241: Area Orion's Transformers

A couple of years ago, when FMS was very much in its infancy, it got a mention on another female muscle fan blog. Afterwards, I couldn't help feeling that somehow FMS had "arrived". This was partly because of the resulting sudden, massive increase in readership, but it was mainly due to the fact that the blog which had mentioned FMS was none other than Area Orion, one of the great female muscle blogs (if not the greatest) and an inspiration to me personally back when FMS had been nothing more than an idea. Consequently, it felt like more than just a mention. It felt like I'd been approved, like my blog had got a papal blessing or something.

And if that makes it sound as though I was (and still am) not just a fan, but rather utterly IN AWE of Area Orion's work, then that's absolutely right.

So when it came to deciding how to finish off 241 week, Area Orion's Before and After posts came to mind. The same woman, although sometimes that is rather hard to believe, "before" and "after" her transformation into a muscle goddess.

Whether it is, in fact, Area Orion who sources the images and then combines them, or whether they are found as they are makes no difference to me. It's Area Orion who puts them out there, and, as with the little mention of FMS, at a stroke, thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of readers know about the incredible transformation each woman has achieved. And that's the magic.

Old or new, each transformation has its own special beauty.


Gayle Moher


Eleonora Dobrinina

They show women who have taken control of their bodies and their lives.


Binge-Eater No More: Linda Gartside


Anorexia Conquered: Lisa Cross

I honestly can't think of a "Before and After" pic I don't like, but the ones I like the most are definitely the very skinny to very muscular ones. Why? Well, take a wild guess at my own wife's body shape. The knowledge, contained within these images, that within a few years, however unlikely it may be, I might end up being married to a woman who resembles Theresa Ivancik After, rather than Theresa Ivancik Before, well, it just gives me a warm feeling inside. Know what I mean?



Moreover, the "Before and After" also shows us that even some of the all-time greats started out with such unremarkable bodies that, as I said above, you have to look twice to make sure that you are, indeed, looking at the same woman. There must be more than a few people out there who have failed to recognise the "Before" they once knew in their utterly different "After" form.


Transformed: Heather Policky


I'm A Big Girl Now: Katka Kyptova

And furthermore, even when the long long journey to muscle has already started at the time the "Before" picture was taken, the insane contrast with the fully-formed muscle goddess in the "After" can be no less jaw-dropping.


Monica, Wiechowski to Mowi


Alina, gym rat to Alina Popa, FBB Queen


Figure to Huge: Monique Jones

Collectively for guys like us; like me, like you and I dare say like the genius that is Area Orion; it is probably the transformation of the woman who has undoubted "mainstream" sex appeal into the woman who has muscular sex appeal that is the best transformation of all. Another woman rejecting the body shape ascribed by society as ideal, another woman coming over to our side.


Beauty Queen to Fitness Goddess: Cindy Landolt


Bunny to Beast: Brigita Brezovac

See lots more of these at Area Orion Transformations on Tumblr

Hope you enjoyed 241 week.

And don't forget: it's the last day for FMS Hot and Hard 100 votes.

241: Sisters of Iron II

Twin sisters of iron Patricia Beckman and Terri McBee have, for the last five years or so, been, without question, by far the most successful natural female bodybuilders in the world in their respective divisions. Patricia, who competes in bodybuilding, has an amazing record of having won every pro show she has entered. But Terri's record in the pro figure division is only slightly less impressive: in seven pro outings she has only failed to win either her class or the overall title on one occasion.



Of Patricia, they say: Every once in a while an athlete achieves a level of supremacy that is beyond compare – Muhammed Ali, Wayne Gretsky, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan come to mind – and Patricia Beckman might be in that category. Rarely has an athlete put together such an impressive string of victories and so dominated the opposition in every contest as Beckman has in her short time in bodybuilding.



It's not surprising, given their respective sizes, that Patricia has been training for about twice as long as Terri, Eight years, as compared to four. In fact, Terri's first experience of bodybuilding competition was cheering on her sister - cheering her on to victory, no doubt. Patricia encouraged Terri to follow her onto the stage, but it took a while because Terri had always been painfully shy, and the thought of getting up on stage in front of a roomful of strangers made me feel sick to my stomach.



But, eventually, she did follow, choosing figure rather than bodybuilding she says because I thought that would be easier, with a full-time job, and being a wife and mother. The rest is history. Well, natural female bodybuilding history anyway.



As natural bodybuilders, their physiques are forged without the use of performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids, insulin, diuretics, and human growth hormone. In addition, the many natural bodybuilding federations (IFPA, WNBF, etc.) have slightly differing lists of banned substances and/or methods of drug testing.



It isn't my place or purpose to wonder if Patricia's or Terri's success has been achieved by fair means or foul. Honestly, if they say they're natural, then as far as I'm concerned, they're natural. But inevitably, there are those who have expressed doubt on the sisters' "natural" credentials, particularly Patricia's, although these doubters don't tend to be from within the "natty" [natural bodybuilding] community.



What everyone, even those on the pro-steroid forums, does seem to agree on though, is that the sisters do have something of an unnatural advantage over their competiton: what one forum poster termed their "goddess genetics". They have some of the best genetics for females in the sport, says one natural bodybuilding journalist, referring to female bodybuilding as a sport in its entirety, whether sanctioned as natural or not.



And with the help of those exceptional genetics, these remarkable twins are taking natural female bodybuilding to new heights. Long may they reign!



Lots of clips of Patricia on YouTube, FMS recommends any of her posing routines but has a soft spot for her 2012 Musclemania performance. You can also find a fair bit of Terri there, with her 2013 Ms Pro International routine our pick of the bunch.



Dedicated to John, with thanks.

Enjoy!

241: Pic of the Week

JULIANA meets MEGA-JULIANA!


Now here's an idea FMS could fully get behind.

Let's paint the town with Mega-Malacarnes. We can start with one at the gym for 'fitspiration'. But why stop there? Let's have one at the train station. Another on the outside of City Hall. On the facade of the shopping mall. Let's have them everywhere!

A world decorated with Mega-Malacarnes. Without doubt, a BETTER world!

FMS Hot and Hard 100: Final Demand

Today, we're taking a little pause in our 241-fest this week to issue a
RED REMINDER
Voting for the FMS Hot and Hard 100 2013 closes this Friday, Feb. 28th.



Thanks to all who've voted so far, and to the rest of you, it's now or never if you want to get involved. Vote for any number of women from 1 to 100. Who are your 2013 faves?



Email your list to 6ft1swell@gmail.com. Anonymity guaranteed.



Get voting!



The votes will be counted up in the first week of March, and we'll start posting the results, counting down from 100 to 1 the week after that.



Enjoy!

241: Twice the Woman

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