Secrets of Women's Bodybuilding

[Super Girl 22]

posted 8/9/01 from ABCNews

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/abc/20010808/hl/downtown_010808_womenbodybuilders_feature_1.html

 

[Sassy69]

Interesting - references many of the comments we made on the Pro-Anorexia thread and also on the "WHy do you do it" thread -- valid points, but extremes also. The important thing is to continually recheck your motivations and your goals so you avoid the obsessive part and also understand that the sport itself is very unforgiving when it comes to making a living.

 

[rasta]

I would have to say that I disagree with you spatterson. Most of the women that compete in bb, especially middle to heavy weight are doing extreme amounts and stacks of steroids and do look freaky off stage. On the other hand there are fitness competitors and light weigh bb who have not used or tightly controlled their use of aas and look healthy and beautiful.

I never cease to be amazed by the heavy bb's physics while they are on stage. They have increadible defintion and in that light are beautiful to look at, but when you put them in a sun dress and high heels they can often look like drag queens.

At one point, the fitness scene seemed to ge getting a little out of control, as in the girls with extreme striation and muscular development were winning. This promoted the popularity and acceptance of aas. To prevent it from getting out of hand, they judges started to reward the softer, more feminine physics. This was for a couple of reasons...
women are not supposed to look like men and shouldn't try to develop there physic to look like one (especially considering the males that female bb's look up to often tend to be freaky big guys like Lee Priest...that guys a monster)

And so that other female onlookers would not look at these women as unattainable, but instead as a goal that they could possibly reach with dedicatio and determination.

Thats just my take on her story, those types of bb's are why my husband refuses to let me do anything

No anavar, winny, clen, t3, nothing because he is sure that I will look like a man after six weeks of one use, no matter the dosage.

 

[flex4life]

This interview was on Primetime Thursday a few weeks ago- I watched the board to see all of your comments, but it seemed no one watched it, so I didn't post on it.

They showed a gal wrestling w/ a guy on his living room floor- said it helped them to get more $$ from their sport because the prize winnings are so low.

Spat- have you met & talked w/ Lesa Lewis? She look soooo big.... says she still feels she is feminine & beautiful at that size. She said her diet is mostly all protein, very, very little carb & no (?!) fats.

 

[ann]

I work so hard in the gym, then get kind of freaked by someones comment. When Rasta said some B/B put on a sundress and high heels and look like a transexual. I might need to go back to being runway model thin...... That comment kind of hit me wrong. Anyone else????

 

[flex4life]

Ann,
check her out at genex9.com- pics of Ms. Olympia 2000... not your average flexin' femme

 

[OTCbooty]

It does sound if the two are comparing apples and oranges. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

The only thing I've read here that I fully disagree with is this, "women are not supposed to look like men and shouldn't try to develop there physic [sic] to look like one." That's a personal thing, and I feel we all need to be allowed to pursue our own individual visions of beauty, whether they be conventional or not.

I really like Timea too...

 

[ann]

Well, I personally like Monica Brant and Timea's physic.....they are feminine yet so strong. I guess it is in the eye of the beholder...and as Sassy said, always recheck your motivations and goals. It just kind of hit me weird when I read that, and I ran to my hubby and asked if I still looked girly He laughed......then asked me if those were whiskers growing on my chin J/K.......I guess I had a self doubting moment there for a second......anyone else ever feel that way???

 

[OTCbooty]

spatts, I think you need to send me (if you wouldn't mind) your favorite pic of her then because the one above tops my list...

 

[Sassy69]

Although I really like Valentina Chipega and respect her for her win of Ms O 2000, especially proving that us "mature" gals are the bomb , I really like Jennifer McVicar -- she was invited to compete in the Ms. O last year.

http://eastcoastmuscle.com/results/2000usa/2000usa2/pages/027mcvicar.htm

 

[Daeo]

Timeas' legs...

 

[OTCbooty]

I have some photos of Jen McVicar in my cache too...she has a really nice build. I collect BB chicks like some guys collect porn...

Ann, everyone is going to have a different opinion of when it becomes "too much" as far as muscle goes...there are runway model types who would find smallmovesal to have too much muscle, then there are others who emulate a much heftier build. As for you, I guarantee it doesn't happen overnight....if you weren't feeling unfeminine yesterday, you probably haven't gotten too beefy since then! But that's why I think photos are so important...for me anyway....I tend to get comfortable in my skin, which is a good thing, but it doesn't give me a lot of objectivity about how I would look to myself if I could step outside my body and look at me (if you can understand that jibberish, you get a prize!). I would also bet that you and I are both too muscley for some men's tastes (you can't make everyone happy) but the good thing is, we're not doing this to please them!

 

[wilson6]

I personally know Lesa Lewis and have interacted with her on a business and personal level. She is a professional and an absolute sweetheart. Her trainer is also top shelf.

McVicar is much closer to a fitness competitor than a bodybuilder.

