The Muscular Asian Woman - Asian Female Muscle, Physique, and Fitness - 女筋肉美

Lyen Wong on the beach

Asian Fitness Fan — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:14:54 GMT

Fitness guru Lyen Wong, who lives in Germany, has gained quite a bit of international exposure in the past year. She and her husband filmed the video below when they were in Los Angeles to do a photo shoot for Oxygen magazine.

More soon,

Links
http://www.lyenwong.com

Rebekah Kresila at Kriv Studios

Asian Fitness Fan — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:29:52 GMT

Lou Krivda, of Kriv Studios, has published some recent high-resolution photos of Rebekah Kresila. Mr Krivda mentioned that he has known Ms Kresila for around 18 years, starting when she was a student in Cleveland, where he is originally from. Ironically, he says, "I've also been a member of gyms she's belonged to over the years . . . it's funny after all this time, we finally got together for all of this muscle shoot stuff."

As you can see from the below image samples, "this muscle shoot stuff" is outstanding. You can find the complete set of photo galleries here, as well as video clips here.

More soon,

A short holiday

Asian Fitness Fan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:37:30 GMT

I will be away for a brief holiday, and will return next week. So, if you leave a comment, please be patient and it will be approved when I return. This gives loyal readers of The Muscular Asian Woman time to go vote for Natalie Minh and to comment on the Interview with Mona Liza Reyes.

More soon,

Lili's website update- posing with Tomoko Kanda

Asian Fitness Fan — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:40:51 GMT

The website of "Lili" Xin Li Cao (曹新丽) has grown-- it is worth checking out at XinLiCao.com. Lili will regularly add new content to her members' section, and she also has a generous offering of free galleries and videos.

Notably, Lili now has some video shoots online where she poses with famed Japanese bodybuilder Tomoko Kanda (神田知子). Both are in great shape. Considering that Lili is only 157 cm tall (5 feet 2 inches), she carries a lot of mass: 63+ kg (140+ pounds). She obviously has been working on her legs, and her signature biceps are as good as ever. In the videos, Ms Kanda, who is 162 cm tall (5 feet 4 inches), weighs about 68 kg (150 pounds). Watch the videos and you will know why Ms Kanda is known for her lat spread. . .

More soon,

Related items:
... "Lili" Xin Li Cao has a web site
... Back from holiday - some Cao Xin Li
... New images of Cao Xin Li (曹新丽)
... Cao Xin Li (曹新丽): it's all in a name
... Offseason training shots of Cao Xin Li (曹新丽)
... Video of Cao Xin Li (曹新丽)
... Cao Xin Li (曹新丽)

Christine Wan - premier blogger

Asian Fitness Fan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:16:02 GMT

If you haven't yet visited the blog of pro figure competitor Christine Wan, then you are missing a good time. In the "about" section, Ms Wan writes that she "worked as a bartender for fifteen years in the South Florida area and is also a certified personal trainer and photographer. She is an avid car enthusiast, fan of 80s hard rock/metal, and enjoys anything that involves creative arts."

She is also quite literary, and her blog is an entertaining mash-up of topics. Along with laughing about experiencing the annoyances of Disney World, you can see a sampling of her innovative photography, and ponder the philosophy of love (mixed with a wee bit o' sarcasm).

As far as competing, she writes:

"I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to compete at the pro level and, by golly, I will continue to do so until my ass starts to lose out to the force of nature called gravity… LOL … Besides, I have spent a small fortune on suits, some of which I haven't even worn yet!

"(Remind me to look back on this post when Im two weeks out, feeling a few clowns short of a circus, and ready to eat the dried ketchup-snot off the top of the Heinz bottle.)"

You can read more about what keeps Ms Wan in the game here.

More soon,

Newcomer Natalie Minh needs your vote

Asian Fitness Fan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:47:23 GMT

Fitness newcomer Natalie Minh (sometimes credited as Ms Tran) needs your vote in order to win W Model's "Great Health & Fitness Model Search." The winner will be featured in the August issue of the UK's Health & Fitness magazine, along with receiving the big prize: a modeling contract with W Models. W Models represents models who maintain excellent heath and fitness (Anouk Pascale is one of their models). Their motto is "Size Hero, not Size Zero."

