figure or bodybuilding
So, I’m bored. Yeah I know, what’s new? I think I have turned into one of those high energy freaks that I used to hate.
I was thinking about my next figure show. I know figure gets a bad rap and some organizations are "fluffy", but I have been working my butt off 5 times a week. My initial thoughts of figure, as I had never attended a show, were of the Olympia figure women such as Monica Brant and Mary Lado. As it turns out, I was very lean and lost to women with much more bodyfat than I had imagined they would have. Some of these chicks just get a dark tan and put on an expensive bikini. It had NOTHING to do with muscles. So, here is my dilemma….do I want to do bodybuilding? I’m not big, I’m 5′3", 120lbs, if I do a great deplete for my size I will lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks time. 5 in the last week. Is there a place for me there? Do I have a figure body? I suppose some of the dilemma is that bodybuilding women get a bad rap. They sometimes come out looking manly and some wear no make-up and their hair up and are so plain! Can the two be mixed? Figure was intended for women who workout hard, to show off their hard earned bodies , and blend it with feminity. It’s so convoluted now. Either I have to go softer for figure or harder for bodybuilding………..I’m confused. I guess I have 3 months to ‘figure’ it out.
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June 30, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Couldn’t really say one way or the other Fern. The choice is yours. Read the Frank Zane article on BB.com (also in my favorites articles) and he echoes your sentiments about competitions being convoluted and more like popularity contests. I guess you’ll have a moment of clarity sometime soon. You’ve got the body for either though. And you’ve got the work ethic and determination to succeed no matter what field you enter.
June 30, 2007 at 8:21 pm
WORD!!!! I too am in the dilemma!! I did bodybuilding in the past, and at 5′6, and 140 lbs…came in as a "heavyweight" well you know what kind of girls are heavyweights at Big Shows???? The manly ones, or so they/we are stereotypes. I feel like a fool because I am training for My first FIGURE show this August, and I have went to a few, and feel like I will look way too big when in the line up. By myself, I’ll ook great, but compared to a girl my height..they might be afraid I’ll eat her. I am deciding to go ahead and do atleast one Figure show, and then do some more bodybuilding. THere are very few female amateur bodybuilders, so hey…worst thing you are in the top 3 automaticallY!!!!
I think you should try a bidybuidling show, the routine, posing etc is rewarding, you get a little more airtime on stage to show off all of your hard work!
Good Luck…make me a friend…we can comisserate.
Toni
June 30, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I hear ya! But the lady who won the Mile High a couple weekends ago is pretty big. My trainer friend who’s friends with her said that she is huge in real life, but they seemed to go for the softer look. *shrug* entering in building is an easier win because of the smaller class…is that cheating?
June 30, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Do BOTH…if u can. If the competition alows u to enter both competitions (BB & Fig), DO so. Maybe ur results and feedbacks in the respective contests will influence your further pursuit. Best Wishes on WHATEVER you decide! ~Dawn Melanie
June 30, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I did not mean to come across that Bodybuilding or figure for that matter is at all EASY!! Half of the battle is getting the guts to go in a skimpy swimsuit and actually BE JUDGED BY OTHER PEOPLE!!! But what I do mean is that one’s hard work is judged by a criteria that can be met, and for most bodybuilding shows, it is the same. You dont have to be the prettiest, biggest implants, nicest and sparkliest $$$ suit, or worry that you may inadvertantly get looked over. You are compared on poses, overall symmetry and your obvious dedication to yourself. To me, that is a clealy spelled out on why you would enter a show in the first place. Not to really win, but to look your best, and compare your best to someone else’s best. Just to clarify…i am not dogging either…because I do find myself gently in between.
June 30, 2007 at 9:23 pm
None of it is easy, I guess that came off wrong too…I just meant easier in that if you’re the only competitor in that class you win by default. And I completely agree with having the guts to get on stage and be scrutinized. I most definitely don’t have that yet!! I give props to those who do and am hoping to grow some of those this winter
June 30, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I meant having the balls to get on stage….that works better with the "growing" part.
July 1, 2007 at 4:47 am
fern do both see what you like. don’t give up on figure, shows are judge different all the time its the nature of the sport. i do it because i like the way i look and feel on stage not to get a judge to pick me. look at your photos and say"you know my ….could be better i think i’ll work on that for the next show, the wins will come. keep moving forward! smiling of course!
July 1, 2007 at 9:23 am
I think you could most definitely succeed in either realm. Also, you need to think about the body you want and what your peers in the same mindset are going for. Yeah, figure isn’t about size and cuts, it’s more about the slender, softer, tonified body, not the hard lines. Take a look at the amateur galleries from the Colorado Pro/Am Shawn Ray not too long ago and you’ll see the woman who won the women’s bodybuilding, and she was the light weight! (look for the one with the big sparkly eyelashes). Just an example to chew on for a bit…
July 1, 2007 at 9:36 am
You’ve pretty much just nailed the single most frustrating component for competitors and fans alike from both sports: judging criteria not clearly defined. I swear, why does it have to be so difficult for these entities to just state clearly the requirements for judging criteria. I liken the situation to a job. Can you imagine if your job had floating criteria that affected your pay?
"Today, you were spot on what we were looking for, Mr Auditor, so you’ll get you’re full pay. However, you weren’t able to read our minds yesterday and we really were looking for something totally different than what you provided, so we’ll have to dock you todays pay: Sorry, maybe you’ll be able to decipher what we’re looking for tomorrow?" Judging situation blows I say….why does it have to be sooooo subjective….Just add a little objectivity PLEASE!!!