlifting and was a benchpress record-holder and ranked #1 in the US in the 181 lbs raw class.

A long time friend of our staff, Kris had a smile that could light a room. She was one of the friendliest and nicest people we ever had the privilege of knowing. It was an honor and our privilege to follow her competitive career and to know her on a more personal level.

Thank you for all the great memories Kris, you will be very missed.

Around town, Lauren Laplante-Rottman is known as a community activist in her various roles as a member of the Boxford Sustainability Committee and as an elected official on the Board of Library Trustees. But most people in town are probably not aware of her prowess in the world of bodybuilding.

The West Boxford resident took home six trophies after competing July 16 in the National Physique Committee (NPC) Masters National Championship women’s bodybuilding competition. At 5-ft. 4-in. tall, she entered four different classes as heavyweight (over 140 pounds) in the Over 35, Over 40, Over 45 and Over 50 events.

Laplante-Rottman captured two first place trophies (in the 40 and over and the 50 and over events) and then went on to win overall first place honors in both of those events. She also earned second place trophies in the over 35 and over 45 competitions.

In her 10th year of competition and vying for professional bodybuilding status, Laplante-Rottman explained that she usually brings home one trophy, if all goes well.

While preparing for a bodybuilding competition is challenging in its own right, Lauren faced particularly tough challenges this year when her husband, and greatest fan, Jerry passed away suddenly in November due to kidney failure.

“Then in January, I was laid off from my job of 9.5 years with IBM. It seemed my world had turned upside down, but I had the bodybuilding lifestyle and the goal of the competition on July 16th to keep me focused and grounded. It wasn’t easy, but I rose to the extra challenges,” she recalled.

Describing her sport of bodybuilding as “an extreme sport,” Laplante-Rottman has observed that not that many people do it because it takes such a great effort.

“It gives me something to focus on for myself. It creates a discipline for me that I transfer over to other parts of life. It brings a better balance to my life,” she reflected.

Former couch potato

In 2001 when she was 38-years-old, Laplante-Rottman started on a journey to change her lifestyle. “I was a couch potato, pear-shaped and I didn’t like where my body was going.”

At around age 41-42, she began entering the body building competitions.

“In the beginning my goal was to get in shape and educate myself on how to eat right and exercise,” she recalled. “I really pay attention to my body. There is a fine line between pushing yourself and risking injury and I’m able to balance that.”

How she prepares

Revving up for a bodybuilding competition means working backwards, in other words, figuring out how many weeks away the show is and planning accordingly, explained Lauren.

“I started training on Sept. 2014 for the July 2015 event. The first 12 weeks involve training, bulking up and building muscle. Training and a focus on diet is also involved. Then, around late January, I changed my diet to lose body fat. I had to give up carbohydrates such as rice,” she said.

As she continued to train, Lauren explained she made muscle gains. “This year I focused on getting more detail in my shoulder and back areas, as well as shaping my gluts and hamstrings.”

To do this, she uses mostly free weights and takes spin classes that “really work for the glut area,” she added.

Four weeks before the show, Lauren explained that her daily routine involved an hour of cardio in the morning, an hour of weight training and 45 minutes of cardio midday and then another 45 minutes of cardio in the evening. “I wore earplugs at the gym to avoid hearing the side conversations, the chitchat,” she added.

When she is not in training for an event, she does a half hour of cardio and a half hour training session every day along with one spin class a week.

“I have some equipment at home and am now alternating between the home and gym at Cedardale,” she said.

Body and mind connection

She stressed that bodybuilding evolves by “getting to know your own body and the mind muscle connection.”

“I’ve always worked with a coach. The people who have helped me have never been present. They’re always on line or virtual. I’m pretty much on my own,” said Lauren. “At the level I train, it’s different to find local people.”

Describing her routine, Lauren said, ”Every year you’re constantly learning about yourself…this year I got the mind body connection with my gluts. It’s hard to train a part you can’t see.

“I close my eyes and visualize the muscle – it’s a kind of isometric exercise, like doing abdominal crunches. Your mind focuses in on your muscle.”

Diet regimen

Her major expense is the food. “Eating clean and good ingredients/food is expensive. It’s a shame. It’s so much easier to eat junk food,” she said.

The diet of a bodybuilder is all about “discovering what works well for you. Oatmeal and potatoes don’t do anything for me at all. Oatmeal makes me hold water,” said Lauren.

Bodybuilding has also taught the Boxford bodybuilder about herself as a person such as how to better manage her emotions. “In an extreme sport, you have to focus on what you’re trying to do and other things are happening in your life and you have to be able to manage those things while getting in a good workout.”