A little more about Ms Minh...she will soon compete for the first time in the upcoming WNSO-FAME European Championships Physique competition. In addition to her fitness lifestyle, she is a Structured Finance Analyst for an international bank, working in their European Treasury Center out of Brussels, Belgium. She has a BBA degree, an MS in Finance, and an MBA, all from the University of Michigan.

Add up all of the above, and you can see why we at The Muscular Asian Woman think Ms Minh deserves your vote. Let's get her on the cover of Health & Fitness, and start updating the way Europe thinks about Asian femininity. Vist this link to see more images of Ms Minh and to register your vote: http://www.wfitnessmodels.com/profilecomp.asp?model_id=201

More soon,

Interview with Mona Liza Reyes

Asian Fitness Fan — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:35:28 GMT

This month, The Muscular Asian Woman is proud to celebrate its one-year anniversary by interviewing Mona Liza Reyes, who likes to be called, simply enough: "MO." Born in Subic Bay, Philippines, she grew up in San Jose, California, where she lives today. Standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall (158 cm), MO says cheerfully that she is "31 years young."

MAW: Welcome, MO! How did you get started in fitness? What got you into it?
MO: I lived a very inactive lifestyle that consisted of partying and frequent alcohol consumption. In 2002, I completed my first marathon. In 2003, I attended my very first bodybuilding show and was inspired by the figure competitors-- especially the 'masters' class. Around that same time, I picked up a copy of Oxygen magazine with Elaine Goodlad on the cover. It was a combination of the two that motivated me to do my very first figure show that summer in 2003.

MAW: What motivated you to do that first marathon?
MO: This is going to sound terrible, but it's the God honest truth: the first marathon I chose to run was in Honolulu in December 2002. The main reason why I chose to do it was because if I raised a certain amount of funds for a certain non-profit (the San Francisco AIDS Foundation), my airfare and hotel expenses would be covered. It was a six month training program, so by month number three, it wasn’t about the trip to Hawaii anymore-- it was about remaining committed to finish something I started. I never would've thought I'd have the desire to complete 26.2 miles on foot, but the moment I crossed that finish line, my life and my perception of it changed forever. Two years following that moment, I ran three more marathons then seriously pursued competing in the sport of figure.

MAW: Who are your role models? Why?
MO: In this sport of figure, I really look up to Elaine Goodlad. She was the pro figure that intrigued me because she is stunningly beautiful, muscular and very down to earth. I have never been 'star struck,' but I was for the first time when I saw her at the NPC California Figure Pro show in 2004. I was standing next to her and was too shy to say, "hi." Two months later, I did a photo shoot with her husband, Terry Goodlad. They were very hospitable and allowed me to stay at their house overnight. She did my make-up and shared with me her stories and struggles. She has an uncanny sense of humor, keeps it real and is very humble. Till this day, I do see her at shows and we act as if we're friends from years back.

At last year's USA, she honored me by rockin' a GO TEAM MO tank top. Definitely a highlight to my competition weekend!

MAW: How long have you been training?
MO: I started training in mid-2002. It truly became 'serious' after I went to my first bodybuilding competition in Spring 2003. I honestly didn’t think that competing in this sport would become a passion, but here I am, five years later, getting ready for my 15th show [laughing].

MAW: How did you place in your first competition?
MO: My first show was with the World Natural Bodybuilding Association. There were 13 girls and at that time, there were no height classes with that organization. I ended up placing seventh, which, for my very first show, I was very pleased with.

MAW: Which class do you compete in?
MO: Short Class: 5 feet 2 inches and under [<158 cm]. I prefer to call it the 'vertically challenged' class. ☺

MAW: Are you preparing for a contest now? Which one?
MO: YES! I have my eyes set on two-- in late June will be the Junior California, and another national show, the USA’s in Las Vegas this July.

