Tag: Mr. America
Philip Ricardo Jr: How Mr. America Will Help Him Reclaim The Natural Olympia Title
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Philip Ricardo Jr. was a last minute entrant into the Mr. America 2021 – but he’s confident the experience will help him be better prepared for this month’s Natural Olympia competition.
In 2019, Philip Ricardo Jr. became the new champion of the Natural Olympia competition. The event is an all-natural WADA compliant version of the Mr. Olympia. They have no direct affiliation – but the prestige is the same for the natural athletes who compete in the INBA/PNBA bodybuilding leagues. Ricardo Jr.’s victory also came the same year Generation Iron produced Natty 4 Life – the fourth film in the Generation Iron documentary series.
Now in 2021, Philip Ricardo Jr. is ready to reclaim his title at the Natural Olympia happening in November. And he believes that the Mr. America might just be the linchpin to help him bring his best physique to the stage. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. discusses the challenges of being a late entrant into the Mr. America 2021… and how it will ultimately help him win the Natural Olympia later this year.
Philip Ricardo Jr. is one of the most iconic natural bodybuilders currently competing in the division. He won the Natural Olympia in 2019 and has remained one of the most skilled and impressive competitors in the league. So it was exciting when he was announced last minute to compete at the Mr. America 2021 competition earlier in October. While the announcement was exciting for fans and helped bring an even bigger spotlight on the historic competition – this wasn’t a secret announcement that Ricardo Jr. had been prepping for.
In fact, the decision was just as much a last minute call for Philip Ricardo Jr. as it was for the fans. This meant that his contest prep was shortened. It wasn’t ideal and it was a true struggle for him in the weeks leading up to the show. Ultimately, Ricardo Jr. did not win the Mr. America competition. He’s not concerned though – as he saw this event as a key strategy in preparing for the biggest natural bodybuilding event of the year. The Natural Olympia.
It’s a strategy that is equally risky as it is rewarding. IFBB Pro competitor Iain Valliere committed to the same sort of tactic when he competed at the Arnold Classic just two weeks before competing at the Mr. Olympia. On one hand, it can throw off timing and cause the athlete to be “off peak” when he or she steps on stage. On the other, it can keep the athlete in full preparation weeks before – and then adjust any small issues noticed in the first competition just in time for the second.
Philip Ricardo Jr. seems to believe that the prep for Mr. America will push him harder – giving him an advantage when he steps on the Natural Olympia stage this month. So perhaps the goal wasn’t to put all of his eggs in the basket of winning Mr. America. Instead, it pushed his contest prep harder than ever before, took the Mr. America placing in stride, and is now confident he will be in the best shape of his life when he steps on stage in Las Vegas for the Natural Olympia.
Only time will tell. But as a previous Natural Olympia champion – we know he has it in him to present a championship-winning physique. Will the Mr. America prep do him more harm than good? That remains to be seen. We wish him the best as he battles to reclaim his title as Natural Olympia champion.
You can watch Philip Ricardo Jr. talk in more detail behind the scenes of the Mr. America 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mr. America Champ Corey Brown On His First Cheat Meal After A Momentous Victory
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Corey Brown Answers: What Will Be His First Cheat Meal After Winning Mr. America 2021?
This past October held one of the biggest and most historic bodybuilding events of the year – the Mr. America 2021. With its roots going back all the way to 1939 – the competition somewhat disappeared in the new millennium until 2020, when it was revived with the aim of going mainstream in the sport. Now in its second year of revival, the event has already received much attention, praise, and a featured broadcast on CBS Sports. We had a chance to chat with the Men’s Open champion from the event, Cory Brown immediately after his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Cory Brown shares what his first cheat meal will be after being crowned Mr. America.
The Mr. America competition has a dedication to represent the purity of competition within bodybuilding. With that in mind, its revival decided to ensure that this was a natural show by committing to WADA standard drug testing. With a media coverage partnership with Generation Iron and CBS Sports Network broadcasting – it’s well on its way to reaching a wider audience and, hopefully, making bodybuilding more mainstream. Partially leading that charge will be the champion athletes – such as Mr. America 2021 winner Corey Brown.
Generation Iron had a chance to catch up with Corey Brown right after his victory. Still stunned by the weight of the victory, Brown showcased himself as a humble but confident athlete and champion. He shared insight into the kind of work he had to put in to earn the title and also his future plans for the coming year.
But competitive bodybuilding can also take a major strain on your psych when it comes to nutrition and dieting. After putting so much effort into being perfect for stage, it’s only natural for an athlete to indulge in a bit of a cheat meal. With Corey Brown being somewhat new to the public gaze – we wanted to help let fans get to know Brown a little better now that he’s Mr. America champion. We thought of the perfect way – what’s his ideal cheat meal to celebrate his big victory.
