Hello from Vegas!

Hey guys~

Just got back to my hotel room from a photo shoot/ interview for http://www.bodybuildingweekly.com/. It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day in Las Vegas...perfect for a shoot by the pool next to the rocks and waterfalls : )

I competed in the USA's yesterday and placed 15th. Not exactly where I hoped to place, but out of nearly 300 girls over all and about 50 in my height class, its a respectable placing. My main feedback so far has been that I was literally the shortest girl in my class and I got "lost" even though my symmetry was best in show. I am hoping to compete in class C rather than D in my November show to avoid that issue again ; ) However, the legendary Charles Glass told me he felt I should have taken my class! Just meeting him was an honor as well as a high light in my trip to Vegas.

While I was back stage at my show I was approached by a talent scout for Juan Carlos Lopez, who is a photographer for http://www.hardfitness.com/. We will be shooting together in the near future! As for this weekend though...I am done! Time to break out the cheese burgers and ice cream!!!!

Tomorrow I'll be heading back to Miami to collect myself and get back to work. Talk to you then!

Off to Vegas!

Hey y'all ; )

Today is it! I have one more back workout, 30 minutes of cardio, a quick posing session then its off to Vegas for the NPC USA National Figure Championships!

Athletes meetings and prejudging begin at around 9:30am on Saturday, so I should be taking the stage around 10:30am!

Wish me luck!

~Ashley

Body Building Weekly Interview/Photoshoot

Hello Hello!

I am very excited to report that I was asked to do an interview and photoshoot for bodybuildingweekly.com in Las Vegas this weekend. It will be both a written interview as well as a video interview that will be featured on their website : ) I'll be sure to get the link up as soon as they publish it so you can check it out!

Thanks for all the support

~Ashley

Lose Weight & Get Clear Skin: The Magic of Water!

We are all aware that water is necessary for survival right? Well did you know that aside from keeping you hydrated, water consumption can not only help to keep your skin looking clear and fresh but it can also assist in maintaining a healthy body weight?

I was mildly chunky sixteen year old when I first realized the benefits of drinking water. I had a bit of a soda addiction, and one day I decided to put myself to the test and see if (other than skim milk) I could drink only water for 3 months. I succeeded, and almost immediately noticed a HUGE difference in my appearance. For one my adolescent acne prone skin seemed to clear up drastically, and in addition to that, the water weight I had been holding in my face, belly and legs seemed to decrease. I was thrilled to see the changes in my stomach as it flattened out and to see my “moon pie face”, as my mother called it, become more slender.

I realized that just by replacing drinks like soda and juice with water, I had made big changes in my appearance and in the way I felt. In addition to that, I realized I was less hungry and I had more energy throughout the day. While science does not offer direct proof that high consumption of water is directly related to weight loss, many people notice that it can assist with controlling cravings which may lead to weight gain.

Water is an essential ingredient in our daily lives that keeps us healthy and active. The human body is made up of 55%-75% water, and it’s up to us to make sure we consume an adequate amount throughout the day to keep hydrated. A lack of water intake can lead to dehydration, a condition that effects even the smallest everyday functions and can leave you with a nasty headache. If you’ve ever experienced one or a few of these symptoms, you’ve probably been dehydrated:

• Excessive Thirst
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dry Mouth
• Little or No Urination
• Muscle Weakness
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness

 

Water plays a big role in flushing our bodies of harmful toxins. If the body does not have enough water to support this function, the metabolic wastes are unable to be removed successfully. Many of these toxins are held in our kidneys, without water we risk damage to these vital organs. Another benefit of drinking water is to carry nutrients into the cells of the body, which feed our muscles, bones, and organs assisting them in their proper function.

In addition, water is beneficial for our muscles and in maintaining proper muscle tone while preventing aggravating muscle cramping. This is a huge one for athletes or those of you who exercise! H20 also keeps our joints lubricated and increases energy levels, something we ALL could benefit from.

Now, think about all those nasty and harmful toxins our body produces daily…these pollutants are streaming throughout our system just waiting for a way out. If we do not consume enough water to frequently urinate these toxins out, they will eventually find another way to leave. Where is this alternative route you ask? They escape though the pores in our skin, which leads to acne. One of the easiest ways I can think of to avoid break outs is by simply drinking water!

Now you might be wondering, how does water relate in any way to maintaining a healthy body weight. By introducing water which virtually has no carbs, sugars or calories, in place of juice and soda, you are limiting your body’s intake thus reducing adding extra pounds. In addition to using water as a replacement, water can help curve your cravings. The average food craving lasts only from 12-14 minutes, such a short amount of time can seem so long when you are itching for your favorite candy bar. Rather than giving into your cravings, pick up a class of water, this will help to fill the empty void in your stomach during those moments of weakness. If you still have the taste for something sweet, add a Crystal Light to your water and enjoy!

How much water should a person drink in a day? There are few different ideas on this, the most popular being the 8 by 8 rule, eight 8oz waters a day. However, people vary in size and activity levels so their intake levels may not be the same. While it is a good idea to try to get about 8 glasses of water in a day, you may need more or less. The best way to monitor your water intake is to pay attention to your body, and go with how you feel. If you have even one symptom of dehydration (yellow urine, head ache, dry mouth…) you may need more water. If you are working out or are in a hot environment, your body is exerting much more water so you will need to constantly replace it during your activity.

Water is the cheapest and most pure thing you can consume to treat your body. It can help to avoid weight gain, acne, and dehydration. Treat your body, put down the soda and pick up an ice cold water! 

Welcome!

Hey there! 

Welcome to the official blog spot of Ashley Cooper. I will be keeping a daily update of what I have going on with my modeling, training, competing and writing. 

So far this 2009 figure season I have competed in one competition which was the Junior Nationals in Chicago. I did not place how I was hoping to and was not awarded my IFBB Figure Pro Card due to the opinion of the judges that I came in looking "too hard". 

I had spent an entire year preparing for this show and adding as much lean muscle mass to my frame as possible, so I was pretty bummed when things did not go nearly how I expected. However, there was a true silver lining to my experience in Chicago...

I was approached by the renowned fitness photographer John Stutz, author of Fit Girls Volume 1. He expressed to me that he felt I had gotten robbed at that show and said he wants to feature me in Volume 2 (the final volume) of his Fit Girls book! His first volume has launched the careers of many top fitness models we see today : ) We will be shooting in November in Miami, and his book is to hit store shelves in early 2010.

In the mean time I am back in the "lab" working on my figure and on a new high fat diet. I will be competing July 24-25th at the NPC USA Nationals in Las Vegas...WISH ME LUCK!

Till next time~