MAW: What do you do when you are not at the gym?
MO: Every Spring, I am a volunteer coach for an awesome non-profit organization called Girls on the Run. It's a 12 week program targeting girls between 8 and 11 years old, talking about issues that face them today. Peer pressure, positive body images, and nutrition are some of the topics we cover in an environment where I also prepare them to run their first 5k race (3.1 miles). As my career, I work in Marketing and Franchise Development with a company called Blendz, a concept serving ‘healthier fast food.' I am also part of JamCoreTraining, founded by IFBB Pro Jamo Nezzar. As the face for women's fitness, I post workout training techniques that you can download onto your iPod. It's like having a personal trainer you can take with you to the gym.

MAW: I know a lot of women who would love to have you as a trainer, so the podcast sounds like a great idea. What keeps you motivated to do all of this?

MO: Several things keep me motivated. Old pictures of what I looked like before I adopted this as a lifestyle. I am truly overwhelmed of the amount of support I have received from friends, family and 'fans.' Words of encouragement and positive energy are always more than enough to lift my spirits when I have 'one of those days.' Believe me, I'm just a regular girl and there are times when I'm just tapped out of energy and am emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted. Having other Asians express their pride that I am a representation of them is truly a motivational factor, as it is an honor to be considered as role model. But, the ultimate driving force is being surrounded by friends who are also in this industry who share that desire to make our mark in this sport. IFBB pro Ray Arde has been a great source of inspiration these past couple of years. He helped prepare me for my last season in 2007.

MAW: What is your favourite body part to train?
MO: My favorite body part train would be my shoulders. I always admired round and defined shoulders. I never had them my first couple of years competing and now they're becoming developed. Exercising abs has always been a fun for me, although I don't train them often. I think because the way I train them varies so much is a lot of the reason why I do enjoy training them.

MAW: Which body part do you like training the least?
MO: It's a cross between back and legs. Back, because it's the least developed part on me, not to mention, in terms of strength, it's also my weakest. Legs, because they're a blessing and a curse. Naturally, my legs are muscular and very dominant. Bringing them down means cardio, cardio and, did I mention, cardio?

MAW: I am of the opinion that calf development tends to be penalized, with judges favouring a more tapered leg. You mentioned that you have to "bring your legs down." How do you feel this is judged in competition, and how do you think it is trending?
MO: Growing up, my calves were the body part I was most self-conscious about because they were naturally so over-developed. I guess you could say I eventually grew into them. In elementary school, the mean kids didn't call me 'man legs' for nothing [laughing]!

When I said I have to 'bring my legs down,' I referred more to the size of my quads. I am very petite in my upper body, so having a more dominant lower body makes me look less symmetrical. It really is more of an 'illusion' of what kind of package you present on stage. I don't have a tiny waist, so I have to work harder to create width in my shoulders and back to create an 'x-factor' to match my legs. I have been able to achieve that these past 2 seasons and have put on a decent amount of size in my upper body to look more proportioned with my lower body. Overall, the judges are looking for symmetry, rather than size or extreme leanness. This year, I plan to come in my best conditioning yet!

Mo in 2004		Mo in 2007

MAW: On the same vein, it is sometimes hard to tell what judges are looking for, and I know competitors had some troubles after rule changes. Is it getting easier to tell what the judges look for in a figure competition?
MO: It's definitely hard to understand what the judges are looking for. I think all figure athletes participate in this sport knowing that there really isn't a clear definition of what the judges will be rewarding. It seems to change every year. It truly is a very subjective sport. In all honesty, I don't really initiate feedback from the judges after a show, because if I train according to what he/she has told me to do, there may be a chance that what that judge is looking for may not be the same as what another judge is looking for. Bottom line-- I just continue to improve and be the best I can be. It's important for me to feel comfortable in my own skin and the only way I know how to do that is to be true to me. I guess that sounds kind of cheesy, but that’s what I've been doing since I started competing in 2003 and it hasn't failed me yet. We'll see what 2008 holds, and I have faith it will be many wonderful things-- regardless of my overall placing.

