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July 29, 2010, 04:41:19 pm |
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Topic: Ask Deanna (Read 20719 times)
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Deanna Panting
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Natural Born Ironager
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Hi Bob,
Today's male BBers...
well, like I said on another post in the forum, I just started back at the gym after some time away.Having not looked at or bought a BB Mag for so long I was a little surprised (no... not in a good way) when I read a couple of the mags when warming up on the bike.
Call me stupid, call me unknowledgable... but I truly could not tell them (the men) apart.
There is such an over developed mass of muscle on pretty much all (OK... for the record, I never say "never" or "all"... it's just a rule I have but in these mags it was "ALL") that the natural &, yes, genetic stucture of the physique is lost in the mix.
I am not nieve or lacking in intelligence to think that there were never "enhancements" back in the "ironage" but you knew who was whom & you could admire & critique them based on their strengths & weaknesses. I dare say now they are looking like a lump of muscle & it's not for me.
Back in my bodybuilding days, I understood what went in to getting in that kind of condition & I respected that but even then it was not my prefernce to see HUGE muscles that were out of porportion for their bone structure.
I think that is the key for me... it all should be in relation to the bone structure you are given. Someone 5'8" (IMHO) should not weigh 250lbs ripped as that is too much for the structure.
As a female BBer, in the 1985 Pro World I was 148lbs at 5'8" & 5% BF. I felt then that I could maybe have a max of 7-10lbs more muscle on me before it became "too much" for my frame & joints.
I feel the same perameters are there for men.
Deanna
deanna, what do you think of todays champion male bodybuilders?
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Deanna Panting
Former Pro Bodybuilder
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connie
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Good Morning Deanna,
Recently, I read an article which stated a better use of the treadmill to firm up/build hamstrings and glutes is to walk; increasing the incline every two minutes- walk at the highest level for 10 minutes-then decrease the incline every two minutes. Two cycles of this routine are said to increase endurance and strength.
Just wondering what your thoughts are. 
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Deanna Panting
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Natural Born Ironager
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Good morning Fitchick,
Well, in my opinion I would say the concept is good... walking or running hills does stress the glutes/hams/hip flexors/lower back but first I should say I am not the biggest fan of treadmills.
Maybe it's because I am unco-ordinated & feel like I am going to go flying off the end but I have also spent years having to run hills for track & skeleton & I know that if you can do it on an actual hill ...preferably grass or even better, sand you can get much more of a "dig" into the ground & a push off with the foot & thus a complete extension from the bottom of the foot right to the lower back. I don't think you can get that on a treadmill. I can't help but feel that would work right into the individual muscle fibres as opposed to the muscle as a block or a whole... do you see what I am trying to explain?
I believe muscles, to be complete & full & strong in a full range of motion (as I feel muscles should be) need to be trained as such.
That said, a treadmill as opposed to nothing can add to your training of these muscle groups but also consider this...
I am not really comfortable with the times stated... again, if you are training "your" muscles/bodypart (& everyone is different), a set time may be too long & then you lose effectiveness or too little & you don't complete the exhaustion of the muscle. I am a big believer in the "feel" of an exercise. You see the people in the gym doing reps by the hundreds & getting nowhere? Well they are not feeling the muscle group & getting their brain involved in it... your mind has to be "inside" each muscle group, feeling each fibre move, as it is being worked.
So... if you can, do it on an actual hill... I even think stairs are a better option if you have it. Make sure you"pull" through the ground so your flex is from the bottom of the foot all the way thru your lower back, make sure your times are based on your reaction to the exercise & not someone else's schedule for the best, tailored work out & effectiveness.
Maybe try to add something as basic as a "21"'s version of leg curls... 7reps of the first 1/2 of the movement, stopping exactly at the half point, 7 reps at the top half, then 7 full reps. If you do these strictly & keep your core/low back engaged, you may find it is a nice boost to your legs work out.
I realize I probably gave you more information than you were looking for!!  I just think if you can try to incorporate any of these concepts you will see improvement, possibly more so than the treadmill...
Feel free to ask me to clarify or any other questions you may have.
Regards,
Deanna
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Deanna Panting
Former Pro Bodybuilder
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connie
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Thanks for the detailed response. I don't think there is such a thing as too much information from someone with experience.
