My Diary

Ask me about askROCCO.com

2008-05-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I have a new friend that I met back in March at the Arnold Sports Festival and he is Rocco Castellano the syndicated fitness columnist. The thing I like about Rocco is he tells it like it really is. He has not been bought out by the Infomercial generation. Rocco speaks honestly about topics in the Fitness Industry and tells you what you need to know not what you want to hear. He will let you know that there is no magic pill to make you fit, it requires hard work and that is what Rocco and I have in common. I have worked very hard to be where I am and I am honored to be mentioned in the same conversation with Rocco. He is going to work with me, mentor me and help me get out to spread the truth about getting into shape. I am proud to call Rocco my new friend.

peace,

Barbie Barbell

You can learn more about Rocco at www.askrocco.com

Hello everyone hey check this out :>)

2008-05-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone always asks, "How much you bench?" and now there is a place for your questions.
If ya wanna know how much someone benches, squats or deadlifts then go to http://www.howmuchubench.com/user/122 and get a profile started today. This place is new but it is growing fast. It also compares you to everyone on the site and ranks all three of your lifts. Be honest with your answers and some of the really good lifters will be able to help you increase your numbers by answering questions you have to ask in the forum. This is a great place to meet like minded athletes and fitness buffs so get a profile started today and then request me as a friend.

peace,
**BB**

My First Squat Training in 6 Months was today

2008-05-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

Well I had a six month break from squatting and I guess my body really needed the rest because I felt great today in my workout.

Here is how it was:

Set 1 10 reps empty bar 45lbs
Set 2 10 reps empty bar 45lbs
Set 3 10 reps 95lbs
Set 5 10 reps 135lbs
Set 6 6 reps 185lbs
Set 7 6 reps 225 lbs
Set 8 4 reps 245 lbs added grove briefs
Set 9 2 reps 275 lbs added belt and knee wraps
Set 10 2 reps 300 lbs added squat suit
Set 11 1 rep 315 lbs full gear straps up on suit
Set 12 1 rep 315 lbs full gear straps up on suit
Set 13 1 rep 315 lbs full gear straps up on suit
Set 14 1 rep 315 lbs full gear straps up on suit

Total reps: 64
Total weight lifted during training today: 9,350 lbs

Training went very well today I was very happy to see that I held on to much of my strength even though I am about 12lbs lighter this year with all the bodybuilding I have been training for.

I won APF Teen Nationals

2008-05-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

Well I just got out of the shower from a very long day at the APF Teen Nationals here in Baton Rouge LA. I had a blast seeing all my old friends from all over the country. There were 126 lifters in all and the meet ran from 10am until 8:30pm. I was in the bench only competition since I have been training so hard for Figure Competition. I have not done any squats since December or dead-lifts either. so I just benched. Well I weighed in at 110.2 lbs yesterday and this morning I weighed 109 lbs even. My usual competition weight for Powerlifting has been 119-121 lbs. I was surprised when I started lifting and easily got my opener of 158.25lbs and my second lift was 170.75lbs and it felt easier than my first lift so I went 181lbs on my third and just missed locking it out. I could tell that my top end strength was effected from the weight loss. Anyway both lifts were National records and I won my weight class. That is win number 87 for me. Thanks for all the support you all gave me these past few weeks.
peace,
Barbie Barbell
2008 APF Teen
National Champion :>)

A really nice article...

2008-05-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

I would like to give a special thanks to Richard Barnet of Body Building dot com and to www.bodybuilding.com for the nice coverage of me (aka: Barbie Barbell) in my debut into the bodybuilding world and for covering my progress in Powerlifting. Take a look at this link and look at the coverage bb.com has given me. It is awesome to have people and big companies supporting me in my journey. I thank you very much!!!! There are several magazines in the near future that are going to write more stories on my progress such as: Pose Down Magazine, Muscular Development and Iron Man.

