This morning I told you I was going to Day One of the Arnold Sports Expo. This is my report back.

First impressions: Too damned crowded! There is a TON of stuff to do here. But everybody seemed to want to stand in line right where I entered Hall D, which coincidentally is where Bodybuilding.com and MuscleTech is. Jay Cutler spent a good portion of the day at MT so I get that. There was also a big line at Gaspari Nutrition.

Of course, wherever there were tanned women with very little clothing on in a booth, that booth had a bigass line!

I get that, too!
 

Some highlights

I met Frank Zane and even bought one of his courses. He graciously signed it. Zane was the epitome of the symmetrical and cerebral bodybuilder. Meeting him was the highlight of my day.

I also got to shake Magnus ver Magnusson's hand. He is my favorite strongman of all time. He is smaller than when he competed, but he looks fabulous. He hasn't let himself go like Svend Karlson. That guy used to have a great body; he's put on a few pounds in the gut.

The strongman competition was pretty cool, if a little cramped. They did their two events today on the little stage, which was okay because they were just lifting heavy things, not running with them. I think the competition would work better in Hall C, which is where the amateur strongmen competed.

There were a ton of plastic boobs walking around, accompanied by more fake tans than I care to estimate. Don't get me wrong, all of the women are in fantastic shape. I just wish they'd embrace a little more of their natural beauty. It's there. You don't need big breasts to be beautiful. And you shouldn't look like tanned leather, either.

It was fun cruising around the Expo. But the crowded atmosphere really took away from the overall event. Plus, the MC for both the fitness competitions and the strongman competitions (the same dork, I think) is horrible. I'm sure that Arnold and Jim Lorimer can find somebody who is a) polite (this guy is an ass) and b) who knows at least a little about the sport he's talking about.

The guy is a twit. And annoying. I hope one of the strongmen breaks him in half tomorrow.

Oh, before I forget, the USA powerlifting competition was fun to watch too.

Word is that Arnold will be there tomorrow and so might Sylvester Stallone.

It will be a freaking zoo again tomorrow. Only more freaking.

• January Updates A lot of things have been going on lately! Here's a recap: There's a new user forum. Check it out. If you register and make a post (it can be "Hi"), I'll make you a  Platinum member for free (normally it costs $$$). I wrote a book on building a......
• Muscle Building Books I like to know what others read; it gives me a glimpse into how they think, what they like, and what makes them tick. In that light, I thought you might like to know what I read. Muscle Building Books I actually have so many books that what I'd like......
• The Top Twenty Bodybuilders of All Time Who are the top bodybuilders of all time? How does one decide? Is it based subjectively on who has the best body? Or is it based on titles, influence, or fame? I've taken on the task to assemble my list of the best bodybuilders of all time. I won't divulge......
• Can You Lose Body Fat by Drinking...This? This stuff could be liquid dynamite. It could be your ticket out of "fat pants." Check it out at the jump--it's called Prograde Fusion. Here's an excerpt from the article I got from the creators of Fusion. The Shocking Truth About “Hydration” Sports Drinks And How They Prevent You From......
• Train Like a Viking When I was a kid, my favorite movie was Conan the Barbarian, starring bodybuilding legend, Arnold Schwarzenegger (multiple Mr Olympia winner, movie star, and now Governor of California). I loved how he didn't take crap from anyone and if you got in his way, he ceremoniously lopped off your head!......

• Google Key Phrases Tool - Three Ideas Plus A Lot More The internet will be the only place I know of where it is possible to get access to a lot of useful tools for free. 1 of one of the most widely used of these cost-free tools is the Google keywords tool. This online resource is offered to every person......
• Eighth Annual FIS Snowboard World Championships With the New Year, we see a new January packed with many events for the snowboarder to prepare for and the fan to keep watch over. Included in the events is the eighth annual FIS snowboard world championships, held in Sungwoo, Gangwon Province from the 17th to the 24th. Also......
• Funny - list of reasons it doesn't pay to be "the computer guy"... I found this not too long ago at a techamok forum... copied here for convenience - not intended to slight the original author.... I only met my brother’s ex-girlfriend’s family once — the year they invited our family over to share Thanksgiving dinner. Since we were basically a group of......
• Golf as an Olympic Sport? Top golf players are full of enthusiasm as their appointed ambassadors work to have golf included as an Olympic sport. Players are citing that the most memorable events are those where you represent your country in a foreign competition. Bringing back a medal is a honor that carries the most......