Portrayal of Women's fitness

     So last night, I was looking through photos on a Facebook page called, "Fitness Girls." Needless to say, I was not surprised at the results. This is what brought up my question this morning of, "Do people actually want to be 'healthy' or in 'shape?' or just skinny?"

     I am going to post some of the pictures I saw, some of which made me question the intelligence or character of the posters, and subsequently my reactions. I'll probably rant here and there.

 

     I was hoping to see a lot of pictures like this one. What an amazing feat! But noooooooo, I subjected myself to borderline nude photos. I understand that this page is for "fitness models" but, it irritates me that women look up to these women as their "ideal" image. These women workout to look a certain way so they can model for fitness magazines, websites, ads, videos, etc. That's their chosen path, and that's cool There are exceptions of course but, most of these women do not compete, have not had significant life changing weight losses, and have access to fantastic photoshoppers/make up artists/ hair stylists/sponsors etc. Some of these women are in completely different circumstances than us regular folk. So how are we to expect to look the same way or garner the same results when all things aren't equal? Why is there body-type always the ideal when it comes to fitness and how women are portrayed in it?

I saw a picture similar to this one of a woman using a kettlebell with the quote: "Lift Heavy. because the barbell won't wake up one day and tell you it doesn't love you anymore."

That's not heavy. That's not even a barbell!

Champions also take their tops off and press their boobies into punching bags.

     In a lot of these photos, the women are posed so passively and are so objectified. No girl I have ever seen trying become a champion or get fit, wears booty shorts with a perma-wedgie bent over the dumbbell rack, or their shirts cut so the bottom of their breasts are showing, or they're wearing high heels. Be real! If you want to talk about people being champions or working hard, show that. Not models posing sensually. It's not proving your point.

I know she's not using those dumbbells. (rolls eyes)

 

So is having bad technique

     I also get irritated when these pictures and articles talk about being strong and over coming expectations yet, they are doing something ridiculous, not challenging themselves and in the end just fall right back into the stereotype placed on the woman. I understand that we all have different goals and we all start at different places but don't talk to me about being "strong" and you're only curling 5-10 lbs. 

I'm pretty sure that rack is too high for her...

Is she seriously squatting like 45 lbs max on the EZ bar?

Ridiculous quotes to get you motivated to work out....

 

False: Animals are incapable of opinions. The tiger and sheep also do not share the same habitat.

I think for me, the most insulting picture was this one:

     This makes me think the person who took this photo thinks, "It's OK fat lady, at least you're trying." All of the other women are portrayed as being sexy and in shape. This woman is clearly out of place. Which is probably how a lot of us feel when we are working out in public anyway. No need to remind us of that when you are attempting to inspire us. As I have already stated and most of you know, fitness comes in various sizes. You can be in shape while being different shapes. I am an Olympian who weighs 275 lbs. I have been training seriously since I was 15 years old. I do not have a 6 pack. I cannot fit into a size 0. I train anywhere from 6-20+ hours a week. I have never looked the way these women do, will not ever, and do not desire to. I find remarks like this to be condescending. This does not show a plus sized getting in shape or already in shape woman in a positive light.

Here are some videos that do!

Sarah- mini hurdle agility drills

     In a previous post I talked about how sometimes I feel I don't fit in places. The fitness world is one of them. How many times do people pick personal trainers because they want to look like them. When looking for a coach or a personal trainer do we make our choice based on how the gym or the coach looks, or the results of the program, the qualifications and experience the trainer has? When people think of all-star athletes, who comes to mind? Why?

     Why do we have to feel that our physical appearance whether "good" or "bad" determines our worth?  If we are skinny, athletic, pretty, have fabulous hair, etc., we are valued people. A good appearance gets us boyfriends, good jobs, and nicer treatment. A bad appearance means a person will most likely end up in the friend-zone, have different job opportunities, a lack of wealth or lack of personal care.

     No one should have to feel this way. We are all valuable, fantastic people who all supplement each other. I really don't appreciate pages like this where it is initially perceived that the separations between people can be equalized to realize that it only further pushes us apart. Ultimately, this helps stifle our progress as a gender...and some of us are OK with it. How?!

     Let's be real with ourselves and our audience. Let's not care about the number on the back of our shirts or on the scale. Let us be self-respecting, fit women. Let's love ourselves and care about how well we function and feel inside and let our hearts, minds, and bodies be strong in the endeavor.