The weather is very nice here the week before the 2009 Ironman in Los Angeles.  For the last week, we have had 80 degree weather, and it is going to be that way also until Thursday, the weekend of the contest, where the forecasts call for rain.  Rain, in Los Angeles. Yes, it looks like that we may have a raincloud or two trying to wet itself on the convention center, where the 2009 Ironman and Fit Expo will be held.

This is the 20th year at the Ironman Pro Men’s bodybuilding contest, and it looks like the lineup is going to be a good one. Never mind the naysayers, who complain that some big names are not in this show. This lineup is just as good as in past years, and I, for one, am excited to see which names and surprises are going to be thrown at us this year.  You never know, but that does not stop me from making predictions. After all, I am taken away the title from Lonnie Teper from the past two years on making this predictions on the pro show (he will disagree with me, of course), and after a nice relaxing few weeks of holidays spirit, I am ready for the year. The top 5 here at this show are qualified to compete in the 2009 Olympia.

So who do we have competing this year. Here is the list that has been brought to our attention. It looks like 14 countries are being represented here. They are, in alphabetical order.

Eddie Abbew (England)
Troy Alves (USA)
Oliver Adzievski (Sweden)
Mohammad Bannout (Lebanon)
Thomas Bengali (Italy)
AD Cherry (USA)
Omar Deckard (USA)
Constantinos Demetriou (Australia)
Mark Dugdale (USA)
Tamer El-Shahat (Egypt)
Moe El Moussawi (New Zealand)
Oleg Emelyanov (Russia)
Aiman Faour (Lebanon)
DeShaun Grimez (USA)
Ahmad Haidar (Lebanon)
Marcus Haley (USA)
Johnnie Jackson (USA)
Martin Kjellstrom (Sweden)
Marc LaVoie (Canada)
Don Long (USA)
Daron Lytle (USA)
Caesar Mendible (Venezuela)
Evgeny Mishin (Russia)
Ronny Rockel (Germany)
Silvio Samuel (Spain)
Daniele Seccarecci (Italy), and
Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)

So here goes, my top ten predictions.

1)   Moe El Moussawi.   Now Silvio is the man, the favorite in this contest, and some say that he will come in and win this show easily. I am not so sure.  Last year, Moe stunned the Ironman crowd by defeating Silvio here, causing Silvio to shake his head.  Silvio did come back and beat him at the Olympia, but this is a new year, and the question is, which one of these competitors can withstand the holiday season, and come back three weeks into January looking better than the other.  I have seen some pictures of Moe. He is ten pounds heavier than last year, and looks shredded. He is determined. He just may pull it off, and defeat Silvio here again, like last year. Only this time, there is no Phil Heath to block is path to the prize. Moe is flying in from New Zealand a week before the contest and will be ready.

2)   Silvio Samuel.   Silvio is amazing. No question about it. This guy enters contest after contest and never looks like he is out of shape. I think when I talk to people, Silvio is the one that they say will beat everyone who has entered this contest. Even in the offseason, Silvio looks great, so why is he in second. I don’t know. I just have this feeling that Moe might take it, and look for shredded.  Silvio, pound for pound, is bigger, stronger and more muscular, but in terms of being shredded, well… it is going to be a battle.

3)   Hidetada Yamagishi – Hide is hungry, coupled off the firestorm last year that derailed his career, and had him lose his contract and much more, in terms of respect from the Japanese people.  He was a Japanese hero, and his arrest was too much for some. Never the less, this is a new year, and he is determined to show everyone that he is in shape, that he can compete in the rank, and will qualify for the 2009 Olympia on the first contest of the year. After all, he is not currently competing at the 2009 Arnold, so this is his big change to show what he has.

4)   Johnnie Jackson –  Agreeing to compete on the last day of the deadline, Johnnie never looks bad, and is the strongest bodybuilder on stage. He knows he is in shape, his muscular and will not bore us as he should earn a trip to the 2009 Olympia.

5)   Troy Alves – Back look great, chest looks great, legs look good, but the hamstring and glutes. This is where placings are made, and will Troy be ready in terms of bringing the overall package this year. I think he will.  I spoke to Troy earlier this week, and he seem like he was spot on, and is excited to be competing again at the 2009 Ironman.

6)   Ronnie Rockel – Ronnie always comes in shape, and I know think this year won’t be different.  Muscular, conditioned and just a good overall physique will catapult him in the top 10, but will he be able to get into the top 5 . I am not so sure, judging by the deep lineup we have now.