Still somewhat awe-struck from his victory, he claimed that he had a lot going on in his head. Ultimately, he landed on trying something delicious and new to him. Not being native to the east coast of the US, he had always heard New York pizza is the best in the country. He wants to put that to the test and grab a slice or two for himself.
“Since this is my first time on the east coast, I want to try something on the east coast that I’ve never ate,” Corey Brown stated during our interview. He continued:
“I don’t ant to go to no chain restaurant. One of my guys told me that if I ever tried pizza here or in New York that I’ll never want pizza again when I go back. So I wanna see how good their pizza is actually.”
The staff here at Generation Iron (a New York located business, by the way) wish Corey Brown the best on his pizza journey and hope it lives up to his expectations. It only makes sense to try the best pizza in America when you’re the Mr. America champion.
You can watch our full post-victory interview with Corey Brown in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Registration Is Now Open For The 2022 Mr. America
Bodybuilders can now sign up for the 2022 Mr. America competition.
This past October not only held the Mr. Olympia, but the Mr. America 2021. A historic event that dates back further than both the Olympia and Mr. Universe, Mr. America has been in a sort of revival since 2020’s comeback. The event has drawn attention due to it’s dedication to all-natural competition and being picked up to broadcast by CBS Sports Network. You can also catch Generation Iron’s full coverage and results of the event right here. Now the competition is making an open call to all bodybuilders across all divisions of the sport – the Mr. America 2022 registration window is now open.
The Mr. America competition is leading the charge to make pro bodybuilding a mainstream sport broadcast on national television. Ever since the historic event’s return in 2020, a major step was taken to help ensure that future. The CBS Sports Network has been broadcasting the event since 2020. With the event not holding competition in any single specific league – any competitive bodybuilder can register to be a part of this growing televised event. Information on registration for the 2022 Mr. America can be found at the official website here.
Recapping The Mr. America 2021
Generation Iron provided full reporting on the results from the Mr. America 2021 and was also on the ground for the full play-by-play experience. There were many returning winners looking to defend their title at the 2021 competition. Joe LaCerra returned to defend his title in the Pro Classic category while Dora Avila was the reigning champion in Pro Bikini. Johnny Dotson returned after a 2020 victory in Pro Men’s Physique and Jenna Bidoglio was the champion in Pro Figure.
In the end, it was Cory Brown who highlighted the show with a victory in Men’s Open. He appeared on stage in excellent shape with conditioning that was above the rest. Jeremiah Kenney-Wright was named the new champion in Pro Classic while Arius Norris won gold in Men’s Physique. Bidoglio was bested in Pro Figure but took home gold in Classic Figure.
History Of Mr. America
Mr. America has made great strides since its beginning in 1939. It was started by the Amateur Athletic Union when it championed the idea of Greek ideal that perfectly sculpted physiques. The IFBB was a challenger to Mr. America when it was founded. There was a slow decline of the original ideals when money became involved along with the idea that physiques and builds must be larger.
The AAU wold eventually stop hiding the contest and this caused it to fall out of the public eye a bit. Over the years, East Coast Fitness Concepts began taking over in an attempt to bring Mr. America back to prominence. Successful events over the last two years is beginning to accomplish this goal.
The 2021 event was broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. This is an important step for natural bodybuilding to gain an audience and continue to build a strong reputation. When it comes to all-natural competition, Mr. America is leading the way. This is the top competition in the natural bodybuilding scene and it will only continue to grow from here.
The 2021 competition was a rousing success and this was a huge step forward for a competition that continues to build momentum. It will be interesting and exciting to see how it continues to grow over the years.
The Future Of Mr. America
While there has not been much confirmation on the exact details for the Mr. America 2022, the official registration announcement promotes the return of CBS Sports providing a video broadcast of next year’s event. If you are a pro bodybuilder looking to get seen not only on the competition stage – but on the national stage – you can register for the event at their official website right here.
Generation Iron will also be releasing video interviews this month with the champions from the Mr. America 2021. So be sure to stick around and check out our GI Exclusives page for more updates on the Mr. America!
2021 Mr. America Highlights & Recap
The 2021 Mr. America competition was one that featured many exciting highlights.
The 2021 Mr. America competition has a rich history of success and this year was no different. All competitors gathered at The SHOWBOAT Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ to put on another rendition of Mr. America. The three-day event took place from Oct. 8-10 and was full of action from the opening minutes.
Mr. America is an all-natural competition where athletes enter with a bit of a different look than IFBB professional bodybuilding. There is not as much mass on stage and competitors do not enter looking as tight. This is because the bodybuilders do not dry out their muscles as much and retain a bit more water. This makes athletes look different on stage but that does not mean that judging is softer or that competitors do not look incredible.
