Over the last year or so, I’ve had the privilege of knowing several people who are intimately connected with female figure, fitness, and bodybuilding. I have also consulted with one or two national level fitness competitors, as well as a couple of national level female bodybuilders, as well as some figure competitors. I wanted this […]
Women and Steroids
Testosterone for Women: Waiting for the Female Aphrodisiac
In December 2004 a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs refused to recommend Procter & Gamble’s Intrinsa testosterone patch for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in surgically menopausal women whose ovaries had been removed. The FDA panel found that administering testosterone to these patients would produce an average of one […]
The Weighting Game
I have been an athlete all my life, having participated in everything from basketball to figure skating, but focused on volleyball and rugby as a York U Varsity athlete. Sport wasn’t just something I did, it represented who I was and, more importantly, what I wanted to become. I first started training with weights after […]
Female Bodybuilders and the Feminine Mystique – Where Bev Francis meets Betty Friedan
Will there ever come a day where women become separated from how the world views their bodies or are they destined to forever be defined by them? The female physique is a constant topic of debate between those intent on controlling it and those who wish to be freed from its constraints. Female bodybuilders pose […]
The Language of the Female Physique
The female physique continues to be a constant topic of debate between those intent on controlling it and those who wish to be freed from its constraints, as women strive to become separated from how the world views their bodies. A woman’s gender role requires the strict adherence to the ideal female form judged by […]
Introduction to Hormone Replacement Therapy Part 2 – Hormone Balancing for Women
Many post-menopausal women in the United States are on some sort of hormone replacement therapy program. However, I believe that hormone replacement therapy the way it is commonly done may cause more harm than good for many women. I prefer to use a personalized, case-by-case approach for my female patients with the goal to restore […]
Should Women Train Like Men?
The answer to that question is yes and no. This column will explain the reasons why. For generations women have been perceived as being the weaker sex. But it is simply not true. Strength and speed are not a monopoly of the male gender. Women and men have the same capability to develop strength and […]
What Overweight Women can Learn from Bodybuilders
Probably bodybuilders are the last group of people most overweight women would think of asking for advice on how to transform their bodies. Why? To put it bluntly, most women don’t want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in drag. However, observing the habits, training, and eating patterns of bodybuilders can work wonders for women and […]
Planet Estrogen Part 3: The Menstrual Cycle and Athletic Performance
While the participation of women in sports has increased significantly over the last several decades, research of women in sports has lagged behind that of men. This is particularly true in matters related to reproduction and menstruation. Up until even recent years, women were cautioned not to partake in sports while pregnant or during menstruation […]
Steroid Use and Women’s Health – An interview with selected medical practitioners (Part 2)
Question:How does AS cycle length correlate with symptom development of endocrine dysfunction (see above)? How does the duration of use compare with cycles commonly used by male athletes? Dr. A:The duration is usually less and the amount less depending on the sport. The longer [the duration] the worse the side effects if you are going […]