What sport gives you the best body?

[Namila]

Hi all,

I reckon this is a frivolous thread and most likely already discussed in the past, BUT let's indulge

What type of exercise shapes the female body in the most attractive way in your opinion?

Looking at some female athletes, I love the look of yoga/pilates teachers and ballerinas, with long and lean muscles and graceful bodies.

What do you think?

Thank you for your comments!

At professional level don't you think body type determines what kind of sport you excell in?

I'd say dance. The professional dancers on strictly look amazing.

Swimming

My friend reckoned it was rowing. She joined a rowing club for this reason. She turned out to be quite good at it. She's always had an awesome figure though.

Wouldn't rowing give you an over-developed upper body compared to the lower half?

Barmy - why swimming? Did you see our comments above about the broad shoulders?

You realize it’s more the other way around, those with certain physiques excel at certain sports....

Dance
Tennis
Rock climbing

Pilates Reformer isn't technically a sport and is zero cardio but it seems to give people amazing bodies. Pity I can't afford it.

well gwen its my best chance at an athletic physique

Gwenhwyfar - it's the opposite actually, rowing is all in the legs! When I did a lot I couldn't buy knee high boots in regular shops 😳

Always thought the volleyballers looked ace, myself

Darts

Rhythmic gymnastics or horse riding.

Hopefully Legs bums and tums as I just joined the class tonight.

You realize it’s more the other way around, those with certain physiques excel at certain sports....

I don't think it is; certainly not entirely anyway. Most people take up the sport they will later be good at in childhood. I took up hockey aged 10, and now have the typical physique associated with the sport. Of course I was certainly predisposed to building muscle on my legs and core, which is probably why I liked hockey as I was predisposed to being quite good at it, which made it enjoyable. However if I had preferred a non team sport I was equally well suited to sprinting and hurdles. Perhaps if that were my bag I'd be sitting here today with a typical sprinter's body.

What I'm saying is it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation isn't it.

"Wouldn't rowing give you an over-developed upper body compared to the lower half?"

Nope - look at how hard legs are working (making those seats slide) next time you're watching.

Other watersports, like kayaking, are the ones where it's all about the upper body and the core) though the top level paddlers will be fit all over.

‘All round’ sports that require full body functional strength.

CrossFit (if you don’t like too much muscle, don’t be put off by how professionals look - I understand steroid abuse is rife)
Heptathlon/etc (yes yes to the shout out for Jess Ennis Hill earlier)

Weights definitely 💪

I would say weighted swimming but just the right amount of it. I'm in the best shape of my life and feel great.

Too much training will lead to very broad shoulders and an open flat chest (very masculine).

However, half hour of front crawl with wrist weights every other day or so will give you excellent arm definition and shoulders which are broad and strong-looking but not overly masculine.

This routine has also given me a flat, toned stomach without a popping six-pack.

Diet is also very important though for building and maintaining muscle.

I find having quite broad shoulders is very helpful though when I put on a bit of timber at Xmas- I still manage to look slim and athletic even when I'm carrying an extra half stone and the rest

HIIT is also great.

Weightlifting definitely

Combination of weightlifting , spinning , Callanetics and fast walking

People might be talking about different things here. For example some runners indeed have great bodies, but they don't get them from exclusively running, there's a lot of other training put in as well. If you decide that running is your only exercise, you're unlikely to end up looking like a 100m olympic sprinter.

Y Y to rowing - best I've ever looked was when I was competing (while ago now sadly)
Although I agree it gave me quite prominent calf muscles which made boots / tight trousers tricky.
Full body fitness along with great toning 👍🏻

arf at earlofhell

when I was swimming 2-3 x per week I ended up with shot-putter shoulders, but had lean thighs and hips (this was around 25 years ago!)

when only exercise was hill walking, I turned into an egg shape, (probably cos of the pub being at the end of a walk) but also menopause related

currently on the c25k, and have noticed a waist reappearing, slowly, but have also cut out sugar and am only drinking wine occasionally, instead of sharing a bottle every night

my 'ideal' body shape would be long distance runner, rower, tennis player, but these are not exercises for me.