The Mass Monsters Brought It on Themselves and Other Thoughts on the New Physique Classes

Dana Linn Bailey (pictured above) made history by winning the first ever women's physique class at the NPC Junior USA Championships and now the world of bodybuilding will never be the same again.

The new Physique classes for both men and women has drawn a lot of fire from traditional bodybuilders and praise from others so I thought I would weigh in as it appears that it may gain in popularity.  I have a few observations and comments:

1. The mass monsters brought it on themselves:  For the last ten years or so or maybe longer, probably after Ronnie Coleman came out with his 3.0 version of himself (huge and freaky), the focus has not been on the trifecta of judging: Proportion, Symmetry and Size in equality but Size has superseded the other two in importance.  This is in part due to the bodybuilders wishes and that judges have allowed it.  The fact that the insiders let this go on has caused outsiders to stay away in part because they didn't see anything they liked.  The general population wants to see bodies that are appealing.  Sorry big without proportion or symmetry does not appeal to many people.  Men's bodybuilding, by focusing so much on mass, has eliminated some really good competitors in the past because of it but when we get to the women this becomes more seen.

Above is a picture of the reigning Ms. Olympia, Iris Kyle.  Now when you compare her to Dana above, I ask you which one of them is more feminine?  Which one looks more like a girl?  Iris Kyle has won for good reason given the criteria she has been judged by, I am not trying to take anything away from her, but the muscles she has developed look like men's muscles and it is because of the mass monster syndrome.  This is a far cry from the days of Cory Everson's (below) days as Ms. Olympia and because of it the popularity of women's bodybuilding has dipped:

As you can see there have been a lot of changes for women and in my humble opinion not for the better and the reaction has been to create a new class where proportion and symmetry are back in the game.  If the mass monsters had not pushed their game so hard and the judges gone along with it; it would have never happened.  It is a reaction to a takeover by the mass monsters and it is gaining steam.

2. This is supposed to be about health not big:  Ultimately the promoters of bodybuilding and fitness have always said that this is about health and being healthier.  My question is muscle obesity healthy?  When you get reports of guy so big they can hardly move, you begin to wonder.  Weight, regardless of where it is located (muscle or fat) is weight and it strains the heart.  What the characteristics of proportion and balance do is provide balance so a competitor has to work on other things besides size.  I believe flexibility and heart health should play a role and the new Physique classes take us back to the days of Jack LaLanne, Reg Park and other classic guys who we should honor as it was about health to them.

3. More options equals more participation:  What the sport of bodybuilding and fitness needs is growth and another class will do that.  One of the things that this is doing is giving more opportunity to people who would otherwise not really fit.  Dana Linn Bailey is  perfect example of this.  She is too big to place well in Figure (12th at the NPC Team Universe Championships in 2010) but she is too small to place well in women's bodybuilding.  Physique fits her very well because she has the right amount of form, symmetry and size for balance and she is not the only one in this situation.
 
While the classic bodybuilders on the men's side can gripe about it, it means that some of them can keep competing when the muscles shrink as the 'pretty boys' class can do just that.  Hey, if I could look like a men's model at age 60 and still compete in Physique, I would do it and I think a lot of other people are going to feel the same.

It ultimately equals more competitors and that means more fans.

4. Ultimately it is the fans that will decided what goes.  If people don't like it it will not be bought and it will go out of business.  For myself I am not sure about Men's Physique, but I know women's has my interest because that is the kind of muscle that I find appealing on a woman.  It is sexy muscle and that is why in women's competition, I think it will go very well.

IMHO

Musclemag International - June 2011 - Review

Musclemag International

Musclemag International's (MMI) June 2011 edition feature Ronnie Coleman on the cover.  The magazine promises to be an extreme muscle gain issue.  You know for a guy who is 'retired' from the sport of bodybuilding, Ronnie Coleman still gets some serious press.  Guess being a former 8 time Mr. Olympia will do that for you. 

Best Quote: "Bodybuilding is a tough sport because you have to do it from the time you get up until the time you go to bed, every day." - Ed Nunn (p.235)

Highlight Article: "Extreme Mass, Extremely Fast" - This article is quite long and covers every aspect of mass building from training split, rep ranges, routines and principles for individual exercises.  I am definitely going to file this one away for my next mass building cycle. (p. 120-150)

Best Regular Feature: "The Big Risk of Beach Muscle Training" - There are a lot of guy that train only for the beach muscle, this article reminds all of us that this is not only stupid from a bodybuilding point of view, it is also a health risk during training. (p73-74)

Notable Articles:
1. "Explosive Lifts for Extreme Growth" - Good article on the potential for power lifting to help the bodybuilder to achieve quicker results. (p108-118)
2. "Big Time" - Eight nutrition tips that help a bodybuilder add quality mass (p.154-162)
3. "Fix It or Forget It" - Well done article on common training errors, identifying them and fixing them (p. 240-250)

Duds: You know I looked hard but each article actually had some value to me.  Good work.