Lauren said that she balances her diet in ounces and weight. “I eat from 5-7 meals a day, and all are prepared ahead of time. There’s never any question what I’m going to eat next. That’s where the discipline comes in. I never find myself hungry. I always carry food with me in a cooler,” she said.

She shared two overall mantras for other people who are interested in getting a healthier lifestyle. What you eat and when you eat has the most impact of anything. Whether you exercise or take prescribed medications, your food intake and nutrition has the most overall impact throughout the day,” she believes.

Will vs. willpower

If someone wants to get started it’s about will, not willpower: Will is about how big your desire is to make changes. But willpower is finite, it has a set time but it’s not long lasting, it’s not sustainable, but will is… People say I wish I had your willpower, but it’s really my will.”

Locally, Lauren was elected to the Board of Library Trustees last May and she has been on the sustainability committee for three years as well as a member of the West Boxford Improvement Society. “I just find this to be a wonderful community and feel that I want to give back.”

At this point, she is considering launching a coaching business that will leverage the skills, experience and discipline that she has developed while training.

Courtesy of: Wicked Local Boxford

Let’s #TBT back to the 2002 NPC Jr. USA’s held on April 27, 2002 in Philadelphia. Several women went on to compete and captivate us for years.

Here are the final results:

And of course we have some photos:

When a local fitness trainer puts her mind to something she gets it done – in spades.

Fyonna Vanderwerf is a role model as well as an example for women in their 40s as she reaches out and accomplishes her fitness goals. The female bodybuilder and fitness instructor at the Bracebridge Sportsplex recently returned from the Barrie Natural Championships, a provincial qualifying tournament, where she placed second for Figure Masters Tall and third in Grandmasters Figure 45. Vanderwerf decided to sit out the provincials this year but will come back with a vengeance in 2016 when she is aiming for both a provincial and national attempt.

She said the Figures Masters is about muscle development, looking healthy and the ability to hold isometric poses, which she said is particularly difficult on five-inch heels.

“It’s just about looking healthy and looking really strong and I think it’s very achievable for a lot of women,” she said.

The Grandmasters is for women 45 and older and, at 45, Vanderwerf said the women looked real with C-section scars and stretch marks.

“Nobody was perfect. There wasn’t a single person back there who looked perfect,” she said. “Everyone was real. They looked good but they looked real.”

The competition is a grueling process with registration and a base spray tan the night before, then a 3 a.m. wake-up for more spray, hair and makeup. Then the women wait until their numbers are called for prejudging. The finals are in the evening when the women do their routines; awards and presentations are after that so it does make for a long day.

But, in addition to her successful finishes, there was something special in the competition for Vanderwerf. She walked onto the stage, the music was beating throughout the routine, and a little voice shouted from the audience, “That’s my mommy!” Her husband Jeff had come with their five-year-old, Jude, to lend support.

“I’m telling you, it was awesome,” she said.

If that wasn’t enough, she was nominated for a Canadian canfitpro PRO Trainer award for 2015, an award celebrating excellence in trainers from Canada and abroad. This is the fifth time she has been nominated and last year she won for participant’s choice.

She also entered a Muscle Memory Magazine contest where she placed second based on public scrutiny. She turned the magazine into a fundraiser of sorts in honour of her friend and colleague at the Bracebridge Sportsplex Grant Murray who died the day of her Barrie competition after a failed double lung transplant. For each vote Vanderwerf set aside $1 toward organ donation, totalling $100 she will be giving to Murray’s sister during his celebration of life on Aug. 30.

“It kind of worked out well in a karmic way to have been in the competition,” she said. “We’re going to get some recognition for a guy who didn’t have any health but rocked it as much as he could.”

As for the bodybuilding, Vanderwerf said she would love to say that she works out 24/7, but she doesn’t.

“I’m one of those annoying people who are going to tell you I work out 45 minutes a day five days a week and I eat a minimum of 2,400 calories a day,” she said. “It’s about 80 per cent of the food that I eat and the other 20 is the exercise.”

She said getting enough sleep, having a family that supports her and a work environment that humours her is a large part of her success as well as taking care of her body.

“Five days a week that is the first thing I do … That is my No. 1 and I get it done,” she said. “Everyone should have four per cent of their day dedicated to their health at minimum.”

Courtesy of: muskokaregion.com

It’s impossible for Miesha Tate to completely avoid the barrage of stories running around lately talking about the potential matchup between Ronda Rousey and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino.

