Media Watch III: Good News!

In our look at some of the British women who have recently been featured in their local media (see Media Watch I), FMS noted that in a couple of these articles it was reported that "lots more", "record numbers" of women were taking up bodybuilding.

And we didn't have to wait long for some stats on the subject to turn up.



The Daily Mail, that most female-muscle-friendly of British newspapers, confirmed the very good news that there has, indeed, been a huge increase in the number of young women working out multiple times per week. A survey of 2,000+ gym-goers revealed a 62% increase in the number of women working out at least four days in every seven over the last twelve months, and that the average age of these women is just 24.



Furthermore, the survey, carried out by a sports supplements supplier, revealed that "as well as hitting the gym more often, these women are increasingly using supplements such as protein shakes to maximise the effectiveness of their workout" and, as a result, they have been dubbed the "Protein Princesses".



But before you start imagining a generation of young women all wanting to look like Alina Popa, I should point out that the article does say that "unlike men, their main motivations aren't to build muscle". Burning fat and achieving a "toned and lean" look is what they want, and rather than taking inspiration from the magnificent muscular women this blog is devoted to, "health-conscious celebrities such as Miranda Kerr, Kelly Brook, and Kim Kardashian" are their role models, according to the Mail.



However, I suspect this may not be the whole story. The survey did not include a question about motivation. The assertion that the rise is due to "the increase in celebrities posting results of their fitness regimes on social media and the rise of celebrities now spotted with protein shakes in their hand" is purely the opinion of a spokesman for the company that ordered the survey in the first place.



An industry professional also quoted in the article has a quite different explanation. "The number of women who are immersing themselves fully into a health and fitness lifestyle is growing. Mainly because of the greater awareness of the benefits of exercise and how it relates to everything from our social lives, food and fashion," according to the interestingly named Jéan LK, Head Trainer and owner of Timed Fitness.



Surely these theories aren't the whole truth, though. Surely at least some of these Protein Princesses have taken their "fitspiration" from the less famous and more muscular. Thankfully, it's not exclusively celebrities like Lucy Mecklenburgh and Millie Mackintosh (don't ask, I have no idea, they just happened to be mentioned in the article!) who post the results of their hard work on social media, as the majority of today's illustrations testify. And you don't have to go back very far in the FMS archive to find evidence of this. Only a couple of weeks ago we learned and reported that Emily Chorley had been inspired by images of Olya Haidner and Nicole Wilkins (see Emily Chorley: Just a Normal Person?) - surely Emily isn't the only one.



And anyway, even if women are inspired to go to the gym by the less muscular and more famous, and even if they go there with no intention of building muscle, so what? At least, they're going. And as far as I'm aware, there's no better place than the gym to get inspired to build muscle. If only 1 in every 1,000 (or fewer than that even) of the Protein Princesses end up deciding that they want to be more than just "toned and lean", then that's still a lot more female muscle in the UK than ever before.



And that, I think you will agree, is most definitely good news.

Enjoy!

Pic of the Week: Lea's Prayer

Danish sensation Lea Wiehl posted this image of her topless self seemingly caught in a moment of (topless!) prayer on her Instagram a few days ago. It's what we might call a "Forearms Bra" (rather than a "Hand Bra") pose, and what big veiny forearms they are!



And what big veiny forearms they need to be in order to cover up Lea's fully pumped pecs and extras! Don't know about you, but I am absolutely LOVING Lea's apparently manicure-free lifter's hands as well. Do you think she's praying for bigger and/or stronger muscles? Or perhaps she's dieting and needs a little extra inner strength to overcome her cravings today? Personally, I can't help but think she's asking the Lord to send her her very own eloquent, urbane, female muscle bloggin' slave...

Enjoy!

Hall of Fame #2

When FMS asked for your nominations for the (entirely imaginary) Female Muscle Lovin' Hall of Fame (see Hall of Fame #1), we thought you would suggest, as we had, particular pictures, photo sets, and clips of your personal favourite women.

But the fact of the matter is that the very first nomination we received was not for an individual, but a compulsory pose - specifically, abdominals and thigh.

And even more surprisingly, the nomination didn't come from one of our lovely regular contributors, but from a woman who has actually hit that pose on stage - a young female competitor (who wishes to remain anonymous, for obvious reasons).

So, for your viewing pleasure, gentlemen and (an apparently growing number of) ladies, FMS is proud to present, Hall of Fame #2: Abdominals and Thigh.



In response to the Michelle Baker "favorite image" post, you got me thinking about what the "trigger" pose is for me, when I hit it or see others do, she writes.