W6

 

[rasta]

I think otcbooty understood what I was trying to say. I did not mean to anger anyone. Some of the heavy weight division bb competitors are huge. Like I said, in the aspect of seeing their physic on stage they are amazing and beautiful. There definition and muscle development is nothing short of amazing, but in a social setting in feminine clothing they look odd.

I also don't think 6' girls at 100lbs are attractive either, they look frail.

I think the ideal image is Monica Brant. She is my idol, I have her posted all over my apartment for motivation. I think her physic and others at her level, ex. Timea, are what most of us are considering ideal, at least that is what I am picking up from what I read. They are feminine, yet strong.

Spatterson, what I thought we were disagreeing about was that Arnoldi is a rare case or that she made an uninformed decision. I think that there are a lot of women that are in her position. I feel that she was probably well informed but got caught up in that, well just a little more size here, ok a little less fat there. Until one cycle turned into multiple cycles that turned into stacks.

Again I really meant no disrespect, and you guys are right beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I really feel that a woman's body and what it represents is beautiful and should be celebrated which is what I feel is captured by fitness competitors and light weight bb's, but sometimes gets lost in the midst of competition at the higher/heavier levels (which is what I meant by women looking too much like their male counterparts).

Hope you guys aren't too angry with me

Rasta

 

[ann]

No ones mad at all Rasta.....I just had a fleeting moment of feeling huge----dont know why I did, but I did. Pictured myself looking "macho" in a dress

I know what you are saying..... and its sad that they do have to go to that extreme to compete and win in the heavyweight division.......but, their body, their choice.

I personally am also a Monica Brant fan----to get her shape is my goal .

 

[Dingo12]

Media coverage of female bbers is really harmful to us - my last boyfriend was convinced I was going to turn into a heavyweight extreme overnight. Sorry, I don't think I could afford the amount of drugs - I'm talking about the freaky women who are too big to even compete.

Everyone says it's a bad sport and is harmful, what about soccer? It's really big over here but most soccer players are crippled in middle age as their knees breakdown.

Most people I know do no sport/exercise at all, at least I am keeping myself fit and am not hanging around street corners with nothing to talk about but what was on t.v. last night.

 

[Dingo12]

......also the freaky women they use to represent the sport in the media are the women right at the extreme top. They never show the women at our level who are the grass roots of the sport and are actually much fitter and healthier than the average person. As a result the general public have this image that all female bbers look like freaks!

 

[MISSFLEX]

All I have to say is this:::

Do what makes U happy!! .... And deal with the consequences of your training! Whether it be freakish or more to the standards of what society deems ' acceptable and beautiful'.

 

[wilson6]

The media always presents the "worst case scenario". If they didn't, they'd never catch anyone's attention. It's all about ratings. One-station vs another in terms of who can dig up the most shit about a topic and then gets the public concerned about it.

Anything out of the norm will always be fair game for the media, and bodybuilding is and always will be a target.

The drug war and crime are big hits on TV. Seems like we have a real hard on in this country for putting people in prison for anything we can think of. There isn't a night I flip through the channels that I don't hit some anti-crime, lock em up shoot em up show during prime time.

You also have to remember that many producers are paid to promote anti-drug messages in their programming. Since bodybuilding is associated with steroids and steroids are illegal, it is possible that many of these programs that paint bodybuilding in a negative light and highlight steroid use in the sport along with all the negatives (i.e., manly looking women) and side-effects are nothing more covert paid ad campaigns. Let's face it; if the public really knew the truth about steroids, chances are there would be little support to put people in prison for using or possessing them. But if the public believes they present some clear and present danger to them and their children, then it’s easy to maintain the current agenda.

It's all about politics.

W6

 

[DrJMW]

Choosing Your Look

Every woman, before they start a program, need to decide what look they want. We know that 10-12% BF is ideal, but it can take on many forms. I show all of my females clients pictures of: a Cosmo model (skinny, but smooth), Kim Paul (her picture speaks for itself), Kelly Ryan (fitness look), and Andrulla Blanchette (Ms. Olympic look). I ask them to choose who they would like to look like. Then we discuss it. Believe me, most of the women like Kim paul or Kelly Ryan. All of these looks can be achieved with diet, exercise, anabolics, and plastics. Everyone has a right to choose.

 

[new@gettinbig]

That article is shit.....lets look at the negative aspects of olympic competitors, professional football players, and so on....there is a ton of drug use. There is drug use in just about every sport. So we got a girl who doesnt compete anymore..is obviously bitter about it and was depressed...gained weight and she is giving the inside scoop...great SOURCE! And of course people in the general public look and make comments....most of the world is overweight and VERY LAZY....working out is not even something they are acustomed to. We could sit here and give negative sides to any kind of sport and what not. Is all about image and society does not like or accept bodybuilding at all...Bottom line is everyone has their opinion...people will think and feel what they want....even if they are not educated nor know what the hell they are talking about. You do what makes you happy....you gotta live your life....there will always be negative talk and stereotypes..its a given.