Rousey is the No. 1 women’s fighter in the world, but a super fight with ‘Cyborg’ is considered to be the biggest challenge to her reign as UFC champion. Unfortunately, ‘Cyborg’ is still competing at 145 pounds and not technically in the UFC just yet until she can prove she can make the move down in weight for a fight with Rousey.

While all of this happening, Tate is still on standby waiting for the official word that she’s actually going to be the person to draw another fight with Rousey in the mean time. Tate is ranked at the top of the division off four straight wins and was declared the No. 1 contender following her last victory over Jessica Eye in July.

Despite those accolades, Tate is still waiting on standby for the official word that she’s going to face Rousey with the belt on the line later this year.

“It always finds its way to me, whatever information it is online and in social media. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, I don’t know for sure,” Tate told FOX Sports recently. “Dana (White) has been known to say things and that’s not exactly what happens.

“I’m just buckling down right now, I’m not taking any time off, I’m going straight back into the gym and I’m just going to continue training as though I want to be the world champion. I don’t want to get my hopes up too much yet because I know the UFC has not confirmed that with my management that is exactly what’s going to happen. I know a lot of things change sometimes and that’s part of the industry we’re in. I just have my nose to the grind stone and training like I want to become the best fighter in the world.”

UFC president Dana White did declare Tate as next in line for Rousey several weeks ago, but an actual date and location for the fight haven’t been announced yet. In the mean time, ‘Cyborg’ has been tearing through interviews and social media saying that she will be ready for Rousey at 135 pounds as early as December.

Regardless of those claims, all signs are pointing towards a New Year’s date on Jan. 2 between Rousey and Tate, but until the contract is in hand nothing is certain.

“Things are always so up in the air that you kind of end up chasing your tail if you really try to keep up with it in that way. So I’ve told my management that I’m going to train and I’m going to let them do the figuring out, that’s what I pay them to do and that’s it,” Tate said. “It takes that much more distraction away from me like if I hear ‘oh the rumor is ‘Cyborg’ is fighting’ and I’m just going to shrug my shoulders and keep training.

“I know my shot’s coming. I don’t know exactly when but I’ll be ready for it regardless.”

A fight with Rousey would be Tate’s third and likely final chance to uncrown the long reigning women’s champion. Tate has taken Rousey deeper than any other fighter in history and that’s part of the reason why she’s so determined to get another shot at the champion.

The first fight between Tate and Rousey was fueled by anger after the two women were at odds about how the Olympic bronze medalist chose to trash talk her way into a title shot. The second bout happened after a long stint coaching on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ where Tate was forced to deal with Rousey on a daily basis for six weeks while filming.

Now as she enters her seventh fight under head coach Robert Follis and a four fight winning streak with three of those victories over top 10 ranked opponents, Tate feels she’s better prepared than ever before to finally dethrone Rousey when they meet again.

“I’ve done what I’ve done. I’ve beat top level girls at what they’re good at,” Tate said. “I beat Sara McMann with wrestling and grappling and that’s her specialty. I beat Jessica Eye with striking primarily and I mostly beat her at her own game and that says something.

“I’m beating these girls at what they’re supposed to be good at and they’re all ranked in the top 10. I’m No. 1 and I don’t know who deserves it more.”

Tate isn’t exactly pessimistic when it comes to her title shot against Rousey but she’s trying to tamp down expectations so there’s no chance of disappointment if something changes. Still, Tate knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the next time Rousey steps into the Octagon, she’s the person who should be standing across from her.

“I do believe that I’m next,” Tate said. “I believe that I’ve earned it and I don’t believe there’s a female out there that deserves it more than I do.”

Courtesy of: Fox Sports
Photo by: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

1. Lea Beaumont
2. Francesca Lauren
3. Michelle Sylvia
4. Tawna Eubanks
5. Juliana Daniell
6. Chanan Siglock
7. Adrienne Crenshaw
8. Andreanna Calhoun
9. Noy Alexander
10. Laurin Conlin
11. Marcela Cabral
12. Jessica Lyda
13. Tiffany Urrea
14. Lindsey Waters
15. Sarah Allen
16. Vladmira Krasova
17. Elia Fernandez
17. Juliana Halloran
17. Shawn Hektor-Lewis
17. Adrienne Ochoa Dodobara
17. Kristina Olson
17. Sheiryll Ray

From Iceland, 22 year old Sara Sigmundsdottir took 12th place in the 2014 European regionals and 3rd in the 2015 Reebok Crossfit Open.

