I have posted on here about my boxing hobby, so a lot of people are aware that I am a boxer. But many are surprised to learn that I am a superheavyweight boxer (203+ lbs.).

All points of the gender spectrum are accosted with body image expectations. As a woman, I am told to be 120 lbs or less, not a muscle to be seen, and to have the appearance of someone who is fragile and nearly helpless. And yet, I receive compliments on my figure from people who probably have no clue how far from the "ideal" feminine caricature I really am.



This is what 211 pounds at 5' 5" looks like. It took me a long time to accept that this is okay. I'm healthy, I'm fit, and I'm happy. But if I were to listen to conventional body image expectations, I'm about 90 pounds overweight and way too muscular.



Not posing to display muscle, I don't look crazily muscular. Standing at ease, not intentionally displaying muscles, there's nothing about my body that I need to feel self conscious about. I spent several years worrying about my arms, my shoulders, etc., and whether or not they were too big and too muscular. I worried that people saw some kind of freak when they looked at me.

Strangely enough, it was boxing that helped me get past those anxieties. There aren't a lot of women boxers, but most of the high profile ones are rather muscular. It was seeing some images of Danielle Perkins (2018 amateur world champion, now an undefeated professional) that first made an impact on my feelings about my body. She is extraordinarily muscular, and her competitive fighting weight is around 200 pounds. I don't know what her casual everyday weight is, but I would guess it's more than I weigh. She's bigger and stronger than me, and in my opinion, looks great. She doesn't look like a man, or some weird monster. She just looks like a very athletic woman.

And since then, I have discovered a lot of other women who aren't built like Barbie dolls. Boxers, crossfit athletes, natural bodybuilders, and more. They all look great, in spite of being heavily on the muscular side of the body spectrum. And today I am able to live my life confidently, feeling content with the body I have. I can be happy with my body and proud of the work I have done to be fit, even if I don't look like what society says a woman should look like.

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make the images work. I used to use Tapatalk, since it automatically did all the formatting and stuff.

Quote from: BlueJaye on August 31, 2024, 06:21:32 PMI cannot for the life of me figure out how to make the images work. I used to use Tapatalk, since it automatically did all the formatting and stuff.

Do you have a URL to the image? If you have that, try this:



when you quote this message, you will see the img code. Copy just that not the whole quote. Paste that into your post where you want it to display. Then change this URL to the URL to your picture.

See if that works for you.

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 31, 2024, 06:52:52 PMDo you have a URL to the image? If you have that, try this:



when you quote this message, you will see the img code. Copy just that not the whole quote. Paste that into your post where you want it to display. Then change this URL to the URL to your picture.

See if that works for you.

I finally figured it out, and it was not intuitive AT ALL. I have to tap on the photo a second time after opening it. Then click on the arrow that represent "share", and copy the URL. The second time you open the image, the URL changes to include the format extension. What crazy user interface. Now I want to find the person who decided that was an acceptable way for a user interface to work and throw them in the boxing ring and beat some sense into their head.

Quote from: BlueJaye on August 31, 2024, 07:00:36 PMI finally figured it out, and it was not intuitive AT ALL. I have to tap on the photo a second time after opening it. Then click on the arrow that represent "share", and copy the URL. The second time you open the image, the URL changes to include the format extension. What crazy user interface. Now I want to find the person who decided that was an acceptable way for a user interface to work and throw them in the boxing ring and beat some sense into the head.

I agree. I am glad you got it!

Quote from: BlueJaye on August 31, 2024, 05:27:50 PMNot posing to display muscle, I don't look crazily muscular. Standing at ease, not intentionally displaying muscles, there's nothing about my body that I need to feel self conscious about. I spent several years worrying about my arms, my shoulders, etc., and whether or not they were too big and too muscular. I worried that people saw some kind of freak when they looked at me.

Looking good. I can't believe you are 211, but that probably is muscle weight. You look good, quite feminine I'd say. You have a great smile too.

I still want to see you fight! 

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 31, 2024, 07:07:59 PMLooking good. I can't believe you are 211, but that probably is muscle weight. You look good, quite feminine I'd say. You have a great smile too.

I still want to see you fight! 

Ugh, let's not get that discussion going right now. I've been feeling pretty discouraged lately about being banned. I hate all of this controversy. And they are dragging their feet as slowly as possible in order to not make any decisions that they would be held accountable for. That lawyer, Hess, is an obstacle to all progress in the sport. Letting lawyers run an organization is the easiest way to make sure that your organization never does anything valuable.

