Homemade bars are entirely customizable, and so easy to make that you’ll be making a different batch every Sunday for snacks throughout the week. You can add any variety of nuts and fruit, play around with different types of grains, like quinoa or puffed rice, and different kinds of natural sweeteners.
Read MoreSetting realistic fitness goals for women can be so hard. Especially when we see these daily media images of fit, tanned, amazing looking fitness models, like chiseled goddesses in some comic book scene.
Read MoreAs GORGOGIRLS, we are warriors and strong, however we also know how to listen to our bodies signs of pain or imbalances. Let’s make this year about building the foundations in our bodies to prevent injury from occurring so we can live our most powerful life, without having to live with pain.
Read MoreBy Valerie Solomon, CEO GORGO Women's Fitness Magazine and BusyMomGetsFit.com
“Know from whence you came. If you know from whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” –James Baldwin
My love for strength training, the sport of bodybuilding, and my quest to learn the history of it led me to the book “Pumping Iron II: The Unprecedented Woman.” When I came across the name “Doris Barrilleaux” several times as a key player in the start of the sport, I knew I had to find her.
After we emailed and I dug into her autobiography, I had this gut feeling that I needed to go see her. I asked for an hour, and Doris, then 82 years old, offered a few days. That weekend will go down as one of my favorites (ever!).
There is something weaved through the fabric of Doris Barrilleaux that is weaved through millions of women…and most likely weaved through our Spartan Queen, Gorgo. Strong women with a desire to live and do things a little bigger than their stature might lead you to believe is possible are nothing new. We’ve always been around.
a self portrait doris took on her 82nd birthday (august 2013)
We are not the first generation to discover the power of the barbell.
I experienced her remarkable energy first hand (often noted in articles about Doris). Doris has always been the type of woman that can do it all and that hasn’t changed one bit. She is confident, empowered, strong, and seems not a day over 62. She has a deep passion for women’s equality and is quite annoyed by images of helpless women in real life or media. You could call her a Feminist. “Not the man hating kind” she says with a laugh, “I only hate a few of them...just a few of those that were determined to control the women's sport from the very beginning”
Doris raised a family, worked as a flight attendant, became a successful photographer, pioneered women’s bodybuilding and worked hard for female control of it. She also put a tremendous amount of energy into spreading the news of the sport as well as promoting the benefits of strength training to the masses.
Doris is called “the First Lady of Body Building” for her tireless work spearheading the movement to make women’s bodybuilding competitions a reality, but I’ve also dubbed her “the Original Busy Mom Gets Fit”. Doris is an amazing example of what a healthy and active lifestyle looks like at 82.
I think so often we, as modern women, feel like our struggles are unique to us. We are trying to raise a gaggle of children, maintain our passion for fitness, keep our families running smoothly, work, support our husbands in their work, go after our crazy dreams, and deal with life’s challenges. This is Doris’ story too… 50+ years ago.
IMAge denied by s&h magazine for being "too masculine"
In 1956, after her 4th (of 5) child was born, Doris was dissatisfied with her post-baby body and took the advice found in men’s magazines to strength train. She taught herself to lift weights on her own by reading Strength & Health magazine. Doris was thrilled with the results of her efforts.
“This improved my health and looks to such a great extent, that I wanted to get this message out to all women. But I was just a grandmother and homemaker and had no way to spread this news. I corresponded with Vera Christensen who had a Women’s Column in Strength & Health and my first picture was published in 1963 (after they denied her first submission for it being too masculine!).”
Doris has kept fitness a part of her life to this day. At 82, she swims, rides her bike daily, does floor exercises, and works very hard in her river-front yard. Doris laughs about her daughter once saying, "Mama, why don't you sit back and grow old gracefully?" (The same daughter now spends hours in the gym everyday!)
Life hasn’t been easy for Doris. She lost a son in a motorcycle accident, lost another son to AIDS, and has spent many years as a single woman after divorce.
Doris says, “Life is what you make of it,” and she has certainly made an inspiring life.
Doris has always had an appreciation for a well-developed physique (she says that started with her love of Tarzan as a child), so when she began a photography hobby, it naturally led her to men’s bodybuilding competitions. She was often asked to give out the trophies at these competitions because she looked so great.
“I could not understand why only men were recognized for being in good shape.”
So in June of 1978 at the age of 46, with just three weeks of preparation and some encouragement from friends, Doris entered what was billed as The First National Physique Championship, at the YMCA in Canton, Ohio.