It is definitely abs/thigh. I love seeing all that thick muscle converging on a woman: definitely small firm tits with mega-erect nipples on top of thick pecs and those ultra-ripped ab ridges, deep armpits, sexy serratus.




I like BOTH the huge women in this pose, provided they don't have implants, and the smaller, younger women. Love to see the look of PRIDE on their faces. There is nothing more sexual on women than that thrust, with the nipples, armpits, and pussy just offered up as the muscles strain and push them forward.



And especially, that look of pride!!!



Well, I don't know about you, but I'm certainly looking at these pictures in a slightly different light now. "Nipples, armpits and pussy just offered up..." And I thought it was just about the abs. And thigh. Wow. I think I need a bit of quiet time...

Enjoy!

Please add to the Hall of Fame. Nominations by email to 6ft1swell@gmail.com

Swell Digs: Anastasia Papoutsaki

Greek physique sensation Anastasia Papoutsaki has been causing quite a stir on the forum boards and at FMS HQ for the best part of a year. First posted here in the middle of June (see 100 Biceps: Day 1) to no little acclaim from readers ("she has a pretty perfect bicep pec structure" was one of many comments), the time is ripe for a closer look at all the perfect parts of this stunningly beautiful former international athlete.



Her event was, at first, the 100m, but as far as we can ascertain, she had more success in the 400m and 400m hurdles, and represented Greece in international competition during 2010 and 2011. You can watch her race in (and win) a 400m heat at an international indoor meeting here. Wish more female athletes would consider making the transition to bodybuilding when they are finished with their sport, one forum poster has commented, pointing to the fact that she has made some great gains in her physique in just a few years. An FMS reader agrees: Lifting heavy, scantily clad in front of thousands... Track and field is maybe the ideal prep for female bodybuilding. 



It's definitely worked for this former athlete. She has, indeed, built a jaw-dropping physique in just a couple of years, and has already won Ms Crete and Ms Greece titles, and recently at the IFBB Amateur Olympia Europe she finished 3rd at her first international show, representing her country with distinction once again.




Absolutely stunning is what they say on the forums, with much comment about what Anastasia doesn't have as what she does. A natural beauty, she is 1,000x hotter than all the girls with the falsies, states one poster on the forum whose first rule is... Beautiful from head to toe: no ink, no implants. Very rare, says another.



She's is "outstanding", and variously described as "the most beautiful" and/or "the sexiest" woman "in the galaxy" by others. Our FMS reader was impressed by her biceps and pecs, other female muscle heads point to her "insane calves", or her "huge shoulders". We say that wherever you're looking, it's clear all those years of training for sprinting have most definitely been advantageous for the gorgeous Anastasia.



If this Greek goddess is doing it for you as much as she is doing it for us and everyone else in the female muscle lovin' brotherhood then you might want to become one of her ever-growing number of followers on her Facebook and Instagram pages. And for those of you who (like me) love an exceptionally beautiful muscular woman in contest shape being interviewed in a language you can't understand, we leave you today with Anastasia looking glorious after her 2014 win at her national championships.



Enjoy!

Media Watch II: National

As well as the stories we found in the regional media (see Media Watch I), there was also some positive UK national media for female bodybuilding. Although it was picked up by other UK and foreign-based media sources, it should come as no surprise that it should be the female-muscle-friendly Daily Mail that ran the story originally.



Also probably no surprise that the subject of the piece, curvaceous blond student nurse Sarah-Louise Hawkins, is actually a bikini competitor rather than a "bodybuilder" as you or I would understand the term, but nevertheless, in the British media, you take what you can get as far as female muscle is concerned. So I, for one, ain't complaining, especially as Sarah-Louise has definitely got a bit of a Chelsea Hagan/Alyssa Loghran vibe going on - at least in the contest pics...



At her heaviest, the petite 5' 2" [1.57m] blonde tipped the scales at 12st 2lbs [170lbs, 77kg] and was a size 16 [oh, hell, I don't know, LARGE!], the article tells us. It's a weight loss story, albeit one that ends up competing in the UKBFF North-west this year. Sarah-Louise, we learn, struggled with her weight for many many years.

I battled with these fad diets, even in school. I was always looking for that quick fix - to see the scales move, all rubbish. It has taken me years of battling to accept that I don’t have the frame to be a skinny girl and I'm not built like catwalk models. I have thick thighs, a bum and abs. I've realized that I can use these attributes to my advantage and I've built something incredible with what I was born with.



