Want a body like Jessica Biel?

24

Replies

  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    I feel like this is a good companion piece to the original article.

    http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/

    Sorry...this is garbage.

    Jessica Alba is a horrible role model for fitness. She is known to struggle with her eating disorder and has admitted to going to the gym for hours upon hours (exercise bulimia) before she had her first child. While I don't wish her any ill whatsoever, I don't think she is a good representative of what's healthy. She certainly should never be compared to Jessica Biel who has long focused on her fitness and has never subscribed to Hollywood's standard of skinny beauty.

    How is this garbage? He never said that Jessica Alba was a model for fitness. And people recover from eating disorders. Somehow I doubt Brett Contreras is so far out of the loop of the celebrity fitness world to be using actresses who still suffer from eating disorders. She is healthy. BMI is a crock of *kitten* too. No one was comparing her to Jessica Biel either. So no, I don't think the article was complete garbage by any means. How is it any different from the one I posted about Jessica Biel? He's writing about how you need to train to get a specific body... and he flat out says, let yourself get bulky before you start to adapt your program. He also says that genetics play a big part in how your body will look.

    Face it, some people don't want the super defined and muscular look, it's their body, not yours or mine. If they're healthy, it's really no one else's concern. Your comments are just as bad as the people who say things like, "Ew, muscles on a woman, gross."
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    I can understand everything he's saying, but I'm still scared to lift. As a female who is 5 foot 9, the idea of doing something that might challenge my femininity is a real mental block.

    How could lifting challenge your femininity? I don't get it.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I can understand everything he's saying, but I'm still scared to lift. As a female who is 5 foot 9, the idea of doing something that might challenge my femininity is a real mental block.

    Don't do steroids. Problem solved.
  • Melissa11412
    Melissa11412 Posts: 145 Member
    brb have to repost pic
  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    I can understand everything he's saying, but I'm still scared to lift. As a female who is 5 foot 9, the idea of doing something that might challenge my femininity is a real mental block.

    Yeah, that's ridiculous. I find women who are strong, athletic, toned and muscular incredibly sexy and feminine. Lifting, running, yoga....whatever it takes for each particular woman to achieve their goals, I am on board. Weakness does not equal femininity.
  • sharonfoustmills
    sharonfoustmills Posts: 519 Member
    Yes, but my wife won't let me have one.

    ha ha, good one, and my husband won't be getting one either (at 44 years old, and having spent the last 18 not pursuing any fitness or eating goals, I don't think I'm gonna look like JB when I get done) still worth me doing it, but I am realistic and I know I am not going to look like that
  • MzPix
    MzPix Posts: 177 Member
    Who the heck are these people and why should I care about them?

    Everyone's body is unique. Getting your own body into the best shape it can be is the goal, not trying to look like some random person in a magazine.

    Yes this.

    I think the entire philosophy and trend of comparing ourselves to celebrities is full of so much fallacy and is entirely unhealthy on both a personal and social level.
    I am all for teaching people about health and fitness, but I think it should be done in a way that never compares them to others.

    On a side note, I find it sad that we still live in a society that values culturally subjective concepts like femininity and masculinity to a damaging level. But that's entirely different soapbox of mine.
  • YogaNikki
    YogaNikki Posts: 284 Member
    I can understand everything he's saying, but I'm still scared to lift. As a female who is 5 foot 9, the idea of doing something that might challenge my femininity is a real mental block.

    If this is serious... well, there's more than a fear of lifting weights going on here.

    Just a little tidbit of information, I'm 5'8, lifting weights has only increased my feminine look. Fat wasn't feminine, skinny fat wasn't either, but now shedding fat and making sure everything underneath is nice and firm and tight, that's when the real curves started to show.

    wiab03.jpg

    The one on the left is me with more of a cardio intensive program (CrossFit) and the one on the right is me after 3-4 months of a straight strength program of lifting lots of heavy things (Back Squat - 195, Bench Press - 115, Deadlift - 215)... here's the kicker, I weighed the same in both.

    I love you for posting your pics. And your honesty that you weighed the same. Love it!
  • christa96
    christa96 Posts: 153 Member
    Thanks for this link. Good stuff in there. I've been lifting for about 8 months now and I'm not sure where I'd be without it! I love it and crave it! Do I have (or will I ever have) Jessica Biel's body after lifting? No, but I am fitter because I am lifting. Everyone is different and how your body reacts will be different from the next person. Yes, I still do cardio but let's face it... women need cardio, too! It's the crappy truth but it has to be done. To all of those skeptical, just imagine yourself with curves that you've never had and noticing muscle definition in places you never thought possible! It works! Just try it!

    Also, I've only lost maybe 10 to 12 pounds in the last eight months but the way my clothes fit is an entirely different story! Building muscle and losing inches. Makes me happy!
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    I feel like this is a good companion piece to the original article.

    http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/

    Sorry...this is garbage.

