Eryn Strickland Chat with Deke Warner
by Lisa White

NPC Competitor and co-host of Sports After Dark Eryn Strickland presented fans with a different sort of show this past week by having an appearance from Mr. Deke Warner. Who is Deke? He has many titles such as bodybuilder, bodybuilding judge and NPC Official but most importantly he is the promoter to both the NPC Mid Florida Muscle Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure and Bikini Championships, as well as, the NPC Florida State Bodybuilding competition. Deke has been in the industry for many years and began his role in the NPC by competing in 1982. During this time he has learned the ropes of the NPC and has helped to make the Mid Florida and Florida State two very strong shows.

Deke began promoting bodybuilding events 15 years ago but that doesn't mean he has forgotten about his athletes. His career started in the gym when he was training himself for bodybuilding shows and he continues in the fitness industry as a nutritionist and personal trainer to new talent. Deke has a philosophy when it comes to his athletes and it's simple: he likes to work with no more than ten athletes at one time and he trains athletes in every division.

He believes it can pit competitors against each other if he's training them for the same shows and has found it to be better by spreading them out so each gets personal attention.

Due to his reputation there's no suprise how busy he is as an official, promoter and trainer.
As the Florida NPC Central District Vice Chairman he will answer questions that have to do with competing in the NPC if the Chairman Pete Fancher is not available. Whether it's a simple question about weight classes or the more recent issues with appropriate bikini's Deke will help as best as he can. As a judge, Deke also has an explanation for Eryn and those athletes or fans who feel competitors were inappropriately judged. He states the sport is objective; not subjective which is usually the argument when someone has not placed higher than they expected to. Judges are directly in front of the competitors and are able to see every aspect of a competitor's physique. Deke explains a person can look great from ten rows back or the complete opposite but the judges make the very best decisions possible. His own personal experiences as a competitor in local, regional and national level shows has led to his foray into promoting and has led to great show successes.

Over the years, he payed attention and took note of the actions behind the scenes and learned what could be added or taken from each to create a great show. Mr. Warner's NPC Mid Florida show has held fast with an average of over 100 competitors each year. Much of it's due to the "open ear" policy Deke offers his competitors. Just as he answers questions as the Vice Chairman, he listens to suggestions and feedback as the promoter. With feedback from each show he has changed or incorporated ideas to present the best bodybuilding event possible. As if the history of the NPC Mid Florida doesn't speak for itself; the 2009 NPC Florida State was re-located and had a stellar outcome of 169 competitors. With the additions of cross-overs the tally reached over 200 athletes compared to it's days before Deke’s leadership and an average of 50-60. Deke hopes this year's event to be no different and plans to keep creating the best possible events for all competitors.

The event will be held on June 19, 2010 at Howard Middle School with the host hotel being the Courtyard by Marriot. Athletes and fans of bodybuilding can find get all the info and contact information, entry forms and more at www.DekeWarner.com. Deke is also available directly via email at Deke@Bellsouth.net.

Editors Note: BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank Eryn Strickland and Mr. Warner for this special interview and for Lisa White's coverage.

Larissa Reis Comes Out To Play Sports After Dark

By Lisa White

Although bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini has some unspoken standard rules for it's competitors there are some athletes who push the standards to the brink each time. This doesn't necessarily mean he or she is doing it on purpose but doing it because they feel comfortable in the sport to do so. The interview between IFBB Pro Larissa Reis and Hosts Erin Strickland and Allison Moyer of Sports After Dark is letting others know that Larissa is out to make a statement with her hard earned physique and strong stage presence.

During the last few years Larissa has done well for herself in the IFBB and very well in the 2009 season by placing first in the Atlantic City Pro and coming in second in the New York City Pro. Larissa's edgy look and tight presentation has presented her opportunities in modeling for luminaries like Playboy to sponsorships with Nutrex, a high profile and very successful company. Substantial sponsorship on her dossier is something to be proud of but maybe more so that she is the first Brazilian competitor to have ever won an IFBB pro show.

When asked by Eryn Strickland, "who are you training with right now? Do you work with any one trainer for nutrition or do you do all by yourself?" it was a bit surprising to here Larissa answer "No. I do it by myself. Everything I do by myself." Many of the athletes, including pros reach out to trainers for help with contest prep. Even with her pro card in hand Eryn asked "since you've turned pro, what has been in your opinion the greatest improvement you've made to your physique?" Larissa states she has changed her style and "I did some improvement to my upper body because in Brazil we are more into legs and glutes and here the girls are more into upper body. So I had to adapt my body to the American style." And, her training style coupled with genetics and diet have surely paid off on stage.

Besides her busy training schedule for the Olympia, wherein she has increased her cardio to two-a-days she is training clients, as well. So with all that's on her plate already "what are your plans for the rest of 2010, any upcoming projects going on, anything you'd kind of like to talk about or announce" asks Allison Moyer. For Larissa, her big plans are to improve her English and take some acting classes. She says her English isn't good enough yet and in order to work in film she needs to work on that. As for the rest of her career Larissa admits she would like to earn more sponsorship contracts, many more simultaneously and continue to do well in the sport.