MAW: What does a typical meal look like when you are getting ready for a contest?
MO: White fish, chicken breasts, egg whites, oatmeal, sweet potato, asparagus, broccoli. Baked, broiled, grilled, or 'nuked'-- definitely nothing special. When it's contest time, it's as basic as K.I.S.S: keeping it simple, silly-- because I'm known to try to be creative with my food, which doesn't necessarily mean it's the most beneficial.

MAW: What did you mean by being "creative with your food?"
MO: When eating my egg whites as my first meal of the day, I have to throw onions in there (for flavor), red peppers, and broccoli or asparagus. I need to see bright colors in my food to trick myself into thinking it's so much greater than what it truly is. When I said 'creative,' I really meant visually creative. ☺

MAW: Do you find the dieting to be difficult?
MO: YES! To me, dieting is more difficult than training and doing cardio. Before discovering my love to compete in figure, I had (and still have) an appetite to out-eat even the hungriest of men! Being raised in the Filipino culture, I grew up with food that is deep-fried, loaded with sodium, and super fattening. Making the transition from 'normal eating' habits to one that is meticulously portioned for the sole purpose of fuel for the body was a hard one to make.

MAW: Egg whites with onion and vegetables sounds good to me! I imagine it gets repetitive, though. So, what is your favorite CHEAT FOOD?
MO: I can’t name one: PIZZA AND ICE CREAM!

MAW: What are your future goals?
MO: I've created a 'fan-base' with GO TEAM MO and would love make that brand to evolve into something bigger. Whether it’s working with getting kids healthier or training adults, I see GO TEAM MO as being a brand that the average person can relate to. Like I mention on my website, TEAM MO isn't just about me, it's about wanting to be:

• Mo’ Betta (better)
• Mo’ Healthier
• Mo’ Active
• And having Mo’ love for yourself

We'll have to see what the future holds, but regardless of where it takes me, one thing for sure, long after I have retired from competing, I will definitely be involved in the fitness industry. Who knows…maybe I can be the next Kiana Tom and instead of Flex Appeal it will be Be Mo’ Betta!

MAW: What would you say to other women who are interested in bodybuilding and fitness?
MO: DO IT! Don't be scared of getting 'bulky'-- lifting weights is great for you! If the thought crosses your mind and it's something you're curious to try, ain't nothin’ to it but to do it! It takes discipline, determination, faith and a whole lot of heart. But your reason for doing it has to be for you!

MAW: Is there anything else you would like to say?
MO: I want to say thank you to everyone for the growing support I have received through the years. To my trainer, Matt Allen, for helping me prepare for this upcoming season. Built Tuff Gym for sponsoring my training. My loving family, who never really understood this sport, but have been my number one fans from the beginning-- I love you Mom, Dad, Levi and Lola! My unofficial publicist, 'Chelle-- thank you for finding me and opening my eyes to the potential that is about to be realized. Last but not least, to my fiancé, Ronald, for sticking by my side and supporting me in this hobby I am so passionate about, 143RVP! And finally, I wouldn't be a great self-promoter if I didn't mention my websites, check out: www.GoTeamMo.com, www.JamCoreTraining.com, and www.MyFitTribe.com. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

MAW: Also, many thanks to you, MO. To say that you give an energetic interview is an understatement! Please keep us updated about your many endeavours.

More soon,

Mona Liza Reyes links:
…Go Team Mo Website
…at JamCore Training
…at MyFitTribe.com
…profile at Blendz.com
…interview with Maria Kang at Fitness Cure

Related items:
Mona Liza Reyes LIVE on the radio

Petite muscular Thai physique

Asian Fitness Fan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:57:15 GMT

Just a brief post with a must-see video-- getting strong isn't just for pro athletes. According to the information in YouTube, this petite dynamo from Thailand earned her physique from construction work, not from the gym. However, when she starts flexing biceps in the middle of the video, it is hard to believe that she hasn't sculpted her physique intentionally. She is 29 years old, 4 ft. 8 in. (142cm) tall and weighs 78 lbs (35.4Kg):

The YouTube publisher writes: "stay tuned for more video, maybe abs and legs next time?"

