To think that "strong is the new skinny" is becoming a bit extreme?

[Namila]

I am not sure how to explain what I mean, but I'll try. Getting ready to be flamed as it often happens when discussing women's bodies.

In the last few years I noticed a new trend online among women, the "fit/strong is the new skinny" type of narrative. In theory I think that is an improvement and a positive change from the unhealthy trend of extreme skinniness we were stuck with for decades.

However, I can't help but thinking that the new "fit and muscular" trend is getting a bit over the top. It seems like now we should aspire to have huge, bodybuilder-style muscles now? We should strive to get a huge butt through never ending series of squats and weightlifting? Steel abs with not an inch of fat? Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest are full of this type of pics. I attached a couple to this thread just for reference!

It just seems a bit extreme to me. Of course a slim, healthy, active body is attractive, but I wonder why these trends always seem to get so extreme (e.g. super skinny, or super muscular, or super curvy Kardashian-style).

So AIBU to think that this trend is a bit much? Does anyone else share this view?

It is more extreme in the sensw that in the nineties and noughties, it was just about being very slim. Most women could achieve this simply with dieting: I'm not saying thats healthy or right, just that thats what was "required" by fashion.

Now however, the trend is for muscular curves. The problem with this is its inherently quite a difficult body shape for most women to achieve. There needs to be zero fat on the waist and washboard abs, but simultaneously a good cleavage and juicy butt.

To achieve this, you DO need to follow a kind of diet, even if the diet aspect is disguised as "clean eating" or whatever other feel good term. Plus you need to work out.

Conclusion?

I would say this body shape trend requires more work and actually more "narcissism" than the "skip meals and do coke" ethos of the nineties.

It doesn't mean you are obliged to, but it is nonsense to try and argue that it isn't the optimal physical state for the vast majority of humans as a result of all that evolution

What I think would be a nonsense is for me to accept that what I see in the above photos is the optimal physical state for human beings based on the say so of a stranger on the internet.

You might have been conditioned to prefer a certain look to your body, or might not care at all what you look like though, which is fine

And now you’re just being insulting.

My dh used to be very seriously into bodybuilding. It wasn't a very healthy lifestyle and for many it's not really about strength, but about sculpting your body. For the women at the top level it also involved both steroids and plastic surgery. It's also very dependent on your natural physique and metabolism.

For example my ds has very low bodyfat (he has always been very lean) so gets a six pack with a tiny amount of exercise. He'd get freaky very quickly if he worked out regularly. dh on the other hand got some very nice muscles when he was fully into bodybuilding but would have had to radically and very unhealthily change his diet in order to get any definition.

Weight lifting can be great, lifting uses lots of calories and does give you a high, plus gaining real strength is very satisfactory. It's also very much about beating your own achievements and is incremental so all about doing just a little bit better than the last time you lifted which makes it less daunting to get into than lots of other kinds of exercise I think.

Re weightlifting, I keep picturing those poor men who dislocated their elbows at the Olympic Games. Ouchy!

That first pic isn't "what humans are supposed to look like" - that is a padded bra or implants. Most muscular/ strong women will have much less hourglass figure even with great thighs and hips- look at Jess Ennis waist, or Serena Williams. When you get body fat as low as in those pics, it is very rare to have large natural breasts.

That first pic isn't "what humans are supposed to look like though"- with that low body fat (for the definition) that is probably a padded bra or implants. Very few women can have a significantly hourglass figure once they are very fit and muscular - look at Jess Ennis' abs- and once women drop body fat to get that definition, you tend to lose boobs too.

Damit, thought I'd lost my post and retyped! Sorry!

To be honest, it's a look that I absolutely love and (vaguely) similar to how I am. I'm not yet quite as toned as the pics but I have aspirations, I'm working on it and I'll get there .

To each their own, though

maybe not quite extreme, but 5 times a week is quite a lot isn't it?

It's what it takes to get where I'd like to be

twiney Yes, it's certainly harder to achieve than "just" skinniness, because you need to (1) be able to afford a gym membership and (2) have the time and childcare to get there, which a lot of people (and especially women) don't have - James Fell did a great article on this called "Check your fit privilege" or something.

