Shannon Courtney: Biceps!

Of all the many many reasons to be admiring the gorgeous Shannon, her biceps would be one (or maybe that should be two) of them. The common consensus among the brethren seems to be that of the 'new generation' of female bodybuilding talent that has emerged in the last couple of years, only Rene Marven deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Shannon when it comes to the guns.



Shannon says her typical arm day goes as follows: I always start off with cables, tricep extensions over the head and ninety degrees, bicep curls, twenty-ones with the cables, a lot of skull crushers, tricep dips with the plates. A lot of isolated moves. Right, so Swell is gonna be trying exactly that combo tomorrow, and, more importantly, encouraging/begging the wife to do the same.



And like the rest of Shannon, it's not just the SIZE that's so appealing. Her biceps, to my eyes anyway, are so aesthetically pleasing that I feel like I'm not going to miss Debbie Bramwell or Marja Lehtonen as much as I thought I would.



You might think I'm getting a bit carried away here, and that may, indeed, be the case (though in my defence I would say that you, dear reader, might find yourself prone to a little hyperbole if you had, as I have, been looking at nothing but images and clips of Shannon for the best part of a week).



Or you might just think that comparing Shannon to Debbie and/or Marja guarantees that I will burn in hell. But my intention here is not to dis any of your (or my) all-time favourites, I absolutely do NOT want to receive any hate mail, so let's just say you're right and I'm wrong and these aren't the best 22-year-old biceps (don't ever forget they're only 22) I can recall seeing. OK? OK.



What we can agree on, I'm sure, is that they are big enough and beautiful enough to cause a stir, and not only among female muscle fans. I was in the store and this little boy looked at me and thought I was some kind of superhero, Shannon told her local media before her pro debut. But the story doesn't end with another little female muscle head being added to the crew (just imagine if Shannon had been your first, talk about downhill from there!)

His mother saw him and pushed him away, like I was going to hurt him or something. Now, I wasn't there, obviously (and unfortunately) so I'll just have to take Shannon's word for it, but isn't it more likely that the woman in question was more concerned Shannon was going to hurt her? If not physically, then certainly it seems plausible to me that the woman saw her self-esteem being crushed (not to mention what it would do to her own child's opinion of his mother) if she remained in the presence of such a beautiful and strong 'superhero'.



And she's probably not the first woman who's been made to feel inadequate by Shannon (see above). Don't you just love how Shannon is in such control here that she can take time-out from this wrestling 'match' to admire her own mouth-watering bicep with relish? Making feel all tingly looking at this pic, I don't mind telling you.



I'll leave you today with Shannon flexing both barrels in one of her most appealing photoshoots. And I'm leaving in a hurry, because these images of this stunning woman are literally making me melt. I need a lie down in a Shannon-less room for a while.

Until tomorrow, enjoy!

Shannon Courtney: In Silhouette

Just the two images of Shannon today, or more accurately, Shannon's silhouette, but I hope you'll agree that they are worth their own post. Both of them are wonderful examples of just how unique the body shape of a hypermuscular woman is.



And in my opinion, the image below is even more remarkable for being absolutely unmistakably Shannon. That hair, that nose, that arm... Who else could it be?



Enjoy!

Shannon Courtney: The Gym Bod

When I do go out, I try and cover up a little bit. But in the gym, my gym clothes are tighter. So it's a little hard to cover up sometimes. I get a lot of stares. People don't see it [a woman with muscles like mine] that often.



Shannon, in her little tight shorts and her little gym top with her muscles bulging and her veins pumping, gets a lot of attention at the gym. I am shocked! I mean, what's to look at? Shannon, tell us, do you really really get a lot of stares?



It is a little ridiculous. At first, I'm not gonna lie, I kind of enjoyed it. Sometimes it is to the point you don't know what they are thinking, you always wonder. People remind me they are always thinking the best, but of course everyone has their own opinions.



I'm not sure if I would be technically 'thinking' if Shannon was powering across the floor of my gym from the free weights to the cables, but I very much doubt I'd be able to stop myself staring. It would be, I imagine, the equivalent of the strongest dose of 'The Madness' I've ever had times about 100. I probably wouldn't survive it.

Good job I'm nowhere near California!



Here's Shannon in her gym clothes from her husband's YouTube channel. Mr Courtney does an excellent job of focusing on his wife's muscular assets, and the gym's pretty empty, but every person (male or female) in the clip reacts in some way to her.
I wonder how he feels about that...