“I was terrified. I had never been on stage in front of an audience, except to award trophies. Henry Magee, who organized the contest, made a gallant attempt, but there was utter chaos. He sat on the judge’s table, and told the judges what to look for. We were required to wear sweat pants to judge our upper bodies, and then sweat shirts to judge our legs. I deliberately chose the music, “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy to stress that I was not attempting to look like a man. The lyrics fit perfectly. In my class, the winner was 22 years old, second place 17, and I was 46. Upon my return home, my photo was published in the Tampa Tribune. I was invited to guest pose the following month at the Mr. Southeastern and Mr. Tampa competitions. Suzanne Kosak approached me backstage, and asked why we couldn’t have something like that for women. The rest is history.”
The first national physique championship, 1978, canton, ohio
Doris barrilleaux and granddaughters guest posing in 1980
Frank Zane, a famous Mr. Olympia, told her, “Doris, the world’s not ready for women bodybuilders.”
Doris says, “Maybe it wasn’t another 'scorn', but definitely a challenge.” She felt the world was ready for her vision of bodybuilding for women. In October, with Suzanne Kosak and Linda Gleason, she formed The Superior Physique Association (SPA).
The SPA organized the first real women’s competition on April 29, 1979, in Brandon, Florida. There were 13 competitors. After that, Doris successfully played a primary roll in spreading the sport across the world. Femininity was at the forefront of her vision.
Doris says that from the very start, there was controversy over women’s development. Many of the men argued that as a sport, there should be no limit to the women’s size.
“As it was, I was struggling to promote even the idea. As a woman, I knew that most women had no desire to look identical to the male bodybuilders.”
“In my eyes, this was supposed to represent a healthy lifestyle. One of my goals in starting the sport was to recognize women as healthy and fit.”
The ideal physique Doris envisioned for the pinnacle of women’s bodybuilding is much different than the steroid enhanced bodybuilding champions today.
DOris as ifbb head judbge at the 1981 ms. olympia
“While I cherish the title 'First Lady of Bodybuilding', the steroids caused me to feel uneasy thinking that people blamed me for women trying to look like men. That was never in my wildest dreams but maybe what Frank Zane could see happening. I didn’t.”
Doris’ vision for women’s bodybuilding was decades ahead of those also making decisions in the sport at the time. Doris called her contests “Physique” not "Bodybuilding" to set a clear distinction between the men and women’s sport ideals. But says, somehow that changed at the very beginning. She saw a need for different classes for women to compete in so that there was a place for women aiming for different builds.
“I opted for splitting into two classes, Body Sculpture and Bodybuilding. No one listened.”
Now the sport has many classes: Bodybuilding, Physique (Doris says, “What took them so long?!”), Fitness, Figure, and Bikini.
The original Miss Olympia had a much different build than modern Miss Olympias. The 1980 Miss Olympia would more closely compare to the Miss Figure Olympia now.
Rachel mcLish wins 1980 Ms. Olympia
Bodybuilding Competitors Today
"When Ben Weider asked me to form the American Federation of Women Bodybuilders, we often spoke on the phone several times a day. I remember that one of his favorite sayings was “When you want something done, give it to a busy person,” and he was right. Up to this point, the National Physique Committee governed the men’s amateur competitions, and the women were not recognized. Therefore, I welcomed Ben Weider’s request to form the AFWB for the amateur women’s competitions. When the AFWB had spread throughout the United States with a significant bank account ($30,000) in 1983, I was shocked when Ben told me that it was suddenly illegal to have two national federations, although it was upon his instruction that we all worked so hard forming this women’s federation. The AFWB was absorbed by the NPC, along with our funds. One of the officials told me, “We’ve got the only game in town; you play it our way or else you don’t play.” After 1984, I was no longer involved with the evolution of the sport that I worked so hard to establish. It was most likely because I always stood my ground."
Doris continued to be involved with the sport in some capacity for many years. She photographed bodybuilders, wrote many articles and a book “Forever Fit”, and traveled the world doing so. She had many of her images on covers nationally and internationally.
In 2011, Doris was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame at the Arnold Sports Festival for playing such an important role in pioneering women’s bodybuilding. Arnold Schwarzenegger said to her, “YOU DESERVE IT!”
“I’d devoted 34 years of my life to the formation and promotion of women’s bodybuilding, and photographing the competitors. Although I am still constantly surrounded by it, I’d been out of the mainstream for seven years so this came as a shock. Here I was being recognized with my peers and friends, eight time Mr. Olympia, Lee Haney, and eight time Miss Olympia, Lenda Murray, and other well known fitness celebrities. What a perfect way to end a long career!”
Doris envisioned a sport in which women were recognized for being in superior ‘natural’ shape and still very feminine. She envisioned a respected sport in which women were recognized for being strong and healthy women. Many times in her autobiography she says things like “the men took over” or that was the “man's version”. The quest for bigger and the over sexualized poses in some classes… are these what women want for their sport? She saw the sport as art and one that symmetry and aesthetics were awarded, not merely size or sexiness.
