The ultimate Fitness Health Expo 2016

I think I’ve just about got over the Fitness and Health Expo 2016 weekend and what a weekend it was. The ultimate fitness expo, here’s a quick recap. If you didn’t make it this year, make sure you put it in your diary when the dates are released.

Arnie Rae © The Ponder Room

First up the there were the guests. Fitness coach and model Zac Smith proved very popular and accommodating especially when I had to ask for a repeat photo as I’d blurred the first one (wouldn’t you?).

Just across from him was international star and natural body builder Simeon Panda, who had a neat trick of almost creating a 4-D effect when standing in front of his own backdrop.

Neither had the oil on American IFBB body builder Kai Greene, fresh from winning the Arnold Classic. I noted that his stall was at the other end of the arena and right away from the Muscle and Model Stage. This was a brilliant plan as one look at him and none of the body builders would have dared take off their tracksuits. Whether wearing black or white trackies there was no doubting he was colossal. Still his size didn’t seem to bother the little power lifting champion girl he met.

Kai Greene © The Ponder Room

Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei lived up to his name and after launching his book, showed us the training techniques he uses to drop 15 kilos. More on this in another post.

Not listed on the program was a demonstration from the inspirational 47 year old natural body builder Arnie Rae, who’d come over from Bali where he owns sports centres.

Arnie Rae © The Ponder Room

In an unfortunate piece of planning the café was right next to Muscle Stage where the body building competitors strutted their stuff. How they kept their minimal skin fold stomachs in check as the ‘eau de de hot chips’ wafted through the air was beyond me. Henry Heta (not sure I have the right spelling) on the left below, was the winner.

A respite from all that flesh came in the form of arm wrestling where contestants started by getting their hands tied together.

Dotted around the venue was an array of torture, I mean fitness equipment, treadmills and steppers some that looked more like a mountain climb. I was impressed with this guys approach.

During my lunch break I watched a junior powerlifter set a world record. That’s him on the phone to his friends afterwards (see below).

The powerlifters hollers were only outdone by those on the aerobics area.

The Ninja Academy provided a mountain of entertainment as hundreds of people took up the challenge.

Knowing my limitations I joined the Yoga and Mindfulness session with Patti McVain. Trying to still your mind and concentrate on your breath was near impossible given the sound of thudding weights from the power lifters, and hollering aerobics instructors and yet somehow we achieved inner peace for 20 minutes!!

As I pondered about all the sights I’d seen and experiences enjoyed over the weekend I settled on these favourties …

My favourite new piece of equipment was the one were you just hang around (see below)
The power pose down where all the egos joined together to prove who was best was a lot of fun (see below)
On the way out I finally saw something right up my alley … a pair of jeans that make your bum look good, without all that unnecessary running, jumping, burpies or protein shakes. Priceless. (see below). Shame to cover up Arnie Rae’s bottom striations though.
I did ponder whether marriage counsellors could learn something from the arm wrestling technique, maybe just tie people together until they sort out their issues.