VPX ATHLETES BLOG

I am the first female over 40 to win her class at both the USA Championship and the National Championship in the same year.

• My Pro debut was August 2009 at the Atlantic City Pro
• My first competition EVER was in California, 1991
• My motivation comes from just wanting to be a better athlete each and every time I step into the gym.

No one could have convinced me that I would ever reach a professional status in bodybuilding. It never really occurred to me as being an important factor in my approach to training. I started lifting in 1984 and just never stopped. I make every workout count, consistency is what got me here and it is the very thing that will continue to make me improve. Although my first love was soccer; I played for over 20 years. Soccer and weightlifting was what I loved, and still love now. I only aspire to be the best athlete and person I can be. I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to represent a company I wholeheartedly believe in. Using VPX products has taken my workouts to whole different level of intensity. When you've been doing this for as long as I have, you look for ways to increase your mental focus and that's what it does for me. My overall performance to date has shattered the records I set as a power lifter in the mid 90's when I was ranked 6th in the nation by leaps and bounds. I continue to strive for my personal best and don't see any reason for that to change. People have said that women's bodybuilding is a dying breed. I say to that, depends on who you are. Bodybuilding of today does not define me, on the contrary, I define it as I see fit for myself and this breed isn't dying for awhile!

Next Pro shows: Tampa Pro and Europa in Hartford, CT both in July, 2010 Dynamite comes in small packages...release of the dynamite in July, stay tuned!

Who would believe that a skinny little kid from the Island of Jamaica would grow up to be a pro body builder?

My name is Shawn 'Flexatron' Rhoden, and I began bodybuilding in the summer of 1992. What has transpired since then has been nothing less that spectacular. In 1992 I met former Mr. Universe, Yohnnie Shambourger . He provided me with the building blocks to be able to create the powerhouse that has become FLEXATRON. I was able to take 155lb frame and expand myself to become a IFBB Pro.

I have accumulated overall wins in many competitions included the 1997 Eastern Coast Tournament Of Champion. In 1999 I took 2nd at the JanTana Light heavy weight Division and 3rd in said Division at my first NPC Team universe Trials. I was also able to take 2nd and the 2001 NPC Team Universe Trials and 2nd at my first try at the 2001 IFBB North American Championship.

My success has not come with a few trials and tribulations. 1n 1993 I cut 9 tendons in my right hand and was told I would never me able to write, use a hammer, or play the piano, let alone be able to lift heavy weights. In fact I was told if I attempted to lift any kind of heavy weight I may cause permanent damage to my hand. With a little persistence and help from my mentor and John Lancaster I was able to rebuild the strength in my hand to compete 14 months later at the Natural Eastern Classic in New Jersey winning the Teen Overall as well as 1st Middle weight and Open overall and show Best Poser. Again, in Jan of 1996 while squatting well over 500lb, I severely hurt my lower back and was bed ridden for 5 months and had to take another year off from lifting. I was able to pull myself together after only 4 months of training to compete in the Mid Atlantic Natural, placing 2nd in the light heavy and a few weeks later winning the overall at the East Coast Tournament of Champions.

While preparing for the 2002 National, my dad became ill with lung cancer and past away almost a year later. My dad was my biggest supporter and it left me devastated. I lost all will to go to the gym and decided to take some time off. What seemed like few months ended up been 7 years.

I made the decision to get back on stage after going to watch a show with a friend and realized my destiny had not changed but was challenge. I devoted 7 months of hard training and dieting to see how far I would be able to push my body. I was able to get back on stage in the best shape of my life winning the OVERALL at the 2009 IFBB North America Bodybuilding Championship where I earned my Pro card.

I have been a proud user of VPX products since 2001 and it is a honor to be apart of this wonderful establishment. My favorate stack is Stealth (cookies and cream) first thing in the morning blend with peanut butter, NO Shotgun pre work out, sip on Power Shock during my workout as well as through out the day followed by SyntheSize post workout 10 min later another serving of Stealth with 1 scoop of Syngex and the same right before bed.

I'm looking forward to a exciting year with VPX.

The Journey of one or a thousand miles begins with a single step , please walk with ME!

SHAWN 'FLEXATRON' RHODEN

 Visit my BLOG!

I am currently training for the IFBB New York Pro 202lb. May 8th 2010 and am 13 weeks out from the IFBB New York Pro 202lb. Still training hard and heavy but strict, and my cutting diet starts in 3 weeks when I start sucking down from 228lbs to 202lbs. I have been working all off-season to build more muscle mass on certain lagging body parts and to make a few changes in my physique. I particularly paid extra attention to my arms, to add size and thickness and worked on some things that will bring back my traditional look of my wide shoulders, sweeping thighs and small waist that earned me my pro card and allowed me to beat some of the best in the sport.

Pre-workout I take NO-Shotgun. During training I drink Power Shock with 20grams glutamine. And post workout I will have a lean muscle building protein shake consisting of 2 scoops Stealth w/ 1.5 scoops Zero Carb protein.

Here is a list of accomplishments I have achieved over the past serveral year:

• 2009 IFBB Mr. Olympia 202lb - 8th Place
• 2009 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro 202lb - 3rd Place
• 2009 IFBB NY Pro 202lb  - 5th place
• 2008 IFBB Mr. Olympia 202lb  - 4th Place
• 2008 IFBB NY Pro 202lb - 3rd Place
• 1998 NPC Nationals Heavy Weight and Overall Champion
• 1998 NPC USA Heavy Weight Champion
• 1997 NPC USA Light Heavy Weight Champion