It's Time to Save The Fitness Division!!!

A quick introduction of who I am. My name is C-Ray. You are probably familiar with me through names such as cray17 on Siouxcountry, Muscular Development, and NUMEROUS female physique message boards. I also run FitGems Nation, among other things. The reason I started FitGems Nation was because the respect of the athletes I have in this industry. The reason I became a fan in the first place was because of a cool thing called the fitness division, more specifically the Fitness America Pageant on ESPN2 and its competitors such as Julie Shipley-Childs, Tanya Merryman, Kelly Gignilliant, Nicole Rollolazo, Allison Either, Valerie Brown-Stephens, and more. From there, I've come to discover the NPC and IFBB fitness divisions and was blown away by the talent there: Adela Garcia, Jenny Hendershott, Tanji Johnson, Tracey Greenwood, Julie Palmer, Julie Lohre, Stacy Simons, Heidi Sullivan (Fletcher), Shannon Meteraud, Trish Warren...there's quite a bit of talent.

However, fitness has been on the decline ever since figure and bikini have come to play. Absolutely NO disrespect to any of the other female physique divisions, but fitness is arguably the most entertaining division of all the female divisions out there. Creativity, high-energy, personality, dedication...all of that is in the fitness divison. For fans, they are in awe of what they can do. For photographers and those that take video, capturing their routines on film is like watching poetry in motion. In the NPC and IFBB, there's just nothing like women's fitness. So I'm stratching my head into seeing why fitness is at an all-time low.

Is it the work that is needed? The time that's needed? Now enough contests? Not enough competitors stepping up? Too many not going into the pros after their winning their pro card? I wish I knew the answer, but I don't. What I DO know is this: something needs to be done, or fitness will be nothing but a distant memory.

Hence why this blog was born. I created this blog to reignite the fire and passion that the fitness division had during its birth. Call it an attempt as rebirth, if you will. This is not a one-person thing, or a few people that will be able to make the changes and advancements. This is going to require EVERYONE's help. Current and past fitness competitors, industry experts, fans, the whole nine yards! It's time that everyone (myself included) stepped up and see that fitness stays alive!

IT'S TIME TO SAVE FITNESS NOW!!!!