Packin' Heat!!!

Dear Friends and Fans,

WOW! I've been busier than a one armed paper hanger...LOL.. Since the Ny Pro Show in May, I have been to KS City for a bodybuilding show and booth work, had wood floors laid in my house ( that leaves things in ciaos for a bit), and my mom is now in for 2 weeks... yes... 2 weeks...lol. She is having a great time and seeing why I love the STL so much. I hope to get her down to the arch tomorrow. She leaves this Sunday, and then I will have ceramic laid in my kitchen and walk out. I'm really staring to get motivated in the office. I plan to make some changes to my flow really soon. I know I always say that but it's coming. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My training is going well. I started hitting the weights again 3 weeks ago. I'm huge!!! Lean full and heavy. I'm sitting at 159 right now. I'm getting stronger and stronger. I have been training mostly in my home gym. I've been adding some good equipment, and I just love being at my home. It's my resting place, actually its my body sculpting studio.

I'm just feeling great!! Life couldn't be better. I plan on knocking out some of those emails from my fans. I'm sorry I haven't been good about that. Everything just takes some much time. I hope you like the updates to the site. I have some fun gym stuff and lift and carries to come. Thank you for your support always! I'm LARGE and IN CHARGE...LOL.. and this pix is the heat I pack!!!

Your Pro,

Dr. Dena

NY Pro Show 5th Place

Dear Friends and Fans,

WOW! What a year it's been so far. I have been running around like crazy, way before 2009 even turned. I must say I am looking forward to a little bit of a change. You do get to the point where you just don't even want to think about your physique. Wear as many clothes as possible and just put that physique to sleep for a while. I'm not sure how others can do show after show, but my body is really asking for a break.

I've totally enjoyed my stay here in the Big Apple. My friends KC and Charlie put Beth and I up in their manhattan condo, so we were totally hooked up. Just blocks from Broadway, we walked the streets and checked out shops. It was great just to feed off the energy of all the people. My prep and everything went as planned. I really couldn't have done anything different to help with my placing. I've looked at the pictures, I'm not sure of my opinion yet. I have been saying this same thing since 2004, but I have to still bring up my legs. I have made incredible changes, but still, I need more fullness. So my focus will be on my legs as usual for the off season. i will have to ponder that a bit to see how I want to go about it. The big thing is to get this done without hurting my legs and back. I'm feeling the need for a trip to Venice Beach to se the "Trainer of Champions" Charles Glass.

My weight when I left for the show was 138, one of my heaviest showings. The show was run very well. Vinny and Mike, who have taken over Stone Productions since the passing of Steve Stone, were all over it. To tell you the truth, better than ever. My only complaint was that it was sooo hot in the pump up room. I though I was going to over heat at the night show. I was kinda scared. The taxi driver would not turn the air on in the cab, and the sun was just beaming in. I was melting away like a candle. I got to the pump up room and it had been closed off all day between shows. I grabbed tazzie and asked her to sit with me because I was hot and might pass out. I searched and found one little spot that had some ciruulation and we chilled there for a bit. She and everyone else was burning up too. I finally got control over it and was fine.. but that is a scary feeling. You never want to be the one the ambulance is coming for, plus lose your placing for a no show.

I'm fine with my placing. I always use the results of my shows for direction in my life. When my focus should be re directed... bodybuilding lets me know that. If I should continue to finish off the year with bodybuilding, then I would be in the top 3 and olympia bound, but instead, it's time to redirect my training, get the practice to another level and get more involved with Species Nutrition. I hope to be on RX muscle radio show soon, and a couple other things lingering out there that I haven't had a chance to respond to.

I put this front lat shot up to compare to the last show. I wanted to put up the rear dbl bi shot so you can see the much improved ham detail, but still how my legs seemed to deflate in a matter of hours...?????>>>... You should be able to see stage shots on my web site shortly. I think I looked great. I got beat by names and home town faces... LOL... I'm honored however to have been given a scooby snack and placed in the top 5 in front of some great veteran bodybuilders, so I'm not complaining. I like NY and will be back.

Sunday, I shot all day withAwefilms...lol... you know we do good stuff together, so watchout for our vampire clip!! Great pix from behind the scenes soon to come.

Thank you KC and Charlie for the great place and hospitality, and of course Beth... for your help and friendship.; Thank you to my sponsor www.speciesnutrition.com and Pro Tan for helping my physique shine.

Your Pro,
Dr. Dena

Vibrant Life!!!

