Okay, so you’ve been doing awesome with your diet plan and you’ve been working out regularly. The results are showing. You’re feeling on top of the world. Then…it happens. You’re walking by a bakery. The smell of a cinnamon bun floats past your nose. Inside your mind a battle begins: should I or shouldn’t I? [...]

Coach: Tammy Strome As you may remember, last week E didn’t make the top 5 at the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) show, so she didn’t qualify for the nationals. Understandably, she was devastated (though she put on her best brave face). Fortunately, after a few days’ food and rest, it has become easier for her [...]

It’s a common problem. You’re training for a show and, suddenly, you feel like your partner is driving you nuts. Has your partner changed…or could it be that you’ve changed? Hmmm! “No way!” You say. “It’s my partner who’s acting crazy!” Well, that depends. If your partner is always like that, then fine. But if [...]

Coach: Tammy Strome Well the big day for Eftihia (E) came and went this past Saturday. She competed in the Amateur Ontario Provincial Championships (bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini) , sanctioned by the Ontario Physique Association. It was a big show. Over 200 athletes battled it out for a “nationals” qualification. E looked great up [...]

Zig Ziglar said “If you dream it, then you can achieve it.” While I agree that’s an important part of the equation, it isn’t all of it. You have to work hard to make that dream reality as well. My dream to become an IFBB Pro began when I fell in love with the bodybuilding [...]

Coach: Tammy Strome Finally, it’s here; the official week of the show! E is ready to go through the “dial-in” process, which will bring her body to stage-ready condition. When I saw E last week she hit 126 lbs and looked physically balanced. She was flat and somewhat watery but that’s something we can resolve [...]

If you read Tuesday’s post with Team T & E, you heard me talk about Eftihia “dialing in” for the week before the competition. Nope, this doesn’t mean she has to phone anyone. Obviously, to reveal an awesome competition physique the underlying structure must be there–the result of months of hard work. But without knowing [...]

Coach: Tammy Strome This week E entered her final week of prep before the the big “dial-in” week (when she’ll have a special diet, training etc.) and I must say I’m totally impressed with her “champion attitude.” What I mean is that, even though she’s physically and emotionally  exhausted from all her training, plus her [...]

Sodium–a.k.a. salt–is a confusing subject for bodybuilders. I usually encounter two major questions in regards to this and competition. Do I need to load with sodium? Should I avoid sodium? Before I answer those two questions, what is sodium? Sodium is a mineral and one of three major electrolytes in the body. Chloride and potassium [...]

Coach: Tammy Strome Despite being down to 129 lbs and tightening up in all the right places, E looked a little rough this week. When I walked into the change room with one of my clients I saw her sitting on the bench and, right away, I knew something was off. She had “I am [...]