7)   Mark Dugdale – For some reason, I feel that Mark, to me, as some of the deepest respect in bodybuilding. A full time job, married with three little girls, great family values, how do you get in shape for a contest. Still, it has to be tough, and Mark usually is in that spot between being a smaller bodybuilder or trying to pack on size and lose some symmetry by being a heavier bodybuilder. I hope Mark does well here, he is one of the nicest competitors out there.

8)   Eddie Abbew – We always forget about Eddie, but somehow, Eddie likes the early shows, and usually comes out in the best shape of the year at them. He placed 3rd at the Ironman a few years back, so I don’t doubt Eddie will be in the top 10.

9)   AD Cherry – He looked great when he won his pro card two years ago, but has not been able to look as good as he did. Still, I think this show AD will crack the top ten, and keep getting better and better.

10)   Marcus Haley – Marcus is going to surprise us, and get into the top 10 in the 27 man lineup. He is a small competitor, but the way I feel, his physique is going to make the judges happy, and they will reward him.

There are others who can make the top 10, including Ahmad Haidar, Omar Deckard, and DeShaun Grimez, and of course, anyone else who worked hard during the holidays, and will surprise us here. It always happens. See you at the 2009 Ironman!

Alan Stiles, the former publisher of Mens Fitness and Esquire magazines, has died. He was 54. Mr. Stiles died Jan. 9 after being struck by a commuter train in Boston. The death was confirmed by Marlene Kahan, the executive director of the American Society of Magazine Editors, and Joe Pesaturo, spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Pesaturo said the trains 240 passengers were not injured in the Jan. 9 incident. Stiles, of Nashua, N.H., parked his car along the Massachusetts Turnpike, then apparently walked into the path of the oncoming train after it left Bostons South Station. Stiles had a long career in magazines. He helped relaunch Mens Fitness, where he worked as publisher from 2003 to 2004. He also helped launch ESPN The Magazine and served as publisher at Esquire and as a top executive at Vanity Fair and GQ.

From http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Alan-Stiles/85011758

Johnnie Jackson also has elected to jump into the 2009 Ironman, and thus we have a great lineup for the first IFBB men’s pro contest of the year.  We last saw Johnnie Jackson on the 2008 Mr. Olympia stage! See you in one week at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the contest.

Running a supplement store is never easy, but Troy Alves is doing quite well in Peoria, Arizona taking care of his customers.  Today, Troy Alves announced that he is also competing at the 2009 Ironman next Saturday, and judging by some of the pictures that we saw, he is going to do just fine!

In the last day, I have heard that Omar Deckard and Tamer El-Shahat both have applied to compete in the 2009 Ironman Pro men’s bodybuilding contest.  The contest is now up to 25 competitors, and I have heard that a few more top bodybuilders are planning to showcase themselves too.  This lineup is getting good, and remeber, at this contest, the top 5 competitors are qualified to compete in the 2009 Olympia in Vegas! 

I have known the main people of Pro Fight for a few years, and congratulations on Pro Fight becoming the title sponsor of the 2009 Ironman. Here is some of the team at the 2008 NPC Excalibur, as we talked about their sponsorship of the Ironman.

Except to see Pro Fight everywhere at the contest, near the boxing rings, the powerlifting events, and much more.

For more pics, click on the link below

Monday morning, January 12th, and an updated competitor list came out, as the start of the 2009 IFBB Men’s bodybuilding season will begin 12 days, on January 24th, at the Los Angeles Convention Center Hall. As I have heard, there will be more added to the list as the deadline to enter approaches, but here is who we have competing at the moment.

Eddie Abbew (England)
Oliver Adzievski (Sweden)
Mohammad Bannout (Lebanon)
Thomas Bengali (Italy)
AD Cherry (USA)
Constantinos Demetriou (Australia)
Mark Dugdale (USA)
Moe El Moussawi (New Zealand)
Oleg Emelyanov (Russia)
Aiman Faour (Lebanon)
DeShaun Grimez (USA)
Ahmad Haidar (Lebanon)
Marcus Haley (USA)
Martin Kjellstrom (Sweden)
Marc LaVoie (Canada)
Don Long (USA)
Daron Lytle (USA)
Caesar Mendible (Venezuela)
Evgeny Mishin (Russia)
Ronny Rockel (Germany)
Silvio Samuel (Spain)
Daniele Seccarecci (Italy)
Hidetada Yamagishi Japan)

The biggest name to pull out is Gustavo Badell, who was rumored to have said that he pulled out due to family reasons… but with the Arnold Classic six weeks after the Ironman, will he be ready for that show?