Yup, I do concentrate on the muscle being worked as opposed to the whole body getting involved in the move. I've had very good guidance along the way, i.e.- Joe Mullen, Dave Mastorakis and few very good books.
Also, I totally understand working the body as an individual unit and not following a pre-determined set of rules for times and/or reps. As you stated- more is not always better.
I live in Massachusetts so this treadmill workout seems like a nice variation that can be incorporated during the cold winter months.
There are two chronic injuries to deal with: a right knee injury and a buldging disc which happened when I fell down the stairs while pregnant (21 years ago). The doctor's advice was: no more running, ever; no squats, no lunges. Yeah, right. 
Again, thanks for the response and I'll use this training method outdoors until hypothermia sets in...
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connie
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Thank You Ty and Deanna-
I haven't biked in over a year. What a great suggestion. It's a wonderful time of the year to bike in New England.
Taking the time to exercise/train has taken the "sting" out of the back injury. I have zero pain or discomfort; however, I am aware of the potential for injury and take care to use strict form when working the lower body.
Thanks Again... 
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Mark Saranchuk
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"If you don't have it don't hit it"
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Hey Deanna...
Who did you admire as far as female bodybuilders are concerned when you were coming up in the sport?. And what do you think of the state of womens bodybuilding today?, since you've already given us your opinion on the men
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Deanna Panting
Global Moderator
Olympia Level
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Gender:
Posts: 1761
Natural Born Ironager
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Mark,
Well... we have talked before about Kay Baxter as she really took me under her wing & encouraged me more than I could have dreamed. I met her just after winning the Manitoba Provincial Champs (my first comp) & right away gave unselfishly of her knowledge, how politics worked (they always seemed to work against her, sadly) training/dieting tips. Kay called me her "adopted daughter" & I miss her dearly.
I have apparently had some unique experiences with some of the pro women when I would first meet them...
Rachel McLish was a lovely woman to me & carried herself elegantly. I had heard she was not always nice to people but she was a true champion when I met her.
Cory came running up to me at a show in LA that I had a poor finish (10th I think) & told me what Lee Haney said to her about me to make me feel better... it was incredibly flattering & the amazing thing was she was not at all bothered that he basically said we would be battling it out in the future... we did not as I retired before ever going head to head with Cory. I was very struck by what a generous spirit she had.
I had always heard how nice Carla Dunlap was & what a class act she was. She co-commentated the 1985 Pro Worlds (I was 4th... my first pro show) for CBC television. I was so excited when it was to be broadcast 3 weeks later & couldn't wait to watch/hear it. Well... she wasn't too complimentary about me, dismissing my leg development as just from speed skating or sprinting when I had worked so hard for it. She didn't say a positive thing until right near the end of my routine & then it was just about my posing so... I was quite crushed. NOW... that said, everyone is entitled to their opinion & she had hers, I just know I was hoping it would have been slightly more positive experience.
Mary Roberts was great to be around... I was so happy for her win in 85... she deserved it. I remember her being very funny backstage... I think it is easier to relax when you looked as good as she did that day.
Gladys Portugese & I did the media work in Toronto leading up to the '84 worlds & she was amazing to work with... not at all egotistical, she told me she had heard good things about me (I was just pro after 1 season as an amateur & I was 20 so I was pretty wide-eyed) &, well, she was a great embassador for the sport...still is. My parents even sat with hers at the comp & got along great!
I'll have to give it a little more thought as I am sure I am missing someone else that lef an impression...
The state of women's BBing... in my opinion has lost it's way & a large amount of it's audience.
I have heard the arguement about it being "body building" so packing the most amount of muscle on is the name of the game to those but I have always felt that a frame, whatever the size of frame you have been given, can only accomadate only so much muscle before you lose esthetic qualities & lines.
This is where I believe it is now. I was a bodybuilder & I respect the dedication it takes but I feel when it takes on a "freakish" look as opposed to an "ultimate human" look, you have lost the true nature of the sport itself.
And, don't get me started on the pharmaceutical aspect, I left the sport partially because I didn't agree with it & I don't care if it is an Olympic 100m runner or a local gym bodybuilder, you as a person are worth more than a few trophies & I have seen people sell their souls for less...that is all I will say about that part of my answer.
