January/February weight management challenge

[emily_in_nc]

I think extremes are bad. I wonder why they couldn't find a plus size model who was more fit, that would make a better statement. Rolls of fat are not attractive and neither is being so skinny that you can't lift a 5 pound dumb bell.

I wonder if there are any really fit plus-sized models, though? Seems that perhaps the whole model/fashion lifestyle doesn't really lend itself to spending a lot of time on fitness, but I could be wrong, since all I know of it is is watching "America's Next Top Model" in the past, and that show never showed the models working out or even talking about any athletic endeavors, that I recall.

I actually thought the plus-sized model looked attractive, despite having some obvious body fat. Surprised me that I felt that way -- perhaps because she was tall and had long legs and beautiful skin (probably airbrushed, though).

[goldfinch]

I thought the plus woman looked fine. She sure looks a lot better than me as a 57 year old woman who has had children and has lost a third of her weight.

[Crankin]

I'm conflicted. The plus sized model is a very attractive woman, but... the rolls of fat don't look healthy or athletic to me. Not sure if the modeling lifestyle at any size is compatible with being athletic. I remember when I was in high school, a couple of my friends took a modeling course and I went to the runway show. It was really creepy.
As someone who is smaller, take this as my opinion. I do think, though, that clothing manufacturers should take the plus size market seriously and should have the same choices as "regular" sizes. And they should remember that short people buy clothes, too, no matter what their weight is.

[Blueberry]

And they should remember that short people buy clothes, too, no matter what their weight is.

+1. They make larger sizes longer - which just makes them look worse on me. Bleh. At 5'4", I'm not even *that* short.

Focusing on the fitness and gradually cleaning up the diet. Ate like crud over the holidays and didn't gain weight - clothes are looser. Now to work on actually losing weight!

[SadieKate]

Veronica - what do you think of this person?

[SadieKate]

That's three-time U.S. Olympic Hockey Team medal winner Angela Ruggiero, a confident 5 foot 9 inch, 185 pounds. She could wax your a$$ in all its sizes. Chill out about the body image stuff, okay?

Do what you need to do to be fit and healthy, and let others be. If they have a few rolls, it may be healthiest for them.

http://www.womensrunning.com/articles/54

[Blueberry]

SK - Interesting article - thank you!

[maillotpois]

Wow. She is amazing. I wish I could remember the magazine that did the swimsuit or underwear shots of the different athletes - all totally different sports and some of those women didn't look rail thin or even traditionally "fit". But they were all strong.

My body fat ranges in the mid to high 20% range, according to triple site caliper testing, but I am riding better than I suspect I would have in my almost anorexic grad school years.

[SadieKate]

Serena Williams frequently has some rolls and manages to be pretty darn fit.

[GLC1968]

Wow. She is amazing. I wish I could remember the magazine that did the swimsuit or underwear shots of the different athletes - all totally different sports and some of those women didn't look rail thin or even traditionally "fit". But they were all strong.

My body fat ranges in the mid to high 20% range, according to triple site caliper testing, but I am riding better than I suspect I would have in my almost anorexic grad school years.

The original photos are kind of hard to find, but here is a blog post where they included all the images. I believe the original spread was to celebrate the diversity of olympic caliber bodies... (and it made me think that I probably should have considered weight lifting since Tara Nott and I have an awful lot in common).

http://ninamatsumoto.wordpress.com/2...e-for-artists/

As someone who has struggled with body image her whole life, I can relate to the need to see more than just one type of image in the media. But I will say that looking at the body of a super model is not much different than looking at the image of an olympic athlete from a young girl's perspective. Both could be classified as 'unattainable'. I was more influenced by the bodies of the women in my life than I was by the media. Though, I will say that the 1980 olympics made me fall in love with watching sports. Mary Lou Retton kind of changed my life, as corny as that sounds. She made me realize that I should appreciate my body more for what it could do and less for what it looked like. I started wearing shorts and short skirts a lot more after seeing her because I felt like my big, muscular legs looked better when you could see the muscles than they did when covered with pants. Thank heaven for leaving the 70's behind. Flat straight hair and flat straight bodies were not attainable for this teen - bring on the 80's!!