Top Athletes
When the athletes step on stage, they are judged on five basic criteria. These are muscular development, muscular proportion, conditioning, posing, and general appearance. Along with placings, there are three divisions that perform a routine — Men’s Open, Men’s Classic Physique, and Women’s Physique. Entering the competition, there were favorites to win but that does not mean that it played out that way.
There were many returning winners looking to defend their title at the 2021 competition. Joe LaCerra returned to defend his title in the Pro Classic category while Dora Avila was the reigning champion in Pro Bikini. Johnny Dotson returned after a 2020 victory in Pro Men’s Physique and Jenna Bidoglio was the champion in Pro Figure.
In the end, it was Cory Brown who highlighted the show with a victory in Men’s Open. He appeared on stage in excellent shape with conditioning that was above the rest. Jeremiah Kenney-Wright was named the new champion in Pro Classic while Arius Norris won gold in Men’s Physique. Bidoglio was bested in Pro Figure but took home gold in Classic Figure.
Prior to the competition, Generation Iron spoke with multiple athletes and this includes the likes of Joe LaCerra and Jenna Bidoglio.
LaCerra spoke on his training routine and how martial arts led him to bodybuilding. This began at a young age and in high school, LaCerra began training in the gym. He took all skills learned at a young age and put them into bodybuilding. LaCerra believes in recovery while training and this is why he keeps his volume low while training o maximize recovery. He finds it important to log progress and keep track of any changes in physique.
It is not surprising that LaCerra, along with other Mr. America competitors, believe in foods with high protein. This includes eggs, egg whites, chicken, and lean beef. Bidoglio follows much of the same nutritional values but had a different upbringing that led to bodybuilding.
Bidoglio was a three-sport athlete in high school before falling into bodybuilding. As an athlete, Bidoglio was always working out in some aspect and her physique caught the eye of her coach. This is when she began giving proper nutrition and training a try and the results were immediate. Now, Bidoglio has turned into one of the best all-natural competitors in the sport.
History Of Mr. America
Mr. America has made great strides since its beginning in 1939. It was started by the Amateur Athletic Union when it championed the idea of Greek ideal that perfectly sculpted physiques. The IFBB was a challenger to Mr. America when it was founded. There was a slow decline of the original ideals when money became involved along with the idea that physiques and builds must be larger.
The AAU wold eventually stop hiding the contest and this caused it to fall out of the public eye a bit. Over the years, East Coast Fitness Concepts began taking over in an attempt to bring Mr. America back to prominence. Successful events over the last two years is beginning to accomplish this goal.
The 2021 event was broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. This is an important step for natural bodybuilding to gain an audience and continue to build a strong reputation. When it comes to all-natural competition, Mr. America is leading the way. This is the top competition in the natural bodybuilding scene and it will only continue to grow from here.
The 2021 competition was a rousing success and this was a huge step forward for a competition that continues to build momentum. It will be interesting and exciting to see how it continues to grow over the years.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Mr. America 2021 Results
Complete results for the Mr. America 2021
This weekend held the Mr. America 2021 bodybuilding competition and expo – an event with rich history dating back to 1939. New promoters and those who care about the sport of bodybuilding are working tirelessly to get this event back on top. Now that the event has come to a close – we can break down the complete Mr. America 2021 results.
With this event being a real success last year, we finally have some returning winners to look forward to as they seek to hold onto their title. On the men’s side, Johnny Dotson looks to defend his title in the Pro Men’s Physique while Joe LaCerra defends the Pro Classic category. For women, Dora Avila is set to repeat in the Pro Bikini category, while Jenna Bidoglio fights to defend Pro Figure.
We talked with Joe LaCerra and Jenna Bidoglio about their beginnings, training, nutrition, and excitement for this event. A common theme was the desire to participate in a sport they love so much and an event with such a rich history. While their respective routines were of course different, both are excited to come back and defend their title, looking to start a winning streak that puts them in the history books of Mr. America.
Ultimately, it was BLANK who earned the top spot in the highlight Men’s Open category a the Mr. America 2021. Keep reading below for a full breakdown of the complete Mr. America 2021 results.
Mr. America 2021 Results
Men’s Open
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Men’s Classic Physique
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Men’s Physique
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Figure
First Place – Sheila Erickson
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Classic Figure
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Bikini
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Women’s Physique
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
History Of Mr. America
Mr. America began in 1939 and was started by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). What Mr. America did was champion the idea of the Greek ideal, that perfectly sculpted physique dating back centuries, but a challenger to the AAU came and the newly founded IFBB led to a competition for the public’s support. What would happen is a slow decline that those ideals of Mr. America were replaced with money and massive physiques. The attention shifted from Mr. America to events like Mr. Olympia and soon enough, Mr. America would be passed around as the rights were sold several times.