Squatting has an amazing effect on a woman’s body. It BUILDS glutes. So in honor of two’fer Tuesday, here’s a gallery featuring glutes…afterall they come in pairs.

Who can forget the amazing posing routine of Betty Pariso at the 2003 Ms. International. Stepping on stage in top condition, Betty sported a neon blue wig and terminator glasses to bring the house down.

Betty finished a solid 2nd in the heavyweight division, to the infamous Yaxeni Oriquen. Yaxeni went on to best the lightweight champion, Canadian Cathy LeFrancois Priest, for the overall title.

Here’s a few pics of Betty to jar your memory.

Undefeated UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will seek her seventh title defense against former world-champion boxer Holly Holm on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas.

Rousey announced the matchup Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The 135-pound title fight will headline UFC 195 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, as UFC president Dana White had previously stated Rousey’s next defense would be a trilogy bout against Miesha Tate.

Holm, 33, had also hinted she needed more time to prepare for a title opportunity.

“She’s the most decorated striker we have in all of mixed martial arts,” Rousey said of Holm. “Definitely my biggest challenge to date. I’m super excited about it.”

Rousey later added: “She’s not the average chick I would fight. She’s the best striker I’ve ever fought, and striking is something I learned much later in my career.”

As expected, Rousey has opened a massive betting favorite over Holm. Initial odds, set by Nick Kalikas of MMAOddsBreaker.com, pegged Rousey a minus-1450 favorite to win, which translates to a 93.55 percent implied probability. Holm is listed at plus-950. Rousey would have been a minus-1200 favorite in a proposed fight against Tate.

Rousey (12-0) is coming off a 34-second knockout over Bethe Correia at UFC 190 on Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro. A U.S. bronze medalist in judo in the 2008 Olympics, Rousey has finished all but one of her professional fights inside one round. She set the UFC record for quickest finish in a title fight earlier this year, when she submitted Cat Zingano via armbar in just 14 seconds at UFC 184.

Including another quick win over Alexis Davis, Rousey has beaten her past three opponents in a combined 1 minute, 4 seconds.

“I don’t ever expect the fights to be easy and fast,” Rousey said. “A lot of the guys you see, the first round is more of a feel-out period, and they’re both kind of sizing them up and taking their time.

“There’s no feel-out period for my fights. It starts right away. You don’t know what’s going to happen, and the first exchange is the most dangerous.”

After her most recent win, Rousey discussed Tate (17-5) as her next opponent. Tate is on a four-fight win streak but has suffered two prior defeats to Rousey in 2012 and 2013. Both losses came via armbar.

Holm (9-0), who was Ring Magazine’s Female Fighter of the Year in 2005 and 2006, officially ended an 11-year professional boxing career in 2013 to focus solely on mixed martial arts. Fighting out of Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Holm has recorded a knockout in six of her nine wins.

She signed with the UFC last year, eventually making her promotional debut in the co-main event of Rousey’s title defense against Zingano. Holm is 2-0 in the Octagon, with decision wins against Raquel Pennington and Marion Reneau. As a pro boxer, Holm compiled a 33-2-3 record with nine knockouts.

In kickboxing, Holm also won an IKF welterweight championship in 2001.

When asked about her prospects of beating Holm, Rousey pulled no punches.

“I can take anybody,” Rousey said. “I prepare for a five-round war every time I get in there. No one’s easy until you beat them. Holly Holm is the type ready to go 12 boxing rounds.”

Calls for Rousey to fight Invicta FC featherweight championCris “Cyborg” Justino(14-1) have been loud this month, as theconsensus Nos. 1 and 2 female fighters in the world each recorded sub-minute knockouts this summer.

The UFC has stood fast by its demand that Justino, who fights at 145 pounds, cut to the bantamweight limit. The UFC does not currently promote a featherweight division.

Courtesy of: ESPN

Tonight, on a very special episode of Dating Naked: Playing for Keeps …

Chris has always been a hot guy who likes hot girls. No matter what, he’ll be a hot guy who likes hot girls. That’s why he’s decided to keep Fallon week after week, even though Fallon is bad for him, for other women, for humanity at large, as nobody has disproven my theory that she’s a hell-demon.

But Chris’s close friend Kerri is really worried about him. She notices that Chris hasn’t been himself, that he’s just so concerned with hot girls that it’s like he’s barely paying any attention to her. Since she’s recently sent all the other naked contestants home, she has nothing to do but concern herself with Chris. So, over breakfast, she expresses her concerns. “Chris,” she says. “I’m worried about you. You’re just so superficial these days. Don’t let Fallon’s hotness blind you to other people’s beauty. I’m worried you’re a hot addict.” And Chris is all like, I’m fine, Kerri. Worry about yourself, before storming off dramatically. Just like Jessie Spano shrugged off her friends’ concerns in that Very Special Speed Episode of . And we all know what happened there.

