Sycophantic attitudes to health and fitness

[CherryPosset]

To make it simple I will narrow it down to only two examples for the sake of discussion: low carb and weight training.
There are most definitely trend/fad driven aspects to both of these, and when they take hold, it is like they become a religion (complete with sins, shaming and purity/cleanliness).

I came across a post where the OP didn't aesthetically like her bodyshape after strength training. Instead of supporting her and helping her to find a happier healthy alternative, she was shamed into believing she was brainwashed by the patriarchy for not wanting to continue with it.
It seems once something becomes socially popular, there can't be a word said against it.
And of course, these attitudes (complete with studies and data) will change every 5 to 10 years.

Some women just don't really like it, they might prefer football, yoga, pilates, cycling, dancing, etc. A balanced level of fitness and eating is possible for almost everyone.
Alternatively many love strength training, and that's great!

But there is such a fierce disapproval of any woman who isn't interested in strength training, with accusations that she is a puppet of the patriarchy which tells her to stay thin, weak and passive.
Many, many women who don't want to lift weights ARE strong, intelligent and confident. Whilst there are health benefits to lifting, the same could be said for many other forms of exercise. If someone doesn't like the look of their body after lifting, they are not brainwashed idiots, nor should they be shamed into preferring it.

Same with attitudes to food. The answer to every ailment or issue is currently low carb! Or no dairy! If you say you are happy and healthy consuming them then you are 'fooling yourself'. Many people have excluded both and found no difference to their IBS, acne, weight issues and general health. Some even come out of it worse off.

We need to accept that we are all different, and our bodies feel better doing different things. If a woman doesn't jive with lifting weights, then accept her opinion and encourage her to find what she loves. Nothing is sacrosanct, and there are so many people making huge profits out of our health and diet insecurities, including lifters and fasting guru's, it ain't just Big Sugar that's after your cash.

Creating judgement and division between women about their fitness & food choices is far more insidious and controlling. Whilst I am no fan of food additives or swimming in salt and sugar, I don't think food is necessarily 'cleaner' if our great great grandmother's granny ate it, either.

Most if it smacks of competitive restricting, class insecurity and an almost religious dogma. At the bottom of it all, as usual with the human species, is most probably the terror of mortality. And if we can just eat cleaner or lift more we can live longer and better than those lowly idiots who haven't a clue! Perhaps the 'brainwashing' is far more complex than the mere patriarchy,

It's so all or nothing these days.

I agree op. I hate weight lifting. So many people are smug about it too, as if they are better than us mere runners and others who do lowly forms of exercise.

I haven't noticed the exercise stuff but certainly have, Kos carb diets are better if you're diabetic but for everyone else it's not. You lose weight on diets because you eat less it doesn't matter what you use to cut down.
My main bugbear is the drink more water as a panacea for any skin problem. I'm sure some people do need to drink more, looking at you DD, but you can drink too much water and it can make you ill.
If you aren't a dietician don't give out eating advide.

I dont hate it and do a very small amount, but i do notice some really weird, almost bullying attitudes to other women about it online.

I had to have surgery to repair a rectocele and an enterocele after birthing two enormous babies.

My pelvic floor collapses even when I just watch another woman lifting weights.

I agree with you, but I think the example you gave of the poster talking about strength training is not a good example. I didn't see what replies she got, but I think it's fair to say that we need to learn to accept the physique we get from exercising. It isn't a bad thing to have a body that looks as though you've been exercising it, so maybe it actually is The Patriarchy (or whatever other influences) making women think they should be thin and weak and not be muscly and maybe that should be called out, so to speak.

Also a lot of men dont like lifting either, not everyone wants the look or the feel of it.
Ive seen martial arts/yoga guys on youtube being verbally abused by male lifters for being 'pussies'.
Both genders whould do what the heck they prefer.

I didn't see what replies she got, but I think it's fair to say that we need to learn to accept the physique we get from exercising.

but we dont need to do anything! It should be personal preference.

Yeah, I agree and I do both. The next big thing will come along and we'll all get swept up with it. After a lifetime of being 'on a diet' I find LC eating great as it switches me off from food and takes away my hunger and obsession. Again, with weights, its the first time in my life I have stuck to a fitness regime and I'm in my fifties. However, its not for everyone and it isn't superior to anything else.

For someone who claims not to like "judging", you're quite judgey!

*she was shamed into believing she was brainwashed by the patriarchy for not wanting to... "

Well thatis because, as I gathered from MN, we have no brain of our own and ehatever we do is because of patriarchy. Shave? Patriarchy. Not shave? Patriarchy. Muscles? Patriarchy . Not muscles? Patriarchy.

