Bodybuilding.com has announced their 2010 Supplement Award nominees, recognizing industry leaders who are delivering high-quality, effective products. Over 80 brands were nominated in all and Cellucor is up for 5 awards in the following categories:

· New Brand of the Year
· New Supplement of the Year (D4 Thermal Shock)
· Packaging of the Year
· Fat-Loss Supplement of the Year (D4 Thermal Shock)
· Joint Health Supplement of the Year (R3 Extreme)

Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards nominations are based on the top-selling products in each award category, selected from the 10,000+ products Bodybuilding.com carries. When customers purchased a product from Bodybuilding.com this past year, they voted (with their wallet) for that product’s nomination.

“Being nominated for a Bodybuilding.com Supplement Award is quite an accomplishment! Since it’s the public who chooses the final winners, winning this award positions a company to be one of the most trust-worthy out there. We also see award winners naturally rise to the top of our best-sellers list,” explains Ryan DeLuca, CEO of Bodybuilding.com.

Cellucor is extremely honored to receive these Supplement of the Year Nominations from Bodybuilding.com, and we owe a special thanks to our fans. However, we have not won the awards yet, you can help Cellucor stake its claim on these Awards by placing your vote today.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SUPPLEMENTS NOW…

Winners will be decided by customer vote via an online voting system running now through August 15, 2010 on Bodybuilding.com. The final winners will be announced live at the 2010 Mr. Olympia Expo on September 25, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cellucor sales more than doubled over the second quarter of 2009. Much of this growth can be attributed to our new retail partners, GNC and Bodybuilding.com, as well as our strong growth internationally.

Sales growth was driven by the substantial increase in demand for M5 Extreme, our 2 in 1 pre/post-workout supplement, and D4 Thermal Shock, our highly effective fat-burner . We are anticipating an even stronger third quarter as demand continues to build on a global level.

We should also have several new surprises in the form of new products and existing product updates, including a 3rd generation packaging update. Many of these enhancements should be unveiled later this year.

It’s no secret that losing weight gets more difficult as you get older. Part of this process is the occurrence of naturally declining levels of human growth hormone (HGH) and Testosterone once we reach the age of thirty. These two hormones are two of the most important hormones in our body when it comes to building muscle, burning fat, feeling energized and youthful. Here are six tricks to naturally and safely boost these hormones which will keep you building muscle and burning fat for years to come:

1. SLEEP 7-8 GOOD HOURS A NIGHT – A University of Chicago study found when men were deprived of sleep or were interrupted during sleep (not allowed to get to their deep stage 4 cycle) their daily growth hormone levels dropped by 23 percent. Our stage 4 deep sleep is typically when our body releases it’s largest pulses of growth hormone. If you’re getting seven to eight hours of sound sleep a night you are probably OK. The quality of sleep is very important here and one of the easiest ways to keep your growth hormone levels up and normal.

2. WORK THE BIG MUSCLE GROUPS REGULARLY AND INTENSELY – Short, intense bouts of heavy resistance exercise and interval style training have shown to be more efficient at boosting growth hormone and metabolizing fat (triglycerides) for energy. Research also suggests compound movements, or movements that require action at more than one joint, are more effective at boosting testosterone than single joint, isolated movements.

3. LOSE WEIGHT AT A SAFE RATE OF 1 TO 2 LBS A WEEK – If you’re working the body out regularly and intensely like in tip 2 and you cut your caloric intake by more than 15% than your daily needs then you run the risk of lowering your body’s testosterone production. By over training and drastically cutting calories you will in fact lower your ability to burn fat, rather than the opposite effect you are striving to achieve.

4. EAT GOOD FATS – Good fat and cholesterol are building blocks for Testosterone. Boost your body’s ability to produce Testosterone by getting 30% of your daily calories from good fats found in avocados, peanut butter, walnuts, flaxseed and omega-3’s.

5. SKIP ON ALCOHOL – Alcohol inhibits Testosterone production and increases Estrogen in the body. As if the aging process wasn’t making it hard enough to burn fat and build muscle, alcohol only magnifies some of the hormonal changes that create belly fat and man boobs.