Eventually, the AAU stopped holding the contest and this event would fall out of the public’s eye. But after a few revival attempts, a determined and hard working group at East Coast Fitness Concepts took the reigns and sought to bring back this historical and storied event. A successful year last year has brought hope that this year would be even better as athletes look to participate in the most incredible history of this contest and be crowned Mr. America.
CBS Sports Network – Follow Up Broadcast
Mr. America will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network this year, bringing this sport and historical event to the public in a great way. With this event being broadcast on CBS Sports Network, it allows those who may be unfamiliar with bodybuilding the chance to learn and see just what makes this sport so great. Having the history and rich story tied to Mr. America, this event may make for great TV in that it has all the components you want. It has action, it has competition, it has love of the sport, and it has a winner who will be crowned Mr. America 2021.
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 IFBB Texas Pro. Make sure to check out our full results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Philip Ricardo Jr: Why It’s A Big Deal Mr. America Is Being Televised
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Pro Natural Bodybuilder Philip Ricardo Jr. talks competing in the Mr. America and why it’s a big deal that CBS Sports will televise it.
This weekend holds the Mr. America 2021, the return of a historic bodybuilding event whose history goes all the way back to 1939. Before the Mr. Universe and before the Mr. Olympia – there was the Mr. America. Natural bodybuilding Olympia champion Philip Ricardo Jr. is set to compete in a last minute surprise. Not only that but the Mr. America will be televised by CBS Sport at a later date. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. explains why the Mr. America’s continued return and it being televised is such a big deal for bodybuilding as a whole.
The last time we spoke with Philip Ricardo Jr. – it was during our promotional run for Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life. Our cameras went behind the scenes of the PNBA/INBA natural bodybuilding league to uncover the reality of this openly natural league of bodybuilding. Ricardo Jr. ended up defeating the returning natural bodybuilding Olympia champion – Rob Terry. It was an epic moment that capped off an in-depth exploration of an often misunderstood sport.
Now the new Natural Olympia champion, it seems Philip Ricardo Jr. has another accolade in his sights. The Mr. America 2021. As we stated above, it’s a long running competition (on and off) that is now coming back in full force. In fact, it’s going to be televised on CBS Sports this year.
We spoke to Philip Ricardo Jr. about the Mr. America, his prep, and why it’s so important that the competition will be televised. Despite the IFBB and Mr. Olympia being a massive PPV event – it has been quite some time since the show was broadcast on mainstream television. The Mr. America’s broadcast will be the first time in a very long time that any form of bodybuilding will be on TV.
This may, in part, be due to the Mr. America being completely natural with proven WADA drug testing before the event. While that might put off some bodybuilding fans – Philip Ricardo Jr. believes this is an important distinction. He thinks this is proof that natural bodybuilding can become larger – it can become mainstream and beloved by millions around the globe.
“No only is it drug free and drug tested but it’s televised,” Philip Ricardo Jr. states in our interview. He continues:
“So it’s showing a new movement that it’s becoming mainstream… it’s really showcasing what anyone can really attain to or aspire to if they want to get some notoriety or noticed for being athletic or in good shape.”
Philip Ricardo Jr. is being somewhat modest with his words. It must be noted that it’s been decades since pro bodybuilding in any form has been available to watch on mainstream television. To be connected with such a history competition as the Mr. America is a match made in heaven.
The return of the Mr. America is happening this weekend in Atlantic City, NJ October 8-10. Generation Iron will be reporting on the events and results as they become available. So don’t miss it!
You can also watch Philip Ricardo Jr.’s full comments, including his Mr. America prep, in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mr. America 2021 Event Preview: How To Watch & Key Details
Everything you need to know about Mr. America 2021!
Mr. America has such a rich history, and while it has also had a bit of tumultuous ride, it is once again in the public eye as determined and incredible athletes compete for the coveted title. It began in 1939 and while much of its history is unknown, new promoters and those who care about the sport of bodybuilding are working tirelessly to get this event back on top. A successful event last year lends itself to an even better one this year as athletes prepare to take home the top prize and be crowned Mr. America.
Let’s take a look at all the important information you need to know as this historical event sets to kick off in a just few days. When it is, where it is, and how to watch are all included below, plus some key athletes to keep an eye on as they look to repeat and take the title two years in a row.
History Of Mr. America
Mr. America began in 1939 and was started by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). What Mr. America did was champion the idea of the Greek ideal, that perfectly sculpted physique dating back centuries, but a challenger to the AAU came and the newly founded IFBB led to a competition for the public’s support. What would happen is a slow decline that those ideals of Mr. America were replaced with money and massive physiques. The attention shifted from Mr. America to events like Mr. Olympia and soon enough, Mr. America would be passed around as the rights were sold several times.
