Project HUGE: The Spawn Of Lydia Cheng - An Inspiring Meetup
Posted July 20, 2007 at 7:55 AM by Ben Nadel
Yesterday, my friend and I got on the 1/9 train going downtown and sat across from this girl who was a total cutie! I of course kept looking at her, cause, well, she was hot. I noticed that she would occasionally glance in my direction, which is always surprising cause people tend not to notice me. I was also a bit confused, cause I was like, this girl is so cute, why would she be looking at me?!?
As it turns out, she was checking out my shirt. At the time, I was wearing my 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger shirt. Who wouldn't check that out? Arnold's so awesome, I find myself checking out my own shirt in shop windows all the time. Anyway, in one of my subtle glances, we actually made eye contact and she asked me if I was there (pointing to the shirt). Yeah right! I wish! Unfortunately, I was born that year and it wasn't until some years later that I was introduced to The Arnold.
Anyway, long story short, it turns out, this very cute girl was the daughter of Lydia Cheng, one of the female bodybuilders from the classic Pumping Iron II: The Women:
| | | | ||
| |  | | ||
| | | |
Now, I have to admit, I didn't know which one she was - I never really followed women's bodybuilding that much; I was always drawn to the mass monsters produced by the world of men's bodybuilding. But, based on what I have read and what she looks like, I think that this is Lydia Cheng (screen capture from my own personal copy of Pumping Iron II: The Women):
| | | | ||
| |  | | ||
| | | |
But regardless, it was an awesome and inspiring moment. Cuteness aside, I mean, just meeting anyone who is someway part of that generation - the generation of both male and female bodybuilders who basically laid the foundation of modern bodybuilding as we know it. Needless to say, my workout last night was pretty high quality :)
| | | | ||
| |  | | ||
| | | |
| | | | ||
| |  | | ||
| | | |
| | | | ||
| |  | | ||
| | | |
| | | | ||
| |  | | ||
| | | |
Reader Comments
based solely on that last screen grab... was the full title of "Pumping Iron II" actually "Pumping Iron II: Women In Prison?" :)
Ha ha, I think its tradition for each Pumping Iron movie to have a "shower scene". In the first one, I think it was Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu talking about arm development. In this one, the ladies are soaping up talking about how people who feel intimidated by strong women look down upon an athletic and female physique.
And, as a side note, I think both movies have just about the same amount of quasi nudity.
yeah, sorry but i didn't hear anything after "the ladies are soaping up".
Ha ha :)
Now i am just called "a friend"? This is not helping me get exposure
Dude, I told them who you were, then they would get all distracted and not even be thinking about me any more.
That is understandable. But more mention is needed of "the si"
Between this and your random number post - I really, really think you need a good vacation.... :)
I need a vacation from my problems :)
In doing some research for my mother's new company, I cam across your blog. I'm glad that both my mother and I were able to make such an impression on you.
@Sophie,
After writing the above post, I had given some more thought to whole situation. I was nostalgic:
http://www.bennadel.com/index.cfm?dax=blog:854.view
Hope all is well.
Did you ever see Robert Mapplethorpe's photos of Lydia Cheng? There's one in particular that stands out above the rest that is my single most favorite of any photo of any woman I've ever seen. Here it is: http://www.art-forum.org/z_Mthorpe/Images/RM_Lydia1985_600.jpg
She's probably 50 now but I'll bet that she still looks great. And I don't doubt that her daughter is as attractive a young woman as you say.
And here's Lydia back in the early 80's? Obviously it's not a Mapplethorpe photo but still....
No tattoos. No breast implants. Just 100%, all-natural, healthy, strong, woman.
