Fitness Model Amanda Latona

Height: 5ft 5in
Weight: 120 lbs
Birthdate: Mar 27, 1979
Marital Status: Single
Home: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
Occupation: Fitness Model/T.V Host/ Singer/IFBB Bikini Pro
Website: http://www.myspace.com/a_latona

Amanda Latona is a recording artist-turned-IFBB Bikini Pro and fitness model. Amanda landed her first record deal at the age of 18 in an all-girl group that performed and toured throughout Europe and the United States. Along with that record deal came a gym membership, and the day she set foot in a gym, she was hooked. Soon Amanda decided to take her love of being onstage and fuse it with her other passion, fitness, and compete. Amanda entered her first show in 2003 and won.
In 2007, after a move to Las Vegas, Amanda won two regional titles as well as 1st place in the Model America Championships, and a top-10 placing at the first-ever FLEX Bikini Model Search. The following year, Amanda went on to win the Model America Championships for the second year in a row and a 4th-place finish in the FLEX Bikini Model Search, which opened the door to a six-page spread and article in Muscle & Fitness magazine.

In 2009, Amanda decided to try her hand as a competitor in the newly-created NPC Bikini Division. Winning every show she entered in 2009, Amanda won her IFBB pro card at the USAs in July. She then went on to enter the FLEX Bikini Model Search for the third time at the Olympia, this time beating out nearly 100 competitors for the title and landing a coveted contract with Weider Publications.

Her pro debut came in March 2010 at the IFBB MuscleContest Pro Bikini Championship in Culver City, CA, where she earned third place and thus qualified for the inaugural Bikini Olympia in September. She followed up the strong debut with her first win as a pro at the 2010 Europa SuperShow in Dallas, TX.

 

 

History of Bodybuilding

It is a bit impractical to draw a starting line for the history of bodybuilding, but it is believed that serious athletes have indulged in various muscle building exercises even centuries back, in India, Rome and Greece in order to improve their performances on the field, and in that sense we can say safely assume that bodybuilding is at least several centuries old. The evolution of bodybuilding as a sports event, in its own right, could be attributed to Friederich Wilhelm Mueller, the strongman who was the center of attraction in the 1893 World Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. There, he presented himself as an exhibition peace, by adopting different poses to show off his musculature. Interestingly, most of the poses he made those days are still widely used by bodybuilders in competitions today.

Taking cue from his Chicago success, Muller, alias Eugene Sandow, began to proactively promote bodybuilding as a sport as well as a hobby in Europe. He organized the first bodybuilding competition in 1901 in London and named it the 'Great Competition.' He had his business motives as well. He used that opportunity to market himself and his ideas as well as creating a launching pad for his recently started Physical Culture Studio in London, the first of its kind to be built anywhere in the world. Capitulating on his new found fame, he actively sold the physical building concepts to the middle class public by selling products through mail and by even publishing his own magazine. It struck a cord with the people and very soon Sandow was running 20 similar studios all over England.

Another interesting aspect with the 'Great Competition' is that it was the first and last competition organized by Sandow. He got the marketing he wanted from the first show itself that he never ever bothered to organize another. Instead, he focused all of his resources and energy in building his real business, the studios.

Nearly around the same time, in North America, having been inspired by Sandow's Chicago performance, another fitness enthusiast named Bernarr McFadden set out changing the perception of bodybuilding in the US. Like his inspirer, McFadden also traveled all around the world lecturing about the pluses of bodybuilding and successfully built a business empire on his passion. His magazines Physical Culture and Beauty and Health - the latter one for women, had been a big hit all over America. McFadden is also attributed with the distinction of conducting the first ever "Women Only" bodybuilding contests in the world. Unlike Sandow, he did not let his business interests eclipse his efforts to promote bodybuilding. McFadden and his publishing company continued organizing and promoting bodybuilding competitions all through the 1920s and 1930s.

Realizing the popularity bodybuilding had in America by the 1930s, the Amateur Athletic Union or the AAU started to allow physique contests in association with weightlifting competitions. The first of such events was held in 1939, and the winner was bestowed the title 'America's Best Built Man', something which changed to Mr. America a year later. John Grimek won the title in 1940-41.