Eventually, the AAU stopped holding the contest and this event would fall out of the public’s eye. But after a few revival attempts, a determined and hard working group at East Coast Fitness Concepts took the reigns and sought to bring back this historical and storied event. A successful year last year has brought hope that this year would be even better as athletes look to participate in the most incredible history of this contest and be crowned Mr. America.
Important Information To Know
With Mr. America fast approaching, here is some important information you should know with just a few days left until start time.
When: October 8-10, 2021
Where: The SHOWBOAT Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Tickets: For those interested in purchasing tickets, you can check out ticket prices here on the Mr. America website.
How To Watch
Mr. America will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network this year, bringing this sport and historical event to the public in a great way. Generation Iron will also be covering this event and will provide updates on the CBS Sports Broadcast as they become available.
With this event being broadcast on CBS Sports Network, it allows those who may be unfamiliar with bodybuilding the chance to learn and see just what makes this sport so great. Having the history and rich story tied to Mr. America, this event may make for great TV in that it has all the components you want. It has action, it has competition, it has love of the sport, and it has a winner who will be crowned Mr. America 2021.
Scoring & Event Layout
The judges will score competitors on 5 criteria, each ranging on a points scale: muscular development (1-5 pts), muscular proportion (1-5 pts), conditioning (1-3 pts), posing (1-4 pts), and general appearance (1-3 pts). The judges will also score athletes and arrange them by their placing. Once this is done, the points from the 5 criteria are placed into a perfect score out of 20 points and this score, on top of the placing, will be factored into the final result. The top three athletes in each category take home their respective positions.
As a part of this contest, three categories will be required to perform an individual stage performance, including Women’s Physique, Men’s Bodybuilding, and Men’s Classic Physique. These routines will not exceed 60 seconds for amateurs and 90 seconds for professional competitors. All other categories will perform an I-walk, where they will walk to back center stage and complete a front facing pose. They then walk to front center stage and perform ¼ turns before ending in an appropriate stage stance facing the judges.
Key Bodybuilders To Watch
With this event being a real success last year, we finally have some returning winners to look forward to as they seek to hold onto their title. On the men’s side, Johnny Dotson looks to defend his title in the Pro Men’s Physique while Joe LaCerra defends the Pro Classic category. For women, Dora Avila is set to repeat in the Pro Bikini category, while Jenna Bidoglio fights to defend Pro Figure.
We talked with Joe LaCerra and Jenna Bidoglio about their beginnings, training, nutrition, and excitement for this event. A common theme was the desire to participate in a sport they love so much and an event with such a rich history. While their respective routines were of course different, both are excited to come back and defend their title, looking to start a winning streak that puts them in the history books of Mr. America.
Wrap Up
Mr. America is a long and storied event full of rich bodybuilding history and incredible highlights. Do to unforeseen circumstances and the evolution of the sport, this historic contest had fallen away, seemingly leaving the public eye as others crept in to take the top spot. But with a comeback and revival for the ages, Mr. America has returned and competitors are excited to get back out to try and win this coveted title. This preview has everything you need to know about Mr. America as this event is set to kick off in just a few days.
Check out Mr. America’s website here for more information on this historic and amazing event!
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Mr. America Instagram and Joe LaCerra Instagram
Mr. America Competitor Series: Jenna Bidoglio
Get to know Jenna Bidoglio as she prepares for the upcoming Mr. America competition.
Jenna Bidoglio grew up about an hour outside of New York City on 10 acres of woodlands. As an only child, she spent a lot of time outdoors going on adventures and exploring the woods. When it came to athletics, Jenna played on the all-boys travel soccer team because no girls team existed. Despite young boys feeling as though girls could not compete at their level, Jenna proved them wrong. Becoming a starting defender and one the boys would soon rely on to win.
She was always an athlete, constantly making everything a competition and playing multiple sports while excelling at them all. Her mom was a physical education teacher and her dad was a basketball coach so athletics was always around and competition was taught from an early age.
Jenna would graduated from Vernon Township High School in 2005 as a three sport athlete in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. She would then study Athletic Training at Montclair State University.
Bodybuilding, like many of these elite competitors, was something that Jenna fell into. As someone who had been running and lifting regularly, although this was matched with a lifestyle of having fun with friends, eating late night junk food, and not paying too much attention to the proper bodybuilding habits, she still had a relatively fit physique and caught the attention of her soon to be bodybuilding coach. After some convincing, Jenna agreed to try a competition and she gave his training and nutrition plan a try. Within two week, she saw immediate results.