6. EAT WELL, EXERCISE AND USE THESE TIPS EARLY – For some of you reading this now, it may be too late to start “early”, but these tips can certainly help you no matter how old you are. Research suggests that taking the proper steps to boost testosterone levels in your 20’s and early 30’s can help battle the natural decline of these “youth” hormones as you get older.

At the core of Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory of natural selection was the concept of organisms passing down traits that ultimately made their species more fit for survival. Here in America, we are experiencing a de-evolution of humanity as we eat and sit ourselves to death, mostly by choice. Unfortunately, for my generation and the generations that follow, there is a trait that is being passed along that could potentially mean our lifespan may not exceed that of the Baby Boomers:

“Our research indicates that higher numbers of young and middle-age American adults are becoming obese at younger and younger ages,” researcher Joyce Lee, MD, MPH, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan, says in a news release.

Researchers found that 20% of people born between 1966 and 1985 were obese in their 20s, an obesity prevalence milestone not reached by their parents until their 30s or by their grandparents until their 40s or 50s.

That means more Americans are getting heavier earlier in their lives and carrying the extra pounds for longer periods of time, which suggests that the impact for chronic disease and life expectancy may be worse than previously thought. – WebMD

Does this mean Americans are developing a genetic predisposition to obesity, metabolic disease and coronary heart disease that is being passed along to our youth? The simple answer is NO. This “trait” that is being passed along has NOTHING to do with genetics and EVERYTHING to do with the lifestyle choices that are being demonstrated to our youth. Kids growing up don’t know about making lifestyle choices. Children aren’t born with the skills of survival; it is something taught to us by our parents. You don’t see mama bear leading her cubs into the territory of dangerous predators do you? So why, as adults and parents, do we demonstrate lifestyle habits to our kids that are going to kill them from the inside out? Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense does it?

It is time we shake the “genetic” phantom as the cause for much of our health related issues. The truth is unhealthy kids mostly have unhealthy parents when it comes to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and a sedentary lifestyle. You know the saying, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” That’s not simply due to the apple being on the same biological path as the tree just because it came from it, it is because the tree is ultimately the apple’s environment. Our environment plays a HUGE role in not only the life path we take, but the path our biology ends up expressing. It is up to parents and adults to stop the de-evolution of humans and begin demonstrating the proper survival skills for our youth so they can enjoy the fruits of a long and healthy life. To change the course of our fate and our children’s fate, we have to start making BETTER lifestyle choices that make us more fit to survive.

Have you ever dreamed of being a Fitness Star? When you start out on your quest to stand on stage and compete, you may initially only want to win a title, lose some weight or meet some cool people. However, as you get closer to the spotlight, you begin to discover the possibilities of what your physique can bring you.

It’s best to have some sort of action plan created. Make a list of what you want to achieve and why. When you know your reasons for becoming a Fitness Role Model – then you’ll have an easier time knowing what to do with the opportunities that come your way.

Here are some pointers that will help guide you on your exciting new journey:

1. Clearly define your goals – do you want extra attention? Exposure? Are you promoting a business (personal training or trying to gain sponsorship) or yourself?

2. If you aren’t going to keep an “in season, conditioned” look all year round, strategically plan out photo shoots and appearances for when you’re on top of your game. As much as you may want to show the world all of your hot photos, hold onto them and release them over a period of time.

3. There are many channels on the internet that you can use to get your name and face out there. Do your research first to ensure that you’re aligning yourself with reputable sites, networks and companies – it’s your own brand that you’re building here.

4. Be reasonable and confident when negotiating term\conditions of industry projects. Talk to someone you trust. Get those people to review business proposals, which means – get it in writing whenever possible!

5. Do you know what the going rate is for print work, personal endorsements or video production? Do you attend industry related conventions and seminars? How much time do you have to efficiently promote yourself? Are your efforts cost-effective? Do you contact the decision makers? Will they take your cold call or read your unsolicited material? Do you have a comp card/business card or hard self marketing material? Do you have yourself on video tape? How current are your professional photographs? These are all key elements that will help you rise to the top of your game.

6. Have the right people on your “Team” – Personal Trainer, Nutritionist, Posing Coach, Support Network, Graphic Designers, Photographers, Writer, Stylist, Make-Up Artist and any other essential people who will help you develop your image.