Many thanks to Mr David for bringing my attention to the video.

More soon,

The Arnold Classic 2008

Asian Fitness Fan — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:15:30 GMT

As usual, I am running behind. However, I still thought it would be a good idea to post the results of the 2008 Arnold Classic. Brenda Raganot won fifth place, and qualifies for the 2008 Olympia. When that contest rolls around, I promise to be a little more prompt with some coverage.

According to GeneX Hwang, around 150,000 people attended the exposition that takes place alongside the competition. Be sure and check out Mr Hwang's complete contest report with excellent photo coverage.

I greatly appreciate the readers of this humble weblog for your continued support of The Muscular Asian Woman.

Arnold Classic 2008 Results
Professional	Amateur
Ms. International Bodybuilding Overall: Iris Kyle 1) Yaxeni Oriquen* 2) Dayana Cadeau* 3) Lisa Aukland* 4) Betty Pariso* 5) Brenda Raganot* 6) Cathy Lefrancois* 7) tie: Iris Kyle 7) tie: Betty Viana-Adkins 9) Annie Rivieccio 10) Rosemary Jennings 11) Tazzie Colomb 12) Debbie Laszewski 13) Antoinette Thompson 14) Kristy Hawkins 15) Colette Nelson 16) Tracy Beckham Figure International 1) Gina Aliotti* 2) Jennifer Gates* 3) Amy Fry* 4) Chastity Sloan* 5) Sonia Adcock* 6) Paola Americo* 7) Latisha Wilder 8) tie: Catherine Anderson 8) tie: Natalie Benson 10) Kristal Richardson 11) Nicole Wilkins 12) Juliana Malacarne 13) Briana Tindall 14) Debbie Leung 15) Bernadette Galvan Fitness International 1) Kim Klein* 2) Jen Hendershott* 3) Julie Palmer* 4) Julie Lohre* 5) Tracey Greenwood* 6) Regiane da Silva* 7) Stacy Simons 8) Bethany Gainey 9) Mindi O'Brien 10) Oksana Grishina 11) Tina Durkin 12) Tanya Merryman * qualifies for 2008 Olympia	Bodybuilding Overall: Mary Carmen Gomez Segura Lightweight: 1) Joanne Stewart 2) Millie Cleveland 3) Glenda Bozet 4) Maryann Glasscock 5) Dee Lazard Middleweight: 1) Holly Nicholson 2) Alicia St. Germaine 3) Becky West 4) Carrie Simmons 5) Christy Resendes Heavyweight: 1) Mary Carmen Gomez Segura 2) Mary Lynne Mackenzie 3) Marcia Ferguson 4) Evy Rusted 5) Fie Ottosen Figure Overall: Candice Houston A Class 1) Linda Fodor-Egelstig 2) Melissa Froio 3) Lindsey Bundy 4) Kandi Allen 5) Kelli Ann Correa B Class 1) Candice Houston 2) Denise Marcus 3) Amber Hill 4) Jean Jitomir 5) Misty Schaffer C Class 1) Pamela Soper 2) Casey Jovan 3) Tina Davis 4) Daphne Bascom 5) Leah Berti D Class 1) Kristy McKinny 2) Kenda McAdams 3) Karen Kimura 4) Dixie Reynolds 5) Celeste Bonin E Class 1) Natalie Waples 2) Francisca Dennis 3) Tami Delzenero 4) Gabriela Cioban 5) Jamie Meade F Class 1) Sandy Helmig 2) Jennifer Hernandez 3) Valerie Richman 4) Jennifer Peckham 5) JoHanna DuBose Fitness Overall: Allison Ethier Short 1) Allison Ethier 2) Sylvia Tremblay 3) Megan Tennant 4) Loana Muttoni 5) Valerie Brown-Stephens Tall 1) Chantal Dicaire

Site policies for privacy and information

Asian Fitness Fan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:41:06 GMT

To be straightforward, this is the privacy policy and site policy for pages falling within the asianfitnessblog.com and asianfitnessblog.net domains as of March 7, 2008:

E-mail addresses
This site will not publish or release anyone's e-mail address without express consent. Visitors who sign up for Feedburner's e-mail delivery of blog posts through this site can see Feedburner's privacy policy here.