And 4 hours of actual work (which I agree is probably enough if you're mainly going for the aesthetic and have a well designed programme) probably translates to 8 hours total investment once you take into account getting there and back etc. I train at a gym with a girl who puts in 2.5 hours a day (semi- professional Crossfit athlete), 5 days a week. She has an amazing body and is incredibly strong but it's basically her job to look and lift like that (endorsements/ sponsorships). She is also the macro queen- every meal is totally planned.

Butchy Re dislocations, that's powerlifting. Totally different to body building.

I don't think excercising 5 times a week is particularly difficult or excessive. I have a sedentary job and drive to work so I have to do something most days or I feel very lethargic. Usually I run 20-25 miles in 3-4 runs, do a gym class or two and a couple of light weight sessions at home.

I work 4 days a week, have 2 young children and a busy social life. It's totally doable if you plan excercise sessions in advance each week.

Oh, and my body looks nothing like those pictures, although I dare say I may be "fitter" than them (in the traditional cardio sense of the word).

Yes we are strong. I can deadlift 125kg, prowl 100kg and squat 100kg and benchpress 60kg. I weigh 58kg. Hauling 25kg is absolutely nothing.

Super impressive. And way more than me I weigh 56kg. I'm working towards those sorts of weights but have a way to go. Enjoying the journey, though.

Butchy Re dislocations, that's powerlifting. Totally different to body building

👍

Davina is obsessive about everything she does. Why do we idolise the extreme rather than the attainable and what makes us happy?

Oh, just to add that I do agree with you OP about the tendency for there to be a strong message at any given time 'dictating' how women should look. I guess it's all over social media—which is why I don't involve myself in that. Does MN count as social media? That in itself is sh*t.

Be happy with you, whatever that be

Davina is obsessive about everything she does. Why do we idolise the extreme rather than the attainable and what makes us happy?

Maybe her 'obsession' and 'extremity' keep her happy?

I exercise (aerobic, > HR 80% of max) 7 days a week. I don't look like a muscle-bound gym bunny (don't want to, either).

So what physique should we be chasing after then?

Trim is healthy. It doesn't have to be wiry or Jessica Rabbit.

Not read the full thread but I disagree with OP. I think "strong not skinny" is a better message than any we've had before regarding what a "woman should look like". For a start, to look like that you have to eat properly - you wouldn't get like that by starving yourself so it's a good message in that way. Also, studies show that a huge percentage of the population is under exercised - if this messages encourages a few more people to get off their arses then that's a good thing surely?

Thirdly, it moves women away from this whole "skinny and delicate" trend and gives a message of strength instead.

I'd rather look like those pics than be a whale or a stick insect. I don't look like them because I eat a shit diet and don't exercise enough!

I have someone close to me who has an amazing body, muscular but shapely and similar to OPs pics.

She lifts weights and exercises every single day of the week, sometimes twice in a day.

She is married but no kids and her working hours means she's home at 3.30 every day (so she has the free time).

She doesn't eat meat, mainly vegetables and salads so very low fat diet. She is meticulous to the point of obsessive and I've even known her turn down social gatherings that involve food because of it.

She does binge though now and again - but makes herself bring it back up afterwards. She's done this for the 20 years I've known her.

I look at her and think omg I would kill for your body, but then I look at what she does to maintain it and think nah, I'll stick to running/swimming/weights 2-3 times a week, eating whatever the hell I like and having enough time to spend with friends and family and if that means I keep my (slightly wobbling) size 12 curves then I'm happy enough....

I wouldn't want to look like that, I would rather be skinny (I'm neither). However I am aware that some men (my DH included) think muscles on women are sexy.

People were on here the other day slating Davina McCall for her muscly body, but really that seems to be the fashion. As long as these girls are healthy, I don't the problem, TBH. As I said, I wouldn't want to look like that but if they want to, then fine.

I have a body like this, I only train 45 minutes a day 4-5 Days a week.

I Eat well 80% of the time is Mon - Fri and eat and drink shit over the weekend. I've gone to the gym since I was 16 so it's always been a part of my life. I'm 37 now and look exactly like this. I don't train for 6 hours a day, you'd lose muscle if you did plus cause your body to release cortisol which will only give you a big stomach. So many myths about people with bodies like this.

I have a body like this. I don't train 6 hours a day either. I work and have a child so wouldn't have time to! It's not extreme to look like this!

Til being fit and healthy is extreme