Graphic Content Review: Of the all, MMI has the best overall graphics.  They work hard not to be repetitive, their pictures are solid and colorful.  In this issue they had some great shots of the Arnold Classic and Branch Warren's victory there.  In addition, the cartoons are good and unique every week.  Really high end professional all the way around.

Eye Candy: This month MMI features Jenna Webb.  One thing Robert Kennedy has going for him is that he also produces a men's magazine called American Curves and he gets to showcase some really unique talent here in MMI because of it.  Jenna Webb probably made the camera melt on this one and Gregory James should be very proud on this shoot.  Jenna is an extremely sensual woman. (p. 198-210)

Rating: 4 stars.  Very solid as usual from MMI.  Very Solid Mass building issue.    

Flex: May 2011 - Review

The May 2011 edition of Flex Magazine features Pro Bodybuilder Kai Greene on the cover. Dubbed the Build Old-School Muscle Issue, this issue promises gains in strength, size and focuses on arms. Kai Greene sat the Arnold Classic out this year, but that does not mean he has been idle as he has his sights set on the New York Pro this year. Flex, as always if focused on the sport of Bodybuilding and does its level best at covering as many aspects of training and competition as possible.

Best Quote: "Nobody Trains for Seventh, Eighth or Tenth." - Kai Greene p 168.

Highlight Article: "The O-Men Workouts" - Covers various workouts of Five former Mr. Olympias and analyzes why they worked. Each Mr. O (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Lee Haney, Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman) is featured in one of their best body parts and then dissected as to why the workouts worked. (p 125-141)

Best Regular Feature: This month I want to highlight the NPC Report. Usually Flex has this one the back of every issue and it is a good dose of information hitting the highlights of the NPC Amateur Bodybuilding scene. It is nice to see at least one mag cover the sport's amateur side. (p.275-280)

Notable Articles:
1. A New York State of Mind: A great interview with Kai Greene. You know, I am starting to become a Greene fan, at least until he goes up against Phil Heath or Branch Warren. (p. 166-174)
2. Eat Like a Pro: You have to see this one day of diet that Phil Heath is on during the off season. I don't often say this, OMG! (p.196-205)
3. Power Circuits: A Circuit Training Workout for Bodybuilders. No kidding. (p. 180-190)

Duds:
I am not sure about this one. On the cover, there is the expression "7 Keys to the Perfect Workout". Maybe someone could point it out to me, but I couldn't find it inside the mag.

Graphic Content Review:
Solid and Varied as always from Flex. Lots of pictures and some great shots from the Arnold Classic all the way through. Flex really puts the color into things and I like that. Lots of good photos

Eye Candy:
IFBB Figure Pro Kathleen Tesori in some very good shots. This is how a bodybuilding magazine should do a photo shoot of a woman. Get one of your pros and showcase them. Playboy playmates simply look too soft and with some pros there is still some mystery to some of their parts. Not much, but some. (p. 252-258)

Rating: Four Stars. Solid in every way but nothing really says "wow!" but still good. Graphics are good and varied with tons of good shots from the Arnold Classic. Good one.

Muscular Development: May 2011 - Review

The May 2011 Issue of Muscular Development (MD) Features 8 time Mr. Olympia - Ronnie "Big Ron" Coleman. The big news for MD being that Ron has has joined team MD. Ronnie Coleman is probably the most dominate champion ever. This is a big political win for MD. In any case, the main focus is Big Ron and getting massive like Ron. Good luck.

Best Quote: "It was that continuous achievement of goals I set for myself in the weight room that gave me the confidence to set more lofty goals in my life, and eventually change my life" - Layne Norton - p.246

Highlight Article: "Legendary!" This was a great interview by Flex Wheeler of Ronnie Coleman. It focused on Ron's thoughts on his career, the industry and steroid use. Yes Ron openly admits he used. He also expresses his thought on how he feels about being with MD. Good candid close up. (p. 148-157)

Best Regular feature: 'No Juice Bodybuilding - Why be Drug Free?' - in the midst of drug use central that is MD, there is one regular feature by a Natural Bodybuilder (Layne Norton) and he addresses why he is drug free. (p. 244-246)

Notable Articles:
1. 'Mass with Class - The Texas Titan' - This is another regular feature, but I always like the respectful and yet painfully truthful way Branch Warren deals with his questions. Here is a guy I want to meet. (p314-318)
2. 'Boulder Shoulders of the Boston Mass' - Great article about Family featuring two brothers -- Jose and Tito Raymond. (p. 176-185)
3. 'Wheels of a Winner' - Great article and true advice about Leg training featuring Jay Cutler and his trainer Hany Rambod (p.160-171)

Duds:
1. Ramblin' Freak -- Although I got to give the guy credit he did do a spot on Jack Lalanne.
2. Any article on steriods or drugs becasue as a natural bodybuilder myself they are wasted ink to me.

