body shaming gone too far? (***warning*** Daily Fail Story ***warning***)

[Amp34]

Again. Why the gym? A healthy lifestyle which includes exercise does not need to revolve around finding time to go to a gym. It reminds me of this picture "I will not do any exercise unless I'm surrounded by sweaty men."

Go for a jog outside, ride your bike, play football with your kids. Lift some weights at home if you want to gain some muscle. Don't waste your time driving to the gym.

I used to work at a gym and the number of people I saw (generally women) that would drive to the gym, spend half an hour walking on the treadmill (usually chatting with a friend) and then drive off again was staggering. You're wasting a hour of your time (not to mention £30+ a month) to walk for half an hour?!

I'm guessing they were wondering why hey were never losing weight even though they went to the gym 3 times a week...

 

[cheesyboy]

People are a bit preoccupied in this thread with the idea that this is all about hating on thin/fit people.

Somewhat missing the point (and also being strangely defensive - are you guys truly happy with your bodies? )

 

[Vulcan]

amusing thing with that is she is often used as an example of 'curvey' women being desirable back in the day, in reality she was usually a size 8 and maybe size 10 when a bit curvey... and she actually had curves not piles of excess fat

Yeah I originally wrote that, but decided to delete it in the end. The picture does it justice.

 

[Tonester0011]

I'm guessing they were wondering why hey were never losing weight even though they went to the gym 3 times a week...

They were probably like my mum, who exercises but moans she's not getting thinner. Constantly snacking, lol.

She thinks exercising is an excuse to scoff and not worry, she was shocked how little she could eat/how much more exercise she needs to do to create a calorie deficit.

 

[Amp34]

The point here is that there is a huge difference between someone who is "normal" (i.e. look back not that far to what women and men looked like in the 50s, take Marilyn Monroe as a good example) and someone who works out at the gym multiple times in a week and eats less than the recommended amount of calories daily for their gender and also supplements that with processed protein powder.

The adverts promote the latter as the norm because that company is trying to make money from said processed protein powder.

I don't think anyone has a problem with people being a healthy weight for their height, what people have a problem with is adverts like these that promote an exaggerated version of the human body as the norm and make (especially young) women (and it should be said too, men) feel inadequate about themselves at an almost subconscious level.

And as for Hopkins... she's a self obsessed product of today's over-dramatised sense of reality society seems to have. She found a way to stay in the spotlight by vomiting vitriolic statements tempered just enough with undeniable fact that some will always take her side and those that give her a platform (as she makes them money...) are able to justify her. Oddly enough it's exactly the same tactic the extreme right and left of politics tend to use.

Whether she's "really like that" or not is irrelevant, she's got a public persona and it's all I can judge her on and I judge her as an intolerant bigot with blinkered views and some clear body issues of her own that she covers up by shouting at everybody else around her, very much like every school bully ever.

Being normal (I'll define it here as being average for your gender) really is not something to aspire to, considering a third of adults in the UK are obese and half of women are overweight!

The reality is the woman in that advert is actually likely to be far closer to the normal women's size in the 1950s than the average woman today. Women's dress sizes have gone up by 2 (12-16) and they have added 6 inches onto their waists, without the corresponding increase in height (before that excuse is used). As I've mentioned previously in this thread to to other countries in the world where more physical exercise is done and less junk food is eaten and look at the people there, they are almost identical in shape and muscle tone to the woman in that poster.

While you can complain all you like that she does not represent a normal woman that's the point, she shouldn't represent a normal woman, considering a "normal" british woman is overweight (by a couple of dress sizes) and should be eating healthier and doing more exercise.

The same is true for men, with two thirds of adult men over weight. Thy means of you look round and think you're normal then it probably means you should do some more exercise and lose some weight. Again, go to another country where physical exercise is done more and see what a normal adult male should look like. Slim, with muscle "tone" visible throughout the body, not with an overhanging beer gut...

Edit: ignore the article and actual website but look at the main image for an example of the changes over the last 50 or so years.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...-gym-waists-like-Angelina-Jolie-Not-more.html

women away from Western Europe and North America are far closer to the 1950s version of a woman than the current day UK example.

As much as the Dove "Real Woman" adverts are great at inspiring body confidence they really aren't great in inspiring a healthy lifestyle and weight. Yes some people are naturally bigger and still very healthy, unfortunately most are not.

 

[Jones]

If you are going to turn to me and say that the physiques of that woman and the man in the ad campaign are normal physiques that typical HEALTHY daily life will produce then, unless you are a (reasonably healthy eating) lumberjack and everyone you know is a lumberjack, I think you are wrong. The human body does not look like that unless you subject it to hours and hours of rigorous and repetitive exercise.

Women her age (she is only 24) could easily achieve that physique without rigorous and repetitive exercise. I see women her age like this all the time.