Indeed. And particularly given she only joined a gym in March 2013, and at first, by her own admission, she had a few "hiccups" with the nutrition plan her trainers had outlined for her. I decided to get into shape after the usual scenario of seeing myself in holiday pictures and going into changing rooms and just feeling absolutely awful about myself, she says. But now, 15 months later, Sarah-Louise feels rather different. My muscles are nice and full, she says, and I feel strong and powerful.



The piece couldn't be any more positive, nor could it be any clearer in its message that diets don't work (some of the more "famous" diets Sarah-Louise had followed get named and shamed in fact), while weight training and a proper nutrition plan can transform "chubby" into an impressive "burly" physique. And, the article doesn't forget to show that as a result you can consign your self-esteem issues to history. In night clubs, I like to wear dresses that show off my toned physique. However, a few men have come up to me saying I'm too masculine or that girls shouldn't look like that, says Sarah-Louise. I'm happy knowing that I've done everything to become the best version of myself now. I don’t want to be average or just like everyone else any more. Standing out in the crowd is great. I hope I can inspire and help others in the future.



And the Mail also doesn't forget to mention that Sarah-Louise has achieved all this while doing 14-hour shifts as a student nurse. Leading up to my first competition in May, I was lucky enough to be working with some incredible nurses that let me sneak off for a quick break and shovel a bit of rice and chicken in my mouth! she tells us.



At that "first competition", Sarah-Louise didn't make it into the top placings and qualify for the British Championships. But although ultimately that is where she would like to be, where the judges rank you is by no means the only way of judging your success as a bodybuilder. I had to really push myself to get up on that stage in next to nothing. I still can’t believe I achieved that, neither can the chubby child in my head still, she says. But once I was up there, I told myself, enjoy this moment!



FMS hopes that the Mail will continue its sterling efforts in the promotion of weight training for women (and the dissing of fraudulent diet plans to boot). But we also very much hope that Sarah-Louise will be enjoying the moment on stage again before long, because we will certainly be enjoying her enjoying it (really, Chelsea Hagan/Alyssa Loghran vibe, don't you think?). With her obvious dedication and her mouth-watering looks, we doubt that it will be very long before Sarah-Louise does make it to the national finals, or that with her natural thickness and curves she will make a move into a more muscular category and be extremely successful there.

I honestly think the Daily Mail may have uncovered a little future British star here.

Big thanks to Aiden for the heads up.

Enjoy!

Wings of Strength

I think there's been a misunderstanding, and I want to clear things up.

More than a few bloggers have been claiming that Jacqueline "Jay" Fuchs wants them to soap/scrub/rinse/dry her back. Well, she doesn't. It's me she wants.



Good. I feel better for that.

So much better in fact that I am prepared to show I hold no grudge whatsoever with those making misguided claims concerning the above scenario. Let's face it, Jay does have a really really wonderful back and all, exactly the kind of back you'd exchange a body part for the chance to soap up, but she isn't (thankfully) the only muscle angel with such wings of strength. And I'm not a greedy man, so to show there's no hard feelings, let's say I get to do Jay, and you can take your pick from the others...

Now, that's not such a bad deal, is it?



I mean, if I'm prepared to offer you Jill Rudison, Ms Quads Not Included herself, and all her glorious muscular detail above, you know I'm feeling generous. Jill, I'll say when she pops round for one of her bi-weekly visits to FMS HQ, Jill, I'm sorry I won't be able to check those cuts out from now on, you've had your last special massage off me, I'll say. But don't worry, [insert your name here] is going to take over, and he (or she) is quite the muscle worship artist, I'll say. And I know that he (or she) is really looking forward to getting his (or her) hands on those rhomboids of yours, I'll say.



Or how about the beautiful Russian figure competitor Olga Chestoperova? Granted, she's considerably less well-known than La Rudison, but if Olga from behind isn't rocking your boat, she was recently featured looking absolutely glorious on the mighty PumpItUp, so check that out before you ask me what else I've got on offer.



Here (left) we have another of Swell's big 2014 crushes, the recently-competed Brooke Black, in a selfie that wouldn't have looked out of place if we had posted it as part of last week's Muscle in a Dress celebration. Or if Brooke doesn't appeal (iffy reputation and all), then I'm sure the scenario on the right will. Just take a moment to put yourself in that room (behind the camera, perhaps?) and think about what happens next... And no, I don't know who they are. A Google Images search turned up "Best Guess - female muscle porn star"(!!!) which hardly narrows it down these days.



Feast your eyes on the beautiful symmetry, the insane definition, and on the big, full muscles all over the piece of female muscle art that Ayanna Carroll has created with her back. Feast your eyes as you imagine the fun you could have if tomorrow was the start of a long weekend, Ayana was in this shape, had just handed you a bottle of oil with the instruction to "use it all", and you had nothing else to do.