Dear Friends and Fans

I had Maryjane's memorial on Sunday. I had 40 people show up. It was AMAZING!!! I put on a huge spread and planned to let off 41 balloons @ 5:30... our favorivte time of day. I asked everyone to bring a plant for maryjane. After my eulogy, I let off a white balloon for peace and all her friends, who had green balloons for new life, followed. I must say that I'm the luckiest person in the world!!! Yes, in all of this, I've found happiness. I have the most amazing friends, neighbors, fans..etc. I never knew that I had so many wonderful people in my life. Maryjane helped me open my eyes to the love around me... and it feels so good. I get these tears running down my face reading her guest book and what everyone had to say to her. She helped my attract all of these wonderful people. She was so loved!!! Maryjane has shown me how to love, accept help from others, and most importantly... how to be loved. I finally realized that is why she had to leave. It was time to feel the love around me. I guess you never see it until a time of need. The individuals who have been there for be is over coming. I feel so fortunate to have this in my life, and to have gotten to experience all of these feelings and emotions, but not be over whelmed. It was such a satisfying feeling to feel but not react... if that makes sense. The main thing is that I didn't want to let my emotions control me... I just felt them openly.. and it didn't hurt. It brought tears of joy. I almost felt guilty! Connie came over yesterday and planted most of my yard. I sat in tears of joy last night as I stared out the back porch at the wonderful life that was out there...MARYJANE'S life! It's so wonderful to see, feel and be life. " Friends are flowers in the garden of life." Thank you all for everything you do for me! Special thank you to Brian, Patty and Connie for holding my hand in my time of need. My TREE is STRONG!!!!

Training is great. I look good, can't wait to get to NY and get this over with...LOL... in a positive way!! Summer is almost here!!! Beer n Burgers...LOL oh and Patty's Pool!!!!

I will be putting on a performance @ my local watering hole..Carmody's Bar and Eatery Saturday night. It is for a charity called Places for Peoples. 8:00 PM May 9th.

Carmody's: 49 Clarkson Road. Elliseville, MO

Your Pro,

Dr. Dena

To The Only One I've Ever Loved

Dear Friends and Fans,

It was 11:37 pm, I was going to let Maryjane out for a pottie then paint my toe nails. I was looking forward to going to bed... I had to get some rest for a busy day at the guest posing. I live on a park which is down in a valley. I opened the back door and Maryjane took off after some deer. I started yelling her name to come back.... then I heard all this ruckus. I thought Maryjane was fighting with another dog. I could hear her screaming. I had slippers on so it was difficult to get through the woods and the creek with rocks. Maryjane stopped calling out to me, but I could hear the direction it was coming from. There was a mass of bushes and trees. I couldn't get to her and it was pitch black out. I went running home to get a flash light, cussing myself the whole time because I just thought to myself last week ago to get C batteries for that flashlight under the sink. What good is it if it doesn't work right?.....My neighbors were outside thank god because I would have gone crazy banging on doors to get me a flash light. I yelled I need a flashlight Maryjane needs help. I put on my shoes and they were quickly there with 2 lights. I grabbed one and went back to where I heard Maryjane. I went up the hill and shined my light down into the mass of trees...Maryjane was stuck down there. I could tell she couldn't move from the hips down. She ran off a 15 foot cliff. The ground just ended and there were large trees all around. It was very dark and I know she couldn't see. The guys were right behind me. I told them to be careful it looks like she broke her back. I gave my one neighbor the light and said for them to get her out I was going to call my vet. I ran home and called. I got the emergency number off the machine and told them we were coming in. I ran back outside and the guys were carrying Maryjane. I asked if she could walk and they said no. I got her into the back seat and took off. They took xrays and didn't find a break, but she obviously has a very bad neurological injury. I asked if they could keep her out of pain and see if she can get some improvement. On Sunday April 26, 2009, I had to put her down. She was my first dog. It took me a long time to feel comfortable enough to get a dog. I wanted to make sure I would be able to give a dog a good life. Maryjane actually found me. I picked her up in front of a grocery store the day before I left Georgia ( life University) to come to St. Louis for Logan Chiropractic. It was a big stepping stone in my life. I was moving farther away from home, going to a new state where I know no one, have no job, and a puppy sitting next to me. I always said I wanted my first dog to be a black standard poodle, and I'd name her Maryjane. Well a different Maryjane found me, and she was a perfect dog. Everyone loved Maryjane. She was the most loving dog. people were amazed that a pit bull was so nice. They would always say"it's the way they are raised". So I guess I did a good job. She was a very happy dog. I will miss her like you will never believe. She knew me so well. It's so ironic that I was just digging through some stuff the other day and ran across some puppy pix of Maryjane. I looked and reminisced. I was noticing how she had aged. I had her 7.5 years. I had a friend ask me the other day if I've ever been in love. I said "no", I don't think so. " I don't think so"? She said. I told her I compare it to the way I feel about Maryjane. When I would think of her my stomach would get butterflies, I couldn't wait for bed or nap time. She spooned with me. She would snore so loud I would have to wear ear plugs at times...LOL.. I like to hear her sleep. She would make funny noises as she chased squirrels in her dreams. She always wanted to be right under my arm. She would always watch me get ready. Follow me from room to room. She was like a little kid in the morning. I would come down and make my coffee, and she would lay in the bed for a bit longer, and then come crawling down and get on the couch so she could be close to me. I always wondered how the throw blankets on my couches got pulled down and sometimes the pillows on are on the floor. I never saw her actually do it. Several times a day I have to put the blankets back and pick up pillows from the floor. Then one day, I finally saw her do it. It was so cute (although it pissed me off at times). She reached up and put her paw on it and pulled it down. Then she kicked off a couple pillows, but kept one for her head. Very systematically she spread out the blanket and laid down with a big sigh. I finally saw her do it. So it wasn't a ghost after all....LOL.

