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Australian Pro Grand Prix
On the 16th of March I ventured to Melbourne to witness my first IFBB Pro Show. On arrival at The John Batman Theatre, I was confronted by a foyer full of muscle fans crowded around display booths by various supplement companies. The first booth I approached was the Balance stand and came face to face with Garrett Downing who was signing and posing for photos. I was immediately struck by the sheer size and density of the man. I had never seen anyone so big! Garrett was polite and agreed to a photo even though I did not buy one from him. 

Garrett Downing

That's one thing that really impressed me about these guys, all were very friendly and willingly posed for photos. Just about every stand had a pro signing photos. One of the most impressive was rookie pro Quincy Taylor. At well over 6 feet tall, he had an arm bigger than my head!

Quincy Taylor

On to the show report. As each pro did his stuff on stage, it became apparent that all of them weren't taking this show too seriously (as was evident at the high consumption rate of pizza I witnessed before the show). Most pro were in what I would call guest posing shape (except for one), not contest condition. Put it this way, none looked like the pictures in the mags. Some people have told me my assessment was harsh as they had all been competing for the last five weeks, but my reply is that they are PRO's, it's their job to look good. Why should the hardcore fan who paid $350:00 a ticket (some did) be witness to pro bodybuilders in 80% contest condition? Another disappointment was that only 9 pros turned up, making the night show an hour long affair. Here's how I saw the show,

1st. Chris Cormier: One of the biggest on stage at over 255lbs. Chris looked good but was very smooth from the rear. I (and many others) had him in third.

2nd. Dexter Jackson: Dexter looked great. He has great lines and was one of the hardest on stage. Posed great. I had him first.

3rd. Jaroslav Horvath: Horvath was great. Earned an Olympia qualification. Should of been second.

4th. Kevin Levrone: This was a surprise, Kevin visibly shook when it was announced. To be fair though, his placing was deserved. He was small compared to his usual condition especially in the legs and calves. His posing was though the best I have ever seen. Kevin was without an doubt the most popular. When he turned up to sign photos, he was besieged by fans.

5th:.Jeff Long: I thought Jeff looked great. He had the hardest legs in the show.

6th. Garrett Downing: Lacked condition compared to the top 5.

7th. Luke Wood: Australia's great white hope, Luke was the hardest man in the show.

 This man was shredded! Unfortunately, even though much bigger than last year, Luke still has not the size and density to compare to the pros.

8th. Quincy Taylor: Biggest man in the show at over 270lbs. Looked like he had too much pizza.

9th. Stan McCrary: Made up the numbers.

You just cannot appreciate the size of these guys until you see them in the flesh. The size and fullness of their muscles is amazing. The biggest man at the show was not competing though, Dennis James made an appearance at the trade expo and blew everyone's minds with his off season mass. This man was seriously huge.

Mr world Nick Jones and Dennis James

Posedown

Will I go back next year? I don't know. Now that I have experience a Pro show I don't know if I'd been interested in seeing another one. Let's wait until next year. Some one asked me if I had been motivated by the Pro's? The truth is, I'd have to say no. While I was impressed by their size, to me their physiques are unattainable even if I used every drug available. The Pro show scene is like going to the circus, I came away just entertained, not motivated.
I'd like to thank Balance for providing me with seats for the show.

Some of the stands at the supplement expo

The Pro Show - Another Perspective by Andrew Blum
In a time long ago, men would make statues to express the way they felt about mankind, and the potential that lies within each and every man. The graceful, muscular perfection the ancient Greeks aspired to. A healthy body and a healthy mind.
A few days ago I witnessed as gross a deviation as humanly possible from such noble and ancient ideals - the IFBB Australian Pro show.
Gone is the grace and beauty that a body builder once worked to develop, all we are now left with is size at any cost. 

From my seat at the show I could quite clearly see what most of the competitors tried to hide from the crowd when they displayed their backs. I was aware of the abdominal distention from the abuse of Growth Hormone, but nothing could've prepared me for the disgust I felt when I saw it on stage in front of me. One competitor spent nearly a minute on back poses so he could let his gut out to breathe. That sight alone drained me of any enthusiasm I might've had left for pro bodybuilding.
You could easily see how out of breath just walking out onto the stage made some of the competitors.

Whatever happened to lifting to make a stronger and healthier body?

Andrew with Garrett Downing

Any gym you walk into is full of lifters who, regardless of their acheivements in the gym, will never feel the confidence and self-esteem that comes from bettering themselves because they all continue to compare themselves to a distorted and impossible benchmark - the pro bodybuilders

Walking around the area outside the theatre, where the booths were, I was watching people around me. All the chemically enhanced boys eyeing everyone off to determine their place in the "I'm bigger than you" heirarchy. The older women pushing out their post-op breasts in a sad attempt to look like wrinkly barbie dolls. Nobody there was having a good time… they were all far too busy scanning every set of eyes around them to see if anyone was looking at them! 