Kenny Kassell, part of the NPC team that takes care of all of the national shows, passed away unexpectedly. For many of us who cover the NPC shows, we just saw him at the NPC Nationals, backstage, doing what he loved doing. He will be sorely missed, and he is also the backstage announcer at many of these shows. The cause of death was determined to be Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). 

The funeral service will be on Sunday, December 28th, at 10am

It is on Sunday at 10 am  at Temple Beth El, 221 Schraalenburgh Road, Closter, New Jersey, 07624  Please call 201-768-5115 for more info.

From bodybuilding.com’s profile on Kenny.

Kenny Kassel has been involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years and in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. Kenny had been training with weights since he was 14 years old. He was lucky enough to have learned how to properly work out from legendary bodybuilders like Tom Platz, Danny Padilla, Robby Robinson, Leon Brown, and Pete Grymkowski, while visiting California in the 1970s.

After starting a gym, he began training many bodybuilders, and specializing with the women, starting around 1981. Kenny also had some of the professional athletes in his native NY area, such as members of the NY Yankees training in his gym. He worked with several members of the 1986 Super Bowl Champion NY Giants.

His foray into the entertainment industry began when he started Beauti-Fit Talent Agency, in order to start and nurture the careers of model Raye Hollitt, who became a star of the popular television show “American Gladiators.” Kenny also worked with several women who were bodybuilders and were marketable and helped them find work doing guest performances, and receiving major media coverage.

Kenny has managed 1989 National bodybuilding Champion Sharon Marvel, and later on managed 2000 Ms. Olympia Valentina Chepiga. In the early 1990s a friend who was a trainer and had moved out to California to train film stars introduced Kenny to 11-time World Kickboxing Champion Don “The Dragon” Wilson, who had already starred in over 20 action films.

With over 400 competitors, here are the top overall winners and the final shot of the night on stage here in Atlanta. Congratulations to Ed Nunn, Erin Stern and Shiela Black.

Congratulations to Ed Nunn for winning the overall NPC National men’s bodybuilding contest.   This photo is just after Ed realized that he was chosen to win the overall and was overwhelmed! It was a great moment at one of the best NPC National events, which had a packed house.

Up and coming NPC Bodybuilder, Tobias Young, joins the ON Athletes team and looks forward to even greater gains – in the gym and on the stage. Optimum Nutrition has joined forces with Tobias Young, who placed an impressive 2nd in the Heavyweight Class at last month’s NPC San Francisco Bodybuilding & Figure Championships. The 33 year old has an extremely impressive physique at 5-feet, 11-inches and 235 pounds. His favorite exercise is dual cable lat pull downs, because of the extra ‘squeeze’ he gets at the bottom of each rep to build his imposing back.

Tobias’ inspiration? “When I was about 5 years old, I was a fan of The Incredible Hulk on TV. I’d strut around ripping off my shirt and flexing. Since then, I’ve been working hard to put on muscle. In fact, I’ve been training for 20 years,” he said. After stints as a high school and college football player, Tobias found his calling. “I competed in my first bodybuilding competition at the 2002 NPC Border States show, where I placed 2nd in the Novice Class.” Determined to post an even better performance, he won his class at the 2004 NPC Pacific USA Naturals and followed that with an Overall win at the MCRD Muscle Madness competition two weeks later. Watch for more impressive performances in the years to come, and check the ON Athletes Page at www.optimumnutrition.com/team.php for upcoming appearances at gyms and nutrition retailers. Up and coming NPC Bodybuilder, Tobias Young, joins the ON Athletes team and looks forward to even greater gains – in the gym and on the stage. Optimum Nutrition has joined forces with Tobias Young, who placed an impressive 2nd in the Heavyweight Class at last month’s NPC San Francisco Bodybuilding & Figure Championships. The 33 year old has an extremely impressive physique at 5-feet, 11-inches and 235 pounds. His favorite exercise is dual cable lat pull downs, because of the extra ‘squeeze’ he gets at the bottom of each rep to build his imposing back.

