Author Archives: feministfiguregirl

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About feministfiguregirl

I am a 51-year-old professor named Lianne McTavish who receives as much satisfaction from working out at the gym as from publishing my academic research. About eight years ago, I decided to combine my two primary identities (scholar/gym rat) to create "Feminist Figure Girl," a fictional character who both analyzes and participates in bodybuilding. I competed in my first figure show in June of 2011, and then wrote a book inspired by the process, published by SUNY Press in February 2015. In this blog I will write about and consider my ongoing research on the body, while regularly making fun of myself. I recommend that you start reading my first post from August 2010 (available on the home page), instead of backwards from the most recent one, in order to get the full FFG effect.

My Life in Lists

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Updated but badly lit progress report. I am down ten pounds since my last report. I felt great training today; back to my old self.

Updated but badly lit progress report. I am down ten pounds since my last report. I felt great training today; back to my old self.

You might already know that I am a habitual and possibly obsessive list maker. I have at least three lists in my purse at any one time, as well as a master agenda for the month on my desk at home. I like to write these lists by hand as an aid to memory, but many remain in my head, constantly shuffled and reshuffled: Who is due for a dinner invitation? What provisions are currently in my kitchen? What books should I read next? What are the top five best moments of my life? Etc. Continue reading →

One Year After My Figure Show: Guest Post by PDDs

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PDDs backstage during her Figure competition in June 2012.

PDDs backstage during her Figure competition in June 2013.

At this time last year I was working towards my goal of competing in the Figure category of the 2013 ABBA Bodybuilding show. The past 11 months have been filled with many ups and downs as well as some nearly epic fails. Yet somehow, I’ve managed to succeed!

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Motherhood is Bad for Your Health: A Dialogue Between FFG and Hissy Fit

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FFG poses in a lame ass way on May 16. This is my "before" photo, as I am ready to get serious about getting back into shape.

FFG poses in a lame ass way on May 16. This is my “before” photo, taken nearly 4 months after my caesarean operation. Watch for monthly update pics as I get back into shape.

Feminist Figure Girl: Well Hissy Fit, complaining about motherhood is absolutely forbidden, especially to those who have healthy, happy infants. So are you ready to break a social taboo and piss off a lot of people?

Hissy Fit: Bring it.

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ASK A TRAINER: “Can I Lose Fat during a 20 Minute Workout?”

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zzzzzzzz lift and bitch 033Ask a Trainer Question of the month!

Hey D! I just read your last post on Lianne’s blog about belly fat. Now there is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. I had an idea for another topic, although I’m sure you already have thousands; it is something I’ve always wanted to know: “Do you need to exercise for more than 30 minutes at a time to burn fat?” There are so many different time saving exercise programs out there now, like Tabata, 20 minute interval training etc. As a busy mom, I’m intrigued by this concept of the shorter workout, but am not sure that it would actually burn fat.

Thanks D,
Vanessa

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Guys in Medicine: Guest Post by Judina

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Judina just completed her first year of medical school.

Judina just completed her first year of medical school.

Judina is currently studying medicine at the University of Alberta. She has a BA from McGill and a MA from the University of Alberta, both in art history. During the summer after completing her MA she travelled to Europe where she was overwhelmed by her preoccupation with contemporary art that explored the human body and issues of embodiment. In 2011 she returned to Edmonton, to study for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), complete the prerequisites for medical school, and apply to medical school. After interviewing at four medical schools (in a process called the multi-mini interview, which consists of 10 eight-minute-long ethical scenarios that the interviewee has two minutes to prepare for between stations), Judina began medical school at the University of Alberta in August 2013. The transition from the arts into the monolithic culture of medicine was shocking in a number of ways, particularly in terms of gender, as discussed in what follows by Judina. You can follow Judina on Twitter and Instragram @JudinaJ.

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