Since the AAU did not allow professionals to compete in the events, it was only a matter of time before some serious discontent arose, and that eventually happened in 1946 when the AAU unilaterally withdrew sanction to organize a physique contest in Montreal. This time, not only did its organizers go ahead organizing it, but also formed the rebel International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB). It was a turning point in the history of bodybuilding.

In the race of survival to make a niche for itself, IFBB came up with the Professional Mr. America contest in 1949 and Mr. Olympia in 1965, while its European counterpart NABBA coined the Mr. Universe contest. NABBA added Ms. Universe contests in 1965 and IFBB started its Ms. Olympia in 1980. In the following decades, AAU was eclipsed completely by IFBB, which is now the biggest bodybuilding organization on earth having the backing of 173 affiliated national federations and has the recognition of the IOC. NABBA has around 40 member countries, mostly from Europe. Its American wing is NABBA USA.    

North American Bodybuilding Association (NABF), the World Natural Bodybuilding Association (WNBF), the North American Natural Bodybuilding Association (NANBA), the United States Natural Bodybuilding Association (USNBA), and the World Amateur Bodybuilding Association (WABBA) are some other prominent bodybuilding organizations in the world. The major distinction factor between these organizations is the drug standards followed by each of them. It varies quite a bit.

Why BodyBuilding?

Why Bodybuilding? Among swimming, bodybuilding is one the sports or activity which implies as many muscles as possible which gives all body parts development.

This is very important as our bodies were created to move to work and this way our lives will be longer with less health issues and good sex drive

Let’s start with bodybuilding benefits for teenagers.

The first thing worth mentioning here is that parents should encourage their children to physical activity. This way they will prevent many future issues with them and will do them a huge favor.

1. Discipline. As any kind of sport bodybuilding will develop in them spirit of discipline. They must know that they have training today and it does not matter whether it is raining or not and if there are no other factors which may stop them from going to the gym then they must go.

2. Health. Physical Activity will make them grow healthy. This will also develop in them such an attitude which will motivate them to help you around the house and they will not get tired quick.

3. Self-Confidence. Having success in the gym will influence them positively in other sphere too and there are many examples of this fact.

It worth mentioning that children are not allowed to use any supplements and over more steroids. This must be explained logically so they will not want to do this in secret. Explain them that this is not needed now as they will grow easily with nothing until they are 25 years. After this results will come slower but still will come.

Now regarding benefits for adults.

1.Health. Daily work, many issues puts so much stress on our bodies and mind. Bodybuilding is the right thing to choose in this case. Lifting weights will make your body release endorphin. Endorphins work as “natural pain relievers”, whose effects may be enhanced by other medications. Endoprhin is also called “the feel good hormone”. Endorphins regulate feelings of pain and hunger and are connected to the production of sex hormones.

According to some reports, laughter also releases endorphins in the brain. Apart from widening the blood vessels, suppressing the production of stress hormones and raising antibody levels in the blood, laughing would thus also have an analgesic effect.

2. Good Sleep. Weight training will promote a better quality of sleep and help you fall asleep faster. Your capacity for handling stress will improve. Research has shown taking some form of regular exercise is one of the best ways of managing stress effectively.

3. Good looking. With age our metabolism slows down and we need to burn more calories if we want to keep the desired look of our bodies. Bodybuilding fitness workouts help to build lean tissue, burn body fat and develop a flat belly. They also help to raise resting metabolism rate. Good looking body will create another positive effect – self-confidence.

4. Self-Confidence. It does not matter what your age is you still need self-confidence and positive thinking.

5.Sex-drive. BodyBuilding will increase your testosterone level and thus sexual drive. It has been shown in many studies, including a published study Int J Sports Med. 1991 Apr;12(2):228-35 done on both men and women during resistance excercise.

Especially squats and deadlifts will increase GH and Testosterone levels.

So what are you waiting for? Start your training today. For more advices go for www.hypermuscles.com and get advices from experienced bodybuilders how to start your training.

See you in the gym!