For those of you who like are interested in some of my competitive clients and how they’re doing, here’s an update/sneak peak at Tim Smith the day before he competes in the Alabama State Bodybuilding Championship.

Last year was Tim’s first year competing, and he won the Heavyweight class in the Novice Division.  This year he’s moved up to the Open Division. 

I tell you what, Tim has done his homework and looks GREAT!  He’s made some serious improvements from last year.  Click on the pic to enlarge it and notice how ripped his glutes are on the side - THAT, my friend, is what being ripped for a bodybuilding show is all about.

Though I don’t have “sneak peak” pics, I can tell you that Paris Pipillion is poised to do well in two weeks in New York at the Team Universe.  Likewise, IFBB Pro AD Cherry is set to look great at the Atlantic City, NJ pro show.  More on AD and Paris later…

Best,

Dr Clay

While lying on the beach in Lake Tahoe today, I was attacked… by a DUCK!  Don’t worry, I was able to snap a pic of the perpetrator before he escaped. 

I’ll have some awesome pics and a cool video to post soon from tomorrow’s activities.  Stay tuned.

Reporting from Lake Tahoe, Nevada - I’m Dr Clay

Big congratulations goes out to one of my long-standing clients, Paris, who just won his pro card (professional status) in the NGA! 

Now the focus in on the NPC Team Universe in New York City.

Many people get confused as to when to use ice and when to use heat on an injury.  In some cases, you can really make an injury (or its symptoms) worse by using the wrong therapy.  Allow me to clarify the ice vs. heat confusion for you.

If your injury is new (the clinical term is acute) then you should use ice.  Likewise, if the injury has visible inflammation then you should opt for ice - or as we Dr’s like to call it, cryotherapy.  (We use big words to confuse you so we can justify charging a lot.)

On the other hand, if you have an older injury that doesn’t have inflammation involved, like maybe a tight/achey muscle, then using heat is likely the best option.

One of the worst things you can do is to put heat on a recent and/or inflamed injury.  Cryotherapy causes vasocontriction (decreasing blood flow) to the applied area.  This helps to reduce inflammation.  Heat has the opposite effect.  So even though it may “feel better” at that moment, putting heat on an inflamed area causes MORE inflammation - not good!

I often tell people, “when in doubt, use ice.”  As long as you don’t leave it on too long (more than 15-20 minutes), you can’t really hurt yourself with ice, but you can with heat.

Tip: after doing exercise that involves a painful or injured joint, put ice on it to help reduce the inflammation that would typically follow. 

Yours in health,

~Dr Clay