On February 25th 2004 my beautiful and loving wife of 28 years was diagnosed with breast cancer. We are both devastated. But we are hopeful that God is on our side on this one. Nothing is more important to me than my family's health...no photo shoot or female bodybuilding event...I repeat NOTHING is more important. I'm sure you all feel the same. Therefore, I have included links throughout this website in a effort to spread the word about this devastatingly brutal disease.

WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO STOP THIS KILLER!
Please click on the STOP BREAST CANCER FOR LIFE image above and help put a stop to this DESTROYER OF LIFE!

Update - My wife Arlene came through her first of 2 surgeries fine. She's strong willed and determined to beat this thing. She wanted me to thank you all for your e-mails, cards, and good thoughts. She also wanted me to get this message out to all the women visiting this site:

Do NOT be lulled into a sense of complacency because you just had a mammogram. She had a mammogram that was negative....but she found a lump a few short months later. The bottom line, a mammogram is only as good as the last one you had. The only way to be sure with mammograms is to have one EVERY MONTH! We know that's not practical and the insurance companies probably won't cover it...at least our insurance company thought I was nuts when I suggested it. Ladies, I can't stress the importance of checking yourself EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE TO BE SAFE!

*Editorial*

Internet Message Boards and Forums
Where unfortunately in some places Hate Rules

The Internet can be a wonderful place. With almost an infinite number of places to visit for entertainment and to gain information and knowledge, it may well be considered the King of Media edging out television and radio from their top positions. That being said, one must be prudent in their search for entertainment and information as "minimum standards of acceptability" do not exist, and censorship on the Internet becomes the responsibility of the person "surfing the net". The use of surfing filters and blocking mechanisms are our "last stand' against Internet hatred or otherwise unacceptable and offensive materials...but first and foremost is knowledge!

Hate is a very strong and destructive emotion. Unfortunately, it's pervasive on the Internet and there is no single solution for censoring it. In the United States, we enjoy our constitutional right of freedom of speech, and the right to free thinking. Censorship, in almost any form is not acceptable to most of us. That being said, I truly believe that "just because we may have the right to say something, doesn't mean it's the right thing to say"!

Internet Message Boards and Forums are places for people to find information on a certain subjects and share opinions and ideas. There are many such places relating to the bodybuilding industry and most at least try to have a modicum of decency and decorum. Many boards use Moderators in an effort to maintain civility while others remain un-moderated, and as such, there seems to be an "anything goes" mentality.

As this is a website whose primary focus is on the Women's side of the sport, I find it necessary to point out that there are many Message Boards and Forums who are "women friendly". This is not to say that all opinions must be positive relative to women's bodybuilding. No one should look at this sport through "rose colored glasses" and criticism can be a good thing if done responsibly. On the other side of the spectrum, unfortunately I see a need to speak out against those Message Boards and Forums, who would consciously or not, approve of, or allow its members to constantly spew vile messages of hate and disrespect towards women athletes.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest and most well known message board, Getbig, in my opinion, falls into this category. As a previous member, I found the amount of mean spirited, negative, and hate driven posts against female and male athletes to be so overwhelming, that I have asked to be removed from it's data base as I refuse to post there any longer. Getbig has gotten out of control, and the veiled attempt by the owner to rectify the situation can not be taken seriously as it appears that some of their own Moderators, by their own inaction alone, appear to not only support but in fact perpetuate the disgraceful, mean spirited, demeaning, and down right libelous remarks posted by certain members. Opinions are one thing, but women bashing and slander seem to be a favorite past time and the norm there.

I am therefore appealing to you readers and calling for a boycott of Getbig and any other forums that disparage women. I am asking that all women athletes and their supporters and fans boycott such forums until such time as they clean up their act and discipline/ban any members that continue such behavior.

There is a choice! There are other Message Boards and Forums on the Internet where this type of mean spirited behavior doesn't exist and/or is not tolerated. "Women Friendly" boards allow the women athletes, their friends and fans, to enjoy free exchange of ideas and opinions, both possitive and negative, without resorting to "low life" comments. A few that I highly recommend are of course our femuscle.org board, and: OCB boards at http://www.ocbbodybuilding.com, MuscleMayhem, and GeneX/James Cook's board.....and Tre' Scott's FemFlex forum for women/

While I still have issues with many forums, and their apparent inability to remain independent and operate autonomously without caving in to pressures from federations and/or other entities that would stifle the free dissemination of information by attempting to dictate what information a forum site should or should not allow to be posted, they do not appear to be disrespectful to women….but that is another discussion. The bottom line….don't lend your affiliation or support in terms of becoming a registered member or supporting sponsors of Getbig or any other message board or forum that permits the disparagement of women by it's members until such time as they get their acts together. Boycott them...send them emails voicing your opinion of their board. You do have a choice, and you do have a voice. Let your voice be heard loud and clear! Click here if you agree - Click here if you don't

Over 900 images from the mens and womens prejudging. Click Here

Over 3,000 images just added to the Femuscle.org Galleries.

Click Here

Catherine Zidell

Nationally know Certified Trainer and Fitness Coach Cat Zidell http://www.nshapeonline.com/about.asp

Would you like more information on "Chat with Cat" teleclasses including guidelines and general information? If so, then click HERE.

Kenny Kassel, friend, IFBB and NPC Judge, owner of Beauti-Fit Talent Agency, and long time supporter of female bodybuilders, fitness, and figure athletes, has written an article especially for femuscle.org in an effort to help aspiring entries into the modeling and entertainment business on:

HOW TO HANDLE THE HURDLES TO HOLLYWOOD

To view this article click here.

What many think is "standard" contest peaking information or methodology is sometimes the worst thing you can do. We're all different genetically and metabolically and a one-size-fits-all approach may ruin months of hard work overnight. Understanding the complex physiology in play, being able to recognize critical changes in your body and knowing how to adjust to peak perfection is pretty tough for most competitors. Luckily, it's not for Dr. Joe.

Joe's unique online consulting program allows him to work closely with clients right up to the morning of the contest. In the last 6 years, Dr. Joe "the diet doc" has helped over 50 figure and bodybuilding competitors win pro cards and his professional clients have won more than 10 titiles including several world championships.

Check out Dr. Joe....You'll be glad you did! http://www.perfectpeaking.com

Artwork provided by Mitch Foust

Used by permission

http://www.mitchfoust.com

Food for Thought....

I had a drug problem when I was young.

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.
I was drug to family reunions no matter the weather.
I was drug to the bus stop to go to school everyday.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults and teachers.
I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents.
Those drugs are still in my veins, and they affect my behavior in
everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack,
or heroin, and if today's children had this kind of drug problem,
America might be a better place.

Simply put, female bodybuilders want to be treated as equals, compete on par with the other athletes and be financially rewarded for their efforts so that they can also reach their full potential. Although change is possible, the difficult part is finding a way to work within the system to make these goals into realistic options. The only way that this will happen is through a combined individual effort of those willing to work together to produce real and lasting results that will benefit the group as a whole."