Graphics Content Review:
Grey. It is the one word that discribes this issue. The cover is grey, most of the pages are black, white or grey. All the photos are black and white. When there is color it is red. Makes you think of Ohio State and being a Wolverine guy that sucks. Eye Candy (The Major Disctraction) is IFBB Figure Pro Justine Munro. She looks great even on a white background. In addition there is a pullout poster of Ronnie Colemman in this issue.

Rating: 3 and half stars. It is a good thing the training content of MD is great and there are so many top pros giving advice in it, becasue a lot of the other stuff is either illegal or surrounded by poor graphics. I swear this mag lives on black and white photos. They a good ones but that always makes the mag have a dark sinister feel. I think they would do better with a dark hardcore feel instead, but that means a little more color. A lot of top pros call MD home and they should get top work for joining Team MD.

Musclemag International: May 2011 - Review

Musclemag International's (MMI) May 2011 edition has as its focus getting leaned out by Summer. There is also an additional cover story about Jay Cutler's (on cover) Arm Workout that changed history and allowed him to be the four time Mr. Olympia. MMI's philosophy of eat clean, train hard and emphasizing health over size resonates with me so I will freely confess I like them the best of all the bodybuilding mags out there.

Best Quote: "I can't die; it would ruin my image" - the late Jack LaLanne (p.297)

Highlight Article: Actually there are two involved with getting lean by summer that stand out "The Ketogenic Diet" and "The Everything Cardio Guide" that fit the bill on this one. Really when getting ripped it is less about training and more about nutrition and cardio. (p. 126-146) Both articles deal with this idea.

Best Regular Feature: Joel Stubbs' column is a hit with me this week as it talks about the Big Man and nutrition. Joel being a big man himself makes this a column from someone who is there and that means authentic. He still remains my favorite of the regular pro columns. (p.262-263)

Notable Articles:
1. "Sugar Shock" - Great nutrition article on the actual effect of fruit juice in nutrition. It isn't always good. (p158-166)
2. "Workouts That Rewrote History" - great chronicling about how Jay Cutler took the throne from Ronnie Coleman and got it back from Dexter Jackson (p.238-251)
3. "Rock Your Back" - great article about Ronny Rockel's back workout. (p.104-111)

Dud: "Take the Easy Whey": I only label this one a dud because of timing as Muscle and Fitness released their supplement guide this month and to follow it two weeks later with the same stuff is a little off.

Graphics Content Review: Solid as always, although nothing really caught my eye this week as super great. The magazine is just clean and crisp with good photos and illustrations; so the challenge for them is to do something off the charts. Eye candy this month is Jacqueline Suzanne and I am fairly certain that there would be little construction going on at any site she showed up at as the men would be busy doing other things.

Rating: Four and a Quarter stars, solid work as always. I guess what I am waiting for is a wow factor that will give them something even more. I love the two sections and content being solid and timely. Graphics great as always. Every article was good as far as content although the Whey article showed poor timing.

Fasting, Bodybuilding and Fitness

Ronnie Coleman above -- former Mr. Olympia
One of the things I have been considering is how one can fast and still be engaged in bodybuilding style fitness.
Bodybuilding requires a high level nutrition -- protein, carbs at a certain level, water (lots) and supplements. Fasting devastates a bodybuilders body. Without fat to burn, the energy comes from the muscle and other organs rather than fat. The very thing your trying to build begins to shrink. Not good.

One thing to consider, bodybuilding's strict nutrition requirements are so stringent it might be considered a form of fasting -- Daniel type -- lentils (protein) and pulse (veggies) with water. Bodybuilders restrict themselves constantly in a very similar fashion.

For myself the issue is one of balancing religious practice and staying fit. it is also a question of whether or not to ratchet my own fitness training up and still maintaining a practice I have found helpful in my spiritual walk -- fasting.

If I begin to look at the nutrition requirements as a form of fasting I could be looking at killing two birds with one stone. Joining things together this way begins to let you see how God has made us a a single being.