Bringing Awesome Back in Iron Man Magazine

A while back I was contacted by Savannah Rose Neveux at Iron Man Magazine, and I was asked if I wanted to have my transformation featured in the August issue. For me, the answer was simple - hell yeah! Now, I figured I'd share a few thoughts surrounding the event and why it's an honor for me to be a part of this particular magazine.

The two page article in August issue of Iron Man Magazine 2013.

Why this is important for me.
In my journey, after doing what I've done, I've always wanted to reach out and help others. However, above all, I've always wanted to reach these people through media that I personally know understands what I've gone through. Daily news papers such as the ones hitting the news stands every day, where health, fitness and bodybuilding has the same amount of priority as music, movies and religion is not the right media for me. Since they do not focus on weight training and dieting, they do not put in a vast amount of time in understanding the effort that it takes. That's why they sometimes, in a very simplistic way, write these kind of articles without the full background - often promoting it with silly headlines saying that the weight magically disappeared by the help of a simple diet. This is why I'm careful with the places that tell my story. Sure, a lot of muscle magazines promote the use of various products and the "magic" that they do, but that doesn't take away the fact that they allow me to tell the story as it is, and that they understand the story that I'm telling. That's why it's a huge honor for me to have my story told in a magazine such as Iron Man Magazine. So, in the name of awesomeness, get out there and pick up the August issue of Iron Man Magazine.

Where can I get the magazine in Sweden?
You can find the magazine at Pressbyrån. Not all of the boutiques carry it, so make sure you go to pressbyran.se and write the name of the magazine. Then proceed to fill in your ZIP code, and the website will tell you which Pressbyrån boutiques that carry it (and that are close to you). If you do not want to drive to a boutique, you also have the choice of buying it online and having it sent to your home address. Enjoy!

Vegas, Olympia Weekend and Engagement!

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin. The fact that this is happening is more awesome than I could ever imagine - what am I talking about? I'm talking about the fact that today, my girlfriend and I, booked tickets to Las Vegas where we'll be going to the Olympia Weekend. This is an event that I've wanted to attend ever since I first got drawn into the world of bodybuilding. On top of this, we've got an hotel room booked at Caesar's Palace, a place that my girlfriend and I have been excited about experiencing for a long time. The fact that we'll get the chance to stay 6 nights there makes things even better. But, I haven't even begun talking about the best part. Not only is this a trip where we're getting to see some of the top professional bodybuilders of the world, but we're also planning something special outside of the Olympia... WE'RE GETTING ENGAGED! More info on our trip and all the awesome stuff that will come out of this will be posted along the way as we get closer and closer to taking off! Until then, remember, keep bringing awesome back!

That's right Vegas, we're coming! You better be ready!

A visit to the Fitness Five Qualifier in Halmstad

Fitness Five, a competition including five different competitive elements - bench press, biceps curl, squats, chins and dips - took place in Tylösand, Halmstad yesterday. Actually, this was just one out of a few qualifiers that take place before the big finale in Malmö. Since Halmstad is only a 30 minute drive for my girlfriend and I, we took the opportunity to visit the event and snap a few photos. Here are the goodies!

Click here for all the pictures posted on Facebook 

Visit the official Fitness Five page at www.fitnessfive.se

At the Fitness Five entrance!

On my way down inside - weather wasn't too great...

Luckily we were inside!

Bench press was up once I got there.

Moving on to biceps curl!

Let's squat!

Chins - Women!

Chins - Men!

Chins continued...

Naturally, the event was well covered!

Protienbutiken with me at all times!

Moving on to dips. Ladies turn!

Dips - Men.

Dips - Men.

Dips - Men.

Dips - Men.

Dips - Men.

The qualifier winners, Linda Samuelsson and Rookie Westin!

Bringing Awesome Back with the men's winner, Rookie Westin.

The Article About Me in BODY Magazine

I made a post a while back about dreams coming true (click here to read about it). One of these dreams was ending up in the Swedish Bodybuilding and Fitness Magazine called BODY Magazine. As you all know, this finally happened and I've been asked to post the article online so that all you Swedes can read it. Said and done, here it is.   

I'm definitely honored by the words that Alex has written. Thanks for the opportunity buddy!

Click on the image for a larger view!

A Week Where Dreams Came True

It's slowly moving towards it being five years since I first started my journey of weight loss where my lack of specific goals gradually became a strong determination to build the best physique that I could possibly ever accomplish. Through this process I've become a huge fan of the world of bodybuilding, and it's given me so much.

