Lianne McTavish, Isa Fontbona and I are working on a Collaboration- An Autoethnography based on the Figure * in North America / Women’s Body Fitness division in Europe and the metamorphose leading up to competition. We are discussing our body image in our extremes and then in the current situation in which we live.

This sport is not for everyone. But if you separate the body you have on stage to be judged from the body which is healthy and living everyday life, you can compete and be mentally ok.

The problem lies when women/ men / all genders try and stay contest lean all year and forever !

Isa says “ I feel bewildered because neither my body on stage nor my body after competition corresponds with who I am”

Isa is in full Off season and plans to put on more size and strength coming into her next contest. She is working on her PHD and needs to focus on her studies.

Lianne however is not stressed at all by her “new size” or shape and enjoys being strong. **she also gave birth only a few years after her contest. She has no plans to compete again. Lianne is a Professor in the History of Art, Design and Visual Culture, and has authored the book of her transformation- Feminist Figure Girl - where she explores body image, fat studies, identity politics- a new way of thinking about feminism, the female culture and the female body.

Deanna - for me I struggle. I am a Personal Trainer and value the fit-lean physical body. I have had years where I stayed lean and was stubborn. I continued to eat and train like I was pre contest- and now I am suffering the consequences of hypothalamic amenorrhea, hormone issues and chronic fatigue. I am constantly comparing my body to my leanest and wake up daily wanting to dive back into a contest prep. But I quickly remind myself I like wine and sleeping in and having hormones that allow me to ovulate! 😂 So stay tuned if you are interested in our project.

We are all aware that our bodies on stage were not sustainable nor healthy. We know it is absolutely crucial that we remember it was a day to show case our body art - and that this extreme can’t be our new normal life.

Here is a photo of the three of us on competition day.

Here is a current photo from a #LIFTANDBITCH session last week.

Both of the bodies feel strange to ME.

Are you a Physique competitor struggling with your body image? Or have you been through a body transformation and find you can't maintain it unless you are restricting food and obsessing about exercise? If the body weight you are at right now is a result of restriction, obsessive exercise, and chronic stress, then, well...this is not a natural weight for you.

Hit reply and talk to me. I am here to help.

xFitbabe