IP address information
Originating IP addresses of blog comments are collected as a function of the weblog software. IP addresses originating spam comments may be blocked. This site will not publish or release anyone's IP address.

Cookies
Like most pages on the web, this site makes use of cookies. Depending on your browser's settings, this site may place and read cookies on your browser, or use web beacons to collect information, in the course of ads being served on this website. You can control how your browser manages cookies. Accessing the "cookies" topic within your browser's help feature will tell you specifically how to control cookie management settings.

General decency
Outside of privacy, all comments are moderated. Comments deemed to be defaming, threatening, or otherwise indecent will not be published.

If anyone has any questions about these policies, you can send e-mail to:

asianfitnessfan
asianfitnessfan		yahoo.com

Now back to regularly scheduled programming.

Mona Liza Reyes LIVE on the radio

Asian Fitness Fan — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:03:22 GMT

Figure competitor Mona Liza Reyes sent a small note:

"I am super duper thrilled and excited to share with you I will be LIVE and on the radio on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. I would love for you to make time and tune in.

"The [radio station's] site is: www.theirishwhip.com, and I will be live and on-air at 6:00 p.m. (U.S. Pacific time) or 9:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern time). It will last for about an hour and is sure to be a candid not to mention, HUMOROUS interview. And as always, you know I will be keepin' it real.

"Log on and you can send any questions live while I’m on air and send a "shout" if you're logged on. The Irish Whip is a radio dedicated to professional Wrestling and MMA enthusiasts, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to be their very first national-level figure competitor. As always, I am truly blessed for ALL of your continued support and intend to make this my best competition year YET. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you may know who’d be interested in hearing this interview live and uncensored. And if you haven't already, please swing by and visit my website: www.goteammo.com.

"Thank you again everyone for all of your on-going love and support. I know that I am truly blessed!"

For those not able to listen live, the web site offers podcasts. I am sure it will be an interesting hour!

More soon,

Dr Courtney Mizuhara-Cheng and Kettlebells

Asian Fitness Fan — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:51:37 GMT

Apparently, the kettlebell gurus of Los Angeles are Dr Mark Cheng and his wife, Dr Courtney Mizuhara-Cheng. In case you have been out of touch with the fitness and bodybuilding community, a kettlebell is like a cannonball with a handle on it, allowing one to perform all sorts of weight training and stretching exercises, such as the the Kettlebell Kossack. "What's a Kettlebell Kossack" you ask? Good thing you asked. Dr Mizuhara-Cheng demonstrates in this video:

Don't knock it until you try it. It's difficult stuff. Visit the bottom of this page to see an image of Dr Mizuhara-Cheng swinging a 48 kg (106 pound) kettlebell named "The Beast." (By the way, Dr Mizuhara-Cheng weighs 46 kg (102 pounds).

More soon,

Krissy Chin group photo shoot

Asian Fitness Fan — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:16:06 GMT

Pro figure competitor Krissy Chin has around 20 galleries to her name in her gallery page at the ImAges of Venus site. One gallery isn't mentioned, however. Ms Chin did a shoot with Kendra Elias and Pia Marlen Johnsen, which was filed away under Ms Elias's name. If you're a Krissy Chin fan, you won't want to miss it. The image below links to the gallery.

By the way, Krissy Chin also shot a few galleries in off-season shape, something a lot of models will not do.

More soon,

The Road to Ms. Nippon

Asian Fitness Fan — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:59:02 GMT

It now looks like a retrospective, but if you haven't seen the trailer clip for "The Road to Ms. Nippon" video from Musclemedia Japan, it is worth taking a look. After the introduction, it features Shizuka Nakamura, Naoko Imamura, Ritsuko Era, Utako Mizuma, and of course, Aki Nishimoto, in the gym.