Bodybuilding has enabled me to have a new and brighter future where my health is no longer heading into a downward spiral. It's given me the opportunity to meet new and interesting people, some who share similar experiences, and some who come from a completely different background. Bodybuilding has made me develop as a person, making me want to improve physically as well as intellectually. It's been a source of motivation when times are rough and the workout sessions are long, and it's been a source of knowledge and inspiration when my own resources have felt drained. It's within this area that I've found help from both bodybuilding magazines as well as websites, and there have been a few that have meant more than others. Therefore, it's an incredible honor as well as a privilege, that after all the years, I get to be a part of the media outlets that have meant so much to me. Want to know what the crazy thing is? It all came true within the same week!

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# Getting published on Bodybuilding.com

The first dream that came true this week happened at Bodybuilding.com. This website spawned a lot of inspiration when I was starting my journey. The transformations found on the website are amazing, and they've had me spend hours looking at what other people have accomplished with their bodies. They've made me hope and believe that I could accomplish the same thing if I only put my mind to it.

It feels strange and almost unreal to see myself there, but most of all, I feel honored to be a part of it. I'd like to give a special thanks to Trent Lootens, who have done an amazing job piecing my article together. Thank you, and thank you Bodybuilding.com for all the inspiration that you've brought me throughout the years!

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# Featured in BODY Magazine

My second dream coming true this week, although it's actually the first dream that I had, was being featured in the Swedish bodybuilding & fitness magazine called BODY Magazine. The workout routines, the dieting tips, the competition coverage, the interviews with amazing athletes, the latest research within the area of health and fitness, it's all been read thoroughly as I've received the magazine each month - instantly feeling like a child on Christmas Eve every time I found it laying in my mailbox.

The main reason for this feature becoming true is thanks to Editor-in-Chief Alex Danielsson, who I had the pleasure of interviewing during the BMR Grand Prix in Malmö earlier this year. Alex was a great sport during the interview, and after I told him about my journey he offered me a chance to be a part of the magazine that I've admired for so long. The segment, which he's written, is truly honoring, and Alex, if you're reading this, you are indeed an awesome man in my book!

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# Thank you for helping me inspire others!
So, as you might have guessed, these articles happening are indeed dreams becoming true. For so long I've admired what they've had to offer to the world of bodybuilding, as well as health and fitness, and I can't even begin to explain how much this means to me. Thank you for giving me the chance to inspire people just as you've inspired me!

Photo Coverage from BMR Grand Prix 2013

It's time for yet another report from the BMR Grand Prix. As you might have seen, all you Swedes got a little treat yesterday, where I posted a 40 minute long interview segment with various athletes and profiles (click here to listen). Today, it's time to give you the visual goodies from the event. However, I'm only posting some of the highlights here. To get hold of all of the competition pictures, taken at the event, please visit the Facebook page, where over 180 images were posted.

NOTE: All photos from the event can be found by clicking here

BMR Grand Prix pamphlets handed to us at the arrival.

Binais had his company all over the place.

Crew keeping busy.

Toro had to chip in.

Girlfriend looking pretty on the red carpet.

Time for the first interview - Helene "Ice" Ahlson.

Helene had some really good insight as she's helped many others with their diet and training.

Second interview - Leo Wessman.

Leo Wessman competes in Athletic Fitness and we both had some similar traits.

Mr Casanova, Ako Rahim, talked about his ADHD and how he's using it to better his training.

Not even my girlfriend could stay away from him...

Heck, I'm no better, I can't stay away from him either....

The nicest guy in the whole world, Boris Kleine. Always a pleasure!

Thumbs up for another pleasant talk with the big guy himself!

The lovely couple, Eva Lagerhorn Blom and Rickard Olsson, were kind enough to give an interview.

Rickard was competing later in the evening, but still took time to answer my questions.

Grabbed the man, and host, himself for an interview. The ever so easy going Binais Begović.

Look at that smile - who can resist such a man?!

Editor-in-Chief at BODY Magazine, Alex Danielsson, got a taste of his own medicine.

Mr Door Man, giving you a hard time if you didn't have a ticket!

Finally time to enter the Arena!

The Wolf was called up on stage - no howling this time though!

Let the games begin!

Samir Troudi and Christofer Nober got back!

Christofer Nober was rock hard!

Arne Lundell (to the left) - one of my favorite Swedish bodybuilders.

Rabi Fakhro was amazing.

The conditioning was crazy on Rabi Fakhro.

Arne Lundell's individual posing routine.

The big guys went at it.

Rabi Fakhro won the -100, Arne Lundell placed second.

Paul Poloczek came in crazy condition as well.

Samir Troudi showing off in the middle of the posedown.