Re: images of women in body-building mags

[Guest guest]

That is something that I struggled with during my challenge. I did

not see a woman in the before/afters that I wanted to look like,

because I wanted to be muscular and athletic not really toned or

skinny. And muscle mags were no help because steroids just aren't my

thing, ya know.

But I created my own look. It was difficult, but not I reap the

benefits of a lean, strong, athletic, feminine, muscular physique and

I get compliments from both men and women that this is a look they

admire and find attractive.

And as far as doing bodybuilding? It ain't happening here. Even the

women who " CLAIM " to be " ALL NATURAL " have done steroids at some

point and that is obvious in their physiques. Instead, I picked to

compete in the Galaxy Competition which is a test of strength,

agility, coordination, balance, and physique symmetry, tone, and

balance. www.galaxycompetition.com should give you some women to

aspire to.

-

> a, Tina, and others:

>

> thx for verbalizing a lot of my thoughts re the images of women in

> bodybuilding mags. I find them to be a real turn-off; not because

of their

> bodies--they all look great to me and I respect their effort and

dedication

> in achieving their fitness goals whether or not I would want to go

quite as

> low on my body fat (not today's issue!!!). Rather, I find the

poses,

> outfits, etc, to be disturbing. These magazines frequently seem

more like

> soft-core porn than informational or inspiring. I much prefer to

read

> magazines such as Fitness or Fit, even though I find that the

actual

> information they provide is not as oriented towards strength

training as I

> would like.

>

> ellen

[Guest guest]

> a, Tina, and others:

>

> thx for verbalizing a lot of my thoughts re the images of women in

> bodybuilding mags. I find them to be a real turn-off; not because

> of their bodies--they all look great to me and I respect their

> effort and dedication in achieving their fitness goals

Just so everyone's clear, *this* is what I was reinforcing . . .

> Rather, I find the poses, outfits, etc, to be disturbing. These

> magazines frequently seem more like soft-core porn than

> informational or inspiring.

.. . . and *this* I have no argument with!

Andy

[Guest guest]

> a, Tina, and others:

>

> thx for verbalizing a lot of my thoughts re the images of women in

> bodybuilding mags. I find them to be a real turn-off; not because

> of their bodies--they all look great to me and I respect their

> effort and dedication in achieving their fitness goals

Just so everyone's clear, *this* is what I was reinforcing . . .

> Rather, I find the poses, outfits, etc, to be disturbing. These

> magazines frequently seem more like soft-core porn than

> informational or inspiring.

.. . . and *this* I have no argument with!

Andy

[Guest guest]

> Instead, I picked to

> compete in the Galaxy Competition which is a test of strength,

> agility, coordination, balance, and physique symmetry, tone, and

> balance. www.galaxycompetition.com should give you some women to

> aspire to.

Yeah, some very attractive women there, although I still don't find a

vein popping out on a woman's arm or neck attractive. :-)

Andy

[Guest guest]

Rather, I find the poses, outfits, etc, to be disturbing. These magazines frequently seem more like soft-core porn...

Muscle and Firness cover frequently uses a porn actress who transitioned into modeling. Saw an interview of her during which she admitted that she didn't need to workout. Not that I mind who is on the cover of mags - it would just be nice to think that your hard work is going to get you an achievable body and that the 'standard' isn't someone who only has to use a dumbell as a modeling prop. Leaner.

[Guest guest]

Uh . . . she asked for opinions.

> Andy,

> Get over it, will ya. Yea, most men like a " softer " look on women,

but you

> seem to be obsessing over this issue. Let the women have whatever

goals they

> want, and if they achieve them, they can decide if they actually

like it for

> themselves. By the way, most women seem to like the washboard

look on men,

> so going by your line of reasoning, there must be something wrong

with your

> girlfriend ( I doubt it, but it kind of hurts to hear it put that

way, doesnt

> it) If she really loves you, she would support whatever fitness

goals you

> have for yourself. OR , Maybe she is just lowering the bar a

little for you

> by telling you she doesn't like that look anyway.. I could go on,

but my

> point is, just because an opinion exists, that doesn't mean you

have to share

> it or pretend it is some kind of universal truth. Everyone has

feelings and

> everyone is different. Mark

[Guest guest]

> the poses are classical, they existed before the females

> got involved in the sport. I am sorry soft core porn involves

> a little more then flexing muscles in a g-string. this argument

> is just emotional bias. I dont find the appearance of professional

> bodybuilders flexing on stage disturbing anymore then I find the

> appearance of obese people walking down the street disturbing.

Good point, Deus. I find it interesting that stereotypical female

poses in those magazines are criticized - yet the men are never

criticized for showing off their muscles and making like Hercules,

which is *also* a stereotype.

Andy

[Guest guest]

Well said, .

> Rather, I find the poses, outfits, etc, to be disturbing. These

magazines

> frequently seem more like soft-core porn...

>

> Muscle and Firness cover frequently uses a porn actress who

transitioned into

> modeling. Saw an interview of her during which she admitted that

she didn't

> need to workout. Not that I mind who is on the cover of mags - it

would just

> be nice to think that your hard work is going to get you an

achievable body

> and that the 'standard' isn't someone who only has to use a dumbell

as a

> modeling prop. Leaner.

[Guest guest]

Fair point(s).

Andy ;-)

> >Good point, Deus. I find it interesting that stereotypical female

> >poses in those magazines are criticized - yet the men are never

> >criticized for showing off their muscles and making like Hercules,

> >which is *also* a stereotype.

>

> Because the stereotypical female pose is meant to tittillate, while

the stereotypical male pose is meant to show strength. Two very

different things. You very rarely see males posing in thong bottoms

that show off the outline of their weiners, but you almost always see

women posing in tiny bikinis with their nipples protruding.

>

> Tina

[Guest guest]

> Its all a matter of appropriateness, IMO. Large mammaries with

> protruding nipples that are meant to tittillate are appropriate in

> a skin mag, not in a fitness mag.

It's not appropriate anywhere. A man should be titillated by his

wife alone. (OK, I won't say anymore about this.)

Andy