While the prep was hard, she finished 3rd in the Bikini division and 2nd in Figure. Despite being nervous, her love of competition and the fast-paced movement of the show, allowed her to show off that hard work and not have time to think of how uncomfortable she may have been. From this contest on, she was hooked and loved every aspect of the process and the competition.
Training & Nutrition Routines
Training
Jenna’s training routine involves 5-6 days a week both in and out of season. She focuses on hitting every muscle group at least twice a week but will change her split as she sees fit. Cardio depends on where she is at with prep but it is a mix of longer, more steady incline walking, or higher intensity work like sprints. With her favorite exercise being the deadlift, she loves ripping that bar off the ground to feel strong and accomplished.Recovery is essential for Jenna and she will do 1-on-1 sessions with her yoga instructor to work on flexibility and core stability, as well as work with a sports chiropractor to prevent or address any nagging injuries.
Nutrition
Jenna’s main approach to nutrition is to keep it simple and consistent. She knows what foods work for her and enjoys them so for Jenna, keeping things simple allows her to focus on other things. Protein usually consists of eggs, turkey, chicken, lean fish, and the occasional red meat or liver. Her carb sources tend to be oats, rice, and potatoes with plenty of vegetables thrown into her diet as well, in particular red peppers, cucumbers, spinach, and asparagus. To round out with fats, Jenna will often add olive oil, coconut oil, and almonds to the mix. Of course, for that all important supplementation, she relies on ashwagandha, vitamin C, and magnesium.
While Jenna remains consistent with her diet, she does leave room to enjoy a good pizza for that cheat meal. She has her regular spot for that Friday night cheat meal and loves the variety in slices. Toss in a mocha KitKat bar as well!
Competition & Preparation
Knowing Mr. America has such an important history, Jenna feels honored to have the opportunity to compete. With serious competitors coming out, everyone wants this title and the best of the best will certainly duke it out on stage. Now that CBS Sports Network will air this contest, the opportunities for athletes are unmatched. As Jenna seeks to defend her title this year, other competitors are now coming for her, but she is ready to fight for it.
Coming into this event, she will slowly carb up and drop her water slightly to let her muscles start to fill up. Wednesday of that week will be her last workout day and after that, she will stay off her feet as much as possible, aside from the occasional practice pose. The work has been done and nothing is going to improve in those last few days except for a quieter and more calm mind.
What first sparked Jenna’s interest in bodybuilding was having an end goal, something to keep her on track. But what this has morphed into is a lifelong pursuit for personal improvement. As a result of bodybuilding, she has become stronger, both physically and mentally, in a sport she loves so much.
She loves having the opportunity to be an ambassador for the sport and to be a positive female role model. Being a top drug-free athlete gives her a platform to speak honestly about what performance enhancing drugs can do and how it is possible to have a winning physique while being all natural.
After Jenna competes to defend her Mr. America title, she will next compete at the PNBA Natural Olympia in Las Vegas come November. When Jenna is not training or competing, she loves to travel and explore new places. As an avid basketball fan, she loves to watch men’s basketball, especially if its Gonzaga. She also will watch the Food Network and the Cooking Channel with her sidekick, Bruno, her three-year old boxer who accompanies her with almost everything.
Important Mr. America Information
Mr. America will be held October 8-10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the final ceremony being held on October 9. With everything going on, the health and safety of everyone involved is of the top priority and event organizers have worked diligently and incredibly hard to make sure this event runs as smoothly as possible. Generation Iron will be covering this event and it will also be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at a later date. Generation Iron will provide updates on the CBS Sports Broadcast as these updates become available.
Check out Mr. America’s website here for more information on this historic and amazing event!
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Jenna Bidoglio
Mr. America Competitor Series: Brandon Wadas
Get to know Brandon Wadas as he prepares for the upcoming Mr. America competition.
Brandon Wadas is from Merrillville, Indiana, located in northwest Indiana near Chicago. As a child, he played baseball from the ages of 4-18. A fairly athletic child, he was never huge, but instead relatively lean. He began lifting at age 13 to build strength and size for baseball, and up until 18-years old, Brandon was set on a baseball career.
But once that career ended at 18, Brandon switched gears to bodybuilding. This journey started when his dad came across an ad in the local paper. It was advertising a bodybuilding show at a local high school. Knowing his son enjoyed working out, and knowing his dedication with whatever he did, Brandon’s father pushed him to give it a try and check it out. Brandon, truly competitive by nature, wasn’t about to show up and not fully embrace the challenge. He crash dieted for three weeks and made his appearance at the local show. The rest is history.
