bean-pole babes

[kiwibug]

Body image is something I struggle with, and although I like to think that things have improved since I've become really interested in cycling, (I want my thighs to be stronger rather than just thinner), some of the negative self-talk has just.. Changed. For a while there I had this idea of what a cyclist looks like, and I really really wanted that. I've really started to question why a hardcore cyclist needs to fit into that image I have in my head, why I feel like I have to be really thin or really fit-looking or really hot to be a cyclist. And the best thing for me has been to spend a lot of time perusing TE and seeing real life examples of hardcore cyclist women, who manage to be hardcore in all shapes and sizes.

It makes me sad to think that a spinning instructor would feel like they need to look a certain way, although I guess I'm not surprised. When I used to take spinning I used to love being instructed by women I could relate to. I can't relate to perfection, but I love seeing women who are so healthy, so strong, and so fit, and don't resemble a cookie cutter image of a fitness model. Those women are healthy role models for me, because being healthy and fit and strong are things that are attainable for me - being very thin is not.

[shootingstar]

. I've really started to question why a hardcore cyclist needs to fit into that image I have in my head, why I feel like I have to be really thin or really fit-looking or really hot to be a cyclist. And the best thing for me has been to spend a lot of time perusing TE and seeing real life examples of hardcore cyclist women, who manage to be hardcore in all shapes and sizes.

It makes me sad to think that a spinning instructor would feel like they need to look a certain way, although I guess I'm not surprised. When I used to take spinning I used to love being instructed by women I could relate to. I can't relate to perfection, but I love seeing women who are so healthy, so strong, and so fit, and don't resemble a cookie cutter image of a fitness model. Those women are healthy role models for me, because being healthy and fit and strong are things that are attainable for me - being very thin is not.

Isn't it great to discover TE forums?

[channlluv]

Isn't it great to discover TE forums?

Amen, sister.

[Susan Otcenas]

Miranda's comment about feeling like she needs to look a certain way (or that management expects her to look a certain way) to teach her classes really hits home for me.

The truth is, I've often felt the same way about MYSELF as Miranda does. When I was 40 pounds heavier than I am now, I had a hard time escaping the nagging feeling that I wasn't a very good "advertisement", if you will, for my own company. That, as the leader of an athletic organization, I should somehow *look* more like what an athlete is "supposed to look like". OTOH, one of the reasons I started TE was because we women come in all shapes and sizes, and I didn't feel like alot of the apparel out there represented that reality. Nor did it represent the reality of my *own* shape for much of my adult life, regardless of my level of fitness.

Those 2 things (my emotions vs. my company mission) are in obvious conflict, and I can't help feeling guilty (and rather shallow) about that somehow. Being the best I can be at *any* weight should be my motivation, and should be what reflects well on TE. But I, like many (most?) women, suffer from body image issues, and what we think society "expects" of us.

So, Miranda, I don't have any answers for you, but I do understand how easy it is to be conflicted about this kind of thing.

[NbyNW]

Susan, your passion for what you do is the best advertisement, as are the many happy customer testimonials I've come across since joining this board. I can't count how many times I've read "just give them a call, they'll be able to tell you something about the cut or whether the sizes run big or small." And you go out of your way to provide products for women in all parts of the size spectrum. I cannot begin to tell you how rare and awesome that is.

Back to the OP: Fitness instructors are a special type of teacher, and the best teachers are able to communicate their passion for the material and for their students' ability to internalize and grow with the material. As for the image thing, we need to see more different types of role models.

JMHO