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Bodybuilding Program / System | Nutrition Program | Free Bodybuilding Report | Biceps Program | Directory | Abs Workout Program | Women Weight Training | The Mega-Mass Bodybuilding Program | Fat Burners | Strength Training Schedules | Yohimbe Extract | Private Forum | Bodybuilding Videos | Press Release | Top Bodybuilding Supplements | Bodybuilding Tips | Bodybuilding Programs | Weight Loss | Bodybuilding & Fitness sites Clinician Reviews, Feb, 2002 by Jeremy L. Pettit Save a personal copy of this article and quickly find it again with Furl.net. It's free! Save it. Description Arginine, also known as L-arginine, is one of 20 amino acids used to make up the 50,000 to 100,000 proteins in the human body. Amino acids are classified as either essential or nonessential. The eight essential amino acids are not made by the body and must be obtained through diet or supplementation. Arginine, which is usually produced in the body, is thought to be inadequately synthesized in those with liver disease and in mothers who are breast-feeding--and thus has been considered conditionally essential in these two populations. Nuts, raw cereals, meat, fish, and poultry all contain L-arginine. Pharmacology Arginine is an interesting nutraceutical in that it can be used to treat a number of disease processes. Arginine directly participates in the liver s urea cycle by increasing nitric oxide synthase activity and plays a role as a vasodilator in the treatment of interstitial cystitis, (1) heart failure, coronary heart disease, angina, and liver disease. (2-6) Use Continue article Advertisement Often, the participants in phytochemical, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical studies have specific diseases. Six healthy volunteers, however, were used to ascertain the effects of an Larginine--rich diet and L-arginine supplementation on coagulation parameters, blood pressure, and metabolism in a recent single-blind, controlled, crossover trial. The results were surprising in that only a moderate increase in L-arginine intake significantly lowered subjects' blood pressure. (7) A study conducted by Bednarz et al (8) found a link between L-arginine and improved vasodilation. This randomized, double-blind, crossover trial involved 25 patients with stable coronary artery disease. The subjects engaged in exercise after ingesting 6 g/d of L-arginine or placebo for three days. The researchers found that oral L-arginine supplementation did not result in exercise-induced electrocardiographic changes; however, it significantly increased exercise tolerance in these patients, probably due to increased vasodilation. The results of this study correlate closely with the findings of Egashira et a (9) on the Vasodilatory effects of arginine on the coronary endothelium microvasculature in patients with angina. In another study, improvement of symptoms was significant, prompting researchers to recommend L-arginine as a therapeutic option for patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction and nonobstructive coronary artery disease. (2) Hambrecht et a1 (10) sought to determine whether L-arginine is as effective as, or enhances the benefits of, physical exercise in patients with chronic heart failure. Forty such patients were randomized to receive 8 g/d of L-arginine, handgrip training, or both. Using a transcutaneous high-resolution 10-MHz A-mode echo tracking system and a Doppler device to determine the mean internal radial artery diameter, the researchers found that L-arginine supplementation was as effective as physical exercise in improving agonist-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Furthermore, receiving both interventions together seemed to be more beneficial than receiving either alone. Contraindications Because arginine may accelerate viral replication, (11) patients with human herpesvirus 1 or human herpesvirus 2 should not use arginine supplements. It is best to significantly decrease or temporarily cease consumption of foods that contain high concentrations of arginine when one has a cold sore or other herpes outbreak. Drug Interactions Arginine may interact adversely with cyclosporine. In a study of renal transplant patients, Andres et al (12) found an increase in sodium excretion after intravenous infusion of arginine, which may indicate that arginine counteracts the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporine. Warnings L-arginine use may amplify the inflammatory response in the airways of asthmatic patients. (13) Dosing Regimen Although this amino acid can be given via inhalation or intravenous infusion, arginine is generally taken orally in capsule form. Dosages for heart failure patients range from 2 to 5 g three times a day. For patients with stable angina pectoris associated with coronary artery disease, the standard dosage is 3 g three times a day. (2, 8, 4) Overdose No studies have indicated overdose concerns. (1.) Korting GE, Smith SD, Wheeler MA, et al. A randomized double-blind trial of oral L-arginine for treatment of interstitial cystitis./Urol. 1999; 161:558-565. (2.) Lerman A, Burnett JC Jr, Higano ST, et al. Long-term 1-arginine supplementation improves small-vessel coronary endothelial function in humans. Circulation. 1998; 97:2123-2128. (3.) Adams MR, McCredie R, Jessup W, et al. Oral L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent dilatation and reduces monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in young men with coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis. 1997; 129:261-269. (4.) Creager MA, Gallagher SJ, Girerd XJ, et al. L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans. J Clin Invest. 1992; 90:1248-1253. (5.) Clarkson P, Adams MR, Powe AJ, et al. Oral L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent dilation in hypercholesterolemic young adults. J Clin Invest. 1996; 97:1989-1994. (6.) Peters H, Noble NA. Dietary L-arginine in renal disease. Semin Nephrol. 1996; 16:567-575. (7.) Siani A, Pagano E, lacone R, et al. Blood pressure and metabolic changes during dietary 1-arginine supplementation in humans. Am I Hypertens. 2000; 13:547-551 (8.) Bednarz B, Wolk R, Chamiec T, et al. Effects of oral L-arginine supplementation on exercise-induced QT dispersion and exercise tolerance in stable angina pectoris. Int J Cardiol. 2000; 75:205-210. (9.) Egashira K, Hirooka Y, Kuga T, et al. Effects of L-arginine supplementation on endothelium-dependent coronary vasodilation in patients with angina pectoris and normal coronary arteriograms. Circulation. 1996; 94:130-134. (10.) Hambrecht R, Hilbrich L, Erbs S, et al. Correction of endothelial dysfunction in chronic heart failure: additional effects of exercise training and oral L-arginine supplementation. J Am Coil Cardiol. 2000; 35:706-713. (11.) Hibbard MK, Sandri-Goldin RM. Arginine-rich regions succeeding the nuclear localization region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 regulatory protein ICP27 are required for efficient nuclear localization and late gene expression. J Virol. 1995; 69:4656-4667. (12.) Andres A, Morales JM, Praga M, et al. L-arginine reverses the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin in renal transplant patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1997; 12:1437-1440. (13.) Sapienza MA, Kharitonov SA, Horvath I, et al. Effect of inhaled 1-arginine on exhaled nitric oxide in normal and asthmatic subjects. Thorax. 1998; 53:172-175. (14.) Rector TS, Bank AJ, Mullen KA, et al, Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of supplemental oral L-arginine in patients with heart failure, Circulation. 1996; 93:2135-2141. Jeremy L. Pettit, a national speaker and freelance writer, is the founder of the Phytochemical and Nutraceutical Research Center, Dayton, Ohio. GL3, 2-Aminoglutaramic Acid, is a pure L-Glutamine supplement in crystalline powder form. Glutamine has become more prominent as new studies reveal its unique contribution to protein synthesis (muscle growth), anti-proteolytic (prevents muscle tissue breakdown) functions and growth hormone elevating effects. "Did You Know That Glutamine is Solely Responsible For Over 35% of The Nitrogen That Enters The Muscle?" Glutamine provides a critical link in muscle metabolism not shared by any other single amino acid, and GL3 makes utilizing glutamine a realistic and effective endeavor. GL3 is pure, pharmaceutical grade L-Glutamine in an odorless and tasteless powder. Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid in the blood and in the intracellular free amino acid pool (most abundant amino acid in muscle tissue). It comprises 61% of the amino acid pool in skeletal muscle. Glutamine’s unique structure, containing two nitrogen side chains, consists of 19% nitrogen - making it the primary transporter of nitrogen into the muscle cell. In fact, glutamine alone is responsible for 35% of the nitrogen that gets into the muscle cell. Glutamine literally drives muscle building nitrogen into the muscle cell where it is synthesized for growth. Glutamine concentrations fall markedly after training and remain low until complete recovery. What this means is, the very rigors of weight training “leak” nitrogen carrying glutamine from muscle tissue. This fall in glutamine is catabolic to muscle tissue - “The Training Paradox”. Supplementing with glutamine spares free glutamine in muscle tissue, counteracts the fall in muscle protein synthesis, and improves nitrogen balance. Glutamine overcomes “The Training Paradox”. You train with weights to build muscle. The more intensely you train, and the heavier the overload you subject your muscles to, the greater the growth response will be. Glutamine is a key factor in muscle growth, and controlling the “skeletal muscle/whole body glutamine gradient” is critical in maintaining and building muscle tissue. The higher the muscle glutamine levels you can maintain, the less chance you have of falling into catabolism and the faster muscle will grow. But now there is more . . . We all know growth hormone is an important anabolic hormone. The most important anabolic hormone! It regulates the metabolic processes (including protein synthesis) in almost all tissues throughout the human lifespan. Growth hormone provokes several anabolic actions on skeletal muscle: the uptake of glucose and amino acids, activation of muscle protein synthesis, suppression of muscle protein catabolism, and the utilization of body fat for energy. "A New Study In The 'American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition' Is Set To Shock The Sports Nutrition World!" Now for the exciting news - In a recent release of the prestigious American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the results of a study on glutamine revealed that a single 2 gram oral dose of glutamine elevated circulating growth hormone levels by over 430%! That’s right - 430%! Significant? You bet your ass it is. With GL3 you’ll be able to effortlessly increase your growth hormone levels by over 430%! By keeping a consistently high level of circulating growth hormone, you are able to combat the catabolic effects of weight training, harness the anabolic activity of increased glucose and amino acid uptake, improve whole body nitrogen retention, and increase lean tissue protein accrual. Supplementing with GL3 L-Glutamine may just be the most effective way of assisting new muscle growth! Fibromyalgia: Treating Overlapping Conditions (Excerpt From ?The Complete Idiot?s Guide to Fibromyalgia?) - Lynne Matallana writes, "Overlapping conditions are a case of bad news and good news. The bad news is that people with fibromyalgia experience a variety of overlapping conditions; the good news is that many treatment options are available to successf ... READ MORE [ 08/24/05 ] Mentally Managing Fibromyalgia: Excerpt from "Fibromyalgia: Up Close & Personal" by Mark Pellegrino, M.D. - Dr. Mark Pellegrino writes, "we can learn how to reduce stress and minimize its effect on FM. Everyone with FM can benefit from mental techniques to manage their physical problems." Learn a few of those effective techniques. READ MORE [ 08/17/05 ] The Link Between Fibromyalgia and Posture - According to Dr. Brian A. Rothbart, "all patients suffering from fibromyalgia need to have a postural evaluation as part of their examination." READ MORE [ 08/15/05 ] Updates: Genes and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Now a new study offers convincing evidence that patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have abnormalities in gene expression in their blood. The report appears in the August issue of The Journal of Clinical Pathology. READ MORE [ 08/08/05 ] A Journey Towards Complete Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Story of My Progress on the Marshall Protocol - Amy Proal writes, "Last year during the Christmas holidays my body did not cooperate with my festive state of mind...Since I?ve suffered from severe CFS for at least three years, I wasn?t surprised to find myself nearly bedridden yet again. Luckily, ... READ MORE [ 07/25/05 ] Fibromyalgia and Fatigue: Practical Coping Tips - In this excerpt from their newly revised book, "Taking Charge of Fibromyalgia," Rosalie Devonshire, MSW, LCSW, and Julie Kelly, MS, RN, provide very useful tips for coping with the fatigue of fibromyalgia. READ MORE [ 07/20/05 ] Research: Green Tea's Protective Role in Autoimmune Disease - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Related News - Green tea seems to help protect the body from autoimmune disorders, according to a Medical College of Georgia oral biologist. The benefits spring from compounds in green tea called polyphenols, which help eliminate DNA-damaging free radicals. READ MORE [ 06/24/05 ] More Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome News Top Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Abstracts Abstract: Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and are associated with clinical symptoms [ 08/17/05 ] Abstract: Fibromyalgia: the nerve of that disease [ 08/05/05 ] Abstract: Glutathione: The Master Antioxidant That Defends Against Illness - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Related News [ 07/29/05 ] Abstract: An open, pilot study to evaluate the potential benefits of coenzyme Q10 combined with Ginkgo biloba extract in fibromyalgia syndrome [ 05/03/05 ] More Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Top M.D. Prescribed Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatments R. Paul St. Amand, M.D.