Read the full interview with Shannon from July 2012 at Promoting Real Women

Enjoy!

Shannon Courtney: Woman vs Food

Shannon's top tip to budding muscle goddesses is ALWAYS be prepared! Getting all your meals in and on time is the key. So we imagine she'd approve of today's post: Woman vs Food Shannon Courtney Special



As we've noted here before at FMS, while the majority of women who want to lose their extra pounds choose salads, skip meals and generally try to eat less, muscle goddesses like Shannon not only eat more, but also more often. Female bodybuilders are not only great athletes, they're also great eaters. Those muscles that we love so much are just as much the result of her diet as they are of her efforts in the gym. If she wants to grow (and Shannon obviously does), she’s got to eat, and she's got to eat a lot.



It may seem counter-intuitive, mainly because most women have fallen for the 'eat less diet myth', but female bodybuilders are living proof that if you eat the right things in the right amounts, you can eat five, six, seven, even eight times a day and have hardly any excess fat. But you've got to eat right. Muscle women know what to eat and crucially when to eat it. So, again, they're more than just great athletes, they're also expert nutritionists. And no mean cooks.

(left) Shannon describes her homemade Pumpkin Protein Bars as 'effing amazing'. The recipe, inspired by Jamie Eason, can be found on Shannon's Facebook page.

(right) Shannon displays an off-season treat, homemade chocolate chip cookie dough chocolate bonbons. And one of her lovely biceps.


After all the nutritional discipline of her contest prep diet, the new pro and her burger. The moment I've been waiting for! My PB&J burger from 26Beach. I've been thinking about this burger since the USAs and we are finally reunited.


Shannon's 'favourite time of the month' is when her order arrives from Michelle's Magic Morsels. The Michelle on the label is, that's right, none other than Michelle Brent, and Michelle is canny enough to be using Shannon (specifically the picture above right) to promote her product. Shannon says, OMG! These protein cookies are freakin' amazing! Perfect for traveling and on the go - super healthy and CRAZY delicious!!! And so are the muffins! TRY THEM!!! THEY WON'T LET YOU DOWN!

Who's hungry?

Shannon Courtney: Hallelujah!

AUGUST 10th
Shannon Courtney makes her pro debut in Tampa, finishing 7th out of 30.



She is the new poster girl of female muscle, but more than that her youth and beauty make her the great hope for the future of female bodybuilding, a future that the demise of the Ms International has cast doubt upon. Fans dub her 'THE GEM of the sport'.


SEPTEMBER 9th
While seemingly pledging her future to bodybuilding, Shannon says the 'P' word...



Once FBB is gone I will be switching into the WPD, Shannon writes on Facebook. But until that time comes... I will be destroying the weights as the female BODYBUILDER I AM. THIS IS WHAT I LOVE.


SEPTEMBER 17th
A lot of things on my mind..., she writes, like should I start down sizing to Physique??? Hmm would that mean no leg day for a year?

Seemingly a joke, but I can feel the tension on the fan forums. She said the 'P' word again, the second time in just over a week.

And then the very same day, exactly what I and so many others around the world had been absolutely dreading...

Okay... LET THE DOWN SIZING BEGIN!!! MY FINAL DECISION.






You can almost hear the weeping coming from female muscle lovin' bedrooms all over the planet as the brethren pay their respects. I gaze at the magnificence of Shannon the bodybuilder and my heart sinks at the thought we will not see her like again.


SEPTEMBER 28th
Well, on the plus side she doesn't seem to have lost much size... yet. But neither, it seems, has she changed her mind...



Just heard DLB won Ms Physique [Olympia], she writes. Hmmmm okay... Time to get super small lol... ugh.

I may be clutching at straws, but I wonder if I'm the only fan who has just found a little solace in that 'ugh'. Doesn't sound very gung-ho, does it? Perhaps she's having second thoughts. Or perhaps I just need to stop obsessing over this. Frankly, the whole thing is just upsetting me and I should just forget about Shannon and let her get on with her 'downsizing'.


A month goes by... And for a change the IFBB has some good news for female bodybuilding fans. A new pro show has been added to the 2014 calendar, to take place in Omaha, Nebraska. Sponsors of the show are the mighty Wings of Strength (already sponsors of the Chicago Pro), who, even if they didn't have such wonderful photography and video clips on the site, would still be worth joining to help them in their avowed aim 'to support women bodybuilders'.