Brandon is an extremely competitive person in everything he does. Whether it be a friendly baseball game, pick-up basketball, or ping pong with friends, he always wants to win. That drive has taken him a long way and he throws everything he can into it to come out on top.
Training & Nutrition Routines
Training
When it comes to training, Brandon has always based it on progressive overload, which is adding more weight or reps over time. But an unfortunate bicep tear recently has changed the course of his exercises, as well as his intensity in order to work around his injury. For right now, his exercises are mostly cable related which allows him special isolation to take pressure off the torn bicep. The benefit is that he can still train shoulders, chest, and back.
With this injury, his general intensity has gone down to give him time to heal, so he did implement some cardio in between his first few shows to get his conditioning on point. For Brandon, cardio is a fat loss tool with his main focus being strength training. For the level he is at, he trains 6 days a week with one rest day, training each muscle group twice per week.
Nutrition
Blessed with a fairly high metabolism, Brandon’s diet is a bit different compared to other bodybuilders since he can get away with certain foods others cannot. For Brandon, fueling his body properly works to maximize performance and recovery and depriving yourself of those vital nutrients can lead to muscle loss which you just don’t want. Believe it or not, for his pre-workout meal Brandon enjoys a BBQ chicken sandwich, pretzels, and 3 cookies. While this isn’t every meal, it gives him the carbs he needs to fuel his workouts.
Over the years, Brandon’s regimen has changed and increased slowly. Starting out, he didn’t take anything, but now that he has been bodybuilding for a decade, he uses Core Nutritionals for all his supplements to really power his health and performance. During contest prep, Brandon uses a multivitamin, joint support, pre-workout, BCAAs, natural testosterone booster, DGA’s, protein powder, HMB, and the occasional fat burner and sleep aid if he feels it necessary. Being a drug tested athlete, everything is up to WADA standards and along with a good diet and training routine, Brandon sees the results he wants most.
Competition & Preparation
Brandon has been preparing for this event since February of this year and is ready to take Mr. America head on. In the days leading up to the contest, he will start to focus on recovery due to the hard months of training. Unlike some, he will increase his food intake and decrease cardio to really give a more full look on stage. The last few days of prep will see plenty of carbs, lots of water, and the assurance that his sodium levels are higher.
Being the competitive athlete that he is, Brandon wants to win. But more importantly, he wants to be an example for other natural bodybuilders out there, setting the right example that you don’t need harmful substances to accomplish your goals. Brandon takes inspiration from Phillip Ricardo Jr. and Doug Miller and hopes to be same for younger aspiring natural bodybuilders.
With Mr. America being a drug tested competition, and one with a long and storied history, Brandon knew he had to compete. As the event approaches, there is of course a certain level of nervousness but having 10 years of experience under his belt, he is more than ready to take this contest on. The nerves for Brandon are good because it stops any complacency from setting in and really makes him focus on giving it his all. While this is Brandon’s first Mr. America competition, it will definitely not be his last.
Placing 1st and 2nd in his most recent competitions, Brandon enters Mr. America looking for another win to round out his year. Despite his desire to compete in a few more shows after Mr. America, he will undergo surgery the week after Mr. America to handle any issues related to his bicep tear.
When he is not bodybuilding, Brandon loves spending time with his family. Helping his wife with her business and shooting YouTube videos keeps him involved professionally, but outside of that, he loves being around them and having fun. He is expecting another child with his wife and will be doing a live gender reveal at Mr. America! So congratulations are in order after what will be an amazing event for Brandon Wadas.
Important Mr. America Information
Mr. America will be held October 8-10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the final ceremony being held on October 9. With everything going on, the health and safety of everyone involved is of the top priority and event organizers have worked diligently and incredibly hard to make sure this event runs as smoothly as possible. Generation Iron will be covering this event and it will also be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at a later date. Generation Iron will provide updates on the CBS Sports Broadcast as these updates become available.
Check out Mr. America’s website here for more information on this historic and amazing event!
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Brandon Wadas
Mr. America Competitor Series: Joseph LaCerra
Get to know Joseph LaCerra as he prepares for the upcoming Mr. America competition.
Joseph LaCerra was born and raised in South Jersey. As a toddler, his parents would take him to daycare at the local Golds Gym and he always admired the hardcore gym-goers with great physiques. With his parents regulars at the gym, he was around health and fitness from a young age, which carried over into his teen and adult life.
Joe’s journey to bodybuilding began with martial arts, starting at that same Golds Gym his parents would frequent. A karate class was held at one of the studios and instead of going to daycare, Joe told his parents he wanted to be in karate instead. They obliged and Joe began a long martial arts career in Tang Soo Do, earning his 4th degree master black belt.
