I'm surprised Mona Poursaleh competed in physique. Didn't she do well in bodybuilding before? I remember Lise Thexton from when I produced coverage a few years ago. She's come a good way and I think she fits in physique a lot better.
I'm surprised Mona Poursaleh competed in physique. Didn't she do well in bodybuilding before? I remember Lise Thexton from when I produced coverage a few years ago. She's come a good way and I think she fits in physique a lot better.
She did do well in BB. If I was guessing I'd say she doesn't want to play the size game that comes with FBB. I know from some of her facebook posts she was trying to bring her size down for physique. Overall I think she looked great if she brings her legs down a bit more she will be more balanced. Also needs to be mindful that the conditioning for physique is not as shreaded as FBB.Originally Posted by K-Max
Agreed with the legs. Though given how tiny the competition was in the Female Bodybuilding at the show, she could have easily smoked them. Not sure how much at the provincial and national levels though. I'd have to look at some more pics.
There seems to be an idea that it's easy for the larger FBBers to make the transition to Physique so quick and do well, but it's clearly not the case. But, I take it that the ideal physique for physique (lol) is still in flux.
She looks good. I'm still finding it hard to picture the right body for physique though.
The thing about people competing is that people shouldn't do the division in which they will necessarily place better. If that were the case 9/10 figure girls should do bodybuilding since bodybuilding is so unpopular that even a mediocre physique / figure competitor would more likely get a trophy in the bodbyuilding division.
In this case, I think she actually would fair better in the physique division than in bodybuilding at the higher level shows. I predict that she wins provincials in physique (if she's doing it) IF (and only if) she nails her conditioning. I think she's got a great shape for physique, she just needs to come in a bit tighter. Physique is all about shape, lines, symmetry, and MOST important - posing.
The girls that win physique shows are never winning because they were the 'ideal', it is more about showing what you got in a feminine, elegant manner and having decent proportions to back it up. I think Mona had by FAR the most potential out of all those girls on stage. Lise is good too, but I think there is a slight imbalance in her conditioning top to bottom which will never be favourable in the highest level shows.
EDIT: I just watched the above video and her condition is in fact pretty much where it needs to be... I only saw pics before which obviously didn't do much justice. Honestly, I'd have her winning this show. That's just me though. I just think she's just more in line with what we are sseeing at the pro shows so far - just a tiny bit too thick - but the shape is bang on.
Last edited by steve_d; 23-05-2012 at 10:31 AM.
I think you missed the context in this case. Given the competition in female bodybuilding on that day, had Mona competed in bodybuilding in the conditioning she had at provincials, she would have smoked them. That was my opinion and why I was surprised given how well she was doing before in bodybuilding.
It doesn't mean all figure competitors will have the same experience, especially those who don't have the muscularity to compete in female bodybuilding.
With that said, was the switch best for her? I don't know. Only she can determine that. And if she's happy in what's she's doing, that's all that matters. So far it's worked out.
The number of competitors in physique looks like it will be larger and the competition is sure to be tougher.
I guess the point I was trying to make was that just because she would have been more suited for bodybuilding, doesn't necessarily mean she should compete in bodybuilding. The sport is for fun mostly, and there is a big difference between bodybuilding, physique, and figure in the way the presentation rounds work. Many could cross over, but I think their is an appeal to compete in phsyique with the more feminine glamourous style poses... The poses are completely different. So I think she simply favors physique in that sense.
There are competitors more suited to other divisions in all shows (for the women in particular)... but if you like strutting your stuff, wearing heals & jewlery, doing hard poses, or open hand poses - they all determine what sport you find yourself in. I think the majority of female bodybuilders will in time make the switch or start out in physique...
I totally agree that physique is appealing to competitors who do not want to be freaky and want to project a strong feminine image on stage as compared to the softer looks of figure and bikini. Really, this should have came in sooner.
But, on a strategic level, if there's a huge dip in FBBers for a year or two, one could justify staying in Female Bodybuilding until going pro if one had a good shot at it. Then spend the time to make the adjustments then make the switch. To try to lose the muscle quick enough to fit in physique now at the amateur level, sounds anti-progressive and costly to me IMO for a larger woman after spending so many years putting on the muscle in the first place.
From a strategic level, you're best to work on getting the 'ideal' physique right away rather than turn pro now, and downsize later. The way I see it is if one must compete against smaller crowds to attain pro status then you aren't doing yourself any justice. Nor will you be ready to compete in the sport you switch over to once you get that card. Ex. if one has an easier time getting a card in bodybuilding than phsyique at the canadian national level, imagine how difficult it will be once they are going against the best of the best as a pro??
This assumes that being 'pro' isn't the only goal in mind. The reality of it is, most bodybuilders/figure/fitness/bikini competitors who attain pro status will simply need to be paying MORE money to enter shows they do not get noticed in. I'd much rather stay where my heart is and work towards a goal rather than get that goal doing something I don't want to do.
I totally understand where you're coming from though, and the reality of it is - you're probably right. Most people want that 'pro' status under their belt, even if it means getting it in the sport they don't have their heart set for.
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