More soon,

American Gladiators open casting calls

Asian Fitness Fan — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:37:08 GMT

American Gladiators casting has contacted The Muscular Asian Woman in their wide-ranging search for muscular talent, saying:

"We will go to several different cities and would love to have the Asian bodybuilding community represented on our show."

If you (or someone you know) is:

· Athletic and fit
· Determined and competitive
· A citizen of the United States

Then you may wish to audtition for American Gladiators. Gladiators casting wants all types of women to be represented on their new show, and will soon conduct casting calls/auditions in Denver, Orlando, Austin, New York, Scottsdale and Los Angeles. If you cannot make it to those cities, a taped interview is possible. For all of the official rules, the exact locations of the open casting calls, and the application form, visit this page at NBC.com.

Lets get a muscular Asian woman on the cast, and show a whole new generation the power and beauty of the athletic Asian physique!

More soon,

Interview with bodybuilder Erika Andersson

Asian Fitness Fan — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:18:25 GMT

It's been a while since we've ran an interview at The Muscular Asian Woman, so I am happy to begin the new year interviewing the up-and-coming Swedish bodybuilder Erika Andersson.

The Muscular Asian Woman: Welcome, Erika Andersson! Where were you born?
Erika Andersson: I was born in Liberia, my mum was African and my dad came from Japan. When I was a few months old, I got adopted by the Swedish people that became my new parents.

MAW: What is your age? An optional question, of course!
Erika: I was born 1986 so today I'm 21 years old.

MAW: Where did you grow up?
Erika: When I was real little I lived in the Swedish capital Stockholm, but after some years we moved to a place called Pitea…its about 80 Swedish miles from the capial.

MAW: Where do you live now?
Erika: I have moved from Pitea to study here in Umea, Sweden.

MAW: How tall are you?
Erika: I'm 159 cm (5 ft. 2 in.).

MAW: So how did you get started in bodybuilding? What got you into it?
Erika: I have always like muscles and training. From the beginning I was a wrestler and to build some strength I started to go to the gym. That training fitted me perfectly, so after I ended my wrestler career I continued to do the weight training. The training gave good results and I decided to show some pictures in a forum here in Sweden. I got positive response on the pictures and was persuaded to do a competition, which I did.

MAW: Who are your role models? Why?
Erika: I don’t have any special role model there are so many names that I could mention. I look up to everyone who trains hard and has succeeded to get a great physique.

MAW: When did you start training? How long have you been training?
Erika: I have trained from that I was little. I have tried ice-hockey, football, wrestling and now it's bodybuilding. The gym training I started with when I was 16, and my goal was to get the best physique in the gym. I was very concentrated on this goal and trained and ate very seriously from the beginning.

MAW: When was your first competition and how did you place?
Erika: My first competition took place in October 2007… the Swedish Championship. I placed first, but I was the only one in my class because I didn't get permission to compete with the Senior instead for the Junior Class.

MAW: Which class do you compete in?
Erika: I compete in the open Junior Class but in the future I will compete in <55kg (<120 pounds).

MAW: Are you preparing for a contest now? Which one?
Erika: I have no competition planed now. I think my next goal will be the Swedish Championships 2008.

MAW: What do you do when you are not at the gym?
Erika: I'm a full time student. When I'm not at the gym or school I don't do anything special-- meet some friends and just socializing.

MAW: What do you study?
Erika: Im going to be a teacher in athletics.

MAW: Sometimes it is difficult for women who are bodybuilders because they look different and lead a different kind of lifestyle. What is the situation in Sweden about acceptance of female bodybuilding? What has your experience been like?
Erika: I have had different experiences. Some people think it looks great and are impressed of me and others dislike the 'look' and say that it looks awful with that much muscle on a woman.

MAW: What keeps you motivated?
Erika: The results I get. When my body is developing.