Tobias’ inspiration? “When I was about 5 years old, I was a fan of The Incredible Hulk on TV. I’d strut around ripping off my shirt and flexing. Since then, I’ve been working hard to put on muscle. In fact, I’ve been training for 20 years,” he said. After stints as a high school and college football player, Tobias found his calling. “I competed in my first bodybuilding competition at the 2002 NPC Border States show, where I placed 2nd in the Novice Class.” Determined to post an even better performance, he won his class at the 2004 NPC Pacific USA Naturals and followed that with an Overall win at the MCRD Muscle Madness competition two weeks later.

Team BSN has further expanded its already talent-laden roster with the addition of yet another sporting legend – this time from the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), one Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. Much the same way 8-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman is a legend in bodybuilding circles, Nogueira is legend in the MMA brotherhood. Not only is he the current UFC® Interim Heavyweight Champion and the star of the hit reality series The Ultimate Fighter™: Season 8, Nogueira also holds the distinction of being the first Heavyweight Champion of the former Japanese fighting organization PRIDE®, and is the only man in the history of MMA to hold both UFC® and PRIDE® Heavyweight Championship titles.

Standing a towering 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing in the neighborhood of 240 pounds, the Brazilian born superstar is a black belt in Judo as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and also possesses some serious striking and submission ability. Nogueira is poised and ready to showcase these world-class skills at UFC® 92: THE ULTIMATE 2008 (December 27th, 2008), where he will face-off against former UFC® heavyweight champ Frank Mir. Currently, both men are opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter™: Season 8, which airs every Wednesday at 10 pm EST on SPIKE TV. It’s widely thought in MMA circles that the winner of the Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar fight taking place at UFC® 91: COUTURE VS. LESNAR on November 15th will face off against the winner of the Nogueira vs. Mir fight sometime in 2009 to unify the UFC® Heavyweight Championship title.

Here is the current NPC National Mens competitor lists for the upcoming 2008 NPC National Bodybuilding contest in Atlanta. See you there.

Mens Super Heavyweights

Adam Weidel    –    Monroe, GA
Eboni Wilson    –    Schererville, IN
Edward Nunn    –    Anderson, IN
Gabriel Latifi    –    Linden, NJ
Grigori Atoyan    –    Sacramento, CA
Jeffrey MacConnie    –    Seymour, CT
Joe Barker    –    Harmony, NC
Kevin Reeves    –    Riverside, CA
Kim Williams    –    Myrtle Beach, SC
Kirk DeFrancesco    –    West Mifflin, PA
Korbie Nitiforo    –    Albuquerque, NM
Malcolm Marshall    –    Winston-Salem, NC
Malik Ismeal    –    Pleasanton, CA
Mario Possemato    –    Hillsborough, NJ
Marlon Foots    –    Port Arthur, TX
Marvin Harper, Jr.    –    Cincinnati, OH
Micah Hooker    –    Fort Worth, TX
Mike Eastlake    –    Bellaire, TX
Paul DeSimone    –    Danvers, MA
Rasheed Oldacre    –    Colorado Springs, CO
Rudy Richards    –    Bronx, NY
Sean Allan    –    Bethesda, MD
Stephen Frazier    –    Grand Prairie, TX
Stephen Kuclo    –    Plano, TX
Steve Brydges    –    Williamsburg, MI
Sven Maldonado    –    Queens, NY
Trey Brewer    –    Smyrna, GA
Wondell LeFlore    –    Pflugerville, TX

Men’s Heavyweights

Aaron Boniecki    –    Mokena, IL
Anthoneil Champagnie    –    Brooklyn, NY
Dan Decker    –    Fountain Valley, CA
Dan Newmire    –    Marietta, GA
David Fenty    –    Spring Hill, FL
Dennis Hopson    –    North Brunswick, NJ
Frank Nezdoba    –    Phoenix, AZ
Fred Smalls II    –    Newark, DE
Gerald Williams    –    Oakland, CA
J. David Dorsey    –    Rome, GA
Jack Colten    –    Sayre, OK
Jason Huh    –    Sarasota, FL
Jason Marcus    –    Decatur, GA
Jea Jung    –    Charlotte, NC
Jeff Long    –    Browns Mills, NJ
Kevin LeDoux    –    Opelousas, LA
Lam Chenevert    –    Houston, TX
Mark Alvisi    –    Delray Beach, FL
Martin Sandoval    –    Santa Clara, CA
Michael Liberatore    –    Arlington Heights, IL
Michael Lockett    –    Warrensville Heights, OH
Mike Knowles    –    Holmes, PA
Odis McCullough    –    Stafford, TX
Paul Sousa    –    Tiverton, RI
Randy Moore    –    Jackson, MS
Rodney “Chris” Thomas  –    New Bern, NC
Simi Tufunga    –    Berkeley, CA
Steven Nix    –    Taylors SC
Tim Liggins    –    Kalamazoo, MI
Vladimir Sizov    –    Las Vegas, NV
Yousef Carnegie    –    Philadelphia, PA
Zinjun Croon    –    Las Vegas, NV