On a serious note. Yes, these things become much obsessive but for example the dietary obsessions are often cover for EDs now. (note that I am not saying always).
Orthorexia is on increase in last few years. That often apparently goes with obcessive exercise as well.

I do wonder if in 2035 we will look back at some ofthis like we look at ciggy and coffee diets.

👍

Also I'm not sure you understand what sycophantic means, because I can't find any evidence of it in your post?

As women we often complain about how politicised or interfered with our bodies are, yet we sadly often join in and tell each other what to do with our bodies.

Also, regarding me being 'judgemental', I am judging the societal pressure to conform to fads and ideals. I am not sure that makes me the problem...

Not sure how supporting ALL woman to do what they PREFER is judgemental, but then again this is AIBU I gotta take it on the chin!

So what's the alternative to accepting the physique we get from exercising? To be ashamed of it?

I think people ought to do what works for them, and choose what they feel most comfortable with, so there is no one specific 'need'. If that makes sense?

I do think people police each others bodies all the time, as well as their food choices. It is rife on here. It is often presented as caring for the other person's health, which is largely bollocks. More often it is a mixture of fear, superiority or an almost religious fervour.

We definitely do live in a culture where shame and judgement about what others choose to do with their bodies is normalised.

I came across a post where the OP didn't aesthetically like her bodyshape after strength training. Instead of supporting her and helping her to find a happier healthy alternative, she was shamed into believing she was brainwashed by the patriarchy for not wanting to continue with it.

I think this is unlikely to actually happen in real life. Shaming isn't sycophantic anyway.

Tribes gonna tribe...

I really enjoy lifting, it's the one form of solo exercise I really enjoy, because I only run out of spite, swim because I have to and can't abide yoga or Pilates.

However, I agree with you, OP, when you talk about the almost cultish adherence some people will have to one form of exercise or another (although IMO the yoga crowd is the worst - see also: rock-climbing / bouldering).

I suppose it's yet another version of the common human notion of 'if you're not with me, you're against me'.

You OP is full of judgement. You are totally judging the women who do the things you disapprove of. You even talk about them "shaming" a woman.

That's fine, but at least own it!

The answer to every ailment or issue is currently ...

anti-UPF. At least on MN, I mean. MN fora is only dogmatic place I'm exposed to. It's kind of refreshing after the years of carbs = evil. Equally absurd, of course, but yes the fad change is happening here & now.

Honestly I only encounter such dogmatic views on MN. I could find them too on Facebook or Twitter, but easy enough to avoid zealots on all other platforms.

But there is such a fierce disapproval of any woman who isn't interested in strength training, with accusations that she is a puppet of the patriarchy which tells her to stay thin, weak and passive.

I don't know in which circle you have discussion, I have never come across anything like that.

It used to be the opposite on that particular example: women doing strength training not being feminine and so on, but that has long gone. I hear and read a lot about the medical aspect, but nothing about the eternal "victims of the patriarchy".

We definitely do live in a culture where shame and judgement about what others choose to do with their bodies is normalised.
we live in a culture when you can't have an opinion or state a simple fact without being accused of "shaming".

We are in an unprecedented state of obesity, but mentioning anything on the subject and you are accused to be fat-shaming. It's tedious.

well i guess i must be guilty of judging 'body policing'.

I can live with that.

I can see that most people here don't think this is a problem. Fair enough. Ive read quite a few articles online comparing western attitudes to food and fitness to religious dogma. I can see it happening, and thought it was interesting to discuss.

Lifting weights is not about looks. It's about strength, muscles and strong bones.

I would urge any woman to start weight training sooner rather than later.

Doesn't have to be all out or 'extreme'. Though Caroline Girvan is always a good place to start.

Personally I only started in my mid-60s but wish I'd started 10-20 years sooner. As it is, weight training changed my life.

I look good too - "for my age"... LOL - but this is secondary. It's my overall fitness that is a byproduct of lifting weights that is my primary motivation.

Totally agree. I stopped following James Smith for this reason. Calorie fucking deficit he says, but looks down his nose at cardio WHICH BURNS CALORIES.

Get your NEAT up he says, ie burn more calories by walking up the stairs and carrying your own shopping. How does this work James? I'd have to walk up ten flights of stairs before my heart rate started lifting at all.

Anyone with a full time job can't NEAT their way to a calorie deficit.

Weights are great but not everyone likes them. I get an endorphin buzz and torch calories through cardio, as do all the women I know.

And I eat carbs at every meal.

A different exercise or combination of few.
If someone isn't haply with what particualr exercises does on their body, they shouldn't be told to accept it but supported to find what suits them physically and mentally.