MAW: What is your most favorite exercise and your favorite bodypart to train?
Erika: Right now I haven't got any favorite exercise but before I loved to train chest. I wish I could say that my favorite bodypart to train is back because it's the part that must be better…

MAW: Which bodypart do you like training the least?
Erika: Sometimes I can feel that shoulders aren't so fun to train but I think every part of the body actually is fun to train because I love training.

MAW: What do you consider to be your best body part?
Erika: If you mean in muscle development I would say the arms … if you mean general, I would say the eyes.

MAW: I think that's a great answer. Ok, what is your favorite CHEAT FOOD?
Erika: I don't know if it counts as food, but I love chocolate and much of it.

MAW: I think we can consider chocolate its own food group! So, what does a typical meal look like when you are getting ready for a contest?
When I'm getting ready for contest most of my meals contain rice and a chicken fillet.

MAW: What are your future goals?
Erika: I haven't sat any special goals this year but I'm a very competitive person so I will try to take home the Swedish Championships. Besides this, my goal is to have fun and be healthy.

MAW: What would you say to other women who are interested in bodybuilding and fitness?
Erika: I will give them the tip that they can accomplish so much more than they probably think they could if they just give it a serious chance.

MAW: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Erika: I would like to thank everyone who believes in me and supports me. And also give a thank you to all the people who do great things and reach their goals in life, that motivates me and others to do the same.

MAW: Thank you so much for your time today, Erika. You certainly have an excellent bodybuilding career in front of you. Good luck with your studies, and we wish you the best at the 2008 Swedish Championships-- we'll check back with you after your win!

More soon,

Quaren is back!

Asian Fitness Fan — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:53:09 GMT

I don't know how I missed it, but I am a month late in reporting that Japanese karate instructor and muscle girl Quaren has started a blog called 可憐のブログ or "Lovely Blog". After removing her site last year, many of her fans waited anxiously to see if she would return. In an entry dated December 16, 2007, she re-introduces herself and asks to excuse the sudden closure of her old site, writing:

"Long time no see! . . . From now on we would like to release photos and blog entries from this site . . . You can now view current photos . . . maybe your impression changed a bit from one year ago, don't you think? (laughing)."

She goes on to say that she will persevere and do her best!

In a comment, her blog manager describes Quaren as having 可憐さんの筋肉美, meaning: "lovely muscular beauty." I think many of Quaren's fans would agree.

The above images are from Quaren's picture galleries. Visit her blog and photo gallery to see more. Welcome back, Quaren!

More soon,

"Lili" Xin Li Cao has a web site

Asian Fitness Fan — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:58:39 GMT

Chinese-American Bodybuilder "Lili" Xin Li Cao is in the process of publishing her web site. It looks as if she plans to have a membership section in the future. Currently, her web site links to her blog, which is occasionally updated with incredible images like this one:

Be sure to visit http://www.xinlicao.com/ and show support for Lili!

More soon,

Michelle Jin comic series

Asian Fitness Fan — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:58:22 GMT

James Cook at FTVideo has launched a series of photo-stories in the style of Tales From The Crypt shorts. Using photographs with captions underneath, a two-part segment called "The Blind Date" features bodybuilder Michelle Jin, who goes on a blind date with a man shocked to discover that Ms Jin keeps a man-eating plant in her backyard. (Risking a man-eating plant is probably worth a blind date with Ms Jin, but I have a feeling the story does not have a "happily ever after" ending.)

Even though the comic is available exclusively to FTVideo members, James has provided nine photos, now in the updated Michelle Jin Preview Gallery.

>>> Click here to go to the Michelle Jin gallery for more stills of "The Blind Date" . . . <<<

Liang Yue Yun clip - "Twins Mission"

Asian Fitness Fan — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:38:52 GMT

I received an e-mail tip that a fight clip featuring Chinese bodybuilder Liang Yue Yun (梁月云) is available. The movie has been brought to the English-speaking market as Twins Mission, and it appears Ms Liang has a brief role. Here is her moment in the spotlight:

Also, here is a video montage of Ms Liang put together by Chinese fans. She does some posing with "Lili" Xin Li Cao (just ignore the music):

More soon,