Men’s Light Heavyweight

Al Auguste    –    Orlando, FL
Alan Bailey    –    Atlanta, GA
Brad Davis    –    Paducah, KY
Bryan Pazdzierz    –    Washington, MI
Darrell Terrell    –    Oklahoma City, OK
Darrell Williams    –    Mobile, AL
Daryl Broughton    –    Stockbridge, GA
David Fisch    –    Remsen, IA
Donald Mitcham    –    Pensacola, FL
Fidel Taylor    –    Atlanta, GA
Irwin Wierzbicki    –    Chicago Heights, IL
Jason Palafox    –    San Antonio, TX
Jeff Schwartzer    –    Pembroke Pines, FL
Jermaine Bell    –    Trenton, NJ
Joe McRae    –    Dallas, TX
John Foster    –    Dalton, OH
Johnathan Johnson    –    Willoughby, OH
Jonathan DeLa Rosa    –    Scarsdale, NY
Jonathan Oxford    –    Dawsonville, GA
Joshua Fred    –    Carolina, PR
Kenneth Jackson    –    Clinton Twp., MI
Lloyd Dollar    –    Cape Coral, FL
Manny Torres    –    Henderson, NV
Marcos Teixeira    –    San Rafael, CA
Marijan Lipsinic    –    Coral Springs, FL
Marvin Phillips Jr    –    Cincinnati, OH
Michael Bailey    –    Phenix City, AL
Michael Moore    –    Beavercreek, OH
Miguel Garcia    –    Bronx, NY
Mike Yablor    –    New York, NY
Mitchell Staats    –    Bridgeton, MO
Monty Mabry    –    Miamisburg, OH
Peter Putnam    –    Knoxville, TN
Robert Miller    –    Dallas, TX
Rodney Burton    –    Valrico, FL
Stephen Tsitas    –    Ormand Beach, FL

Men’s Middleweights

Blas Montalvo    –    Hon Miqueros, PR
Craig Torres    –    Stoneham, MA
Dan Serota    –    Cincinnati, OH
Dveon Bender    –    Carlsbad, NM
Gaetano Cisternino Jr.    –    Fair Lawn, NJ
Jaime Rivera    –    Albuquerque, NM
Jeff Cook    –    Burlington, NC
Kam Gallman    –    Charlotte, NC
Lorenzo Jones    –    Dallas, TX
Michael Elgawly    –    New Port Richey, FL
Robt. Justin Swinney    –    Harvest, AL
Ronald Torres    –    McAllen, TX
Ryan Walters    –    White House, TN
Sacha Pasquet    –    Miami, FL
Wilbert “Bo” Lock    –    St. Petersburg, FL

Men’s Welterweight

Alejandro Garza    –    McAllen, TX
Alex Azarian    –    Sunland, CA
Daniel Rocha    –    Alburquerque, NM
Eddie Foster    –    N. Dartmouth, MA
Elie Neufeld    –    Miami, FL
George Maiorano    –    Henderson, NV
J B Bartlett    –    Lawrenceburg, IN
Jeff Olcsvary    –    Lafayette, LA
Jesus Martinez    –    Sabana Seca, PR
Jocelyn Jean    –    Boca Raton, FL
Joseph Frank Diaz    –    Casselberry, FL
Joseph Mobareki    –    Indianapolis, IN
Kent Bierly    –    Brick, NJ
Kevin Ofurum    –    Carrollton, TX
Mark Ritter    –    Cincinnati, OH
Martin Poupa    –    Redlands, CA
Mike Davis    –    Bonners Ferry, ID
R.D. Caldwell Jr.    –    Dayton, OH
Ralph Gaxiola III    –    Highland, CA
Robert Owens    –    Meridian, MS
Roosevelt Woodard    –    Thonotosassa, FL
Samuel Santos    –    Riverview, FL
Stephen Comella    –    Webster, NY
Stoil Stoilov    –    Bensenville, IL
Tom Silavanh    –    Opelika, AL
Tommie Robertson Jr    –    Maineville, OH
Travis French    –    Louisville, KY
Vincent Que    –    North Bergen, NJ