That is the part plenty of people just don't realise. In fact some females who are hardcore gym goers tend to be more muscular/ripped than her(such as the picture another poster posted of his gf), the figure she has in the advert doesn't require much to maintain with a good diet. Frankly I know some girls with figures like that from a bit of cardio, dance class and yoga...

I agree. She doesn't look athletic at all and hasn't got much muscle. She is just skinny. Being skinny could easily be achieved without exercise. Especially when she is only 24. I bet she doesn't train as much as some people seem to think.

 

[Amp34]

People are a bit preoccupied in this thread with the idea that this is all about hating on thin/fit people.

Somewhat missing the point (and also being strangely defensive - are you guys truly happy with your bodies? )

Personally I'm fairly happy with mine. I'd like to have a little more muscle mass (useable rather than "show") but otherwise good. It does grate on me a little the number of people that call me "skinny" though, but knowing it's generally from men with beer guts and no muscle it soon wears off...

 

[MikeTheNative]

Being normal (I'll define it here as being average for your gender) really is not something to aspire to, considering a third of adults in the UK are obese and half off women are overweight!

The reality is the woman in that advert is actually likely to be far closer to the normal women's size in the 1950s than the average woman today. Women's dress sizes have gone up by 2 (12-16) and they have added 6 inches onto their waists, without the corresponding increase in height (before that excuse is used). As I've mentioned previously in this thread to to other countries in the world where more physical exercise is done and less junk food is eaten and look at the people there, they are almost identical in shape and muscle tone to the woman in that poster.

While you can complain all you like that she does not represent a normal woman that's the point, she shouldn't represent a normal woman, considering a "normal" british woman is overweight (by a couple of dress sizes) and should be eating healthier and doing more exercise.

The same is true for men, with two thirds of adult men over weight. Thy means of you look round and think you're normal then it probably means you should do some more exercise and lose some weight. Again, go to another country where physical exercise is done more and see what a normal adult male should look like. Slim, with muscle "tone" visible throughout the body, not with an overhanging beer gut...

If only you could like posts on here. The UK has a growing a problem where it's normal to be overweight.

 

[Jones]

Whilst I agree fatties should eat less and get more exercise, I still have a little sympathy for them.

I eat a lot, and I mean a lot, and I am still only 11st. And its not like I do any exercise. I consider myself very unfit as I get knackered during a 30 min kick about on a five a side pitch. I can't think that I do that much physical exercise at all actually. Where as the mrs, well she eats less than me, walks the dog more, doesn't really drink booze (unlike me!), and is chasing around after our 14mth year old, yet she can't shift the weight that she wants to.

Someone explain me that!?

Most likely you eat less than you think and she east more than she thinks.

People often over/under estimate the amount of calories they eat.

 

[cheesyboy]

Personally I'm fairly happy with mine. I'd like to have a little more muscle mass (useable rather than "show") but otherwise good. It does grate on me a little the number of people that call me "skinny" though, but knowing it's generally from men with beer guts and no muscle it soon wears off...

Well, regardless of individuals, the issue with the poster was the body image implication. That's not a body image thing by simply having an attractive woman on the poster - it's not really that at all (she's just a head turner) it's the questioning and undermining of your body image to work on your insecurity.

We've had loads of people harping on about how much they go to the gym (you know what, they do lift bro), without realising the irony of putting so much time, effort, concentration, and money into looking like a gorilla, whilst not realising or refusing to acknowledge that they suffer from body image issues in the same way as the "bloaters" they think are bleating unnecessarily.

There's no health advantage of anaerobic exercise, certainly not over a decent level of aerobic exercise, so presumably people just do it to paper over body image issues.

It's a more positive outlet than eating 5 packets of biscuits because you hate yourself, but it's two sides of the same coin. It's amazing that people can't see the issue.

 

[Amp34]

They were probably like my mum, who exercises but moans she's not getting thinner. Constantly snacking, lol.

She thinks exercising is an excuse to scoff and not worry, she was shocked how little she could eat/how much more exercise she needs to do to create a calorie deficit.

15 minutes hard at it on a rowing machine burns about the same amount your put in by eating a regular Mars bar. Always a depressing thought!

 

[Amp34]

Well, regardless of individuals, the issue with the poster was the body image implication. That's not a body image thing by simply having an attractive woman on the poster - it's not really that at all (she's just a head turner) it's the questioning and undermining of your body image to work on your insecurity.

We've had loads of people harping on about how much they go to the gym (you know what, they do lift bro), without realising the irony of putting so much time, effort, concentration, and money into looking like a gorilla, whilst not realising or refusing to acknowledge that they suffer from body image issues in the same way as the "bloaters" they think are bleating unnecessarily.

There's no health advantage of anaerobic exercise, certainly not over a decent level of aerobic exercise, so presumably people just do it to paper over body image issues.

It's a more positive outlet than eating 5 packets of biscuits because you hate yourself, but it's two sides of the same coin. It's amazing that people can't see the issue.