- Guaifenesin Treatment Robert Bennett, M.D. - Detailed Treatment of Fibromyalgia Daniel J. Clauw, M.D. - Effective Treatment of Fibromyalgia Mark Pellegrino, M.D. - Prescribed Medications for Fibromyalgia Devin Starlanyl - Medications for Fibromyalgia David Bell, M.D. - Medications for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Paul Cheney,M.D. - Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Charles Lapp, M.D. - Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Derek Enlander, M.D. - Treatment of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Jay A. Goldstein, M.D. - Unique Treatment Protocol for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Dale Guyer, M.D. - Holistic Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Kent Holtorf, M.D. - Treating Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Richard Podell, M.D. - Treatment protocol for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Michael E. Rosenbaum, M.D. - Treating Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Carol Ann Ryser, M.D. - Treating Chronically Ill Patients MUCOSAL BIOLOGY L-Glutamine ameliorates acetaldehyde-induced increase in paracellular permeability in Caco-2 cell monolayer A. Seth, S. Basuroy, P. Sheth, and R. K. Rao Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163 Submitted 4 February 2004 ; accepted in final form 24 April 2004 Role of L-glutamine in the protection of intestinal epithelium from acetaldehyde-induced disruption of barrier function was evaluated in Caco-2 cell monolayer. L-Glutamine reduced the acetaldehyde-induced decrease in transepithelilal electrical resistance and increase in permeability to inulin and lipopolysaccharide in a time- and dose-dependent manner; D-glutamine, L-aspargine, L-arginine, L-lysine, or L-alanine produced no significant protection. The glutaminase inhibitor 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine failed to affect the L-glutamine-mediated protection of barrier function. L-Glutamine reduced the acetaldehyde-induced redistribution of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), E-cadherin, and -catenin from the intercellular junctions. Acetaldehyde dissociates occludin, ZO-1, E-cadherin, and -catenin from the actin cytoskeleton, and this effect was reduced by L-glutamine. L-Glutamine induced a rapid increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor, and the protective effect of L-glutamine was prevented by AG1478, the EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These results indicate that L-glutamine prevents acetaldehyde-induced disruption of the tight junction and increase in the paracellular permeability in Caco-2 cell monolayer by an EGF receptor-dependent mechanism. epithelium; barrier function; occludin mucosal protection; epidermal growth factor August 25, 2005 Home / Professionals / Personal Trainers / Add Link to Personal Trainers Anti-Aging/Health Coaching - Be coached by experienced professionals in nutrition, exercise and stress management to achieve the goals you set for yourself. In-person seminars with telephone coaching. At home products also available. Body by Jake - Official website of the famous personal trainer and fitness motivation specialist. Includes a free newsletter, his products, an article library, and more. Champion Sports Training - Personal training company focused on sports medicine and strength and conditioning. Includes program information, an online store, videos, and more. 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The Body House - Great information, products and free videos and calculators to help excelerate you to your fitness goals. URtrainer.com - Trainer directory and free information source. Celebrity Personal Trainers Personal Trainer to the Stars!! Celebrity Personal Trainers!! The Hammer Curl The biceps muscle is the most famous mound of soft tissue in the body. To the uneducated weight lifter it’s the one that determines the success of your physique. No one cares how big your calves are, or if you have a set of muscular hamstrings. Unfortunately, built into all this attention is a host of misconceptions. One of the greatest biceps myths has to do with the ability to form mountainous peaks, an achievement often sought after by many weight trainers. Genetics aside, it is not possible to create a peak on the biceps muscle, though it is possible to create the illusion of one. This ability is related to the Brachialis, the flexor muscle in the upper arm, and its function. The exercises selected to strengthen and build up this muscle require positioning the palms so that they are in a neutral position (palms facing each one another). From the 3 pictures below, can you pick the one showing the proper form and technique for performing the hammer curl? If you picked picture one, you’re correct. The proper form and technique involved in a hammer curl (whether alternating or simultaneous) has the elbows remaining at the side of the body and not moving forward. When this is not followed the elbows end up moving forward pulling the deltoids into the movement so that a heavier load may be lifted. Although the Brachialis is activated in a biceps curl to target this muscle, a semi-pronated grip or a reverse grip is suggested. These grips increase the activity of the Brachialis and decrease the activity of the biceps. The key to creating a bigger arm and a muscle looking as if small mountain peaks have formed on the the biceps is through the use of the hammer curl. Keeping the elbows to the side of the body and back, will place a greater load on the Brachialis and force this muscle to grow. Scott White is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist located in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information about nutrition and fitness, reach Scott at 480-628-1607 or swhite@personalpowertraining.net. Also: http://www.personalpowetraining.net. Article Source: EzineArticles.com SiteEqualizer: Website Content Weight Lifting Exercise in the News: Colaiacovo pumped up (Slam! Sports) Carlo Colaiacovo has gone from playing the waiting game to the weight-lifting game. RiverPlex hopes to renovate space (Peoria Journal Star) PEORIA - The weight-lifting classes are packed biceps to biceps. The aerobics classes are so full it's hard to find room to strike a pose. Air Bowden: Football Coach Takes Flight in F-16 (Clemson Tiger Athletics) 5:30 AM -- Morning workout including weight lifting and a jog. Coach Bowden runs only 5 miles instead of the usual 8 miles in preparation for his flight. Class Act: Surf's Up, She Was, Too (RedNova) On Saturday mornings I work out at the gym. As you're reading this, I'm most likely doing my regular weight-lifting class, sweating through the routines that prevent my muscles from turning into the mush they long to be. But last Saturday, now that was a glorious workout. PG South: Bethel's Studt a standout lineman, citizen (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Eric Studt feels just as comfortable coming to the aid of a person in need as much as he does knocking down a running back. A 6-foot-2 1/2, 280-pound senior nose guard/offensive tackle, he earned Quad North Conference defensive first-team honors last season. HOW TO BOOST YOUR STRENGTH LEVELS & DEVELOP A POWERFUL PHYSIQUE WITH WEIGHT TRAINING. exclusively by... The Weight Training Center.com by George Papazoglou Important note: If you have gained access to the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems program, the following information will help you better understand the program and its' powerful exercise-applications. If not, you'd surely want to be divulged of our insider bodybuilding secrets. With the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems you Excel at Bodybuilding. Your Strategy and Workouts Are Superior. The UMBS Systems Makes You A True Warrior Each & Every Time You Weight-Train. Your Spirit Goes High, While Your Muscles Amplify. The Potential to Optimum Muscularity becomes a Definite Achievement. Your Bodybuilding Workouts Always Boost your Productivity. You ARE Powerful, Vigorous and Unstoppable with the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems. Congratulations for stopping by at www.weight training center.com. Get a glimpse on proven weight training techniques, that will improve your strength levels month after month. If you purchased the UMBS program, you'll see that it is critical that each workout should be; Small in duration & High in Intensity. Let's see some absolutely crucial bodybuilding rules, that should compliment a weight training program>> - BE MERCILESS & BRUTAL - I emphasize that each weight training session should be small in duration (quick) and aggressive (brutal). Because we want to generate new, and compound muscle tissue, we firstly need to break down our muscles, with intense workouts. Part of potential muscle building exercises are bench presses/dumbbell presses, deadlifts & squats. Each muscle group should be weight-trained with no more than 6 sets, not including legs. 