Men’s Lightweight

Bleu Taylor    –    Gresham, OR
Chris Groetsch    –    Kenner, LA
Gene Johnson    –    Stockbridge, GA
Greg Cosentino    –    Wellington, FL
Jabar Miles    –    Peoria, AZ
Joshua Katz    –    Tinton Falls, NJ
Kelly Bautista    –    Irvine, CA
Kelvin Moore    –    Rocky Mount, NC
Leonardo Racheco    –    Jackson Heights, NY
Marvin Ward    –    Trenton, NJ
Oley Atkins    –    Nashville, TN
Paul Aigbirior    –    Decatur, GA
Ray Douglas    –    Huntington Beach, CA
Steven Boswell    –    Canton, MI
Tim Sahr    –    Waterloo, IA
Tim Ward    –    Denver, CO
Travis Rogers    –    Levittown, PA

Men’s Bantamweight

Andre Hill    –    Dallas, TX
Arthur Santellan    –    Anaheim, CA
Daniel Stephenson    –    Port Saint Lucie, FL
Fernando Abaco    –    Rocklin, CA
Francisco Fontanez    –    Chicago, IL
George Gibson    –    Alpharetta, GA
Johnny McKnight IV    –    Winston Salem, NC
Magellan Damaso    –    Aiea, HI
Michael Echevarria    –    Casselberry, FL
Norman Sasnett    –    Anderson, SC
Paul Gillison    –    Rincon, GA
Rafael Campuzano    –    El Paso, TX
Scott Foster    –    Decatur, IN
Steven Reilly    –    Harlingen, TX
Timoney Fernandez    –    Virginia Beach, VA

If you live in the USA, then you know that today will be one of the biggest voting days in the history of the country. If you are an American citizen, then go vote, and be part of the process. Whether you vote for McCain or Obama, or vote yes or no on various propositions, just exercising your right to vote is important.

I took my son there this morning, and there were 25 people ahead of me, with six voting machines. The whole thing took 20 minutes, and it was fun!

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ — David J. Pecker, Chairman and CEO of American Media, Inc.(AMI), today announced that Chris Lockwood, Mike Carlson, and Allan Donnelly have joined the editorial staffs at Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Muscle & Fitness Hers magazines, reporting to Laya Clark and Chris Scardino, Executive Vice Presidents & Co-Publishing Directors of AMI’s Enthusiast Group. The Group includes these three publications, their web sites, Mr. Olympia, and other related events and brand extensions.

In making the announcement, Mr. Pecker said, “One week after naming Laya Clark and Chris Scardino to head our Enthusiast group, we’ve completed our team by bringing in Chris Lockwood as editor-in-chief of Muscle & Fitness with Mike Carlson as his #2, and promoting Allan Donnelly to be executive editor of Flex. This gives us the most forward thinking, authoritative editorial staff of any publication that targets serious fitness enthusiasts.”

Mr. Clark said, “Chris is one of the most knowledgeable writers on the planet on the subject of fitness and nutrition and his vision for Muscle & Fitness will make it the primary source for cutting edge information in these areas. With Mike Carlson as executive editor, we now have two of the most sought after editorial talents in the industry together at one magazine.”

Mr. Scardino added, “As senior editor at Flex, Allan showed us he was ready for bigger and better things. Flex has always been the voice of the hardcore bodybuilding community and Allan will give that voice greater resonance than ever.”

Mr. Lockwood holds an M.S. in Sports Science and is in the process of obtaining his PhD from Oklahoma University in Exercise Physiology. He has been a contributor to Muscle & Fitness since 1998 and has also held executive positions or served as a consultant to a variety of sports nutrition companies including GNC and Weider Nutrition. Mike Carlson most recently launched and served as editor-in-chief of Real Fighter, one of the first magazines to recognize the MMA explosion, and has also been senior editor on the GNC publications Get Active and Physical. Mr. Donnelly has been with Flex since 2006 and had been an editor for Men’s Fitness and a writer at Muscle & Fitness.

Mr. Clark said that he and Mr. Scardino are currently conducting a search for an editor-in-chief at Muscle & Fitness Hers who will report to Mr. Lockwood. Collectively, Muscle & Fitness, Flex and M&F Hers reach over 8 million readers a month. They are the leading titles for serious fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders.