Hi, 

I have some exciting news that a television show that was in the UK will be filmed and air in the USA in 2018 and will feature a person from the Fitness Atlantic Transformation Challenge. The show is called, "This Time Next Year". 

We really needed a little something special for 2018 and the 20th Anniversary Fitness Atlantic. 

I follow up with many people who entered the show last year and I listen to reasons they are not doing the show again. Many times I respond to the reasons in my emails. 

On Monday I sent an email that was a reaction to a few conversations I have with past contestants or coaches who tell people they or others are not "competing" because it is too expensive. 

I sent an email about two Facebook Groups that off resale of competition bikinis to show people you really can save money. 

I'm not sure how they email was received by people?

Not everyone feels the same way about how they spend money? I may have offended people who feel spending money on outfits and online coaches help them place higher in shows? 

Money is always an excuse to stop something. 

Prepping for a show is one a good word to use instead of competing in a contest and a way that I try to remember to speak instead of saying "competing" in a contest. The other thing many people say is...

"I won't be ready" and that only means ready to win and turn Pro. That is a lot of pressure to put on anyone to only think about how to win at any of these events. 

Two ways to think about these things - one is follow the prep plan and don't cheat on meals and don't skip workouts and the other way is to not always think only about winning. Winning is all dependent on who shows up. When you think only about winning you may try to look and feel contest day ready and compare yourself to other photo posts you may see of other people. That can make it stressful. 

To be a successful Pro you may want to win a show that is a larger show instead of winning a smaller show. A couple years as an amateur contestant isn't a bad thing. Many people learn more about their body and how to prep from the experience of doing a show a year. I've seen many people chase the Pro card and do many shows a year yet their bodies may not have time to really look much different in a short time span.  

The last thing to consider is the quality of the show itself. Most people know Fitness Atlantic is held at an incredible venue and to many people it really doesn't matter the venue when they only think about winning a contest. Some people want to be at a nice venue and on a nice stage but many people really don't care. I get excited over production and lighting and told all the time it doesn't matter but it is part of producing a show that I personally really enjoy. 

I'm not looking to write emails to anger people who have a different way of looking at what I call a show and they call a contest. I've run Fitness Atlantic for 20 years and before that the Mr Connecticut. I see people have way less fun and the long life-time passion for these events. My goal is to try to overcome things I hear that make the experience negative anyone may feel and the reasons people stop following through on entering and what can be an incredible experience for every single participant and audience goer.  

Entry Form http://fitnessatlantic.com/entry-form/

Tip for anyone entering Transformation AND adding an OPEN Division - Do this:

First Enter Transformation first because you upload your "before" photo -

then you get an Extra Class link 

First here - http://fitnessatlantic.com/divisions/transformation/

After registering for Transformation then go to the Extra Class Link http://www.fitnessatlantic.com/store/additional-classes/

The event schedule is planned to be the same as the last few years. 

People wait until last minute. There is a quote that goes "If there was no such thing as last minute nothing would ever get done..." It's more of a joke and you really don't want to operate that way.

It's not a good way to truly be prepared for anything.  

Then people always ask the same questions after we have been sending out the Pre Show Report and the Event Schedule over and over. 

Here is an event schedule again. 

Start with booking the hotel. 

Reserve your hotel room http://fitnessatlantic.com/hotel/ and people ask how many nights they should book and it's really Friday that you should plan to be there. Reserve Friday April 13th 2018. Don't miss out of staying at Mohegan Sun as the other hotels are not all that close.   

Friday contestants do spray tanning, check into your rooms, and come get registered and get contestant number, meet the Status Fitness Magazine Team, and we have a meeting at 7pm. People are asked to dress presentable since we are at a fancy venue.  

It's all in the Convention Center so just head over and walk past Michael Jordan's Steakhouse and pass through those doors that say Convention Center. If you are at the hotel lobby walk towards the casino and see the big waterfall stay upstairs with Booby Flay's restaurant on your left and take that left and walk to Jordan's. 

Spray Tanning by Appointment http://fitnessatlantic.com/tanning/

Better buy some Fitness Atlantic Tickets => http://fitnessatlantic.com/tickets/

Registration between 4p.m. until 7p.m. (Paugussett Meeting Space in Convention Center)

Contestant Meeting 7p.m. - 8p.m. (Mandatory) Please dress appropriately to be seen in photos.

