Powerful/T-Vixen Women Speak Up Please

Training
61

[quote]MsM wrote:
As far as the men vs women discussion, yes, there are men here that don’t like having us around or give us a hard time but so what?

It’s been my experience that the majority are beyond supportive of us and many of them make efforts to follow our logs, encourage us and offer advice. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water here. That’s about all I have to say about the gender differences.

[/quote]

I agree completely. Just ignore those who give you a hard time. The supportive ones far outweigh the jerks.

62

[quote]Christine wrote:
MsM wrote:
As far as the men vs women discussion, yes, there are men here that don’t like having us around or give us a hard time but so what? It’s been my experience that the majority are beyond supportive of us and many of them make efforts to follow our logs, encourage us and offer advice. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water here. That’s about all I have to say about the gender differences.

I agree completely. Just ignore those who give you a hard time. The supportive ones far outweigh the jerks.[/quote]

The guys were not normally the problem. It was some of the girls who just don’t get heavy lifting that were the problem. MOST of the guys are great, and yes there are a few jerks – but that is a problem everywhere, not just here.

63

[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
The arguing between the men and women on the T-Cell Alpha was because some women used it as a place to voice their complaints that there were not enough dick pictures on this site. I know it is hard to believe but that is the truth. That caused many male posters to lose respect for some of the females here.

Hey Zap,

this forum was created when the Muscle Sorority was moved completely offsite. sic, firebug, Mufasa and I were the ones that expressed our dismay and disappointment that the women’s forum was taken completely off the site.

It had nothing to do with dick pics.

We also were requesting less moderation as some of the men were having either their posts edited or deleted as being deemed too harsh for the women’s forum. So although we were seeking advice and tips and honest critiques we were getting a watered down version.

Unfortunately the rallying cry came when the TILF thread that had been in the Muscle Sorority forum was heavily moderated. That was just the tipper.

We couldn’t post deleted critiques or our own deleted posts as they were deleted.

We just wanted a forum for our training threads, our logs, our topics that wasn’t moderated to protect our female sensibilities and we wanted it on the site.

Now maybe if there had never been a woman’s forum on here it wouldn’t have been an issue in the first place. But there was a forum and was removed for a time.

Women train the same as men so perhaps we don’t need our own forum.

Perhaps we do just need a “stickied” thread for topic and interview requests.

I am sure I am not the only woman who has tried to convince a woman that she will not get musclebound if she moves off the cardio equipment.

So… I didn’t and do not have an issue with the articles. I take what I need from them. I only had issue with moderation and I suppose the way to solve that is to post any training threads in the appropriate forum.

If you want moderated and more woman interest and response, post the in the woman’s forum; if you want a less moderated response and perhaps a wider audience than post in the BB or Strength or Combat sports forum.

TC, the tech guys, and the mods have all been very responsive to our requests. EVEN if that means telling us why it isn’t possible and the reason why.

[/quote]

I posted my support for your effort to get the forums back on this site. I thought the complaints you and others made in T-Cell Alpha about the lack of dick pics on this site were ridiculous and I hope I never see that again on this site.

This site took a wrong turn for the women a while back but as far as I am concerned they fixed it. It is up to the forum members now.

64

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:

I posted my support for your effort to get the forums back on this site. I thought the complaints you and others made in T-Cell Alpha about the lack of dick pics on this site were ridiculous and I hope I never see that again on this site.

[/quote]

Weren’t those made pre T-Cell? In reflex to overmoderation of the TILFs.

I don’t think that those complaints were ever brought up in the T-Cell. I know I gave my word not to talk about it there as it is out of place.

I think the picture complaints was nonexistence of female Powerful Images.

65

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:

This site took a wrong turn for the women a while back but as far as I am concerned they fixed it. It is up to the forum members now.

[/quote]

I agree with this.

66

[quote]firebug9 wrote:
Yo Momma wrote:
firebug9 wrote:

MsM and Yo Momma,

I really don’t post my training anywhere anymore. Partly because the coach I am working with precludes me from doing so. I can post video and and the weights I am using, but as far as my training per se, no can do. :frowning: It really is not interesting reading any ways. But if it will help get this place back on track I will do so as well. It would be nice to see you posting again MsM! Missed your posts alot. (as well as G’em, proxy and a couple of others that seem to have fallen off the T-Nation list)

Your videos would be great, as they are informative and inspirational to me. Thanks.

Thanks Yo Momma. I will start posting them then. :0)[/quote]

Awesome! I’m in too:) I even have video this time.

67

My input has been requested so I’m stepping out of lurker-mode. :slight_smile: I’m not sure how much weight my opinion has since I’ve never purchased anything from Biotest (though that will change once I’m back in the US and not afraid of things not getting through Chinese customs).

The main reason I stopped posting here is that I’ve had less time this summer (travel and a logistically-complicated upcoming international move). But additionally, to echo Claire, things have just seemed to get watered down here. Many of the women whose logs I enjoyed reading stopped posting–these were mostly women stronger than me whom I found inspiring (firebug is a good example–reading her thread really illuminated what was possible and motivated me).

I am always going to feel weak and wimpy in comparison to weightlifting men, so this online community was a great resource for me while living in China and pretty much lifting alone or with men all the time. Even after a lot of the stronger women left, I was still getting something out of interacting with women who were closer to my level but it just seems that a bit of the motivation and inspiration–the fire, if you will–this place once had was weakened.

As others have indicated, I know it is partially my fault for joining the exodus (though I’m not sure what other forums you are all still posting on–maybe someone could pm me and let me know, because I might be interested in joining once I’m back in the US and have a bit more time).

I’m really looking forward to the interview with firebug and would definitely be happy to see a focus on female strength athletes on T-Nation more often. Occasional female PIs would be inspirational too. But really, I’m not unhappy with the way things stand. I get plenty of information out of the articles here as is (the T-cell Alpha has had some great info too).

The Figure Athlete side of the site is not very interesting to me because I am primarily interested in strength, not just looking hot (though hotness is a nice side-effect). The articles there do tend to have a “Glamour-esque” feeling to them, which is offputting to me. Nothing wrong with that either, obviously it is appealing to lots of other women. I have always been more comfortable hanging with the boys.

That said, I will try to contribute here a bit more often, especially once I am back in the US and looking to compete. I’m not sure where I will start–powerlifting or strongwoman? I’ve also got an interest in arm-wrestling competitions.

68

Here is who I PM’d yesterday. I included a link and asked in the subject if the had any input. I quickly gathered these names from a few threads. If anyone knows of other women who might have input could you please PM them?

AmandaSC
becbrat
BodyBldgBabe
buckeye girl
c.
cfwhite
cheeta
Court
crimson_lily
cvb
dianab
EmilyQ
firebug9
fitnesslady
GBench
g’em
Geminspector
gojira
intent
Jillybop
lifting girl
lil_azn
LucyJ
micropower
mmgalb727
mom-in-MD
MsM
myjennycdb
ouroboro_s
pch2
Plant lady
proxy
pushmepullme
RenegadeRose
reotheshy
rondastarr
Saan
sic
sluicy
supercowboi
Yo Momma

69

Yes I was PMed by Bratt… however I feel like there is CLEARLY a lot that has gone on over the last year (or more) that I was not around for… (didn’t always have as much time to spend on the forums as I do now) so I feel like I can’t exactly comment intelligently based on past events (i.e. what forums/forum sections geared towards women that USED to exist, where they went, what we have now, what it took to get what we have now, etc). That is the main reason I did not initially voice my opinion.

I am not sure if many people know me since I spend lots of time on the FA side. I am prepping for a figure competition currently… but I am quite obsessed with lifting heavy. I LOVE the aesthetic side to working out and lifting heavy, but to be completely honest, if I add an inch to my waist b/c my core has gained muscle and strength and it brings my squat and dead up… I couldn’t care less! =D

My bench is (sadly) in the 135-145 range, my squat is around 250 (belt only) and my DL is around 315 (belt only)…

So… basically I am a hybrid, I guess. I agree with many previous posts… I feel like I can read the articles (and some forums) on T-Nation and get what I need from them, read the FA articles (and some forums), get what I need from them, and I don’t feel neglected by T-Nation at all, I guess.

Like I mentioned before, I feel like there is a LOT of history here that I am not aware of… but in my experience, the guys have been welcoming and encouraging of my Vixen’s Heavy Lifts thread and I have even received kind and encouraging PM’s telling me that they are inspired by my lifts or think that I give great advice… (maybe they are trying to get in my pants… who know? PS… HAVE A BF…NOT GETTING IN MY PANTS! =D)

I wish I could add more instead of re-iterate what others have said… but I didn’t want you to think I was ignoring your request Bratt =D

Thanks for asking for my input!

70

Doh! That’s what happens when I post tired! Incomplete thoughts.

mmgal727 and anyone else on that list I sincerely apologize for not making this clear when I posted the names.

It was not at all my intent to make anyone feel or look bad or guilty. DON’T! If women don’t post here despite being PM’d they have their reasons and that is THEIR business. They should NOT be judged. Some PM’d me and some PM’d TC directly. I certainly don’t take it as rude or being ignored as it not personal. Now, if I had sent you a personal PM and you did not respond, yah, I’d be pissed.

I just wanted to make sure as many women as possible were given the opportunity to have a say and they can’t do that if they don’t know about it. That’s why I PM’d. Didn’t want people to get multiple PM’s but do want women to tell other women so I posted the list.

Again, I am truly sorry if anyone was made to feel bad, embarrassed, guilty or any other negative thing.

And, there is nothing wrong with repeating what others have said. If you agree you agree!

71

[quote]Mod Laurie wrote:
I think of Figure Athlete and T-Nation/Powerful Women as 2 separate entities…each having their own participants, plus some of us frequenting both sites for all the information that’s available on each.

The forums are what you make of them.[/quote]

That’s my take on this “issue”.

I don’t have much more to say. It’s not like they are throwing out women. We still have a place.