7. Don’t expect your competition or show to be the “Be All and End All” of getting your name out there. You have to do the work yourself! Taking matters into your own hands will give you greater control over what reputation you’re establishing.

It’s a continuous evolution of your character, your dreams and discovering why being fit is such an amazing lifestyle habit. When you manage it properly, you’ll not only be able to motivate yourself – you’ll inspire others to be their best.

When it comes to natural supplements, it can be very difficult to separate the effective from the fluff. It seems we are constantly bombarded with “miracle” remedies. That’s why I turned to my nutritional consultant, Leah Hershey, when I learned about a supplement called CoQ10.

CoQ10 is in every cell in the body. From a science point of view (bear with me here) it plays a key role in producing energy in mitochondria, the part of your cells responsible for energy in the form of ATP. That caught my eye because the more energy the cells in your body produce then the more energy you have to workout and look good. CoQ10 helps the kidneys to function, helps lower blood pressure, and helps brain and heart health.
If you are taking prescriptions or heavy doses of protein then these have to be filtered through your kidneys making them work harder to properly process and break the substances down. Poor kidney function can affect your performance, your skin, and poor muscle recovery. CoQ10 can help the health of your kidneys; doing so helps you perform better, recover easier, and have healthier skin.

Levels of this super-antioxidant naturally decrease every year after you hit 30, so it would be wise for you to supplement with 50-100 mg if you are age 30 or older. If you have any heart conditions or are over the age of 50 than 150-200 mg would be best. Unfortunately, like most supplements it took a week or so to kick in but since I started taking CoQ10 I feel more alert, focused and best of all more energized. I know that if you keep your kidneys, heart, and brain healthy on the inside it’ll keep you feeling and looking healthy on the outside.

Selenium is another supplement that you should consider taking. It is a trace element and antioxidant essential for the human body. Selenium inhibits free radicals from oxidizing in your body, which can boost your immunity, help you look younger, and prevent certain cancers. Selenium can also help you to work out longer by removing certain enzymes that block antioxidant action in the body. Selenium also aids your thyroid gland function. An under active thyroid can cause you to gain weight, feel sluggish, and slow your metabolism down. No one wants that! Your thyroid glands regulate the body’s energy, metabolism, vitamin and hormone levels. Selenium can be found in Brazil nuts, kidney meat, tuna, crab, and lobster. If these foods are not a part of your daily diet consider supplementing with 50 mcg daily.

I’m not a professional at marketing and promoting. I have not went to school for anything media/marketing related, or business related at all! Actually I went to school for fitness and health promotion… and within that college course I had learned the basics of self promotion. However, over the last year, my trial and error and willingness to get my name out there has become more successful for me than any school has brought me thus far!

So how have I become successful over the last year promoting myself and getting the right people to take me seriously?  I started by looking at what others in the industry are doing in order to get themselves noticed. From there, I made my own ideas and things started falling into place. Over the 20 weeks of contest prep, I went from the competitor who few knew to the competitor who everyone fears is coming for their title. Basically, I threw myself out to the wolves, and it surprisingly turned out well.

Marketing Ideas 101:

1. Attend fitness workshops and camps put on by professionals: There are many 1 day or weekend workshops that you can attend to help you in many areas from competing to networking. Last year I attended Monica Brants camp. I learned so much from a professional, and it was all worth the money! Not to mention my motivation went through the roof!

2. Set up a blog: Simple and free, a blog can replace a website. Track your results, your progress and your diary in a blog. You can post your blog on a bodybuilding site, blog site, or facebook profile. Tag people that you have met in the industry in your notes that have helped you, or people within the organization for whom you are going to compete.

3. Workout Vlogs: Simple, yet time consuming… recording your workouts empowers others around you and keeps you focused on your training. If you don’t know how to edit your own workout vlogs, you can hire someone to help you! Post to YouTube, and dont be surprised if you end up with followers! Last year I made 4 contest vlogs, and I can’t believe the positive responses I got from them.

4. Attend as many bodybuilding & fitness shows as you can: The more shows you go to, the more you start to know the “who is who” of the industry. Introduce yourself to promoters, supplement companies, photographers and take notes. You might not walk into a supplement contract or get asked to do a shoot, but you might make some great contacts, and over time could possibly lead into something.