Editors Note: www.BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank Sports After Dark Hosts Eryn Strickland  and Allison Moyer, as well as, IFBB Pro Larissa Reis for this interview and Lisa White for producing this article. For more information on Sports After Dark please send and e-mail to SportsAfterDark@hotmail.com and check out www.SiouxSportsAfterDark.wordpress.com.
For more information on Larissa Reis she can be contacted through her website at www.LarissaReis.net. Special thanks to C-Ray of FitGemsNation for sponsoring the ladies and Jason of Siouxcountry.com for his promotion of Sports After Dark. Eryn & Alli need your support for their weekly show. Whatever you can afford to help them with from a kind word to cash would be appreciated. Too often lip service is provided to supporting athletes and those who are truly giving back to the sport and industry. Get in on the ground floor of a dedicated group of gals bringing weekly content to a worldwide audience. Contact Eryn or Alli today for affordable and effective advertising rates. Also, Lisa is available through our forum and our blog for your professional writing assignment needs. Search engine optimization is key in todays' competitive online marketing. Without well-written representations of your viewpoint and product you are left behind. Take on a professional writer as part of your investment in your business today. Lisa is right for you!

In the June 3 interview on IFBB Pro Don Longs' Audio show Big Bill Wilmore revealed some interesting points as to whether or not he will push to participate in his forth Olympia or not. "It's not enough for me to just go to the Olympia," Wilmore said. "When you first start out in bodybuilding it is a dream of yours. Now all those guys are my fellow competitors and friends and everything else and a lot of times at the Olympia unfortunately it is so competitive and there are so many good guys you need a little bit of momentum going into a show like that. A lot of times even at the press conference you can be at the Mr. Olympia and they won't ask you one question."

I've seen this at various pro show press conferences and thought actually that Dave Palumbo is one of the best interviewers at these events as with the Tampa Pro going to each athlete and getting a few words from them. What will it take to get Big Bill on the Olympia stage in 2010? "If I can make a lot of changes like I think I can and I can get some people talking about me and stuff like that it makes more sense for me to do it," Wilmore said. And that makes sense to us. Let's get talking about Big Bill Wilmore!

May 27, 2010

by Don Long

Life Long Nutrition show Presents Battle on the Coast with Promoter Ty Pope

Lisa White

When it comes to the NPC Battle on the Coast there is far more to it than a bodybuilding show. The name lends itself to something deeper and more meaningful as explained by promoter Ty Pope during his recent interview with IFBB Pro Don Long and wife NPC competitor Sarah Long. The promoter, NPC Competitor and pastor has a history within the bodybuilding community and has promoted this show as a way to give back to the community that has given him so much.

During his history with bodybuilding Ty has also led a life in ministry. Even with his great record of winning the 2006 South Eastern USA's overall title, second place at the Team Universe, as well as, winning the overall title in 2008 for the All South show he left bobybuilding for seven years for the ministry and became the pastor for Life on the Horizon. As he states to Don and Sarah there is an intertwining of bodybuilding and ministry for Ty. He believes ideas can be incorporated for both the ministry and fitness industry and has titled his show and church to represent life's victories and a positive lifestyles.

When Ty isn't at the church he can be found training himself or other clients. In fact, at the Battle of the Coast he will have three clients participating. When asked how he is handling the diet for his competitors and for himself Ty responds that monitoring carbs and fats seems to work the best so he and his competitors don't burn off all the hard earned muscle from the off season. As for Ty's own personal diet he will be sticking to seven meals a day and sees the most results from high intensity training. Pushing and challenging the muscles in every session is the way he gets the most polished finish. One of the roles he has also taken on with his competitors is that of coach. With the first-timers he is doing a lot of coaching, reassuring and giving words of encouragement.

Although he is getting ready for his own contest prep he is excited to promote NPC Battle of the Coast and has many sponsors in his corner such as Gaspari, Muscleology, Purists Lab and others totalling twelve. Ty will also have members from his congregation there to give out reading material and to help with the event but have no fear; this is not an in your face religious experience. Ty believes the more subtle approach is much more apprectiated when it comes to combining religion and bodybuilding and has learned that both are about bettering yourself.
Editor's Note: We would like to thank promoter Ty Pope and IFBB Pro Don Long and Sarah for an informative interview and our staff writer and natural figure competitor Lisa White for producing this pre-show coverage. We would also like to wish Ty the best of luck in his upcoming event. For more information on the NPC Battle of the Coast it can be located at www.battleonthecoast.com.

IFBB Professional Bodybuilders Tracy Mason and Debi Laszewski Chew The Proverbial Fat

Tracy chats with Debi Laszewski about her training, consistently top contender Olympia placings and her philosophy on life that makes her one of the most popular female guest posers in female bodybuilding today. For all the commotion and stress associated with the rigors of a busy life Laszewski has managed to stay focused and though in the limelight out of the line of fire amongst the Internet rumor mill and such. Debi discusses her plans leading up to the Olympia with guest posings and other assignments elsewhere in the country. Tips and encouragement for Tracy were also provided regarding posing strategies that will be of interest to other competitors at whatever level you may find yourself.