Ok. Some of you, I see, are still playing hardball. Well, perhaps Marthe Sundby's post-pump lat spread might make you change your mind about continuing to hold out for Jay. Look: it ain't gonna happen, pal, so give it up. I am offering you Marthe! I'd tell her to go and do her post-pump posing somewhere else. I'd tell her to go and do her post-pump posing at your place. I would do that for you, I really would.



And if you are still here, then this, I'm afraid is my final offer. Virginia, an oiled up explosion of muscle, and it's you - YOU - she wants to get top of hers undone (her fingers are a bit on the sticky side you see) so you can really get busy exploring...

Enjoy!

And a big shout out to Insane Muscle Girls for bringing the Jay pics to FMS' attention - although the ludicrous claim that Jay really wants him, rather than me, to do the soaping does detract from what is otherwise an absolutely flawless blog.

By the way, the timing of today's post, with its rather contrived title, is no coincidence. Wings of Strength (the website) should be applauded by all of us female muscle heads for their support of female bodybuilding over the last few years, and in Chicago today the latest event made possible by their sponsorship comes to a close.

Media Watch I: Local

While we, and I dare say you, dear reader, are getting more than a little excited about all the magnificent female muscle that'll be on show at this weekend's Chicago Pro, in the town of Sapri on the south-west coast of Italy, there is another contest being held.

The Italian-based International Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (IBFA) Universe will be taking place there, and includes a female bodybuilding category (as well as Fitness, "Shape", and the even less familiar "Miss Routine" and "Miss Fashion").



Representing Britain at the show (in the "Shape" category) will be a 33-year-old mother and personal trainer from Nottingham called Lisa Parker, who won the Trained Figure crown at last month's IBFA British Championships in Gateshead.

Once again, FMS is indebted to a local media source for this information, specifically the Nottingham Post, who last weekend ran a story about Lisa with the headline: Nottingham Mum and Champion Bodybuilder Shapes Up for a Universal Quest.

The article tells us, among other things, that Lisa has a two-year-old daughter, that Lisa wanted to go into bodybuilding as it was something a bit different, and that she loves getting up in front of the judges, and being picked out as one of the best.

The Post had in fact also reported the news of Lisa's qualification for the British Championships in a brief article back in April (Miss Universe Hopeful Lisa is Over the Moon) after she had won her class at an IBFA show in the south of England.

It's yet another example of a local media source doing a positive FBB story, being by far the best way for UK female muscle fans to keep up with their local muscle women - a phenomenon FMS noted first in a story about Rosanna Harte's journey to the Arnold Classic in 2013 (Rosanna Harte and Regional Love) - and with their achievements within less well-known bodybuilding federations such as the IBFA.

In just the last month, as well as Lisa's story, NABBA figure competitor Emma Gabbott appeared in the Hull Daily Mail (My Life As a Competitive Female Bodybuilder), and the Windsor, Ascot & Eton Express brought UKBFF bodyfitness champ Yoanna Zervides to the attention of its (no doubt very posh) readership.



We learn that Emma, a 39-year-old pole dancing instructor and mother of three, has been training for two years, and although she says that I never thought I'd become good enough to be able to compete, this is her first year of doing just that, and she has qualified for the NABBA Britain to be held later in the year at her very first attempt.



Yoanna, meanwhile, is 34 and has been training at a gym in Slough for a year and a half. Bodybuilding was something I had wanted to do for ages but there were never the right circumstances, she told the Express. When I finally took it up, it was a lot of hard work and I spent the first year building my body mass up as I was quite skinny.

Both articles are, as is the case with the Nottingham Post's reporting of Lisa Parker's triumphs and as is ALWAYS the case with local media and female bodybuilding in my experience, unequivocally positive about the benefits that the lifestyle brings to the women involved. Looking at Emma's stage pictures it's hard to believe she is the same person who was once overweight... [Yoanna] has been working tirelessly and so on.



And, even better, both articles mention something about the growth in the number of women in the UK who are not only hitting the weights, but are going that extra bit further and taking part in bodybuilding competitions. Lots more women are taking part in bodybuilding now and I am prepping other girls to get involved in the sport, says Yoanna Zervides, while the news from Hull is even more encouraging: Today the sport of bodybuilding is attracting women in record numbers. It can be an intimidating sport, but with thousands of women competing every year, it's one of the fasting growing athletic events in the country, the article concludes.

Very good news from the local media then. One can only hope this apparent female muscle explosion will continue to be reported so thoroughly and positively.

Our very best wishes to Lisa Parker for this weekend.

Yoanna Zervides is on Instagram.

Enjoy!