5. Promote your show: Start promoting your show, by handing out posters and promoting it on facebook and/or your personal blog spot. Last year I selected two photos and used Picasa program to incorporate my pictures and the show poster into one promotional picture. Surprisingly enough, I accidently started a bandwagon of things to come, noticing that my competitors took my idea and started doing the same! I didn’t mind, because I knew that it must have been a good idea if others started to do the same thing.

5. Be professional: This is a must! If you are going to do something, be a true professional at all times. I’m talking in regards to photoshoot, blogs, vlogs ect. Act the part, live the part if you want to be taken seriously. Hire professionals if possible. Always look good in times where it means the most. Try to avoid hiring a cheap photographer, hair and make up stylist, and graphic designer. Trust me, It pays to pay people to help you look the part! I can truly say this from experience.

So you see, anything is possible with time and effort. If you are wondering how to get started, these are some ideas that might help you! First, you must have faith in yourself enough to throw yourself out in the public eye. Also know that this industry is a numbers game. Some get lucky and noticed right away, where others have to put in their time and patience until the peak moment of opportunity. It has taken me 3 years to get where I am. I have worked for every bit of it, and it has made me a more confident competitor and fitness role model. There is still much room for me to grow, and when I learn more things along the way, I will pass the same tips along to those inspiring!

Over 150 years ago, Charles Darwin developed an evolutionary theory based on a process called natural selection. In short, natural selection is the process in which traits that make it more likely for an organism to survive and successfully reproduce to become more common in an organism’s population over the course of several generations. Darwin claimed only the fittest organisms on the Earth would continue to evolve and survive over long periods of time. Of course, what he was talking about was an organism’s ability to adapt and survive in its competitive ecosystem. Do you think Darwin would ever have guessed a population of the most intelligent life form on the planet might actually think and act, itself, totally unfit for survival?

Homo sapien erectus-Americus (yes I made that up) is becoming increasingly gluttonous and unfit. Unlike the rest of the animal kingdom and much of the human population, the rate of obesity, metabolic disease and coronary heart disease continues to climb in America. Over 67% of Americans are overweight with another one-third of them weighing in at obese. The number one killer in America is heart disease, followed by cancer, then stroke and rounding out the top five is diabetes. To put things simply, lazy Americans are making lifestyle choices that are killing them. The research is in and four of the top five causes of death in America are strongly linked with lifestyle choices we make on a daily basis. Do you know of any other animal population that will eat itself sick, ingest chemicals and poison for recreation, almost completely neglecting to protect its own valuable life?

Charles Darwin is rolling over in his grave as he watches one of the most fit and evolved organisms actually choose to be unfit for survival! Thanks to modern medicine, technology and economic status (we’re in a recession, but we’re no where near a third-world country) our survival is a no-brainer. At least it was until we as a country decided to super-size everything including our assess. 24 Hour Fitness came under a lot of scrutiny a few years back when the company made t-shirts and billboards with a picture of aliens that said, “When they come, they will eat the fat ones first”. With two-thirds of the country overweight, you can see why there was a lot of uproar and hurt feelings. All sensitivity aside; being sedentary, overweight and overindulgent in food and drink is unfit. This lifestyle undoubtedly points at an organism that is choosing its own extinction in evolutionary theory. I used to think Darwin was just a crazy scientist, but now I’m beginning to think he may have been a personal trainer…

As a seasoned conditioned figure vet, I took this last year very seriously post-show. I had set goals that I thought were very realistic. Eat healthy all year long, Exercise daily, and maintain motivation to keep myself 100% committed to fitness. Of course since I am an extremist, and a perfectionist, I also set the demand of thinking “it’s ok to gain weight.. but I want to see my 8 pack all year long!” Very typical of me, to make a goal that is realistic, however very hard to maintain! If it’s a challenge, I am up for it!

These goals that I had set meant purpose to me. From the 2008 -2009 competition season, I let myself gain weight. I didnt realize how much weight I gained over winter until I actually took a picture in early January 09, and reflected on it after my win @ the WBBF worlds in  September 2009. I was disgusted, ashamed, embarrassed.. and thought “I will NEVER look like that again!” From there, I knew I would set new goals.