'How to know when new muscle will be developed and when workouts are successful' I know exactly when my system will generate new, stronger muscles by applying the timely set techniques of the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems. Each week, I slightly modify the program by altering a couple of exercises, in order to shock muscles and simultaneously target more muscle-areas. To extract every benefit from weight training, we must not only train intensively, but also train with the right combination of exercises to reap symmetrical results. This means that we must train every bodypart with the same effort, with the same zeal. - THE TECHNIQUES TO GAINING POWER & MASS - Forced Reps: In the last repetition of an exercise, for example bicep curls, in the last one or two sets, have a partner assist you to lift the weight and complete the set. That way, we force our muscles to recruit more fibers and induce growth in the period of recuperation. However don't use this tactic on each workout to avoid overtraining. Once every two weeks per muscle group is adequate. Negative Reps: That's the phase of a muscular contraction when we lower the weight during an exercise. For example when we train with barbell shrugs to target shoulders and traps, slowly lower the barbell to its negative phase, in the last two reps, on the last two sets. In the specific exercise (barbell shrugs), don't lift the barbell to your chin! Instead, lift the barbell up to your lower chest area. The trick here to perform this routine slowly, while isolating shoulders and traps. Negative reps are awesome to apply every second week, not frequently. The negative reps is a very powerful strategy to literally "force" muscles to grow, but most bodybuilders fail to use it to their advantage. The negative part of the repetition works best when a given trained muscle is overloaded with a progressive, continuous force of pressure. I can recall some really productive workouts with the implementation of the negative reps. It's a fantastic strategy to literally fire-up workouts, once every 15 days per bodypart. Again, the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems weight training program puts into action this technique (negative repetitions), with the right "pressure", in the right time. Super sets: An immaculate way to shock muscles into progressive growth. Here's an example for the biceps when implementing super sets. 1)Dumbbell curls: 1 set X 12 reps With Heavy Weights now when we complete the 12 reps, don't stop, but instantly move on to: 1a)Super set with Hammer curls: 1 set X To Failure, Or 20 reps With Light Weights -- The magical benefits of visualization -- Feel, breathe and crush weights like a real warrior. Building huge muscles takes commitment, but oh, I really adore this sweet "pain" with fast, aggressive and tested bodybuilding methods. Visualize every next workout a day before by mentally programming your self to extract every effort to achieve your objective. Your main objective is to stay firm to your next "date" with the gym, and allow your system to adequately recuperate after savage workouts. In my course, I have given you the exact muscle-training program, with the precise repetitions, intervals and critical notes. -- How much effort when weight training...? -- Producing maximum effort to lift weights, with the right intervals, and total contractions, is guaranteed to stimulate a variation of muscle tissues. If this process is accomplished by more than 70% of the total effort, every individual can successfully achieve, optimum muscularity -- in small periods. Muscle-training should never stick to the same training routine. This means that if you are training biceps this week doing barbell curls, make sure the third week you swap barbell curls to dumbbell curls, and vice versa. This technique is put into action, to stimulate a variety of muscle tissues and avoid over training. Transform your body to a powerhouse, with the... The Ultimate Muscle Building Systems Weight training system I have always been a firm believer of small, intense and savage sessions when it comes to bodybuilding. This strategy, in combination with the sure-fire methodology of the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems, has been the cornerstone of my success, and not only... Thousands of athletes, from 'everyday people' to established bodybuilders, have adopted the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems system as their unique weight-training formula, to successfully build tremendous muscularity and unsurpassed strength levels. What makes the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems so inimitable is that it will work for all groups of people, whether genetically gifted, or even "hard gainers". That's because there's only *one* way to programming your body to a continuous anabolic phase and consequently muscle-growth. Remember what I said before, that workouts should be small, intense and savage. Of course there are numerous of underlying concepts and strategies behind these principles. Anyone can develop a tremendous physique and sheer strength provided that he (or she) keeps up with the exact sets, repetitions, timeouts and a sure-fire strategy which incorporates a unique "blend" of strategic workout schemes. I have fruitfully applied the certain methodology to all groups of people, from teenagers to elderly people by implementing the very same principles, which produced an average of ~5 to 3 pounds of pure muscle on a monthly basis for 'average' or else 'everyday people'. The more genetically gifted groups produced quite innovative muscle-gains, like 4-6 pounds of rock-solid muscles, month after month and without anabolic steroids! So what's the secret formula which produces such ground-braking upshots? What's the "secret component" which boosts the muscle tissue when it comes to weight training? It certainly isn't magical supplements or going to the gym everyday and training for 1,30 hours, or more! Like every field of industry, the ambiguous claims and contradictional theories are spread like wildfire. It has been those theories which mislead thousands (or millions) of bodybuilders to training for years without substantial results. Here's how I train clients, always according to the formula of the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems. The program is applied 3 times a week and lasts an average of 40' per training session. Typically, the program is applied every Monday-Wednesday-Friday and puts into practice a certain hierarchy with exercises, timeouts plus sets. To your own convenience, the program can be easily customized to suit your needs, like changing it to Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. It is preferred to optionally train in the evening hours, because you have consumed more meals than in the morning hours, therefore your body will have stored more nutrients and will correspond better, as energy levels are higher. Another advantage to training in the evening hours is that your metabolism slows down and here's your chance to boost the metabolic rate and burn extra "unwanted energy", which otherwise is stored as fat. Now visualize your self going to the gym in high spirits, and feeling an exceptional euphoria during and after each workout, because you have successfully induced muscle-growth with a response-oriented and scientific methodology, which anyone can easily put into practice. The whole scheme explains how to coach yourself by altering the exercises each second or third week in order to surprise muscle and keep weight training full of excitement. Altering your program in predicted occasions will force your system to 'awake' your inner supremacy and march weight training to the next level. You will easily learn how to absorb 100% all the win-win tactics, like: The crucial importance of recuperation and how to achieve it The exact number of sets, reps and exercises per training session The supreme value of negative repetitions and how to apply it The significance of the last 2 repetitions on the *last sets* The impact of the basic exercises to your overall progress Sure-fire hints and techniques to optimizing workouts and the philosophy behind A proven-to-work, step-by-step bodybuilding system is guaranteed to produce noticeable results by the first week and peaks through time. It's the very same program presented in my 'inner-circle' seminars which attendees followed me throughout the world, like USA, Greece, Germany and Canada. Be very cautious with some bodybuilding systems, as a plethora of bodybuilding sites plagiarize, mimic and masquerade as practitioners, or impersonators of the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems. The Ultimate Muscle Building Systems is wholly accessible, exclusively at Bodybuildingtips.net Feel free to print this web page for reference Email: Subscribe Unsubscribe Subscribe-free to George's Papazoglou weight training mailing list, for the most potent and crucial bodybuilding techniques. Your e-mail address will be kept in our database, to send-over special news and products to boost your productivity via weight training once every 90 days. Read the September's 2004 Online Bodybuilding Newsletter For your own benefit, feel free to print this online bodybuilding course. Here's what David Meade had to say about the Ultimate Muscle Building Systems, when I asked him about his progress, after using the system for 4 weeks. Excellent, I'm stronger, more toned and gradually putting on lean muscle mass, just got to work on my diet and supplements now to enhance my recovery time. It was strange at first, because before I was totally over training my muscles and used to ache really bad, but with your program i feel great, no aching or soreness. Hitting hard and intense in shorter times definitely works for me. Absolutely the best bodybuilding aid I have ever spent my money on, and with your unlimited experience, all I can see in the future is loads of lean muscle mass coming my way!! Reap The Rewards of Personal Training All the rich and famous celebrities have one. In fact, some are rich and famous themselves. But you don't have to be either one to reap the benefits of hiring a personal trainer. More and more people, novice and veteran exercisers alike, are working with personal trainers because they offer a practical and affordable means of getting and staying healthy. A Trainer For Every Body Many automatically equate personal training with gyms full of hard-core strength trainers and body builders. This is only part of the picture. Anyone, young and old, in shape and out, can utilize a personal trainer for a variety of reasons. For example, many professional and amateur athletes work with a personal trainer during the off-season to prepare themselves for in-season competition. Individuals recovering from an injury or accident may enlist the help of a personal trainer (in conjunction with their physical therapist) to get them back in top form. The work of a majority of personal trainers focuses on increasing and/or maintaining their clients' fitness levels, assisting them in weight loss and overseeing their strength-training and cardiovascular activities. Strength training, in particular, has received increased recognition in recent years because the lack of strength is now known to be a risk factor for disease, especially for older populations. Tailor-made Training Personal trainers wear many hats, serving not only as coach, but also as confidant, role model, educator and a major source of motivation and encouragement. Some people may want constant supervision two to three times a week, which makes them more likely to stick to their program because they are accountable to someone else for their exercise time. Others may prefer to see a trainer only on occasion to update their exercise program, or for periodic fitness testing to receive feedback on their progress. It is the novice exerciser, however, who may find a personal trainer most valuable. Working with a personal trainer for a few sessions is often all it takes for some people to feel comfortable with independent exercise. The following describes the most common services offered to those beginning an exercise program: Fitness evaluation. This is a series of tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, body-fat percentage, flexibility and muscular strength and endurance. Personalized exercise program. An individualized exercise program is designed based on the individual's fitness evaluation results and personal fitness and health goals. Supervised exercise. Personal attention during exercise is the primary function of personal trainers. Clients are given a detailed orientation that addresses the aerobic, strength and flexibility components of the exercise program, and are educated about the fundamentals of strength and aerobic training, as well as the proper and safe use of equipment. Choosing One That Fits Once you have made the decision to hire a personal trainer, all that is left is to find one that best suits your needs. While some health clubs offer personal training services to their members at reduced rates, most personal trainers typically charge $60 to $175 per hour for their services. Finally, ask yourself if you could get along well with the trainer and whether or not they seem genuinely interested in helping you. If they meet all your other prerequisites, this is the trainer to hire. Together, you and your trainer can determine your best route to better health and fitness. The Benefits of Personal Training Interested in Personal Training? All the rich and famous celebrities have one. In fact, some are rich and famous themselves. But you don't have to be either one to reap the benefits of hiring a personal trainer. More and more people, novice and veteran exercisers alike, are working with personal trainers because they offer a practical and affordable means of getting and staying healthy. A trainer for every body Many automatically equate personal training with gyms full of hard-core strength trainers and body builders. This is only part of the picture. Anyone, young and old, in shape and out, can utilize a personal trainer for a variety of reasons. For example, many professional and amateur athletes work with a personal trainer during the off-season to prepare themselves for in-season competition. Individuals recovering from an injury or accident may enlist the help of a personal trainer (in conjunction with their physical therapist) to get them back in top form. The