Out in the real world, where the 200 pound man looks like a giant among regular people, everyone is staring. At the show, everyone was big, which made so many men feel insecure about their place in the room because they weren't the big guy anymore… they were back to being average, or with the pro's around, maybe even small!
Project that mentality for a moment and try to imagine how a man who has nothing to more to offer than some big muscles, would look up to the pro's. He wants visibility. He wants people to see him and acknowledge him. He sees the pro's in the magazines and now up on stage with the crowed cheering for them. The difference between his current stature in life and the pro's could quite simply be that he needs to go a few steps futher to get bigger. Then they would all love him! A little too simplified I know but I'm sure you get the idea.

Now what if the pro's were a picture of health and human perfection? More realistically proportioned men who valued symmetrical perfection over size for the sake of size. Would that guy in the crowd who wants to be noticed be planning out the drugs he needs to take to be the biggest he possibly can be after the pro show, or would he be finding new ways to best build his body to display his own ideal of the perfect human form?

Would the pro's then inspire grace and beauty and symmetry, over distored, bloated mass in the fans? I don't think any of the crop of current IFBB pro's have to courage to find out… or maybe their fans don't have the integrity to demand a new standard from their heroes.

Aussie Pro Grand Prix Goss.
Walking around at the trade expo in Melbourne, it's always humorous to view the folks who have obviously spent a great deal of time coordinating their weekend attire. A note to these misguided souls: Nobody's looking at you. Why? Everybody's too concerned about how they're looking.

Christine Enval turned more heads at the pro show than most pros. Pound for pound, SHE was the biggest person there!

Which top four placed pro spent the afternoon in a Melbourne hospital after arriving in the country the day before drunk as a skunk?

I felt sorry for pro Stan McCrary as no one appraoched him for signed photos. Maybe if he didn't look like he was going to bite your head off people would have approached him. Ditto to the girls at the Bodyripped stand.

During the posedown, Chris Cormier left the stage and walked all the way to the nosebleed section hitting shots all the way and posing for photographs.

Good to see that Australian women are contributing to the world's total of plastic boobs.

You should of seen the look on the faces of Crown Casino patrons when a trio of pro bodybuilders walked in.

I have never seen bodybuilders (let alone pros) about to go onstage eat so much pizza, hamburgers, and chips.

With his first place cheque in hand, Chris Cormier reaped in $80,000US in prize money from 4 contests.

Biggest complaint...ticket prices. At $65:00 for the cheapest and $350:00(!!!) for the most expensive, a one hour night show is not great value.

Ron William Seminar

Ron Williams (USA), the world's greatest drug free bodybuilder with over 100 titles will share his secrets in a 90 minute exclusive seminar. A must see for both men and women interested in natural physique training and development, and world class contest preparation and effective dieting.
Ron Williams is a leading authority in weight training, diet, and nutrition. In a career spanning twenty years he has won the INBA titles of Mr Natural Olympia twice, Mr Natural World three times and Mr Natural Universe four times. In 2001 Ron was crowned "Natural Bodybuilder of the Decade". Ron has a special talent for teaching and inspiring people to improve spiritually, mentally, and physically. "I refuse to use harmful substances. Contest preparation is very taxing on the body, but if done properly can be healthy. Competitve bodybuilding is a true science."
I had the pleasure of seeing Ron compete in Melbourne at the 2000 Natural Olympia and was amazed at his development and contest condition.
Don't miss out on this rare experience to listen to one of the world's greatest natural bodybuilders. Tickets are only $15:00 and can be purchased at Australian Muscle or at the door. Purchases can be done via the phone by calling me on 8373 0735.

Ron Williams Seminar

FREE BODYFAT TEST

SUBSCRIBER COMPETITION

This month's winner will receive 1kg of Balance Creatine Monohydrate.

Last month's winner of 5lb tub of All American Whey was Andrew Vignoni of Marion.

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N.B. All Prices are in  AUD.

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Most Powerful Form Of Testosterone Now Available!

Know anybody (besides a spokesperson for a supplement) that’s gained any muscle using testosterone based pro-hormones? Didn’t think so!

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Please listen! The most powerful type of testosterone in your body is called free testosterone. Free testosterone is "test" that is not bound by Sex Hormone Binding Globulen.

SHBG is a protein that binds to over 90% of all testosterone you produce. That’s right! Less than 10% of your natural test is working to build muscle. So instead of always trying to take more synthetic test, doesn’t it make more sense to "free-up" more of your own.

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Then why doesn’t everybody look like Mr. America?" Good question! And you’ll find out once you read this eye-opening special report that reveals how you can tap into your own testosterone gold mine that’s been lying dormant in your body for years . . . the same testosterone gold mine a bull uses. Yes, a beastly muscular BULL I know you’re very excited about discovering how to finally unlock your natural testosterone gold mine . . . but first, it’s very important that you listen to this little "introductory story" because it will set the stage for the incredible revelation you’re about to be enlightened upon.