Date 1:

Chris and Lauryn: Deep down, Chris knows Kerri is right. Fallon does yogalates. Chris, he’s so conflicted, so hung up about Fallon, that he can’t even focus on the things he loves, like boobs, and basketball. Which is the only reason his date, Lauryn — a sports-loving gal from Pittsburgh who is bringing back frosted lipstick — manages to best him in a game of Horse. Chris feigns potential interest in Lauryn; Lauryn whoops his ass at basketball until she sees his manhood shrinking and lets him win.

Kerri and Justin: Kerri is so worried about Chris. She considers telling the principal what’s going on with him, but she doesn’t want to get him in trouble. Also, she’s really having a hard time, too. And Chris has been a bad friend to her when she’s so lonely and he knows that she would do anything for him. But, she doodles into her diary, today I found someone who really gets me, Justin! He likes dates and sports and sarcasm and happiness just like me. Maybe we’ll make out. He’s so dreamy. Maybe he’ll know how to help Chris.

Let the record show: I don’t fully trust Justin, but I want so much for Kerri to stop talking about Chris and Chris’s feelings and the feelings she has for Chris that I’d set her up with Buffalo Bill if it meant she’d shut up.

That night, there’s a big party at Chris’s house. He took a chance and invited the new girl, Lauryn. Fallon tries to do her thing where she gets other girls so drunk they pass out before they can try to talk to Chris — really, it’s like she’s poisoning them. This is not okay! Can someone help them?

Even in her drunk stupor, and after knowing Chris and Fallon for only three minutes, Lauryn knows this whole situation is bad news. She drunkenly slurs to Chris that he needs help. Chris is like, You don’t even know me, man! I’m fine! You don’t even know the first thing about me, and follows Fallon to bed.

Date 2:

Kerri and Doug: Doug is a physical therapist who later reveals he is an amateur stand-up comedian. This show is just fucking with Kerri now.

Chris and Amanda: Amanda is not your average girl. She’s an amateur bodybuilder. She’s a dancer. She’s bald because she shaved her head to support her mother, who has breast cancer.

When Chris sees her he so badly does not want to fuck her he considers grabbing his pants and running back home to Hot Fallon. But Amanda understands what’s going on with Chris; she’s seen it before. She’s no stranger to people being intimidated by her, to people not understanding her hotness. She’s been put on this earth to help him see, to rehabilitate him just like Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember when she helped Shane West through the power of love. Through the date — which requires Chris to try to dance, naked, in various hats (thanks, VH1!) — he begins to see.

And then she deadlifts him.

After a night that included Fallon spending too much time with Pinot Grigio and starting a girl fight, Chris now has a choice to make. At elimination, Kerri chooses Justin as the person she’ll pretend to like while trying to hide the Chris crush she’s talked herself into.

And Chris does the right thing and chooses Amanda. He makes a little speech: “I choose Amanda.” But what he meant to say is “Amanda, I was blind to women who are not size 2, but now I see. I see your beautiful smile. I see your realness. I see how blinded I’ve been to my own insecurities and superficial hang-ups. I see Amanda.”

Everyone is very proud of Chris. Very proud.

And now, a special message from the cast of Dating Naked:

Hey, kids. We make a lot of dick jokes around here, but one thing we do take seriously is acceptance. People come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and degrees of hair-having. Inner beauty will always shine through. Never judge a book by its cover, even if that cover looks great in a bikini. If you or any of your friends are dealing with any of these issues, reach out. There are people who can help. And remember, friends don’t let friends accept shots from Fallon. Thanks for watching. Have a good night.

Courtesy of: NYMag

Thanks to FUEL, a series dedicated to the high-performance diets of athletes. In this episode, they follow the UK’s international pro bodybuilder Rene Campbell, who eats the same high-calorie meal every three hours, seven days a week—and that’s just in her “off season.” We spend a day with Rene as she cooks up two weeks’ worth of chicken, rice, and eggs; stocks up on her supplements; and shows her male training partners how it’s done at the gym.

1. Missy Terwilliger
2. Chika Aluka
3. Marta Aguiar
4. Donnice Christian
5. Many Polk
6. Debbie Fowler
7. Babette Fowler