work of a majority of personal trainers focuses on increasing and/or maintaining their clients' fitness levels, assisting them in weight loss and overseeing their strength-training and cardiovascular activities. Strength training, in particular, has received increased recognition in recent years because the lack of strength is now known to be a risk factor for disease, especially for older populations. Tailor-made training Personal trainers wear many hats, serving not only as coach, but also as confidant, role model, educator and a major source of motivation and encouragement. Some people may want constant supervision two to three times a week, which makes them more likely to stick to their program because they are accountable to someone else for their exercise time. Others may prefer to see a trainer only on occasion to update their exercise program, or for periodic fitness testing to receive feedback on their progress. It is the novice exerciser, however, who may find a personal trainer most valuable. Working with a personal trainer for a few sessions is often all it takes for some people to feel comfortable with independent exercise. The following describes the most common services offered to those beginning an exercise program: Fitness evaluation This is a series of tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, body-fat percentage, flexibility and muscular strength and endurance. Personalized exercise program An individualized exercise program is designed based on the individual's fitness evaluation results and personal fitness and health goals. Supervised exercise Personal attention during exercise is the primary function of personal trainers. Clients are given a detailed orientation that addresses the aerobic, strength and flexibility components of the exercise program, and are educated about the fundamentals of strength and aerobic training, as well as the proper and safe use of equipment. Choosing one that fits Once you have made the decision to hire a personal trainer, all that is left is to find one that best suits your needs. Of course, you want a personal trainer that is certified by the American Council on Exercise. (Call 800-529-8227 to locate the ACE-certified Personal Trainer nearest you.) This is your assurance that you're working with a trainer who has the knowledge to provide you with a safe and effective workout. Don't hesitate to ask for references, and be sure that the trainer has liability insurance and provides business policies in writing. Rates will vary, depending on the trainer's experience and the length and location of the workout session. While some health clubs offer personal training services to their members at reduced rates, most personal trainers typically charge $25 to $50 (or more) per hour for their services. Finally, ask yourself if you could get along well with the trainer and whether or not they seem genuinely interested in helping you. If they meet all your other prerequisites, this is the trainer to hire. Together, you and your trainer can determine your best route to better health and fitness. Fit Facts are taken from ACE FitnessMatters® magazine. Want more information like this delivered directly to your home? ACE FitnessMatters, a bimonthly magazine, is the source for the most accurate, up-to-date fitness information you need to live a healthy, active life. Subscribe to ACE FitnessMatters online at http://www.acefitness.org/fitnessmatters or call 1-800-825-3636. The American Council on Exercise® of San Diego, California (ACE®) does not endorse or promote the companies, products or services that reside on this website. ACE does not receive revenue generated from any organizations that advertise on this website. Copyright 2003 American Council on Exercise. All Rights Reserved. Questions? Email me here Back to the top of Personal Training Copyright Notice Privacy Policy Disclaimer Hard bodies are pushed aside by the strong fitness trends that stress balance and practicality By R.J. Ignelzi STAFF WRITER January 4, 2005 K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune To improve core strength and flexibility, Karen Turk practiced Pilates at Del Mar Workout as instructor Nancy Parker supervised. "Exercise trends tend to change and go through cycles, often showing up in a slightly different version after disappearing for years," says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for San Diego-based American Council on Exercise. "Look at today's functional training. Much of it's the same thing they did back in the '40s and '50s. Only then they called it calisthenics." Activities also have changed as we gained more knowledge about fitness and how the body responds to it. Although high-impact aerobics classes dominated most fitness center schedules in the '80s, you'd be hard pressed to find one today. And for good reason. Old aerobicizers' joints are still aching as a result of all that jumping, bouncing and high kicking. Just like politics and fashion, fitness trends also evolve. A dozen years ago it was all about going for the burn. Then pumping up became the focus. Now, workouts are taking a harmonious turn as we strive for balance in body and mind. While it's natural for exercise trends and activities to change and grow over time, it's also not unusual for them to make a repeat performance. "It's only been in the last 25 years or so that people have gone from exercising only for competition to exercising to feel good and be healthy," says Patricia Ryan, spokeswoman for the San Diego-based Idea Health and Fitness Association, which conducts an annual survey of fitness programs and equipment among fitness professionals. "We're still learning and we still have a lot to learn. And as we learn, activities expand and exercise gets smarter," she continued. "It used to be that there were just 10 activities (in a fitness center) to choose from. Now, it's maybe 60. In another few years it'll probably change again." Taking shape: fitness evolution Here's a look at what you can expect to see offered by fitness centers and trainers in the coming year: Mind-body activities Once offered only in private studios, mind-body classes such as yoga, Pilates and tai chi are now part of the daily schedule at fitness centers. K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Dave Potenziani exercised using a stability ball at Del Mar Workout. "I think these continue to increase in popularity because they appeal to people of all different ages, physical capabilities and body types," says Patricia Ryan, spokeswoman for the Idea Health and Fitness Association. "Plus, they work. These activities can improve your flexibility and strength." Not too long ago, a hard body was the chief goal of most exercisers. Today, more are using exercise to help unwind and relax. "People are trying to manage stress, and things like yoga, Pilates and tai chi are giving them a very positive outcome," says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. Functional fitness Instead of just being concerned about getting your heart rate up or toning your abs, a lot of folks are looking to exercise to help them with everyday movements, like carrying groceries, lifting a child or working in the garden. "People are now beginning to ask how exercise can make them better at their sport or activity. They also want exercise that will help them live their daily lives with less discomfort and risk of injury as they age," Bryant says. Functional fitness, which incorporates core conditioning (focusing on the area from the lower chest to the upper thighs), balance training and strength work, "helps the body to move the way it's supposed to naturally move," says Todd Durkin, exercise physiologist and personal trainer and owner of Fitness Quest 10 in Scripps Ranch. Core and balance training often use a variety of small equipment, such as foam rollers, medicine balls, stability balls, Bosu trainers and balance boards, and practice rotating, twisting and bending motions. Fusion classes To alleviate boredom and make the most of limited time, many gyms are offering combinations of two or three exercise modalities in one class. A strength-step-balance class, for example, fuses the three exercise formats together, giving participants a full-body workout in a 60-minute class. Other combos might be cycling and yoga or kickboxing and strength. A high-intensity fusion format that's been around awhile but is still very popular is circuit training, which alternates resistance training with cardio exercise. K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Julie Bonsak taught a yoga class at Del Mar Workout. "It allows people to kill two birds with one stone. It's great for anyone who's crunched for time," Durkin says. Personal training Once viewed as an option only for elite athletes or the rich and famous, one-on-one personal training is now being used by people at all stages of fitness and income. Increased accessibility of accredited trainers is one reason for the popularity today. Most health clubs have several trainers available for personal sessions, which can be conducted at the fitness center or a client's home. Single consultations or packages of training sessions can be arranged to fit most budgets. "People have found out that if you have a good trainer, you can more quickly achieve your fitness goals because you've got that personal attention and someone holding you accountable," Ryan says. "You have an appointment with your trainer and you're paying money for it, so you've got to show up and exercise." Boot camp Although boot camp is not offered at a large number of facilities, those that do offer the hard-core indoor-outdoor workout say the enthusiasm for it is overwhelming. Most boot camps, which are usually offered on an extra-fee basis, include military-drill type running, jumping, climbing and calisthenics. "The boot camps are our version of high impact exercise," says Amy Boone, personal trainer and regional fitness manager for Frog's Club One, who notes that the workout is a sampling of various exercise programs offered by the gym. "It attracts a very athletic group of people who want a high-intensity class." Elliptical trainers Forget the stair climber, the elliptical trainer is today's exercise equipment of choice. Ranked right up there with the treadmill, it works the arms and legs simultaneously and is easier on the joints. "The elliptical trainer gives you an overall body workout with nice, smooth movements," says Ryan, noting that unlike some of the other cardio equipment that is often used incorrectly, the elliptical trainer "is almost impossible to use incorrectly." Small classes Size does matter, say gym goers. And, when it comes to group exercise classes, the smaller the better. "With only a few people in a class, you have a high level of accountability. It's a way to experience almost private training and a lesser price," Boone says. Small group classes can range from four or five people sharing a session with a personal trainer to small special interest classes of eight to 10 people at a health club. At fitness centers, short-term small classes often charge an additional fee and are frequently centered on special equipment such as the Bosu trainer or Pilates reformers or sports conditioning sessions preparing people for an athletic event. Shorter classes or workouts The gym rat is becoming more of a workout mouse, as busy people try to fit fitness into a busy schedule. The days of 90-minute cardio classes are giving way to 60-or 45-minute classes. At some gyms, 30-minute high-intensity workouts have become very popular. "Because of people's hectic schedules, more people are looking for a comprehensive, shorter workout that gives them reasonable results with minimum time investment," Bryant says. Arnold Schwarzenegger From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Arnold Schwarzenegger 38th Governor of California Shown here as Governor of California, with the gubernatorial seal in the background.Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947 in Thal, Styria Austria) is an Austrian-American actor, Republican politician, bodybuilder, and businessman, currently serving as the 38th Governor of California. He was elected on October 7, 2003 in a special recall election which removed sitting Governor Gray Davis from office. Schwarzenegger was sworn in on November 17, 2003 to serve the remainder of Davis' term, which lasts until January 2007. Nicknamed the Austrian Oak in his body-building days, and more recently The Governator, or simply Ahnold, Schwarzenegger as a young man gained widespread attention as a highly successful bodybuilder, and later gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action film star. His most famous films include The Terminator (and its sequels), Predator, Conan the Barbarian, True Lies, Kindergarten Cop, and Total Recall. Contents [hide] 1 Personal background 2 Bodybuilding career 3 Acting career 3.1 Filmography 4 Political career 4.1 Political affiliation 4.2 Venturing into politics 4.3 2003 California recall 4.4 Governorship 4.4.1 Spring 2005 4.4.2 Summer 2005 4.4.2.1 Accusation of conflict of interest 5 Miscellaneous 6 Quotes 6.1 As an actor 6.2 Governorship 7 External links 7.1 Official websites 7.2 Unofficial links 8 References [edit] Personal background Arnold served in the Austrian army in 1965, completing the mandatory one year service required at the time for all 18 year old Austrian men. During this year he sneaked off the base to compete in and win first place in the Jr. Mr. Europe bodybuilding competition.[1] He is pictured here with an M47 tank, which he was trained to operate.Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, Austria, four miles (6 km) from Graz, to a Gendarmerie-Kommandant policeman, Gustav Schwarzenegger (1907-1972) and his wife Aurelia Jadrny (1922-1998). His parents were members of the Nazi party. After working in the United Kingdom for a short time, and with $20 in his pocket, and not fluent in English, he moved to the U.S. in 1968. He became a U.S. citizen in 1983, although he has also retained his Austrian nationality. During this time, he earned a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Superior where he graduated with degrees in international marketing of fitness and business administration in 1979. In 1971 Schwarzenegger's brother Meinhard was killed in an automobile accident, and his father died the following year. In 1977 his autobiography, Arnold: The Education of a Body-Builder was published. In 1986, Schwarzenegger married TV journalist Maria Shriver, niece of late President John F. Kennedy. The couple have four children: daughters Katherine and Christina, and sons Patrick and Christopher. Together, the couple own a home in the fabled Kennedy Compound. His distinctive and oft-imitated accent has led many entertainers and pundits to refer to him simply as "Ah-nuld". [edit] Bodybuilding career Schwarzenegger first gained fame as a bodybuilder. His well-developed physique earned him the moniker "The Austrian Oak"(or "The Styrian Oak") and won him the titles of Junior Mr. Europe, Mr. World, IFBB Mr. Universe, NABBA Mr. Universe (four times), and Mr. Olympia (seven times). The seven wins at Mr. Olympia was a record set in 1980, cementing him as a legend of the sport. The record would remain until Lee Haney won his eighth straight Olympia in 1991. Schwarzenegger is considered among the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding, and his legacy is commemorated in the Arnold Classic annual bodybuilding competition. Schwarzenegger poses during a bodybuilding competition.Schwarzenegger has admitted to using performance-enhancing anabolic steroids, writing in 1977 that "[steroids] were helpful to me in maintaining muscle size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. I did not use them for muscle growth, but rather for muscle maintenance when cutting up." However, some bodybuilders who used the same steroid cocktails as Schwarzenegger in the 1970s dispute the notion that they were used merely for "muscle maintenance." Even Schwarzenegger has called the drugs "tissue building." [2] In 1999, Schwarzenegger sued Willi Heepe, a German doctor who publicly predicted an early death for the bodybuilder based on a link between steroid use and later heart problems. Because the doctor had never examined him personally, Schwarzenegger collected a DM20,000 (US$12,000) libel judgement against him in a German court. In 1999 Schwarzenegger also sued and settled with Globe Magazine, a U.S. tabloid which had made similar predictions about the bodybuilder's future health. As late as 1996, a year before open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve, Schwarzenegger publicly defended his use of anabolic steroids during his bodybuilding career.[3] (Schwarzenegger was born with a bicuspid aortic valve; a normal aortic valve is tricuspid.) According to a spokesman, Schwarzenegger has not used anabolic steroids since 1990 when they were made illegal.[4] In bodybuilder slang, steroids are sometimes called "Arnolds".[5] Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent face in the bodybuilding sport long after his retirement, in part due to his ownership of gyms and fitness magazines. He has presided over numerous contests and awards shows. For many years he wrote a monthly column for the bodybuilding magazines Muscle & Fitness and Flex. Shortly after being elected Governor, he was appointed executive editor of both magazines in a largely symbolic capacity. The magazines agreed to donate $250,000 a year to the Governor's various physical fitness initiatives. The magazine MuscleMag International has a monthly two page article on him and refers to him as "The King". Schwarzenegger's first political appointment was to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, on which he served from 1990 to 1993. He was nominated by George H. W. Bush, who called him "Conan the Republican". [edit] Acting career Growing bored with professional bodybuilding, which he began to view as a "go nowhere" career, Schwarzenegger began to pursue a career as an actor. His uniquely muscular appearance earned him several movie roles. His first film appearance was as Hercules in Hercules in New York (1970), credited under the name Arnold Strong, although his accent in the film was so thick that his lines were dubbed. He appeared in The Long Goodbye, and more notably Stay Hungry, for which he was awarded a Golden Globe. Schwarzenegger came to the attention of more people in the documentary Pumping Iron (1977), elements of which were dramatized. In 1991, Schwarzenegger purchased the rights to this film, outtakes, and associated still photography that could be embarrassing politically. Initially he had trouble breaking into films because agents disliked his surname, muscles and accent.[6] Though Schwarzenegger refuses to discuss his plastic surgery ("You are confusing me with Cher," he told People Magazine in 2002), citing before and after photos, critics allege he has undergone procedures on his eyes and chin, and has received at least one facelift.[7] The Terminator, starring Schwarzenegger (1984)Schwarzenegger's breakthrough film was Conan the Barbarian (1982), and this was cemented by a sequel, Conan the Destroyer (1984). As an actor, he is most well-known as the title character of James Cameron's android thriller The Terminator (1984). Schwarzenegger's acting ability (described by one critic as having an emotional range that "stretches from A almost to B") has long been the butt of many jokes; he retains a strong Austrian accent in his speech even in roles which do not call for such an accent. However, few of the fans of his work seem to care. He also made a mark for injecting his films with a droll, often self-deprecating sense of humor, setting him apart from more serious action heroes such as Sylvester Stallone, his most prominent contemporary. (As an aside, his alternative-universe comedy/thriller Last Action Hero featured a poster of the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day which, in that alternate universe had Sylvester Stallone as its star; a similar in-joke in Twins suggested that the two actors might one day co-star, something which never came to pass). Predator, starring Schwarzenegger (1987)Following his arrival as a Hollywood superstar, he made a number of commercially successful films: Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), and Red Heat (1988). In Predator (1987), another commercially successful film, Schwarzenegger led a cast which included future Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura (Ventura also appears in Running Man) and future Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate Sonny Landham. Twins, (1988) a comedy with Danny DeVito, was a change of pace. Total Recall (1990), at that time the most expensive film ever, netted Schwarzenegger $10 million and 15% of the gross, and was a widely praised, thought-provoking science-fiction script behind his usual violent action. Kindergarten Cop (1990) was another comedy. Schwarzenegger's critical and commercial high-water mark was Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). His next film project, the self-aware action comedy Last Action Hero, (1993), had the misfortune to be released opposite Jurassic Park, and suffered accordingly. Schwarzenegger's career never again achieved quite the same prominence, his aura of box-office invincibility suffering. True Lies (1994) was a popular sendup of spy films, and saw Schwarzenegger reunited with director James Cameron, whose own career had taken off with The Terminator. It was followed by the popular, albeit by-the-numbers Eraser (1996), and Batman & Robin (1997), his final film before taking time to recuperate from a back injury. Although Batman & Robin was a famous disaster, Schwarzenegger emerged largely unscathed. Several film projects were announced with Schwarzenegger attached to star including the remake of The Planet of the Apes, a new film of I am Legend and a World War II film scripted by Quentin Tarantino that would have seen Schwarzenegger finally play an Austrian. Instead he returned with End of Days (1999) - an unsuccessful and atypically dark attempt to broaden his acting range - The 6th Day (2000) and Collateral Damage (2002), none of which came close to recapturing his former prominence. He starred in the popularly received Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) and was slated to star in a possible True Lies 2 and Conan the King, but his duties as California governor have likely put his movie career on hold until at least 2007, though producers repeatedly claim he will make a small appearance in a fourth Terminator film. His last film appearance to date was a cameo in the 2004 remake of Around the World in 80 Days, notable for featuring him onscreen with action star Jackie Chan for the first time. [edit] Filmography Hercules in New York (1970) The Long Goodbye (1973) Stay Hungry (1976) Pumping Iron (1977) (documentary) The Villain (1979) Scavenger Hunt (1979) The Comeback (1980) (documentary) Body by Garret (1982) (short subject) Conan the Barbarian (1982) Conan the Destroyer (1984) The Terminator (1984) Red Sonja (1985) Commando (1985) Raw Deal (1986) Predator (1987) The Running Man (1987) Red Heat (1988) Twins (1988) Total Recall (1990) Kindergarten Cop (1990) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Freed (1992) (documentary) Dave (1993) (cameo) Last Action Hero (1993) The Last Party (1993) (documentary) A Century of Cinema (1994) (documentary) Beretta's Island (1994) True Lies (1994) Junior (1994) T2 3-D: Battle Across Time (1996) (short subject) Eraser (1996) Jingle All the Way (1996) Stand Tall (1997) (documentary) Batman & Robin (1997) Junket Whore (1998) (documentary) End of Days (1999) The 6th Day (2000) Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) (voice) Last Party 2000 (2001) (documentary) Collateral Damage (2002) Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) The Rundown (2003) (cameo) Around the World in 80 Days (2004) (cameo) How Arnold Won the West (2004) (documentary) WMD: Weapon of Mass Destruction (2004) (documentary) The Kid & I (2005) (currently in post-production) [edit] Political career Schwarzenegger and son Patrick at Edwards Air Force Base, California in December 2002.