The 'new' Timea and Frank Sepe

[c3bodybuilding]

I see a lot of men on the anabolic board who say Frank looks like crap now, and notice something similiar being said about Timea over here. I am curious what everyones views are on them losing so much muscle to go after a new goal (acting).

I personally think it's the smartest thing either of them could have done. With prize money as horrible as it is these days for men, let alone the women, why take the risks? Flex, Tom, and many others are all getting sick lately. I think in 10 years we might be counting Frank amoung the lucky ones.

Maybe it's the fans. You go to some of these shows, and you see people who look like they have never even stepped foot in a gym, cheering on guys like Ronnie and Gunther. I wonder if they even know what they have to go through to look like that. All for the hopes of *maybe* getting $100k. And only 1 person gets that. Women get even less (way less). Meanwhile a football player gets a few mill a year.

I think Vince and his WBF had the right idea. He was giving most of the bodybuilders 300k a year, for one show a year. If it wouldn't have went under, it would have been up to a couple of million by now, at least.

Bodybuilding for men and women needs to change. The prize money has to get better. In my opinion the ideal should change as well. For anyone to think someone like Arnold or Serge weren't muscular enough, or a Rachel Mclish or Corey Everson isn't big enough, is absurd.

What does everyone else think about the current state of bodybuilding for both men and women? I would post this on the anabolic board, but I find that people on this board tend to be more open minded.

 

[spatts]

It may sound simple, but I wish them luck in whatever they decide they want for themselves, because I would appreciate the same if I were in their shoes.

I like Timea's physique better when muscular, but she's asking to no longer evaluate her based solely on that. I still think she's a beautiful woman. I hope she gets what she's after.

 

[PBR]

very big subject...you are right, the anabolic forum would flame this...I personally think that PRO-BB is a dying sport. Ive had aspirations of competing all my life, however my mind changed when I reached 35yrs of age. It is a short lived sport, you spend countless hours, take huge risks,costs, days,years in preperation for a competition that only lasts hours....you can screw-up your body composition in a day, and be non-competitive because of it...there are many who go home on comp-day, because they" miss" that "window"....The amount of drugs that have to be used to be competitive arent worth it to me. However the discipline and training are. The control over ones body is addicting in and of itself. To set yourself apart from the "norm"is truely a feat, one that I will never give up....People (the public) are still amazed by the freakish muscluarity and seem to obsessed by it to a certain degree....Bodybuilders on the whole realize that there is not much of a future financially...only a few make a real living at it....with all that said, it stands to reason that many are taking their physiques and knowledge to other places where there is more of a chance to make a living and enjoy what life has to offer.... I still hold the highest regard for those who reach the level of a PRO or amature BBr....for I know what it took to get there.....

 

[RottenWillow]

Very good post C3.

I may be exposing some views about pro BB in general and women's in particular that are unpopular on this board but here goes.

I think the amount of drugs used and the level of muscularity that is considered standard has become absurd. I grew up looking at my stepdad's old muscle mags and have always preferred the male physiques of 15-25 years age over the one's I see today. And the pro females are way too muscular for my tastes. I envied the physique of every one of the '91 Ms. O competitors, but none of the 2002 competitors. In pro BB ultimate muscularity appears to always be preferred above asthetic appeal. If she's 2% bf and has 16.5" arms, she's the winner. Clearly I'm exagerating to make a point, but there's more than a little truth in this statement. Punchbowl pecs, topped with patently fake boobs isnt my idea of a femine body. If judges stopped rewarding competitors with the Nth degree of beef and started stressing balance and asthetics more, then things would change. I think its all an attempt to hold fans, to get butts in seats. Bigger beef every year, more of a freakshow each go 'round, and the competitors are killing themselves to keep up. I agree with PBR either pro BB will self destruct or be forced to fundamentally change.

C3, as for the two competitors you mentioned, more power to 'em. Let the hardcore fans pronounce them sellouts. Their responsiblities are to themselves and their loved ones not fans.

 

[RottenWillow]

Very good post C3.

I may be exposing some views about pro BB in general and women's in particular that are unpopular on this board but here goes.

I think the amount of drugs used and the level of muscularity that is considered standard has become absurd. I grew up looking at my stepdad's old muscle mags and have always preferred the male physiques of 15-25 years age over the one's I see today. And the pro females are way too muscular for my tastes. I envied the physique of every one of the '91 Ms. O competitors, but none of the 2002 competitors. In pro BB ultimate muscularity appears to always be preferred above asthetic appeal. If she's 2% bf and has 16.5" arms, she's the winner. Clearly I'm exagerating to make a point, but there's more than a little truth in this statement. Punchbowl pecs, topped with patently fake boobs isnt my idea of a femine body. If judges stopped rewarding competitors with the Nth degree of beef and started stressing balance and asthetics more, then things would change.

I was just looking through my old karma messages and found this thread. I bolded a few lines from my post 2.5 years ago to see what our current members think about this topic.

 

[Sassy69]

Same discussion still rages. They are putting in place rules like 20% softer and crap like that, but still people like Iris Kyle & Yaxeni are winning top spots. The look is still scary as hell and that was again displayed at the NPC Nationals. They can say it, but you still don't see those sorts of decisions being made & supported by the judges. It is still as nebulous as ever.