And then, from Shannon...


OCTOBER 28th
Sooo I received the new schedule today for IFBB Women's Bodybuilding... not going to lie, has me confused on what I'm doing now...



Yes? YES?


OCTOBER 29th
Enough is enough... Screw this Physique transformation... I Can't Hide the BODYBUILDER inside. #fbb #forlife Back to real training!




And since then, it's been nothing but...

Guess what day it is today!?!?!? LEG DAY!!!!!!!! You guys have no idea how excited I am! [Oh, I think YOU have no idea how excited I am about the prospect of following your BODYBUILDING progress through the off-season, Shannon...] Haven't been able to train them in 6 weeks!!! I feel like a little kid Christmas morning haha!



Love off-season training heavy and hard with some good foods to follow. Happy Sunday everyone! #backtobodybuilding #growmfergrow

Welcome to a week of posts dedicated to Shannon Courtney. BODYBUILDER!

gif by The Ankle

Contest of the Day: UKBFF British II

UKBFF British Championships
Bodybuilding
19th October, Harrogate

Once upon a time, there was a Figure competitor. This figure competitor won five titles in two years. In 2009 she was NABBA South-East Miss Figure, NAC Miss UK, IBFA Miss Europe and WFF Miss Universe. The following year she was NABBA Miss England and finished fourth at the NABBA Universe. Was she satisfied? No.



Nor was she satisfied with fourth place at the 2011 UKBFF British Championships.

She made a plan. A plan that would take two years to come to fruition. This former figure competitor wanted to be big. Really really really big.

On 19th October, this former figure competitor took to the stage as a bodybuilder. In the two years since her last appearance at the championships she had gained twelve kilos of solid muscle, in the words of John Plummer writing for Flex Online UK, she was cut to ribbons and loaded with freaky muscle.

Silvana Imbrogno was crowned the British female bodybuilding champion.



I've worked towards this day since stepping off stage at the 2011 Brits, she said. I've enjoyed the entire journey of this comp prep which started back in October 2011 with a full year off-season and right through the many many weeks long diet. And to win the British Championships is proof that all my hard work was worth it, a goal achieved, a dream come true!



Silvana was born in Adelaide, Australia. I'd always done some sort of training since I was young, she told Real Female Bodybuilding, including 16 years of martial arts, but even when I started lifting in 2007 I was more of a cardio queen, just running! I didn't really start lifting properly until 2008.



The satisfaction that comes with seeing changes and results does empower you to push harder and harder – it's very addictive. I love to train and love seeing how you can change and sculpt your physique – it constantly amazes me and I just love it. I just had to make the switch to Bodybuilding. I'm determined and dedicated and I love muscle!



It's been quite a year for the former 'cardio queen'. Though winning the British title is without doubt a fantastic achievement, Silvana had made history on September 22nd during the UKBFF Midlands, a qualifier for the national championships.



On that night, having already won the women's title, Silvana was invited to take part in the final posedown with the winners of different male classes. I was stuffing my face with banana cake at the time the judges called me back! she said. I was shocked when they asked and then honoured. I think it was just a combination of my mass and my condition.



Female bodybuilding history was made. And Silvana more than held her own. In fact, she came within one judge's decision of actually winning the whole thing. At the end the judges gave me the scorecards to prove it was 3-2 – I'd missed out by one point!



It felt wicked being on the stage with the boys, and after seeing the photos I felt I held my own! It was awesome for me as a bodybuilder to think that the judges thought I was better than most of the guys. It's so cool! I keep laughing about it!



Given the determination she has shown over the last two years and the incredible gains she has made in that time, I doubt we've heard the last of Silvana Imbrogno. She's not going to (her Facebook page shows she's already moved on from her victory and is back in the gym working on getting even bigger) but even if she retired tomorrow, her place in female bodybuilding history would be assured as the first woman to have competed side by side with men. Not bad for a former figure competitor!



Congratulations to FMS favourite Christal Cornick (right), who finished 3rd for the third year running. Congratulations also to Tamazin Danks (left), runner-up (as she had been in that historic Midlands qualifier). But most of all, congratulations to Silvana, history-maker and British female bodybuilding champion.



Follow Silvana on Facebook and Twitter.

[And look out for more on our favourite Brit Freak, Christal Cornick on FMS soon.]