Quote from: BlueJaye on August 31, 2024, 07:13:14 PMUgh, let's not get that discussion going right now. I've been feeling pretty discouraged lately about being banned. I hate all of this controversy. And they are dragging their feet as slowly as possible in order to not make any decisions that they would be held accountable for. That lawyer, Hess, is an obstacle to all progress in the sport. Letting lawyers run an organization is the easiest way to make sure that your organization never does anything valuable.

I know there is a lot of sports issues right now. Do you think it might calm down when the elections are over? It seems like we go through this every four years.

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 31, 2024, 07:07:59 PMI can't believe you are 211, but that probably is muscle weight.

It's mostly in my legs. My legs are positively monstrous. I wear those big baggy shorts for a reason: to hide my thighs. Even though I have lost some size in my legs thanks to HRT, they are still incredibly powerful by any gender's standards. I did some physical therapy last year for a knee injury, and they had me max out each leg on quad extensions to measure for asymmetry in power, and I maxed out at 203 lbs on my right leg and 198 pounds on the left. To put that in perspective, elite level female weight lifters average 268 pounds on leg extension with both legs combined. It's part of why I make a good boxer. Punching power comes from the legs, and a low center of gravity makes for good agility.

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 31, 2024, 07:33:35 PMI know there is a lot of sports issues right now. Do you think it might calm down when the elections are over? It seems like we go through this every four years.

It's hard to say. But I will be eligible to compete in February (unless they create more ad hoc rules to keep me out). And I have not trained for over 2 years to not compete. I'm getting in the ring, and they can eat rocks if they think I'm going to make any efforts to protect them from controversy.

Quote from: BlueJaye on August 31, 2024, 10:51:27 PMIt's mostly in my legs. My legs are positively monstrous. I wear those big baggy shorts for a reason: to hide my thighs. Even though I have lost some size in my legs thanks to HRT, they are still incredibly powerful by any gender's standards. I did some physical therapy last year for a knee injury, and they had me max out each leg on quad extensions to measure for asymmetry in power, and I maxed out at 203 lbs on my right leg and 198 pounds on the left. To put that in perspective, elite level female weight lifters average 268 pounds on leg extension with both legs combined. It's part of why I make a good boxer. Punching power comes from the legs, and a low center of gravity makes for good agility.

I was thinking about something you said in an earlier post about being yourself and that boxing helped you overcome the negative self-image. I think it also helps you present as more confident. So even though you are less timid, you are no less feminine and still a confident woman. I like Gina Carano. I read her story and how she got into martial arts, then MMA, then movies. She portrays it the same way you do. It's a unique combination of beauty, confidence, and knowing yourself and your capabilities.

My dad was a huge boxing fan when I was a kid. And you are right that the center of gravity means you don't go down. But is the downside of that not having the same reach as some orangutan who is 6 feet tall?

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 31, 2024, 10:59:38 PMI like Gina Carano. I read her story and how she got into martial arts, then MMA, then movies. She portrays it the same way you do. It's a unique combination of beauty, confidence, and knowing yourself and your capabilities.

She's kind of a trashy person, in my opinion. About as transphobic as they come. I'd rather not compare myself to her.

Quote from: BlueJaye on August 31, 2024, 11:46:52 PMShe's kind of a trashy person, in my opinion. About as transphobic as they come. I'd rather not compare myself to her.

I don't mean personality. I know nothing about her politics. I mean her portrayal in movies. You are definitely classier than her! 

People are all different, and their ideal body figures are also different. My body tends to be very unique, but yesterday I happened to read news from Japan about a fitness champion whose height is just 151 cm (5 feet). Her instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/mei_ugajin/
I imagzined how hard it would be to have such as figure by overcoming the short height.

In my case, the standard body weight at my height is about 74 kg (163 lbs), but my current weight is 64 kg (141 lbs), and my goal is to maintain about 63 kg (139 lbs) at the BMI of 18.5, the lower limit of 'normal' condition.

I have regularly exercised (mostly running) during the past 23 years, but my body weight easily increases as I am a big eater and drinker.

My Youtube page is at: www.youtube.com/@barbiekorea21

Cheers,

barbie~~