top of page


Ballerina to Bodybuilder
Colleen DiVito Age and Category: 53 years old, Bikini Competitor City/State: Reading, Massachussetts Gym: Fitness Within, Reading, MA I...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 26, 20243 min read
Â
Â
Â


On Being A Woman
It is not easy to explain to (ordinary) people why you would want to undergo a 3-4 month diet just for a T-shirt and a trophy. That’s a...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 9, 20243 min read
Â
Â
Â


Bird in a Cage
We have a parakeet named Treetop (Don’t judge. I didn’t pick the name.) We have managed to keep it alive for now over five years. That is...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 8, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


Control Over Chaos
I am sure that there are many compelling reasons why someone decides to train for a bodybuilding competition. But I can only tell you...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 8, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


Coffee Addict
There are few more acceptable addictions in this world than to be addicted to coffee. The lines at any Starbucks attest to our desire to...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 8, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


Pressure Valve
I’m a family practice doctor in solo practice. That means that I have the responsibilities of being a doctor and the responsibilities of...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 8, 20243 min read
Â
Â
Â



Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 7, 20240 min read
Â
Â
Â



Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 7, 20240 min read
Â
Â
Â


Natty
Full disclosure. I will admit that I smoked marijuana twice, a fact that shames me to this day. Prior to that first time, I was proud to...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 7, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


The Tyranny of the Scale
It’s Monday morning and the alarm goes off. My eyes squeeze shut as I realize it’s time for the weekly weigh-in. So tempting to sink...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 7, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â



Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 7, 20240 min read
Â
Â
Â


No Weigh-In Required
Competition prep can be hard for a female athlete because the changes to the body are so incrementally small. It is hard to remain...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 6, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


Gum Math
Gum. Gum. Gum. ​ I chew gum all prep long because it satisfies my desire to chew. I break the stick in half and chew it until the burst...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 6, 20241 min read
Â
Â
Â


That First Cheat Meal
What do competitors dream of during all those weeks of strict dieting? What do they obsess about after weeks of deprivation? ​ During the...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 6, 20241 min read
Â
Â
Â


Overly Dramatic
I am overly dramatic. I am not an addict. But I imagine an affinity to all addicts. I know the torture of wanting what you can’t have....

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 6, 20241 min read
Â
Â
Â


Escape from Fat Camp
Is it just me? Right after finishing a 12-16 week strict diet - the minute I get off stage – I feel like I’ve escaped from fat camp. Or...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 6, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


Golden Period
If you compete, you know the golden period. It’s the period right after your competition when you still look really good but you also...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 6, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â


Anarchy, then Order
There are flashpoints of anarchy in my everyday. Waves of disorder before the order flows back. When I cook, every ingredient, every pot,...

Lorraine F. DePass
Feb 5, 20242 min read
Â
Â
Â
bottom of page