72

I sincerely appreciate all the advice and support I get here…
I take what I can get…they moved my thread from Muscle Sorority to the FA site, and ever since it didn’t sit right…I get lost amongst the 100 girls that are living the figure girls life…

It kinda closed me out from all the people that wouldn’t visit that site and I missed that…besides, I don’t fit in with all things modeling and make-up, lol…I’m not a PL or a bodybuilder, I just lift because I like to lift…And I didn’t know such women existed until I came here!

73

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
I sincerely appreciate all the advice and support I get here…
I take what I can get…they moved my thread from Muscle Sorority to the FA site, and ever since it didn’t sit right…I get lost amongst the 100 girls that are living the figure girls life…

It kinda closed me out from all the people that wouldn’t visit that site and I missed that…besides, I don’t fit in with all things modeling and make-up, lol…I’m not a PL or a bodybuilder, I just lift because I like to lift…And I didn’t know such women existed until I came here! [/quote]

If you want to have your thread moved to this forum, all you have to do is ask a Mod and they’ll be happy do that for you.

74

Thank you! I do have a thread here too, but if I can have the one on FA moved over here and let the other one die that would be Awesome! I think the other thread better depicts what I’ve been through over this last year!

75

This thread all happened while I was away on vacation last week and I hesitate to respond now that people have mostly said their piece and moved on. But I will…

There was a time when the only female forum was the “T-Vixen Sorority” and when I first joined there was very little training talk happening in there. It evolved into a really great forum with a lot of good topics and discussions. I “lived” there for a while (I was also house-bound with a baby and toddler and little adult interaction at the time). While there was lots of interest in physique, there was also as much or more interest in performance and strength.

Women weren’t treated with kid gloves when they posted and the lack of b/s helped me (and others, I’m sure) learn a lot and make good progress. If you asked questions, you got good responses, but if you were a dumbass, you got called on it. I loved it!

Somewhere along the way all the forums changed, then the MWA site happened and a different element came to the forefront, along with articles warning of getting bulky and the like.

I can appreciate and admire hard work, even if it’s towards a goal I don’t share, but when the site seemed to totally embrace figure girls (ka-ching!) and ignore the others, it was a little disappointing. It sounds silly, but it felt like being a “T-Vixen” changed into something I no longer wanted to be.

Some great female posters left the site and the Powerful Women forum is mostly full of logs which I personally don’t follow. I would love to see more varied topics of discussion within the forum and periodic updates from posters so I can follow people’s highlights without following their logs (maybe that’s just me, though).

It seems like maybe there is a new resurgence of like-minded women in this forum, so hopefully we can build it up again.

And regarding the Powerful Images - Gojira and I both had old threads with discussion of how motivating it is to see images of women performing and competing, not just looking good. Most of the guys agreed that they found it motivating, too.

http://www.T-Nation.com/tmagnum/readTopic.do?id=681664

http://www.T-Nation.com/tmagnum/readTopic.do?id=567804

76

ya, I’d like that if there were topics of interest posted! Why don’t you start Jilly, lol…
I follow all the girls’ logs who post in them regularly, but it would be nice to have some conversation outside of that,I agree!

77

I just spent the better part of this last hour looking through both these threads. This is my 3 year T-Nation anniversary, and these were some of the first things I remember about the Sorority.

It feels like paging through an old school yearbook, wondering “whatever happenned to so-and-so”.

Anyway, JB, you can now put some of your own strongwoman pics up on the powerful images.

78

I know what you mean, YM. I clicked on all my posts and went to the last page and worked forward. Lots of good stuff and posters I had forgotten. :slight_smile:

79

I’ve even gone back to my old log on F-Heit before!
It used to be a lot less complicated back then, huh?

80

I just got back from vacation and received the PM from Bratt to comment on the directions of things. I’ll make a list of my thoughts:

Figure Athlete: I highly admire the women on that site, but have a hard time identifying with the new “figure athlete” side of things. It takes the training back to an asthetic or looks-based goal, and I don’t identify with that. I feel it is not much better than the traditional modeling industry in how it influences young women to focus too much on their looks. We shouldn’t be encouraging future generations of girls to aspire to a look which requires breast implants. What I admire about the FA women is their tenacity in the gym and their strenght and dedication. Not their looks.

T-Nation:
Can ALSO get hung up on looks. But there is more room for people on this site that are interested in building strength.

Powerful Women on T-Nation:
I highly enjoy this forum, because I identify more with its particpants. I want to be strong, and the people’s goals on here are more lined up with that. If I look better in the process of getting in better shape, then that’s bonus, but it’s not my goal. Healthy and strong is my goal.
The biggest issue I have here is that THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SUBSCRIBERS/CONTRIBUTERS. We need to recruit more women who are interested in these types of things! I believe the forums will naturally shape themselves and other portions of T-Nation once there are more of us contributing.

So those of us that are on here, we need to get more active in creating threads that we’re interested in, and commenting on them. And then we need to find like minded women and show them this site so that our portion of it can properly grow.