Often accused of being witless meatheads, hard-core bodybuilders can experience varying reactions from outsiders ranging from admiration to animosity.  A confession would be appropriate here:  before I started in the sport of bodybuilding, I mistakenly assumed that bodybuilders were vain, mindless creatures.  That harsh statement was proven to be utterly false once I began training to compete in Figure.

Yes, I am a woman who enjoys the sport of bodybuilding and figure competition.  This realm of athleticism is usually intimidating for my gender, yet I have ventured into this zone with no regrets.  Ever since I was a young girl, I have always thrived on competing with the boys in their sports.  Some might think this ironic, as one would have called me a "girly-girl," too.

There is something very intriguing when a woman begins lifting heavy in the gym.  For some reason, the men begin to notice her, finding her a bit mysterious.  Whenever I am privileged to meet other hardcore women (like RX Girls), we connect on the plane of mutual respect.  As a woman, it is more challenging to gain lean muscle than it is for our male counterparts.  For me, that is what makes bodybuilding and weight training most seductive.  Who does not love a challenge?  Graduating from knee push-ups to several sets of military-style push-ups was a significant triumph.   I can recall with a bit of pride the first day I could perform 10 body-weight pull-ups. Now that I can lift more weight than most guys, I am asked to spot the meatheads on max bench presses.

After six months of hard training, I discovered that those male buff bodybuilders were extremely disciplined men.  My respect for masters of physique recreation grew as I studied their training methods.  Strict nutrition habits characterize each and every meal consumed. Food is viewed as fuel. Bodybuilding becomes a lifestyle, not only a workout regimen.  Passionate exertion, huffing after that last rep, and grunting noisily through that last drop set, distinguish the serious bodybuilders from the rest of the pack.

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