Needless to say, I got 2 hours of sleep. I had to be at the pre judging by 8:30 am. I packed most of my stuff up Friday night, so I wasn't in too much of a rush on Saturday. I had to totally shut off my emotions. It was difficult, but I managed. I did still have an obligation to have my booth up and to pose in the evening. I was hoping I could pull this off. I couldn't let everyone down that was expecting me to be there. I didn't want to mess up the routine or get emotional or brain dumb when in front of the mic. God took it easy on me for the rest of the weekend. Everything went well at the show. My booth was fun. My posse had a great time and help me immensely. My photographer was all over it and will have some great pix out soon. My routine was on, my impromptu speech came out smoothly and purpose full ,hopefully.

I looked better than ever. I can see the changes that I wanted to make in the 7 weeks I had. I hope the judges will also. I had a lot of compliments on my physique, and this is from local people that have seem me evolve. I appreciate you all.

2 weeks out of the NY Pro Show, I just have to bring it in a bit tighter. It seemed like I had everything down. I used http://www.speciesnutriton.com/ new aqualyze. It worked great! I stayed nice and full. It was fairly comfortable. I'm a baby with the dehydration part. I complain about that the whole time. It wasn't killing me this time though. I think it was the aqualyze. I'm gonna kill myself with fish and broccoli for the next 2 weeks. I'm going to change my workouts to 4 all body work out days. Now it's about stimulating those deep fibers to fill out the bellies and press the muscle against my skin. Lots of posing!!!!

Thank you for your support, and to all the new fans I meet over the weekend. I appreciate you all. I will have a NPC Midwest gallery in the free section of site for fans and competitors to view, and Dr. Sexy galleries. You can check out the shows website to http://www.npcmidwest.com/ .

MARYJANE May You rest In Peace. Mommy misses you already.

Your Pro,

Dr. Dena

Hopping Into Shape

Dear Friends and Fans,

hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. The Easter Bunny left me 12 egg whites, a bunch of chicken breast and pretty spring asparagus and broccoli florets. Oh it was so good..lol. I'm on the conveyor belt these days. I'm beginning to amaze myself with the amount of things I'm handling. My guest posing is next Saturday... and the after party @ wwwlurenightclub.com is on. I have finished getting all my PR stuff out from the show and my advertisement for the guest posing. It may seem easy to do a guest appearance, but to me it's not. I had to organize all my photos for sale and make sure I have enough copies. I'll be selling some used photo shoot stuff at my booth, so I had to get pictures together of all the outfits, wash them, package them, organize them in some manner and price them. All of this stuff has taken 4 weeks to do. I've been working ever since the Arnold. Of course, I have been taking care of all of these things on my "SPARE TIME"..LOL! I still have to practice my routines, work out and work my other job. to give you an example, my day today went as such: I woke at 3:30am to start my coffee then laid back down to try to force myself to sleep. I just cuddled a bit with Maryjane... up out of bed at 4:15. I sat and sipped some coffee, walked Maryjane then 5:15am I started practicing my posing routines and did my daily sets of push ups, pull pus, abs and leg magic. I was on the treadmill @ 5:50am for my first round of 45 mins of cardio. After cardio, I shot up to the tanning salon for a tan, back home for some web cam, and a meal. By 11:45, I was back on my treadmill for my second round of cardio. I took a nap @ 12:35-1:44. I got my office @ 2:30pm so I could put some much needed filing away and back on cardio but this time it was 15 mins stepmill, 15 mins stepper and 15mins of the hand bike adding up to 2 hours and 15 mins of cardio for the day. I saw my first patient @ 4:00pm and had them back to back til I left... 9:06pm... I always look at the clock..LOL time is my enemy. Oh did I mention that Wednesday is my off day?? So, I'm sure you can imagine what a day with a workout in it would be like. Now on top of all of that and trying to run a business and stay sane for my patients, I'm having wood floors put in my house while I'm in NY. I have to pick tile and get all the supplies straight with the floor guy. Next week, I have to empty all of my cabinets and move furniture around so the guys can get to the floor. May sound like nothing, but it takes the one thing I don't have...TIME!!!!