Once high school rolled around, Joe was all in. He began going to the gym in efforts to further his strength to defeat worthy martial arts opponents, and as a rather small and skinny child, lifting and a newfound love of training gave way to a whole new passion; bodybuilding. So, while martial arts ultimately took a back seat, he took those valuable skills learned over the years and seamlessly applied them to bodybuilding.
While Joseph never saw himself at the “typical” athlete, for he never played many team sports, his time as a competitive martial artist made the transition to bodybuilding quite smooth, for Joseph found the parallels to be hard to ignore. At the core, both of these sports depend on you. While both promote camaraderie and a sense of family among fellow athletes and competitors, ultimately training and execution are 100% in your control. As not only sports, but also unique art forms, both martial arts and bodybuilding gave him a sense of purpose and a goal worthy of striving towards.
Training & Nutrition Routines
Training
When it comes to training, Joe loves the saying: “We train muscles, not movements”. One person may feel differently about an exercise, but finding what works best for you is the ultimate goal to find your true success. Joe trains 5 days per week, hitting each muscle group at least twice. His approach of lower volume, higher intensity has proved more than beneficial for Joe as this allows him to focus on true muscular failure as opposed to simply repping out many working sets. At the end of the day, it all comes down to recovery, and while training to muscular failure can be hard on recovery, Joe keeps his overall weekly volume on the lower side in efforts to truly maximize recovery.
One way Joe puts an emphasis on recovery is with a training log. In this, he will keep track of all workouts and look for trends. If his workouts seem strong with no setbacks, then he knows he can push it. For those lifts that tend to stall or regress, he knows what can be addressed to fix it. Looking at the full picture allows Joe to thrive inside and out of the gym, putting recovery at the top of the list.
When it comes to cardio, Joe rarely uses a machine. His job as a gym owner keeps him constantly on the move and he reaches at least 10,000 steps a day, although he shoots for around 12,000. Over time, Joe has realized he can get the necessary expenditure for fat loss through his daily steps and everyday activity, and while this works for him, it may not be for everyone. Another example of finding the best route for your own training needs.
Nutrition
When it comes to nutrition, Joe eats to keep things simple. His main protein sources include eggs, egg whites, chicken, lean beef, and a protein powder. For those carb sources he relies on sprouted grain bread, cream of rice, Jasmine rice, rice cakes, and Rice Krispies, as they are a low fat and low sugar cereal. He relies on almond butter and trace amounts from his animal-based proteins for fat sources.
When it comes to what are generally seen as “cheat meals”, Joe takes a unique approach. He doesn’t look at food as either good or bad, for it can create a poor relationship with food itself. Instead, he refers to these as “free meals”, meaning that if out with family and friends, he will indulge in a meal he wants to enjoy. While he is very strict during contest prep, if the time is right outside of that, he loves a good burger and fries.
For Joe’s supplementation routine, he separates these into two different categories: health and performance. His health supplements include a multivitamin, fish oil, a joint supplement, vitamin C, vitamin D, a fiber supplement, ashwagandha, L-theanine, and a probiotic. For performance, Joe uses a protein powder, creatine, glutamine, pre-workout, essential amino acids (EAAs), and intra-workout carbohydrates.
Competition & Preparation
In the days leading up to this event, Joe keeps things simple and stress-free. While many put what is called the “peak week” on a pedestal, Joe believes if the work is done and you believe in your training, then you are ready to perform. The last week is simply about stress management and getting ready to have fun and enjoy the show.
When it comes to Mr. America, Joe is confident he will return stronger to defend his title in the Classic Physique Division. Mr. America is a long and storied event and one that will hold an iconic place in bodybuilding history. Being considered a top bodybuilding competitor is an honor for Joe and while many gym members and those who enjoy fitness may never walk a bodybuilding stage, Joe aims to inspire others with his accomplishments and desire to be the best. A true testament to the heart and grit of a true competitor.
Once the 2021 Mr. America show concludes, so too does Joe’s 2021 bodybuilding show season. What makes this event so special is that Joe’s wife will be competing in the Amateur Bikini category and his mother will be in the Amateur Master’s Bikini category. A true family event for Joe. Upon completion, Joe aims to enjoy the pro-contest period with his wife, dog, close friends, and family as he looks ahead to the 2022 season. And while there is still one more show to go this year, he is already looking forward to a big year ahead.
Important Mr. America Information
Mr. America will be held October 8-10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the final ceremony being held on October 9. With everything going on, the health and safety of everyone involved is of the top priority and event organizers have worked diligently and incredibly hard to make sure this event runs as smoothly as possible. Generation Iron will be covering this event and it will also be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at a later date. Generation Iron will provide updates on the CBS Sports Broadcast as these updates become available.
Check out Mr. America’s website here for more information on this historic and amazing event!
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Joe LaCerra
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