Here is the bb.com clip: http://blog.bodybuilding.com/ProAmContests

Peace,
**BB**

Texas Shredder last weekend Powerlifting this weekend

2008-05-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

Well I leave for Baton Rouge LA early in the morning to compete in the American Powerlifting Federation Teen and Master National Championships. Last year I competed in the 56KG class (123.5lbs) and now I am going to lift in the 52KG (114lbs) class. I am still cut from the Texas Shredder last Saturday so I am lifting in the lighter weight class. This gives me the chance to set some new world records that I currently do not own. Since I was 16 I have always lifted in the 123 class. So I am taking advantage of the Figure show training to break the world records in the lighter class on Saturday. I will post the results on Sunday.

peace,
Barbie Barbell

Clips from the NPC Texas Shredder in Austin Texas

2008-04-28T21:03:00.001-07:00

I have competed in my very first Figure show at the Texas Shredder in Austin Texas. I won the teen division and took runner-up in the Womens Class A, there were 12 ladies in that group and it was the biggest group of the show. My goal was to finish in the top 5 so I was very happy when they announced me in 2nd place. I was the only teen in that group and I finished in 2nd place, I was so happy. I hope you enjoy these short clips and I have several hundred photos in my picture albums of the Texas Shredder go check them out and let me know what you think of my first Figure Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ4twLwlSDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86xVTnq_6c0

peace,
**BB**

2008-04-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone.
Well I am very pleased with my first contest. I took first place in the Teen division and qualified now to go to NPC Teen Nationals in July:>) I am sooooo happy with my victory in the teen division. Next was the class A Women's Figure. Class A is women 5'4" and under I am like 5'3.75" So I was one of the tallest in my class. There were 12 ladies in that group and was the largest and toughest class of the show. It was a very close contest and first place could have gone to at least 3 of us on stage. The girl I thought might beat me actually took third place and the girl that won I thought would finish third.....go figure (LOL) Anyway I was very happy to take second in such a tough field of ladies. My goal was to make top five so when I placed second against the adult females I was very satisfied. Now I have to get home and start getting ready for next weekend in Baton Rouge LA for APF Teen National Powerlifting Championships. I will be going to NPC Teen Nationals in July to kick some butt at the National Level. Stop by and look at all the pictures from the show and let me know what you think.

Thanks for all the support from all of my myspace.com friends

xoxoxoxo

Barbie Barbell

A Note from my Dad

2007-03-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

As most of you already know Amanda became the first athlete in our sport to win 7 World Championships in one year in 2006. Last year was a very tough schedule both physically and mentally for her, having competed 27 times in one year in our sport is crazy most young athletes do no more that 3-5 meets a year and us old folks are lucky to do one or two meets in a year. Most of her competitions last year were simply used as training and we would rest during the week, that is the only way she survived the tough schedule. This year is completely different but the meets we have picked to lift in are huge.

Amanda started training for her first meet back before Christmas. Her goal was to move up in weight to the 123lb weight class for 2007. This weekend is her first full meet of the year and it's a HUGE MEET! This is the WPO Finals the only Pro-Division in Powerlifting and at 15 Amanda is lifting in this show for the second time. To make things even more exciting Amanda has to date 5 Photo-Shoots lined up with various fitness industry magazines to include Muscular Development. There is also a good chance that National Geographic will be conducting an interview and filming some of Amanda at the event. On Sunday Amanda is in for the surprise of a lifetime. She is lifting in the Squat-Off which is the top 10 squatters in the World square off on the main stage and Squat for $1000.00 for the biggest squat of the day. Last year Amanda was the only female on the main stage with all the big guys and she was a huge hit with the crowd. Well she's back again this year but following the Squat-Off there is a big surprise for Amanda. Mr. Lorimer( the man that produces the Arnold Sports Festival) will be presenting her with a Crystal Athletic Achievement Award and on that award it will identify Amanda as the youngest athlete to ever be inducted into the Texas Powerlifting Hall of Fame and Texas Athlete of the year for 2006.

There are several more exciting things lined up but have not been set in stone as of yet. This should be a weekend that Amanda, her mother and I will never forget. I want to thank some people for helping us make this happen for Amanda. Her first and longest sponsor John Inzer, her Doctor and his staff at his clinic, Dr. Edward Group and the Global Healing Center, Mr.Tim Bruner President of Texas Powerlifting Hall of Fame, K. Kidder President of the WPO for allowing Amanda to compete on his Pro-stage with the best lifters on the Planet!, Danny & Melissa Dettwiller for her working with Amanda in Modeling and she is our web master, Dan Ray for the awesome photo-shoots, Tiny Meeker for his assistance in training her in his gym. A special thanks goes to the crew at the Arnold Sports Festival, Mr. Jim Lorimer, Ms. Suzanne Irwin and the man himself the Honorable Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for believing in Amanda and her abilities!!

I will follow up with a letter when we return home.
Sincerely
Mark Van Harris