Now that I vented....My physique is looking good. My weight is still up.. I'm hanging now at like 147-148. It finally started to drop. I guess 2:15 of cardio can do that...LOL. Big, hard, full muscles. I can notice the changes I've still been able to make in my legs. I've kept my quads full and have hit my hams and glutes. I hope all this cardio doesn't eat me away, but right now everything seems to be on. I think I will definitely be heavier than at the Arnold though. I'm thinking 142-144.

Tom 9 took the pix I posted. I will have his gallery up soon. Hope you like the changes to the site. I appreciate your support. I hope to have some fun pix from the guest posing.

Your Pro,

Dr. Dena

Irons In The Fire

Dear Friends and Fans,

Weeks seem to be just flying by. I feel like I have so much going on.... I have been working a lot more to pay for this NY trip. Oh My!!! I have my guest posing coming up in 3 weeks, April 25th, http://www.npcmidwest.com/ . Jack, the promoter, is meeting with the club owner today to finalize the details of the after party we are hosting after the show. It should be alot of fun. http://www.lurenightclub.com/ . I'm hoping to get my friend in from NY to spin at the club. DJKC.... www.myspace.com/djkcnyc . Gary my photographer will be taking pictures of the booth, guest posing and the after party, so we should have some fun galleries coming up.

My training is going well. I'm really just training my legs and hitting my upper body once a week, but I do push ups, pull ups and the hand bike everyday so that is keeping My upper body hard too. I'm looking forward to seeing what I look like at the guest posing. I will be 2 weeks out of the NY show. I'm weighing 150 right now. I have to start trying to get my weight down a bit. I don't want to be lighter... but I need to be a bit more crisp... I'm gonna have to figure that one out...LOL..

I thought my legs looked pretty good in this shot. Dan Ray took this photo. He shoots me really well. When standing alone my legs look great... LOL... you know how the rest of that story goes..

I hope you are all are enjoying the change of seasons. I love it. We have these white Pear Blossoms blooming all over. It's so pretty.

Thank you for your support.

Your Pro,

Dr. Dena

Springing Into Bloom!!!

Dear Friends and Fans,

Well it's back to the full routine of training, posing and working. My friends had a CONGRATULATIONS party for me yesterday at friends Alex and Chris restaurant "El Agave" in Pacific, MO. oh my the food was GREAT and PLENTIFULLY!..LOL.. and a big chocolate cake. I almost over ate. Gosh, made that mistake one year... YUCK!! I really have some great friends, and want each of you to know that you really touched me.... I feel so fortunate to have so many people that love and appreciate me as a person. It's amazing how complete I'm beginning to feel. It honors me to share with you a poem that one for my friends wrote for me and read aloud at the party:

Ode To Dena

Please join us for a celebration

Not only tops in this great nation

She's also winner #9

In a world of muscles fine

Almost bare,she prances and dances

flexing while in muscular stances

On the stage she has such poise

while her fan club makes loud noise

This fine young woman we all know

Has great depth, she's not all show

Her friends are tops upon her list

And Maryjane gets hugged & kissed

The qualities that you posess

Makes all other seem a mess

You cook, you party yet motivation

Is the crux of your dedication

So dear Dena, we salute you

For the many things that you do

You heal us with your loving hands

You make no judgements no demands

How can one girl be so fun

Smart, accomplished next to none

Inside and out your beauty shines

You just get better like fine wines.

Thank you Connie

Okay so here it is, I have 7 weeks to pull my physique just a bit tighter. It's the damn glute/ ham area of course. I'm training my legs 4 days a week. I'm not killing them though, but they feel it the next day. I do the incline treadmill for 30 mins and then the rest of my cardio I try to do on the hand bike, so I don't burn up the size of my legs. A typical day of leg training would be 2 sets walking lunges, 2 sets box jumps, 3 sets stiff leg deads. I'm still doing 2 sets of pulls, push ups, and leg magic. My abs are INSANELY thick.. I'm gonna let them rest a bit... they get a work out while posing. everything seems to be right on so far. It's back to business... My posse wants to go to Vegas....LOL... Top 3 @ the NY Pro Show May 16th will Qualify me for the Ms. Olympia and a trip to Vegas with my friends and fans.

I have a guest posing Apr 25th here in St. Louis... Robert's Orpheum Theatre 7pm. It's a new NPC novice show called 2009NPC MIDWEST. I will be hosting the after party with the promoters Jack and Ann Titone. Ann is a top national figure competitor if you want to check her out. Show info WWW.NPCMIDWEST.COM . I will be back stage helping athletes during the prejudging and selling photo shoot outfits and photos at my booth. Come by and say hi. I'll keep you updated on the guest posing and the after party for all you local fans. Keep pushing me to be champion..... if only in my wourld...LOL.!!

Your Pro,

Dr. Dena