Is bigger best in women's bodybuilding ?

[Steve Wennerstrom]

I think some readers are wrongly assuming that the article I wrote was inclusive about the size of women competing. Clearly, I thought, I was only referring to the NPC Nationals heavyweight class from 1990 to 2011. Since I had that information (and I assume no one else does), I thought it would be of interest. Guess you can't please everyone. I was merely pointing out the statistics as they existed. What's that old saying, "Don't shoot the messenger".

As an example of other women who were over the 180 mark, Washington's Anna Marie Onesti won the 1999 NPC Emerald Cup HW and overall titles at 5-ll, 191 pounds. In my interview with her after the contest she said she would normally go up to about 212 pounds in the off-season. There are many more examples........

[Steve Wennerstrom]

Speaking of statistics as they relate to the heavyweight class, most everyone would agree that the weights of competitors can fluctuate dramatically over time - either by adding muscle to enhance the overall look of a physique, or to reduce the bodyweight in order to compete in a smaller weight class. But when it comes to consistency of bodyweight over a competitive career at the national level, no one comes close to Lora Ottenad during her years as an amateur. Her affair with the scale was truly remarkable.
In the decade from 1996 when she first competed at the NPC USA to the 2006 NPC Nationals where she won the HW and overall titles to earn her pro status, Lora's official weights at the events she entered were crazy close.
At the 1996 NPC USA Lora placed 11th at a weight of 169 pounds. It was her first entry at the national level. She returned to the USA four years later in 2000 at 169 pounds and finished FIRST in the HW class but missed the overall title. In 2001 she again entered the USA, and again weighed 169 pounds only to finish NINTH! In 2003 Lora upped her weight to 175 which earned her a fourth-place finish.
During the same basic time frame, Lora's entries at the NPC Nationals were far less rollercoaster-like , but her bodyweights were nonetheless extremely close from year to year. In 2000 she finished second at a weight of 170 pounds. She returned in 2003 to place third at 170 3/4. In 2004 she again placed second weighing 172. In 2005 she dropped down to 169 pounds and placed fifth. But in 2006 all the stars were aligned and at 170 pounds she won the HW and overall titles to reach the pro ranks. So, from her first national-level entry in 1996 (weighing 169) to her overall victory at the Nationals in 2006 (weighing 170), the difference in her bodyweight through the decade was ONE POUND!

[dbmneto]

After these photos, yes, bigger is better!

[Steve Wennerstrom]

Refer to post #17

[JUSTINIAN]

For women better is better NOT bigger.

[Steve Wennerstrom]

^ Huh?

[K-Max]

I pretty much agree with the notion that the look/aesthetic is really what makes it better. I mean, I'm pretty sure that if a female bodybuilder came in at 200 lbs at a show and looked completely feminine and had quality muscle and conditioning, she'd win. But, we know that's still far from being reality (and if that were the case, in that future where a FBB weighing 200 lbs winning shows was common, the biggest would probably be even higher. lol)