[edit] Political affiliation Schwarzenegger is a Republican, unusual among the often heavily Democratic Hollywood community. He describes himself as fiscally conservative and socially moderate. Schwarzenegger backed Republican President Ronald Reagan, whose footsteps he's following—movie star turned politician—while Reagan was in office, and campaigned for George H.W. Bush in 1988. However, he chastised fellow Republicans during the impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1998. Sensing an opportunity to affect the outcome of the 2004 Presidential race, Schwarzenegger campaigned in Ohio for Republican George W. Bush in the closing days of the campaign. In an interview on October 29, 2002, with MSNBC's Chris Matthews at Chapman University, Schwarzenegger explained why he is a Republican: "Well, I think because a lot of people don't know why I'm a Republican, I came first of all from a socialistic country which is Austria and when I came over here in 1968 with the presidential elections coming up in November, I came over in October, I heard a lot of the press conferences from both of the candidates Humphrey and Nixon, and Humphrey was talking about more government is the solution, protectionism, and everything he said about government involvement sounded to me more like Austrian socialism. Then when I heard Nixon talk about it, he said open up the borders, the consumers should be represented there ultimately and strengthen the military and get the government off our backs. I said to myself, what is this guy's party affiliation? I didn't know anything at that point. So I asked my friend, what is Nixon? He's a Republican. And I said, I am a Republican. That's how I became a Republican." It had been known since the 1990s that Schwarzenegger was interested in public office; this was jokingly referenced in the 1993 Sylvester Stallone film, Demolition Man, where a future America passed a constitutional amendment to allow foreign-born Americans like Schwarzenegger to become President, and that film has reference to a "Schwarzenegger Presidential Library"." Regarding a run for public office, in 1999, he told Talk magazine that "I think about it many times." He said, "The possibility is there because I feel it inside. I feel there are a lot of people standing still and not doing enough. And there's a vacuum." [edit] Venturing into politics Schwarzenegger was appointed Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in the administration of George H. W. Bush from 1990 to 1993. During that time, Schwarzenegger traveled across the U.S. promoting physical fitness to kids and lobbying all 50 governors in support of school fitness programs. "He would hit sometimes two or three governors in a day in his own airplane, at his own expense, somewhere around $4,000 an hour," said George Otott, his chief of staff at the time. "When he walked in, it wasn't about the governor, it was about Arnold," said Otott, a retired Marine. "He has what we in the military call a command presence. He becomes the number one attention-getter." He later served as Chairman for the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Governor Pete Wilson. Schwarzenegger scored his first real political success on November 5, 2002 when Californians approved his personally crafted and sponsored Proposition 49, the "After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002", an initiative to make state grants available for after-school programs. [edit] 2003 California recall For years, Schwarzenegger had discussed with friends, potential donors, advisors and political allies a possible run for high political office; on April 10, 2003, for example, he met with Republican political operative Karl Rove to discuss a future campaign. In the months leading to the 2003 California recall, Schwarzenegger was widely rumored to be considering a run at becoming Governor of California. In the July 2003 issue of Esquire magazine, he said, "Yes, I would love to be governor of California ... If the state needs me, and if there's no one I think is better, then I will run." When a petition to recall Democratic governor Gray Davis qualified for the ballot on July 24, Schwarzenegger left many wondering whether he would jump into the contest. Schwarzenegger was just wrapping up a promotional tour for Terminator 3 and said he would announce his decision on whether to run on August 6 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Crowd watching Schwarzenegger inaugurationIn the days and even hours leading up to the show's taping, political experts and insiders concluded that Schwarzenegger was leaning against running in California's October 7 recall election. Even his closest advisors said he was probably not going to run. Rumors leading up to the announcement said that his wife, Maria Shriver, a Kennedy family Democrat, was against his running, and he wanted her approval in order to run. When announcing his candidacy on the Tonight Show, he joked, "It's the most difficult [decision] I've made in my entire life, except the one I made in 1978 when I decided to get a bikini wax." Ultimately, Shriver said she would support Schwarzenegger no matter what he chose, so he decided to run. Schwarzenegger told Leno, "The politicians are fiddling, fumbling and failing. The man that is failing the people more than anyone is Gray Davis. He is failing them terribly, and this is why he needs to be recalled and this is why I am going to run for governor." As a candidate in the recall election, Schwarzenegger had the most name recognition in a crowded field of candidates, but he had never held public office and his political views were unknown to most Californians. His candidacy was immediate national and international news, with media outlets dubbing him the "Governator" (referring to The Terminator movies, see above) and "The Running Man" (the name of another of his movies), and calling the recall election "Total Recall" (ditto) and "Terminator 4: Rise of the Candidate" (referring to his movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines). Schwarzenegger was quick to make use of his well-known one-liners, promising to "pump up Sacramento" (the state capital) and tell Gray Davis "hasta la vista." At the end of his first press conference, he told the audience "I'll be back." Schwarzenegger looked to follow in the footsteps of former California governor and one-time movie star Ronald Reagan. However, due to his status as a naturalized citizen, he would not be eligible to seek the Presidency unless the Constitution were to be amended (as proposed in 2000 by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), and in July 2003 (the Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment) by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)). Among his campaign team were Rob Lowe, Warren Buffett, and George Shultz. Sexual harassment protestersDuring the campaign, allegations of sexual and personal misconduct were raised against Schwarzenegger (see Gropegate). Within the last five days before the election, news reports appeared in the Los Angeles Times recounting allegations of sexual misconduct from several individual women, sixteen of whom eventually came forward with their personal stories. Chronologically, they ranged from Elaine Stockton, who claimed that Schwarzenegger groped her breast at a Gold's Gym in 1975 (she was 19 at the time), to a 51-year-old woman who said that he pinned her to his chest and spanked her shortly after she met him in connection with production of his film, "The Sixth Day," in 2000. Schwarzenegger admitted that he has "behaved badly sometimes" and apologized, but also stated that "a lot of (what) you see in the stories is not true". This came after a magazine interview from the same era (1975) surfaced in which Schwarzenegger discussed attending sexual orgies and indulging in drugs like marijuana and cocaine. [8] [9] [10] Allegations printed on the front page of The Los Angeles Times, based on selective quotation, were also made that he at one time admired Adolf Hitler and had praised him as a great propagandist. However the full text of the statement from which the quotation was taken significantly reduces the credibility of the allegations. Although Schwarzenegger's father was in fact a member of the Nazi party, Schwarzenegger has been a strong supporter of various Jewish groups, and has denounced the principles of the fascist German regime, saying "I have always despised everything that Hitler stands for." These allegations were brought up mainly in the context of his campaign, but they continue to be occasionally used by some critics. Garry Trudeau, the cartoonist behind the comic strip Doonesbury, combined the allegations by nicknaming Schwarzenegger "Herr Gröpenführer" and depicting Schwarzenegger as a huge, groping hand in his artwork. On October 7, 2003, the 2003 California recall resulted in Governor Gray Davis being recalled with 55.4% of the Yes vote. Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot with 48.6% of the vote, defeating Democrat Cruz Bustamante, fellow Republican Tom McClintock and others. In total, Arnold won the election by about 1.3 million votes. He was sworn into office on November 17, 2003. Schwarzenegger's inauguration was opened by Vanessa Lynn Williams, his co-star from Eraser, singing the National Anthem. His children joined others in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, then Maria Shriver spoke and held the Bible while Schwarzenegger was sworn into the office of Governor. He spoke briefly: "Today is a new day in California. I did not seek this office to do things the way they've always been done. What I care about is restoring your confidence in your government... This election was not about replacing one man. It was not replacing one party. It was about changing the entire political climate of our state." [edit] Governorship Arnold Schwarzenegger, President George W. Bush, and Gray Davis speak to firefighters on November 4, 2003. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bavaria's minister president Edmund StoiberIn his first few hours in office Schwarzenegger fulfilled his campaign promise to repeal an unpopular 200% increase in vehicle license fees undertaken to fund the state's budget. The increase was a restoration to 1998 levels. On his first full day in office, Schwarzenegger proposed a three-point plan to address the budget woes. First, Schwarzenegger proposed floating $15 billion in bonds. Second, he urged voters to pass a constitutional amendment to limit state spending. Third, he sought an overhaul of workers' compensation. Schwarzenegger also called the state legislature into a special session and said that spending cuts would also be necessary. He initiated the cuts by agreeing to serve as governor with no salary, a savings of $175,000 per year. To fulfill the first two points, he urged California voters to pass Proposition 57 and Proposition 58 in the March 2, 2004 election, which authorized the sale of $15 billion in bonds and mandated balanced budgets, respectively. Despite initially tepid support from the public, the combination of heavy campaigning by Schwarzenegger, endorsements from a number of leading Democrats, and warnings about the dire consequences should the propositions fail to pass, led to overwhelming votes in favor of the two propositions. Prop. 57 passed with 63.3% of the votes in favor and Prop. 58 passed with 71.0% in favor. He accomplished the third point when he signed a workers' compensation reform bill on April 19, 2004. Schwarzenegger convinced the Democratic-controlled state legislature to approve the package by threatening to take the issue directly to state voters in a November ballot initiative if the legislature did not act. Schwarzenegger was later criticized for reneging on his campaign pledges not to take money from special interests and for failing to answer directly the sexual harassment allegations raised by the Los Angeles Times immediately preceding the recall election. However, Schwarzenegger made a point shortly after becoming governor of voluntarily attending a training course conducted by the state Attorney General's office on preventing sexual harassment (along with several members of his senior staff). Schwarzenegger continues to collect campaign contributions from private interests[11] at a greater rate than any politician in California history, including Gray Davis, whom he criticized on that very issue [12]. In Feburary 2004 when San Francisco city mayor Gavin Newsom ordered a change in the certificate application documents to allow for same-sex marriages, Governor Schwarzeggger opposed the move as being beyond the powers of the mayor, but also said that he supports gay rights and has expressed support for a law to grant civil unions to gay couples. Also in February 2004, he declined amnesty to convicted murderer Kevin Cooper who had asked him for clemency in his death penalty sentence. Nevertheless, Cooper's planned execution was stayed by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pending a revisiting of evidence. Austrian Green Party spokesman Peter Pilz later called for Schwarzenegger to be stripped of his Austrian citizenship. Pilz claimed that Austrian law forbids any Austrian citizen from taking part in or ordering executions. The Governor has granted clemency or early release to quite a surprising number of convicted felons serving time in state prisons, leading some to believe that he is less "tough on crime" than his Democratic predecessor, who presided over numerous executions. Despite expectations that Schwarzenegger would be vulnerable to opposition critics once taking office, his early governorship showed some successes. He has dealt successfully with California politicians as diverse as John Burton on the left to Tom McClintock on the right. At the end of May, 2004 the Field poll put his popularity at 65%, the highest for a California governor in 45 years, including 41% of Democrats, party adherents of his opposition. By comparison, former United States President Ronald Reagan, known as "the Great Communicator," never hit 60% approval while serving as California governor.