Is Doris’ vision for the sport your own vision? Are there any advocates out there for the woman athlete or is it all about money?
“Know from whence you came. If you know from whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” –James Baldwin
We came from a mother of five with a passion for telling the world about the healthful benefits of strength training and a fit lifestyle. We came from a woman that wanted healthy and fit women to be recognized in a sport that celebrated the art of the developed female form.
Love Doris? Here is an extensive interview you may like.
"The First Lady of Bodybuilding"
Founder of Women's Bodybuilding
"She is my inspiration an amazing woman. She simply wanted for women to have some say in their own sport (which was female bodybuilding). She kept a group of us going into a direction of gaining a voice. It was just a hand full of us, and believe me, we took some beatings, but we were determined and kept pushing. Doris, was the person to go to. What a lot of people may not know is underneath that tough " kick butt " attitude is a lady with a heart as big as all out doors. She feels for others, and she's what I would call A freedom fighter. The woman can get more done in one day then some of us can do in 3. Like me, she can't stand bullies and she tries to do something about it. She's sassy as hell and a proud woman. She's consistent and steadfast in her efforts. I joked with Joe Weider when I would refer to her as momma bear (he would so laugh); he simply knew that I looked up to her. I never thought she got all the love and honors that she SO deserved. I remember having to call to vent and not one time did she not make time for me. She reminds me a little of Gloria Steinem, a little of Mother Theresa, a little bit of Arnold and a whole lot of woman. For she is LOVED." -Rosemary Campbell, AFWB's PR, Virginia's State Representative
"Doris was an ambassador for the sport of women's Bodybuilding.The pioneers of women's BB were the first and it started with Doris." Georgia (Fudge) Acosta
Are you a #GORGOgirl ?
Valerie is the Editor of GORGO Women's Fitness Magazine and is Busy Mom Gets Fit. Valerie is the mother of four boys and is a military wife. She has a passion for empowering women and a deep, burning desire to better herself and the world through health.
Seeking this balance truly illustrates Natalie and who she really is. “I don't feel that I need a label to "be" exactly just one thing. I’m not a competitor, even though I have and will compete again. I'm not a boxer, even though I do boxing. I'm not a runner, even though I run. I'm a mom first but that is not all... I'm a little bit of everything and that makes me complete.”
Read MoreThe legacy of Queen Gorgo and the Spartan women gives a voice to the everyday woman who desires to make her presence known beyond being an object of desire. Gorgo is a symbol for women who seek to empower others through her words and actions and strengthen their bodies because it is an expression of love for themselves.
Read MoreIf you’re anything like me, you’re often on-the-go, traveling, and squeezing every little inch out of the warm weather. If there is a small downside to all of this bouncing around, it’s the challenge of eating healthy while traveling. Restaurants, plane-rides, road-trips, airports, hotel rooms or tents, unfamiliar destinations… what, where, and how do you eat to feel great and stay on track with your goals?!
Read MoreThere is a SERIOUS need for modern, fun, and intelligent post-natal fitness! I went to multiple postpartum fitness classes with various instructors as I try to get rid of my muffin top and third love handle. While some of them were good, there were one too many classes I went to that did not address the needs of new Moms.
Read MoreThe unfortunate fact of the matter is that some of those "inspiring" physiques you see online have been achieved by using performance-enhancing drugs. While the scope of this article is not to pass judgment on the morals of using those drugs, it is important to always keep in mind why you were inspired in the first place.
Read MoreResearch has found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to
decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and
improve self-esteem. About five minutes of aerobic exercise can begin to stimulate anti-
anxiety effects.
Krista’s goals as a fitness mentor mirror the ones she has for herself; to find happiness, and to appropriately respond to challenges. The metaphorical equivalent of finding a window to climb through, when it seems like a door has been shut, and finding a little healthy self-improvement along with your self-acceptance.
Read MoreIf you ask Lindsey Demetro what keeps her strong from day to day, she’ll tell you it’s through her faith, family, friends and fitness. Aspects that have always been important to her… but have taken on a whole new, deeper meaning for her in recent years. Lindsey shares her story of love, loss, learning to heal and finding a new normal…
Read MoreTo look at Erin today and listen to her well-rounded message, you’d never guess that she arrived at this place of balance through a hard-fought battle...against herself.
Read MoreYou train hard. You’ve lost weight. You’ve transformed your body through persistence and consistency. Yet one thing won’t change regardless of your efforts. Your BOOBS!!
Read MoreAre you mentally and physically feeling sluggish? Is it hard to get through the day without taking a 3 pm vending machine candy break? The culprit could be one of the popular foods below.