We have now officially established I can't give a short answer...
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Deanna Panting
Former Pro Bodybuilder
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Mark Saranchuk
Global Moderator
Olympia Level
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1133
"If you don't have it don't hit it"
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Thanks for the lengthy reply Deanna...that is very flattering what Lee Haney said about you, the man knew what he was talking about 
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Mark Saranchuk
Global Moderator
Olympia Level
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Gender:
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"If you don't have it don't hit it"
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No need to apologize Deanna...we'll work something out
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Deanna Panting
Global Moderator
Olympia Level
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Gender:
Posts: 1761
Natural Born Ironager
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OK now... this is a hard one (when do I get the easy questions?? )
We all agree that regardless of which discilpine, fitness, BBing, etc, the there is hard training behind all of it so they all get credit for that, I am not going to argue that point.
But if you talking about bringing the sport of women's bodybuilding around, if it is indeed even possible, that will take time & a unified effort on the part of jugdes, the federation, the mags & the websites... not sure that is possible.
What turned off a lot of people, myself included, was what I can best describe the "freak factor".
I never wanted to look like a freak walking down the street, I wanted to look like an athlete.
Back in 'the day" we attracted attention walking down the street because we looked like the ultimate human physique (that doesn't sound very humble, my apologies, I mean "we" as in bodybuilders) not mutations or a science experiments or Frankensteins.
Serge Nubret who writes on this forum is a perfect example... you can only imagine the looks he would get walking down the street... the admiration... he looked like the image little boys want to grow up & emulate... & COULD.
Mark Saranchuk (on this site as well) & I have talked about when we were at a competition in Vancouver & we walked around town & the heads that turned... but it was in a GOOD way. We all know that women's bbing was in mainstream media back then. I feel blessed to have been a part of it's "golden age" as now it doesn't seem to have a place at all.
Steve Wennerstrom & I spoke about it recently & how when Bev Francis won the Worlds over Anja Langer... the sport took a direction & set a path to today. Nothing against Bev, I don't remember even meeting the woman but I never found her physique appealing from an asthetic point of view. She was an amazing athlete but that was not the sculptural look I admired.
At the recent Canadian Championships I went to, there was maybe 2-3 women I thought were fantastic & "good" for the sport...
I think anything that ravages your body the way the sport in it's current state does now cannot be good. We always had thin faces because of the loss of bodyfat but the ravaged looks & altered bone structures scares me.
Sorry, I am not really answering you...
The fitness side looks a little too gymnatic/cheerleader-ish for me. What if you have an amazing physique but can't flip around the stage? It reminds me of the aerobics competitions they had years ago & maybe still have today, I don't know, I just know it is not able to take the place of the "old" bodybuilding comps.
The one where they wear shoes that the strippers do... well, that is not an image I think a sport should want.
To take it back to it's roots... bodybuilding roots, if it is possible & I am not convinced it is, sadly, would be:
#1 drug test, period. It's the only way to get to a more natural look.
#2 judges consistently score physiques higher that have been sculpted & honed to an aesthetic look
#3 score posing rounds again... even if it means having to have less competitors or elimation round but what I saw as posing was quite sad because it didn't count.
We had posing routines in both pre-judging & final rounds, effort & practice was put into it & the crowds LOVED it. If you expect people to pay $80 a ticket (Canadian's finals price), there needs to be a show not just bloated men & women squeezing out poses like they hurt & then walking off stage... there were maybe 3 athletes male & female that pulled that off at the competition I went to.
These 3 things would be a start. But I feel consistency is a huge aspect here... & to show consistency requires time...
we'll see.
Deanna, its been disccussed on here how to turn the mens side around, but not much how to turn the womens side around- om not convinced 'fitness' too much like gymastics, or figure- too much T and A they barely even get to move- NOT a sport IMO. Your thoughts?
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Deanna Panting
Former Pro Bodybuilder
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Mark Saranchuk
Global Moderator
Olympia Level
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1133
"If you don't have it don't hit it"
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Deanna the only one making heads turn in Vancouver was you..including mine...I think my neck is still sore
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