[13] In March, 2004 libertarian policy research foundation The Cato Institute rated him 1st in their fiscal policy report card of the nation's governors. In July 2004, however, Schwarzenegger and the state legislature deadlocked, failing to approve the state budget on time. Trying to rouse public support for his position, he compared lawmakers to kindergartners who need a "timeout," and in a rally of supporters called his budget opponents "girlie men" (a reference to a long-running Saturday Night Live skit parodying Schwarzenegger). He said about the legislators: "They are part of a bureaucracy that is out of shape, that is out of date, that is out of touch and that is definitely out of control in Sacramento. They cannot have the guts to come out there in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you. I want to represent those special interests: the unions, the trial lawyers.' ... if they don’t have the guts, I call them girlie-men. They should get back to the table and they should finish the budget." The remark became national news and was not received well by his opponents, including gay advocacy and feminist groups who labeled it homophobic and sexist, in spite of his earlier support for gay rights (see the Gavin Newsom incident above), not to mention the legislators themselves. His supporters made "girly men" T-shirts and the Governor continued to use the term, including when he addressed the Republican National Convention, calling critics of the current U.S. economic situation "economic girlie men". Despite what some viewed as political snags during the summer, the Field polls released in August and October 2004 showed that Schwarzenegger's approval rating remained at 65%. Additionally, in October, for the first time in four years a plurality of Californians felt the state was "on the right track". When asked if they would support Schwarzenegger if he could run for president, 50% said they would oppose while only 26% said they would support the governor in a presidential bid. (Field poll (PDF)) [edit] Spring 2005 In the spring of 2005, polls began showing Schwarzenegger's approval ratings had dropped to inbetween 40-49%.[14] [15] [16] [17] On June 13, 2005, Schwarzenegger called a statewide special election for November 8, 2005, to vote on a series of reform measures he initially proposed in his 2005 State of the State address. A non-partisan Field poll released a week later showed his support had dropped to 37%, one of the lowest approval ratings for any California governor and barely above the support of recalled Gray Davis.[18] Schwarzenegger's spokesman responded that Schwarzenegger had not yet had enough time to explain his proposals to voters. The Legislature also shared low approval ratings, with just 24% of voters saying they approve of the job lawmakers have been doing. That represents a drop of 10% since February. The governor has responded that the poll sends a "very clear message to us. They are saying they want us to work together." He has also responded "I know popularity goes up and down... as soon as you start making decisions and strong decisions, sometimes they're not popular decisions."[19](video, right side) Republicans have claimed that the drop in popularity was due to a multi-million dollar ad campaign by various groups such as unions for nurses, police and firefighters, who opposed his plans for the state pension and his administration's lawsuit to delay implementation of a nurse-to-patient staffing ratio plan. In late June 2005, another non-partisan Field Poll had similar numbers as the earlier one, finding that 57% of California voters are not inclined to elect Schwarzenegger to a second term as Governor in 2006. [20] [21] When asked about the lessons of the poll, Schwarzenegger has responded "People make mistakes sometimes, and I think that we learn. [...] These are very clear messages that we must work together, and so I am looking forward to that." To some degree, Governor Schwarzenegger's unpopularity has to do with his confrontation of three popular labor groups: the nurses, the teachers, and the firefighters. Some unions and activists reacted with anger [22][23][24][25], and others with humor[[26]][27][28]. As of early August 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger had yet to announce whether he would be running for re-election in November 2006. The governor's consistently dropping popularity leads some political analysts to believe he will not be seeking re-election. [edit] Summer 2005 [edit] Accusation of conflict of interest While governor, Schwarzenegger continued to hold a position of executive editor of two American Media magazines. He announced in March 2004 that his $250,000 a year salary would be donated to charity. Schwarzenegger has an extensive history with the magazines and was frequently their star in his body-building days. As executive editor, he produces monthly columns based on his body-building history. Schwarzenegger drew fire when a second contract, a consulting position, was subsequently discovered in SEC filings, by the L.A. Times. This second contract would net him an estimated $8 million over the next five years.[29] His consulting duties are not clear, except that the job "takes up little time." The New York Times further reported (on July 15) that under the five-year November 2003 contract, signed two days before his inauguration as Governor, "Oak Productions, Mr. Schwarzenegger's company, is to receive 1 percent of the net print advertising revenues of Weider Publications. But the payment must be at least $1 million a year. Mr. Schwarzenegger has also been granted 'phantom equity,' a way of sharing in the growth of the value of the company. The equity could become worth 1 percent of the company's value, which was stated at the time of the contract as $520 million."[30] This contract was seen as a conflict of interest by critics, who note that the magazines receive much of their revenue from advertisements for dietary supplements, a government-regulated industry affected by Schwarzenegger's veto (September 2004) of a bill that would ban schools from accepting sponsorships from firms that make performance-enhancing dietary supplements. In Schwarzenegger's reason for his veto, he drew a distinction between performance-enhancing dietary supplements and steroid usage, which he says is what needs to be prevented in high school students.[31] Supporters point out that he did sign into law a bill that prohibited companies from selling the supplements to minors. Following the accusation, Schwarzenegger responded he would end the contracts with the magazines. In August 2005, the Washington Post reported that American Media had paid former TV actress Gigi Goyette $20,000 to keep silent about a seven-year extramarital affair Schwarzenegger had with her beginning in 1975, when Goyette was 16 years old [32]. Since the age of consent in California is 18 years, Schwarzenegger may have committed statutory rape. In addition, American Media's knowledge of the Goyette affair put it in a position of being able to blackmail Schwarzenegger, providing further reason for Schwarzenegger to align his interests with theirs. [edit] Miscellaneous While Arnold Schwarzenegger's height was always believed to be 6 feet, 2 inches (1.88 m), a July 2002 article in US Weekly magazine speculated that Schwarzenegger was actually closer to 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m). During his campaign for governorship it was noted that Schwarzenegger was considerably shorter than many expected, with others putting his height at around 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), exactly as reported in US Weekly. His spokespeople now give his height as 6 ft even (1.83 m). In photographs of Schwarzenegger standing next to George W. Bush in Ohio in October 2004, the Governor is one inch shorter than the 5 ft 11 in President. In honor of its most famous son, Schwarzenegger's home town of Graz named its new football (soccer) stadium after him. The Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadion, which is the home of both Grazer AK and Sturm Graz and has a capacity of 15,400, cost €20.5 million, and opened on July 9, 1997. In 2005 Peter Pilz from the Austrian Green Party in parliament demanded to revoke Schwarzenegger's Austrian citizenship because of his involvement in the exercise of the death penalty in California. This demand was based on article 33 of the Austrian citizenship act that states: "A citizen, who is in the public service of a foreign country, shall be deprived of his citizenship, if he heavily damages the reputation or the interests of the {Austrian} Republic". The European Convention on Human Rights, which bans the death penalty, is part of the Austrian constitution. Schwarzenegger justified his actions by referring to the fact that his only duty as Governor of California was to prevent an error in the judicial system. Because Schwarzenegger opted in 1997 for a replacement heart valve made of his own transplanted tissue, medical experts predict he will require repeated heart valve replacement surgery in the next two to eight years (as his current valve degrades). Schwarzenegger apparently opted against a mechanical valve, the only permanent solution available at the time of his surgery, because it would have sharply limited his physical activity and capacity to exercise. He bought the first Hummer manufactured for civilian use in 1992, a model so large (6,300 lbs and seven feet wide) that it is classified as a large truck and U.S. fuel economy regulations do not apply to it. From the Diesel H1's fuel capacity and range ratings, it may go as few as 16 miles per U.S. gallon. (Source: The Book of Useless Information, page 14, published 2002) During the Gubernatorial Recall campaign he announced that he would convert one of his Hummers to burn hydrogen[33]. The conversion was reported to have cost about US$21,000. After the election, he signed an executive order to jumpstart the building of hydrogen refueling plants called the "California Hydrogen Highway Network", and gained a DOE grant to help pay for its projected $91 million cost.[34] California took delivery of the first H2H (Hummer 2 Hydrogen) in October 2004 [35]. [edit] Quotes Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: Arnold Schwarzenegger[edit] As an actor "I'll be back." — his catch phrase as an actor (The Terminator and others) "Get down" — Terminator 2: Judgment Day and others "Hasta la vista, Baby" — Terminator 2: Judgment Day "Talk to the hand" — Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines "Das macht mich stocksauer. Jetzt bin ich sauer." ('This makes me stinking mad. Now I'm mad') Kindergarten Cop [edit] Governorship "This guy owes me bacon now." Upon being egged. "When I was on my way to the podium a gentleman stopped me and said I was as good a politician as I was an actor. What a cheap shot!" — At the 2004 Republican National Convention, August 31, 2004 "Everything I have — my career, my success, my family — I owe to America." — At the 2004 Republican National Convention, August 31, 2004 "To those critics who are so pessimistic about our country, I say: Don't be economic girly men." — At the 2004 Republican National Convention, August 31, 2004 "I propose that a teacher's pay be tied to merit, not tenure. And I propose that a teacher's employment be tied to performance, not just showing up." January 5, 2005 "If I can sell tickets to my movies like Red Sonja or Last Action Hero you know I can sell just about anything." January 6, 2004 [edit] External links [edit] Official websites State of California - Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Schwarzenegger's Official Website (Non-Political) Arnold Schwarzenegger's Official Political Website Citizens to Save California, a broad-based committee supporting the reform agendas of Governor Schwarzenegger and others [edit] Unofficial links Arnold and the American dream (BBC News) Greg Palast Arnold Unplugged (exposé on the Schwarzenegger-Enron connection) Video: Arnold's victory speech (BBC News) Arnold Schwarzenegger news and related links Arnold Schwarzenegger: King of bodybuilding, movies, politics and media globalarnold.com (Global Arnold Schwarzenegger fan community) Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor Anti-Schwarzenegger web site. Schwarzenegger's popularity in Pakistan [edit] References Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold: Developing a Mr Universe Physique, 1977 ---- Interview in Oui magazine, August 1977 ---- Excerpts from Time Out (London) interview, 1977 ---- Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, 1983, Simon & Schuster, Reprint edition, 1993, ISBN 06717974841983. autobiography ---- Arnold's Body Building for Men, Simon & Schuster, Reprint edition, 1984, ISBN 0671531638 ---- The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, 1985, Fully Updated and Revised, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 0684857219 Nigel Andrews, True Myths of Arnold Schwarzenegger : The Life and Times of Arnold Schwarzenegger, from Pumping Iron to Governor of California, Bloomsbury USA, Revised edition, 2004, ISBN 1582344655 Michael Blitz, Why Arnold Matters: The Rise of a Cultural Icon Karen Brandon, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Colleen A. Sexton, Arnold Schwarzenegger (A&E Biography), Lerner Publications, 2004, ISBN 0822522233 Susan Zannos, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Real-Life Reader Biography) Andy Borowitz, Governor Arnold : A Photodiary of His First 100 Days in Office, Simon & Schuster, 2004, ISBN 0743262662 "Arnold Schwarzenegger - Hollywood Hero" DVD ~ Todd Baker "Pumping Iron" (25th Anniversary Special Edition) DVD ~ George Butler Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Internet Movie Database Cinemovie.Info: Arnold Schwarzenegger Preceded by: Gray Davis Governor of California 2003–present Succeeded by: — Governors of California Burnett | McDougall | Bigler | J. Johnson | Weller | Latham | Downey | Stanford | Low | Haight | Booth | Pacheco | Irwin | Perkins | Stoneman | Bartlett | Waterman | Markham | Budd | Gage | Pardee | Gillett | H. Johnson | Stephens | Richardson | Young | Rolph | Merriam | Olson | Warren | Knight | P. Brown | Reagan | J. Brown | Deukmejian | Wilson | Davis | Schwarzenegger Current governors of states and insular areas in the United States AK: Frank Murkowski AL: Bob Riley AR: Mike Huckabee AS: Togiola Tulafono AZ: Janet Napolitano CA: Arnold Schwarzenegger CO: Bill Owens CT: M. Jodi Rell DE: Ruth Ann Minner FL: Jeb Bush GA: Sonny Perdue GU: Felix Perez Camacho HI: Linda Lingle IA: Tom Vilsack ID: Dirk Kempthorne IL: Rod Blagojevich IN: Mitch Daniels KS: Kathleen Sebelius KY: Ernie Fletcher LA: Kathleen Blanco MA: Mitt Romney MD: Robert L. Ehrlich ME: John Baldacci MI: Jennifer Granholm MN: Tim Pawlenty MO: Matt Blunt MP: Juan N. Babauta MS: Haley Barbour MT: Brian Schweitzer NC: Mike Easley ND: John Hoeven NE: Dave Heineman NH: John Lynch NJ: Richard Codey (acting) NM: Bill Richardson NV: Kenny Guinn NY: George Pataki OH: Bob Taft OK: Brad Henry OR: Ted Kulongoski PA: Ed Rendell PR: Aníbal Acevedo Vilá RI: Donald Carcieri SC: Mark Sanford SD: Mike Rounds TN: Phil Bredesen TX: Rick Perry UT: Jon Huntsman, Jr. VA: Mark R. Warner VI: Charles Wesley Turnbull VT: Jim Douglas WA: Christine Gregoire WI: Jim Doyle WV: Joe Manchin WY: Dave Freudenthal Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger" Categories: 1947 births | American bodybuilders | Austrian actors | Austrian-Americans | Film actors | Foreign-born US political figures | Governors of California | Kennedy family | Naturalized citizens of the United States | Roman Catholic actors | Roman Catholic politicians | Worst Actor Razzie Nominee | Worst Supporting Actor Razzie Nominee Check at least 2 products to compare side by side. 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Click here for answers. Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963 in Pomona, California) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 through 2001. In his prime, he was perhaps the Babe Ruth of the 1990s. Like Ruth, he was a big man, and a prolific home run hitter; he hit the ball out of the park once in every 9.42 at bats, beating out Ruth for the highest home run ratio in major-league history. Like Ruth, he had begun as an outstanding pitcher. And like Ruth, he was a superb low ball hitter who learned to golf the ball for titanic home runs, balls that sometimes cleared the fences with 100 feet (30 m) to spare. Because of this uncanny ability to hit the long ball, teammates called him "Colossus". Other nicknames of his included "Big Mac" and "The Reptile". McGwire ended his career with 583 home runs, which was then 5th-most in history. He hit 50 or more home runs four seasons in a row (1996-1999), and led Major League Baseball in homers all four seasons. He also shared the MLB lead in home runs in 1987, his rookie year, when he set the Major League record for home runs by a rookie with 49. Although McGwire led the majors in homers five times, he was a league leader only four times. In 1997, he did not lead either league in homers, as he was traded from the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals in midseason. In 1998, the year when McGwire and Sammy Sosa spent much of the season chasing the single-season home run record of Roger Maris, the two shared Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsmen of the Year" award. It is worth noting that McGwire admitted to administering Androstenedione, an androgenic steroid, during the same year, although at the time it was not tested for by the MLB. McGwire worked hard on his defense at first base, and resisted being seen as a one-dimensional player. McGwire also had a sense of baseball history that is rare among modern players. He graciously involved the family of Roger Maris when he broke Maris's single season home run record on September 8, 1998. He finished the season with 70 homers, a record that has since been broken by Barry Bonds. McGwire began his career with the Oakland A's and played there until 1997, when he concluded his career with a few years with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won the World Series just once, with the Oakland A's in 1989. Perhaps Mark McGwire's most famous home run as an Oakland Athletic was in Game 3 of the 1988 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. McGwire's game winning solo homer off of Jay Howell in the bottom of the 9th inning ultimately became the only game that the A's won in the 1988 World Series. McGwire won a silver medal with the USA amateur baseball team in the 1984 Summer Olympics; that team was coached by Rod Dedeaux, who had also been his college coach at the University of Southern California. He married former pharmaceutical sales representative Stephanie Slemer in Las Vegas on April 20, 2002. They have a son, Max. McGwire has a son, Matthew, by his first wife Kathy. His brother Dan McGwire was a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in the early 1990's. He also created the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children to support agencies that work with children who have been sexually and physically abused. Mark McGwire's career totals Games played 1874 At bats 6187 Runs 1167 Hits 1626 Doubles 252 Triples 6 Home runs 583 Runs batted in 1414 Walks 1317 Strike outs 1596 Stolen bases 12 Caught stealing 8 On base percentage .394 Slugging percentage .588 Batting average .263 Mark McGwire may eventually be known as the man who saved baseball. His 1998 fight for the single season home run record with Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa recaptured the hearts of a generation of fans lost during the 1994 labor dispute. The record 70 home runs put McGwire's name in the record books ahead of greats like Roger Maris and Babe Ruth. But it was McGwire the person, more than McGwire the power hitter, that returned baseball to the public consciousness. In the words of the New York Times editorial on the final day of the 1998 season, "the sight of this gentle, earnest giant handling the pressure of the home run chase with grace and humility has made an entire nation feel better about itself." It's no surprise that Mark McGwire became a professional athlete. Born in 1963, he spent much of his youth with his four brothers at either the basketball court, baseball field, or the golf course. Their father John, a dentist, was a dedicated little league coach, the kind that bought all the kids ice cream after the game. After briefly considering a future in golf during high school, McGwire decided to dedicate himself solely to baseball, attending the University of Southern California. He began his collegiate career as a pitcher, relying on an 85-mile-per-hour fastball to accumulate a 4-4 record and 3.04 ERA in his freshman year. But the powerful 6'5" McGwire marvelled coaches with his swing, and he was promptly switched to first base. Over the next two seasons, McGwire hit 51 home runs, shattering the previous school record. At the end of his junior year, McGwire married his college sweetheart Kathy, reentered the draft, and was chosen 10th overall by the Oakland Athletics. After a stint with the U.S. Olympic team and a couple years in the minor leagues, McGwire made his much anticipated debut as Oakland's everyday first basemen in 1987. Using his remarkably quick and compact swing, McGwire hit 49 homers, breaking the rookie record. But even as an impressionable rookie, family always came first; McGwire skipped the final game of the season to witness the birth of his son, missing a chance to reach the coveted 50th home run plateau. He later told reporters, "That was my 50th home run." Led by McGwire, fellow "bash brother" Jose Canseco, pitchers Dave Stewart and Dennis Eckersley, and manager Tony LaRussa, the powerful Athletics appeared in the next three World Series, sweeping the San Francisco Giants in the infamous 1989 series marred by a northern California earthquake. McGwire became one of baseball's most feared hitters, and a good defensive first baseman with a tremendous appreciation for the game. In the early 1990s, the home runs kept coming, but his batting average dropped, and he struggled through a divorce and a variety of injuries. In 1993 and 1994, he appeared in only 74 games, due to a nagging left heel problem. Frustrated by claims that he had become a soft, one-dimensional player, McGwire returned with new-found confidence and an improved swing, hitting an incredible 91 home runs over 1995 and 1996, despite missing 90 games to another nagging heel injury. But by 1997, the once-powerful Oakland A's had sunk to the bottom of the Western Division, and McGwire, in the midst of another phenomenal season, was the only tradeable commodity. So on July 31, he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals, reuniting him with former manager and good friend LaRussa. McGwire became a fan favorite, finishing the season with 58 home runs, just three shy of Maris's single season record set in 1961. And for perhaps the first time, the fans got a true glimpse of the man behind the 500 foot home runs. After signing a new contract with the Cardinals, McGwire established a charitable foundation for sexually and physically abused children, to which he would annually donate $1 million. At the press conference, the 6'5", 250-pound McGwire broke into tears. In 1998, the entire baseball world expected McGwire to once again challenge the single season home run record. But no one expected Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa, to join McGwire in the quest. Together, their crowd pleasing home runs became larger than the game itself, to the dismay of some purists, but to the delight of fans jaded by the ugly 1994 labor dispute. People across the country were fascinated by the camaraderie of the two down-to-earth players, who from different teams and vastly different backgrounds were chasing a piece of history and dealing with enormous media pressure. But the incredible season was not free of scandal; it was revealed that powerful McGwire regularly used androstenedione, a muscle-building substance banned in many other sports. Fittingly, it was against Sosa's Cubs on September 7 that McGwire hit a pitch over the wall in left field to break Maris's 37-year-old record. Hollywood could not have written a better script. After touching home plate, McGwire hugged his 10-year-old son Matt, the Cardinal's batboy, and received congratulations from fans, teammates, Maris's children, and Sosa himself. But the race was not over; Sosa kept pace with McGwire until the final weekend of the season. McGwire finally pulled ahead for good, hitting four home runs over the final two games, and setting the new single season standard of 70. Even more astounding, he shattered the home run record despite a National League record 161 walks.