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Fitness Atlantic Preliminaries Schedule 

Saturday April 14th 

Saturday morning Hair and Makeup is in a big room right near the room we had registration and the athlete meeting. These people start super early. 
Hair and Make Up By Appointment http://fitnessatlantic.com/hair-and-makeup/

held in Abenaki Room in Convention Center

8:45 a.m. – ALL COMPETITORS must report to the dressing rooms in the Uncas Ballroom. The dressing rooms are downstairs which are the back part of the entire ballroom. There is a ton of room in these dressing rooms but PLEASE DON'T bring trainers, coaches, friends, or anyone with you backstage that is not entered into the show. Contestants should stay backstage as well and never walk into the ballroom lobby or anyplace else without completely covering up. 

9:00 a.m. – Diva Bikini, Diva Fitness Model, Male Fitness Model, and Transformation 
*will meet with the head judge in the dressing room
9:15 a.m. – Figure & Muscle Model Contestants will meet with the head judge in the dressing room.

9:30 a.m. – Doors open to spectators
10:00 a.m. – Preliminary Judging for ALL DIVISIONS begins

ORDER OF EVENTS
MALE FITNESS MODEL – Swimwear (One Class)
DIVA BIKINI – Swimwear (Order: Master’s, Short, Tall)
DIVA FITNESS MODEL – Swimwear (Order: Master’s, Short, Tall)
MUSCLE MODEL - (One Class – 1 Round)
FIGURE - (Order: Master’s, Open – 1 Round)
TRANSFORMATION – Swimwear (One Class – 1 Round)
DIVA FITNESS MODEL – Theme Wear (Order: Master’s, Short, Tall)
MALE FITNESS MODEL – Formal Attire (One Class)
DIVA BIKINI – Evening Gown (Order: Master’s, Short, Tall)

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4:00 p.m.- All Contestants return to ballroom to rehearse

Opening Number, Parade of Gowns, and Theme Wear Spectacular and prepare for finals.

Fitness Atlantic Schedule – FINALS
(Schedule subject to change at any time)
5:00 p.m. – Doors Open to Spectators
6:00 p.m. – Opening Number – ALL CONTESTANTS
6:05 p.m. – MALE FITNESS MODEL Introductions in NUMERICAL ORDER (In Swimwear)
6:15 p.m. – DIVA BIKINI Introductions in NUMERICAL ORDER (In Swimwear) – BY CLASS (Master’s, Short, Tall)
6:45 p.m. – DIVA FITNESS MODEL Introductions IN NUMERICAL ORDER (In Swimwear) ALL CLASSES
7:05 p.m. – MUSCLE MODEL introductions in NUMERICAL ORDER & AWARDS (1 Class)
7:15 p.m. – FIGURE INTRODUCTIONS in NUMERICAL ORDER & AWARDS DONE BY CLASS
Awards Order: Master’s, Open
7:30 p.m. - TRANSFORMATION Introductions in NUMERICAL ORDER & AWARDS (In Swimsuits)
8:00 p.m. - THEME WEAR SPECTACULAR & DIVA FITNESS MODEL AWARDS
This is a presentation of the theme wear to music.
Awards by Class: Master’s, Short, Tall
8:30 p.m. – MALE FITNESS MODEL AWARDS – In Formal Attire
8:45 p.m. – PARADE OF GOWNS & DIVA BIKINI AWARDS
This is a presentation of the evening gowns to music.
Awards by Class: Master’s, Short, Tall
9:30 p.m. – Show Ends

NOTES:
*All times are rough estimations and are subject to change at any moment.

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Sunday April 15th 

Fitness Atlantic Schedule – Status Fitness Magazine Photo Shoots
9:00a.m. Winners and Paid Photo Shoots (Wampanoag Room in the Convention Center)
Book a photo shoot with Status Magazine's David Ford => http://fitnessatlantic.com/photography/

The Fitness Atlantic team is excited to welcome back for the fourth consecutive year – the Status Fitness team!

We have been fortunate to have a professional media provider attend our show. This is an opportunity unavailable at any other show. Editor-in-Chief, Rodney Jang will be in attendance. Rodney brings with him a wealth of knowledge and he will speak at the athlete meeting after registration.

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Fitness Atlantic Tickets => http://www.fitnessatlantic.com/tickets/

See you soon, 

Brian