Read MoreBy Jill Farr
Natasha Hopkins was in probably the best shape of her life, training for a figure competition, when an auto collision derailed her fitness track and put several aspects of her life on hold.
The carpal bones--the one that allow for full functionality in your wrist--were broken in Natasha’s right hand, and her recovery has been a process.
“The surgeon said mine was the worst he’d ever seen,” Natasha says of her injuries. “Steel rods were placed in my hand to allow it to repair properly--I just had the surgery to remove them, 12 weeks after the wreck. Now I’m looking at extensive physical therapy, to get as much range of motion back as I can.”
Needless to say, the weight lifting inherent in preparing for a figure competition became impossible, and Natasha went from being in peak condition to recovery mode.
“I literally couldn’t do anything for the first 9 weeks,” Natasha says. “I knew my body couldn’t do it.”
Natasha learned to focus more on other fitness facets, while her physical activity was limited, in order to hold on to health gains. “I have learned so much,” she says, “I’ve had difficulties that have challenged me, because I went from prep mode to nothing. I bloated up 20 pounds almost right away, after being the leanest I’d ever been when the accident happened.”
“Nutrition has been huge for me during this time.”
In addition to putting more focus on her eating, Natasha has taken baby steps to get back to training--with respect to what her body can handle.
“I’ve been to the gym a couple of times,” she says, “Mostly just doing leg stuff, but a lot of it is mental. I can’t lift at the same rate, but I’m starting to get back. I was ramping up, but having surgery again, to remove the pins, set me back again.”
In addition to her figure competition aspirations, Natasha does personal training--a passion born from another challenging time in her life, when she struggled with postpartum depression.
“I haven’t always been fit,” Natasha admits. “But I’m small, a more petite person--I’ve never had to deal with being overweight. I was “skinny fat’ when I was younger, though.”
“Fitness and health came to me when I became pregnant. That triggered me--I wanted my baby to be healthy, I wanted to be healthy. I’d also gained a lot of weight and I had terrible postpartum depression.”
“The fog finally lifted--it took a few years--but after my second son was born, my doctor said, “You’re going to have to take medication, or exercise.” That’s when I got passionate about it...it was my response to postpartum depression. I was doing a great job with the kids--breastfeeding, feeding them good food--but I wasn’t taking good care of me.”
“Shortly after my second child, we moved to England, and my husband (who is in the military) was deployed….I just turned to exercise. It became my drug, literally.”
A benefit for education for military spouses prompted her to look into the requirements for becoming a personal trainer, since it dovetailed with her personal fitness pursuits.
“I signed up for training and finished it without having any real intention of doing anything in particular with it,” Natasha says, “It just sort of happened, and grew.”
“Because I was already small, and didn’t really need to lose weight--fitness for me has been mental. It’s about developing a mindset. It’s not just about grinding it out at the gym, it’s about finding yourself. Sometimes I think that’s the most challenging part--clients think “I want to look a certain way” and I feel like, “No, you have to know yourself. You won’t follow through if you don’t learn that.” You have to learn how to help people dig deep and deal with things they may not want to deal with. I don’t believe I wanted to know how badly postpartum depression had affected me, but once I saw, I could address it.”
While she knows that the day is coming when she can get back to the gym, Natasha understands that physical recovery is a process, and the trauma she suffered may have long lasting effects that will change how she trains.
“I have no flexion,” Natasha says of her injuries, “And I have a ton of scar tissue. I’ll never have full range of motion in it again, but the goal (of physical therapy) is to get me as close as possible. I’ve been told that I’ll never be 100 % again.”
“I’ll have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome...sometimes the body doesn’t allow blood to flow to heal, and the actual bone itself can die. There’s no way to predict.”
When asked how she handles the uncertainty, Natasha points back to the lessons that physical challenge can provide for mental strength, and encourages other women facing setbacks--both mental and physical--to not only dig deep...but reach out, as well.
“Reach out,” Natasha says. “To the people that you know motivate you--don’t give up on yourself. There’s a reason for everything, and you always have the choice to come out stronger. I have a coach, and I reached out to her, and she’s been instrumental in my healing, even though there remains a long, long way to go. It’s hard for me--I tend to be one of those people that don’t open up, but you have to be vulnerable...it allows people to help.”
MEET MELISSA CLARK:
I always thought I had a path. However, my life didn't go the way I planned... but that was OK. The course of events in my life brought me to where I am today, allowing me to learn life lessons through various personal and professional experiences and avenues.
Read MoreMeet Christie Vandendries: "Like many women, I’ve traversed the fitness pendulum being the endless cardio queen to a strong, empowered weightlifting woman."
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