I have had amazing things happen this year, and we are only tapping into the 3rd month. My husband and I bought our first fantastically beautiful house, we took off 3 weeks of holidays (which is RARE and I felt guilty, but much needed), and our personal training department in our gym is rocking out record breaking numbers, and I have my own monthly column in the new WBFF Fit & Firm online magazine (along side WBFF Pro and Cellucor amigo Karma..*hi karma!*)

However, with highlights come downfalls. Since we were away on our vacation enjoying Superbowl in Miami, unlimited food on our cruise, living on airport food for a few days, skipping workouts, packing our house for the move, we have basically been off track for 3-4 weeks now! A whole month written off! To an extremist, perfectionist and Type A World Figure Champion, this has been a hard one to swallow. Suddenly, my clothes are not fitting the same, my 8pk is now resembling a 4pk, cardio seems so much harder, and workouts are less effective! Can you say downward spiral!? Have I let myself down? Maybe… but I also set very high expectations, so I am trying to live with no regret because “life happens.”

It happened! Today I had a member say to me “sounds like the calm before the storm”… And that is exactly what has happened! I am used to being dedicated and committed to both work and training,… giving 100% for so long all year long, that my body needed this break! And it’s true! Funny how allowing myself to get into a habit of relaxing, has changed me into knowing what is coming for me starting at the beginning of April.

April brings contest training. YAY… contest training! Never have I been eager to get into blogs, vlogs and serious workouts and dieting! I feel so good when I’m committed and challenged! My brain is already firing off with so many ideas of how I am going to approach this year’s contest training, and different things I can do to stay on the top and be the leader! Did I mention, I do not like losing? So you can bet my mind is going to do whatever I have to do to stay on top! That is my goal, which I will accomplish.

It’s just amazing how letting yourself get out of norm and hitting a deep emotional level, can make you that much more motivated to get back on track, and prove to yourself that even though life takes you in an unexpected direction, you can reroute yourself back onto the path of success. You just have to make it a priority, want it, and go for it!

Everything happens for a reason, and as much as I do not want to believe that taking off a month from my “fitness life” will help me in the long run, I trust that it will! Today was the first day of change for me. Today is the first day of March, sun is shining, and I feel great! I feel back on track! *sigh of rejuvenation*

When it comes to competitions, you have to think bronze in order to get the gold. It is common knowledge that athletes need their skin to be dark come showtime in order to avoid having their definition washed out by the unforgiving stage lights.

However, it is not as simple as slapping on a fake-bake minutes before you hit the stage. If you really want to look your best, you have to properly prepare.

First, do not think you need to hit the tanning bed three times a week leading up to the contest. Your skin’s actual color will not have any effect on how you look on stage once you apply a tanner. In fact, you should make sure NOT to tan in a bed or the sun within 3-4 days of a show in order to avoid water retention.

There are important steps to follow before you even open the bottle of tanning product. To start, you want to make sure you completely and safely remove all the hair from your body. Every inch of you should be completely hairless (except your head, of course — unless that is your look). My preferential method of hair removal is shaving. I do this the day before the show. Make sure you shave in the direction the hair grows to avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs. If you are susceptible to these shaving ailments, get a full body wax several days prior to the competition.

Next, you must make sure to exfoliate. Using an exfoliating scrub, remove all your dead skin cells. This will help prevent a blotchy look once you apply your tan. Also, make sure your skin is not oily before applying the color.

As with anything, practice makes perfect. So, you are going to want to make sure you test your tanner several weeks before the big day. After following the steps above, sample your color by applying it to your torso. The idea is to find a tanning product that reacts well with your skin’s pH level. If there is a poor reaction between your skin and the tanner, it will give off a greenish tint under strong lighting. Look for this now so you catch it before the judges do.

After a show, removing your tan will be a pain. But, there are ways to make it a bit easier. First, soak in a warm bath. Not only will you need it by this point, but it should help loosen up the color. Use an exfoliating loofa or sponge to scrub the stubborn areas. If all else fails, try using some lemon juice to remove the rest. Do not be surprised if it takes a week or more before the color is completely gone.

This is not the most enjoyable part of competing, but it is necessary to get the most out of all your hard work leading up to the contest. You do not want to train and diet so hard for so long only to have your sacrifices washed away by the stage lights. If you follow these steps, I can assure you will be maximizing your chances of victory.