So you wouldn't have an issue of the advert didn't say "be beach body ready", rather "get a fit and healthy body"?

I'll agree to an extent with your comment on body builders. Not all certainly, but a fair few will have body image issues. A fair few are likely to have taken it up after being called "skinny" when they were younger and then kept at it. Extreme bodybuilding probably isn't too healthy for you, however it's probably still healthier than sitting on the sofa and being a size 16+ woman or having a 38"+ waist (for men).

 

[Jones]

Well, regardless of individuals, the issue with the poster was the body image implication. That's not a body image thing by simply having an attractive woman on the poster - it's not really that at all (she's just a head turner) it's the questioning and undermining of your body image to work on your insecurity.

We've had loads of people harping on about how much they go to the gym (you know what, they do lift bro), without realising the irony of putting so much time, effort, concentration, and money into looking like a gorilla, whilst not realising or refusing to acknowledge that they suffer from body image issues in the same way as the "bloaters" they think are bleating unnecessarily.

There's no health advantage of anaerobic exercise, certainly not over a decent level of aerobic exercise, so presumably people just do it to paper over body image issues.

It's a more positive outlet than eating 5 packets of biscuits because you hate yourself, but it's two sides of the same coin. It's amazing that people can't see the issue.

There are health benefits.

I am the least vain person I know but I go to the gym 4 times a week. It's not to look a certain way. I'm coming up to 32 and in better shape than I was when I was 18. A few years ago I had back problems, shoulder problems and lack of energy. Lifting weights has solved all them. I will keep lifting weights as long as I can.

There is a guy in my gym who is in his late 70s. He goes three times a week and is more mobile then most his age. Most older people would be better off lifting weights than doing lots of cardio. There are many benefits.

 

[cheesyboy]

So you wouldn't have an issue of the advert didn't say "be beach body ready", rather "get a fit and healthy body"?

Personally, no. I think that would be appropriate.

Whether it's the best way of actually encouraging people to the gym is questionable (should marketers go for aspirational or inclusive?), but at least it would be relevant.

I'll agree to an extent with your comment on body builders. Not all certainly, but a fair few will have body image issues. A fair few are likely to have taken it up after being called "skinny" when they were younger and then kept at it. Extreme bodybuilding probably isn't too healthy for you, however it's probably still healthier than sitting on the sofa and being a size 16+ woman or having a 38"+ waist (for men).

The only body builder types I've known (not many, to be fair - 3) have suffered a level of body dysmorphic disorder and were bullied at school.

It's certainly a healthier response than, as I said, just stuffing your hateful face with ****. But it's on the same spectrum, so it's a little strange to see so little sympathy. Perhaps even that comes from a certain amount of insecurity (?)

 

[cheesyboy]

There are health benefits.

I am the least vain person I know but I go to the gym 4 times a week. It's not to look a certain way. I'm coming up to 32 and in better shape than I was when I was 18. A few years ago I had back problems, shoulder problems and lack of energy. Lifting weights has solved all them. I will keep lifting weights as long as I can.

There is a guy in my gym who is in his late 70s. He goes three times a week and is more mobile then most his age. Most older people would be better off lifting weights than doing lots of cardio. There are many benefits.

Yeah. I nearly put a disclaimer in about old age and muscle wasting illness, but decided not to muddy my point

You are right, but the amount of weight work needed for that is really nothing like the sort of levels many take it to.

 

[Tonester0011]

I'd love to have a gym body. My job is fairly hands on and burning 5k+ calories is fairly normal. I've got a few too many Kg around my waist but physically fit, just need to tone up.

I'm built for practical work, not gym work (would rather the later) when I see half naked men advertised I strive to be like them not berate the advert for making me feel inferior.

 

[TwsT]

No its not lol, go and look her up for yourself, I see girls like this every day at my gym.

great doesn't mean at any point that someone larger isn't:-

1. Healthy
2. Fit
3. Attractive
4. Allowed to wear beach clothing.

 

[cheesyboy]

I'd love to have a gym body. My job is fairly hands on and burning 5k+ calories is fairly normal. I've got a few too many Kg around my waist but physically fit, just need to tone up.

I'm built for practical work, not gym work (would rather the later) when I see half naked men advertised I strive to be like them not berate the advert for making me feel inferior.

Regardless of your practical response (some use it positively, many negatively), the advert does make you feel inferior (hence giving you a negative body image). And that's what people are unhappy with.

That's the "negative body image" the advert is promoting. Negative self-image, NOT a negative image of a beautiful, fit woman in the illustration. That's what everyone is misunderstanding.

 

[McGray]

This whole thing is pathetic tbh.

Humans are idiots.

 

[Tonester0011]

Should have made an edit.

Not berate the advert for supposedly making me feel inferior. They don't, there's no comparison to a blubbernaught showing how much better they are, that unfortunately is in those who lack self confidence.

The advert merly asks whether you're beach ready.