[salsabike]

That's three-time U.S. Olympic Hockey Team medal winner Angela Ruggiero, a confident 5 foot 9 inch, 185 pounds. She could wax your a$$ in all its sizes. Chill out about the body image stuff, okay?

Do what you need to do to be fit and healthy, and let others be. If they have a few rolls, it may be healthiest for them.

http://www.womensrunning.com/articles/54

Nice post.

[Crankin]

I am sure she could wax my azz. I never judge people's athletic ability by how they "look," after being dropped on the bike by all kinds of people. And i am the slowest runner in the world.
But, I still don't think rolls of fat are healthy or attractive. This may be society's way of influencing my thinking, but I am proud of the fact that I have a flat stomach and no back fat at age 58, after having kids, etc. I'm not anorexic, and I love to cook and eat. While I don't look like Veronica (because I am not quite as disciplined ), I try to strive for a healthy, fit and strong look. I love my cycling thighs and calves. I don't feel "better" than others, but I am proud of how my athletic endeavors have influenced my life, in terms of what I eat and how I spend my time. I was a skinny, uncoordinated kid and in my mind I still am. The stuff I do has made me a better person in terms of my ability to take risks and feel "strong." And body image plays a good part in this.

[Veronica]

That's three-time U.S. Olympic Hockey Team medal winner Angela Ruggiero, a confident 5 foot 9 inch, 185 pounds. She could wax your a$$ in all its sizes. Chill out about the body image stuff, okay?

Do what you need to do to be fit and healthy, and let others be. If they have a few rolls, it may be healthiest for them.

http://www.womensrunning.com/articles/54

No, not okay - since I am not about body image and I have never espoused that people should be a certain weight or BMI. Excess fat is NOT healthy. Why did you feel the need to bring in physical violence?

Yes, I am very proud of the hard work I put in to lose nearly forty pounds and keep it off. And I am thrilled with the progress I continue to make. Silly me for thinking that I might be able to encourage others to take charge of their lives and do what they say they want to do.

Veronica

[tealtreak]

No, not okay - since I am not about body image and I have never espoused that people should be a certain weight or BMI. Excess fat is NOT healthy. Why did you feel the need to bring in physical violence?

Yes, I am very proud of the hard work I put in to lose nearly forty pounds and keep it off. And I am thrilled with the progress I continue to make. Silly me for thinking that I might be able to encourage others to take charge of their lives and do what they say they want to do.

Veronica

Please do not be discouraged or discontinue encouraging others, with the myriad complexities in my life now that curtail my training time- I am so thrilled to add my time to the google spreadsheet you made! (:

[SadieKate]

No, not okay - since I am not about body image and I have never espoused that people should be a certain weight or BMI. Excess fat is NOT healthy. Why did you feel the need to bring in physical violence?

Yes, I am very proud of the hard work I put in to lose nearly forty pounds and keep it off. And I am thrilled with the progress I continue to make. Silly me for thinking that I might be able to encourage others to take charge of their lives and do what they say they want to do.

Veronica

You definitely should be proud of what you've accomplished! We're all pleased as punch for you to meet your goal but you have repeatedly implied that we should all have the same insanely low weight goal. Your reaction to the plus-size model and your pinch an inch thread saddened me. You sound like a reformed smoker but on a topic that isn't black and white.

What happened to the woman who encouraged but didn't judge? What happened to the woman who showed up for group rides and rode with the group, enjoying their company? Who never said a word about others' weight challenges other than to encourage everyone to stay positive and keep working. She's the one who got me to try Diablo for the first time and got me seeking other hills to climb. I miss her.

She also had a sense of humor and wouldn't have been deliberately obtuse about "wax your a$$." Nobody ever accused a cyclist of winning a race through physical violence. Well, OK, maybe Mark Cavendish. Oh, and Robbie McEwen.