In 1905 a preacher named Russell Conwell wrote a book called Acres of Diamonds. It was a "business success" type of book, and its central theme was, you don’t need to move to another country, or state, or town for a business opportunity to "find you" because plenty of them are already in your own mind! A new invention! A better mousetrap! A timely innovation . . . can all make you extremely wealthy!

It’s obvious the vast majority of body-builders have never read this book! Because if they had . . . maybe a spark of genius would have "illuminated them" into looking inside their bodies for the most powerful muscle building compound known . . their very own, naturally produced testosterone.

Instead, 99% of body-builders look for an "andro this" or "nor-andro that"! And if they’re a little on the dangerous side, maybe a little test/cyp or an amp or two of Sustanon 250 to jack up their test levels.

Make no mistake! These compounds do work! But, they are far from safe because they will shut down your nuts if you stay on them too long. Yeah, you’ll look good . . . until you take off your jock! Wouldn’t a better option be to produce more of the most powerful form of testosterone known, a kind of testosterone every body has lying dormant in their system!

It’s Your Best Choice To Get Huge!
Unfortunately though, it’s all "bound up",and unusable due to a hormone that restricts its flow!

That’s right! There is a hormone called Sex Hormone Binding Globulin that restricts 90% of your testosterone from doing the things it likes to do. Things like cause unbelievable nitrogen retention, and protein synthesis . . . in other words . . . build a ton of muscle!

Now, why do you think a bull is so huge and muscular! (They’ve got traps that make Dorian’s look like he’s never done a shrug!) They’re so huge and muscular because nearly 90% of their testosterone is free, and not bound by Sex Hormone Binding Globulin . . . the exact opposite of humans! But get this . . . they produce about the same amount every day as "us", around 7 – 10 mgs.

So you see, the real secret to jacking your test levels is to "free it up". And when you do this, look out, because you’ll be "freeing up" your own, DNA specific testosterone. Testosterone that is genetically programmed to respond specifically to your androgen receptors.

Bulls don’t "juice" . . . because the best juice "is already in em"... just like it’s already in you!

So, what’s the secret to freeing up your own juice? Simple. All you’ve got to do is block Sex Hormone Binding Globulin from attaching to the androgen receptor site. Do this, and bingo . . . your test is "freed up," lots of it!

Announcing the most effective test-osterone-freeing agent available without a script, "Vyo-Dim".

Vyo-Dim’s active ingredient is called di-indolymethane, a phytochemical (plant chemical) that effectively blocks SHBG from attaching to the androgen receptor by first attaching to it. With no place "to land", SHBG can no longer "bind testosterone." Isn’t this a lot better way to elevate the most powerful muscle building hormone known?

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So not only will lots of testosterone free-up, none of it will convert to estrogen. This is a major, major problem with prohormones and synthetic testosterone. Bitch tits are even more embarrassing than being caught wearing your girlfriend’s underwear . . . and thousands of guys risk this shame just for a little muscle!

C’mon, do it the smart, safe . . . but extremely effective way! Be a bull, not a heifer. Vyo-Dim really is the best way to go when you need to jack-up your testosterone levels . . . take it from one of the most dangerous and muscular beasts in the world!  

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 WHAT'S THE GOSS?

Gossip is sourced from various sites such as muscletime.com, getbig.com, nuclearnutrition.com, ironmagazine.com 

It's official. At the 2002 Arnold Classic, Flex said he will definately unretire from the official retirement proclamation he made before. That was the big buzz at the Arnold. But now word comes from inside the Flex Wheeler household is that Flex will make his long awaited return to the IFBB pro stage at the 2002 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas on October 19th!

The mercurial and unpredictable Kevin Levrone, stung by his fourth-place finish in the Australian Grand Prix, says he's planning on jumping into the Night Of Champions in New York on May 18. The NOC is always one of the most heavily contested shows of the year, but the Maryland Muscle Machine isn't worried, and vows huge improvements for the shindig.

All contestants in the Arnold Classic were drug tested, and only one failure resulted. The unfortunate party was Victor Martinez, who ended up in 13th place, and therefore won't lose a dime because of the test result. Some quarters had been suggesting that Arnold winner Jay Cutler had skipped the drug test (conspiracy theory alert!), and was allowed to take a walk by the IFBB. Not so, according to IFBB pooh-bah Wayne DeMilia, the man in charge of policing the pee. According to DeMilia, everybody filled the vials and only Martinez tested positive for banned diuretics.

Victor Martinez

Shawn Ray is putting up $5,000 of his own money towards the prize moeny for the competitiors not in the top 10 of the Mr. Olympia 2002! Shawn also has challenged all of the other top level pro's to put their money where their mouth is in support of the soldiers at war trying to compete at the top level.

I have heard reports of a top level bodybuilder dying the day after the IFBB Australasia. More next month.

Michael Jackson a fan of bodybuilding?

 N.B. All Prices are in  AUD.

*** Editorial Information***

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Phone/Fax:(08) 8373 0735 Email: KIM@AUSTRALIAN-MUSCLE.AUST.TO
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