April 9, 2008

It was Saturday night, August 20, 2007 and we had come to the end of the bodybuilding event here at Tucker Theater. The Grand Finale - the intensive pose down for the title of Mr. Tennessee State is on! The line being drawn in the sand; the gauntlet, being thrown down; each open class winner doing there very best, trying to outdo the other, for the overall. The music dies down, competitors step back in line, the winning number is handed to the MC and here we go. "The 2007 NPC Tennessee State Championship Men's Open Overall goes to .... Number 68, Light Heavy, - BENNY BLAIR!

It's always great to win at anything you strive for, but it's especially an awesome victory, knowing you have eaten, slept, breathed, walked and talked nothing but barbells, dumbbells, sets, reps, fatigue, nutrition/diet, and posing, not to mention, learning to hate the word "cardio". The Knox caught up with 'Mr. Tennessee' at Mimi's in Knoxville to sort of pick his brain. We asked Benny what was his thoughts were on all of the steps to victory.

He works out practically everyday doing 20 minutes of cardio in the off season and one hour each day during competition training. He states that his diet and nutrition are the most important things in his training. He states it makes up 70% of importance of him winning his shows. "You have to learn your body's receptors to the good and bad- carbs/proteins." He tries to eat clean 90-95% for the offseason and 100% for the on or competition season. In asking Benny about his diet, April, who joined us for breakfast, jumped in and answered most of these questions. Talk about a support system, I think she goes through all of the steps, herself, for Benny's competitions.

Benny's Diet

• 9:00am - Oatmeal & 8 Eggs With 3 Yolks
• 11:30pm - Chicken & Sweet Potato & Veggies
• 3:00pm - Protein Shake
• 6:00pm - Protein Shake & Nitro Tech
• Training - Recovery Shake after workout (chicken, lean beef, veggies)
• 9:00pm - Sweet Potato or White Baked Potato

The last two weeks of dieting before a competition he substitutes fish for chicken and meat proteins.

Benny has been seriously training for 14 years now and after many trial and errors, he seems to have hit the bull's-eye steps to victory. He did tell us about his other supports- mainly Clayton Bryant with Fitness Pros of Knoxville, TN and his great friend and advisor, Bruce Sipes. Without them he would've been a lost ball in high weeds.We can't leave out April. Outside support is the icing on the cake, but the live-in- 24 hour-round the clock support is most important, in any competitors life. It was no surprise to learn that obtaining an IFBB pro card was his long term goal. And, with his determination and dedication I feel that it will not be very long before he has to worry about Ronnie, Jay, and Dexter.

Fun Facts:

• Born: Madison, TN
• First Lifted: 8th Grade
• Favorite Food: IHOP pancakes (off season)
• Favorite Music: R & B, Hip-Hop
• Occupation: Personal Training & Raising English Bulldogs (besides being Mr. Tennessee)
• Training Gym: Modern Health Club fka Modern Fitness
• Better Half: April Summers of 10 years
• Children: Destiny Blair, 9 years old (look for her in women's bodybuilding 8-9 years)
• Pets: English Bulldog - Pebbles (she is in the superheavy weight class of the English Bulldogs)
• Favorite Body Part: Back
• Off Season Weight: 240lbs
• On Season Weight: 198lbs

Most memorable moment: Surprisingly it was winning the Open Overall at the NPC Knox BB & Figure Classic in 2006, at the UT Auditorium. He was so sure that the one of the other class winners had him beat. He didn't think that he even had a chance.

All in all, William 'Benny' Blair is a great Ambassador for the sport of bodybuilding. I could tell his passion for bodybuilidng ran pretty deep by informing me that he was going to not only be our Guest Poser for this year's show, but wanted to be a part of the entire Knox Classic. I expect we will see him at the weigh-in and at prejudging, motivating and giving support to the competitors. (I might even talk him into helping me hang a banner)

The Knox has always tried to support Tennessee competitors in their journey and with the 2007 Mr. Tennessee, as our 2008 Special Guest Poser, we hope to help him also in a small way toward his IFBB goals.

Benny's Contest History

• 2002 G Knox Classic Open Lightheavy (5)
• 2003 G Knox Classic Open Heavy (1)
• 2004 Battle of River Heavy (3)
• 2004 TN State Heavy (3)
• 2005 TN State Lightheavy (2)
• 2006 TN G Knox Open Overall
• 2006 TN State Lightheavy (2)
• 2007 TN State Open Overall (Mr. Tennessee)
• 2007 Junior USA Lightheavy (5)

This is Melissa Maness, reporting live, here at Mimi's Restaurant in Knoxville, TN for the Knox Bodybuilding & Figure Classic.

Just a small note: Mr. Tennessee (being off season) did, in fact, order pancakes.