    Jessica Alba is a horrible role model for fitness. She is known to struggle with her eating disorder and has admitted to going to the gym for hours upon hours (exercise bulimia) before she had her first child. While I don't wish her any ill whatsoever, I don't think she is a good representative of what's healthy. She certainly should never be compared to Jessica Biel who has long focused on her fitness and has never subscribed to Hollywood's standard of skinny beauty.

    How is this garbage? He never said that Jessica Alba was a model for fitness. And people recover from eating disorders. Somehow I doubt Brett Contreras is so far out of the loop of the celebrity fitness world to be using actresses who still suffer from eating disorders. She is healthy. BMI is a crock of *kitten* too. No one was comparing her to Jessica Biel either. So no, I don't think the article was complete garbage by any means. How is it any different from the one I posted about Jessica Biel? He's writing about how you need to train to get a specific body... and he flat out says, let yourself get bulky before you start to adapt your program. He also says that genetics play a big part in how your body will look.

    Face it, some people don't want the super defined and muscular look, it's their body, not yours or mine. If they're healthy, it's really no one else's concern. Your comments are just as bad as the people who say things like, "Ew, muscles on a woman, gross."

    Sorry, I don't agree. He is holding Jessica Alba up as a model for fitness. Hence "get a body like Jessica Alba." And, I agree, celebrity trainers will do and say anything to take well known celebrities that people desire to look like and use them as promotional tools. That's the PR strategy, eating disorder or no. That's my point - it's irresponsible. I have a problem with a trainer who takes someone who has known problems and holds them up as an aspirational example to other women. To me, that's garbage.

    And I only compared the two Jessicas in the context of this board.

    My comments are no where near the same as "Ew, muscles on a women, gross." I'm not saying "Ew, skinny is gross." I'm not even saying Jessica Alba is gross. I'm saying that an article on how to get a body like Jessica Alba's is silly in the context of her own admission that she has repeatedly been irresponsible with her diet and exercise regime. I don't blame her, I blame the opportunist.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    keep in mind not everyone WANTS to be fit.

    Some people just don't want to be fat.

    And it's fair and reasonable to let them have that. I personally don't like that idea- but it is what it is.

    I don't consider either of the Jessica's to be a "fitness model" but they have amazing bodies- I wouldn't WANT that body- it is too small for me. And that's okay.

    But just because people want that body doesn't mean anything wrong if it's not necessarily a fit or un fit body- maybe just a not fat one. That's okay too.

    Jessica Alba's disorders are a different story all together- one could still have that body without that- so i don't think the two are necessarily combined.

    Although nom nom nom I want to keep Jessica Alba in my bed- she's gorgeous.
  • missveeoh
    missveeoh Posts: 90 Member
    I have a body like Jessica Biel's. I keep it in the fridge, but it's starting to smell.

    Hahahaha!!!!
  • EnviousDan
    EnviousDan Posts: 107 Member
    I can understand everything he's saying, but I'm still scared to lift. As a female who is 5 foot 9, the idea of doing something that might challenge my femininity is a real mental block.

    There's nothing about lifting that will harm your gender identity. It's not about being manly, it's about fitness and health! I say go for it.
  • l_oudman
    l_oudman Posts: 373 Member
    :)
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    Baby-monkey-wants-mom-hug.gif

    I love this, --AND YOU-- soooo much!
  • Timmmy40
    Timmmy40 Posts: 152 Member
    Agreed!
  • mycrazy8splus1
    mycrazy8splus1 Posts: 1,558 Member
    Yes, but my wife won't let me have one.

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I do find the 8-15 rep thing interesting. I can't progress with weights at that high rep. It just never seems to get easier. It's probably a mental thing.
  • AngelsFan91106
    AngelsFan91106 Posts: 111 Member
    Great article. I'm yet another girl who'd love to have Jessica Biel's body so I definitely lift. But I also have questions about the 8-15 reps. I do sets of 5 with longish rest periods, and I like it fine. No tears at all.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Great article. I'm yet another girl who'd love to have Jessica Biel's body so I definitely lift. But I also have questions about the 8-15 reps. I do sets of 5 with longish rest periods, and I like it fine. No tears at all.

    Same here. And that's why I love lifting at home... I can grab a book and read a page or two between sets and no one will complain that I'm hogging the equipment. At the gym, though, I felt funny about longer rests between sets.
  • pcdoctor01
    pcdoctor01 Posts: 389 Member
    The girl is bad! I picked her as my number one choice for a body that I would want. Blade Trinity was not a good movie but her doing martial arts moves during the subway scene was nice!
  • AngelsFan91106
    AngelsFan91106 Posts: 111 Member
    Same here. And that's why I love lifting at home... I can grab a book and read a page or two between sets and no one will complain that I'm hogging the equipment. At the gym, though, I felt funny about longer rests between sets.

    Man, what I'd give to be able to read, snack, or just lie down between sets. Alas, I have to work out with people at a gym. Huge sigh.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    20130523_235540_zpsb1080535.jpg

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    1374102070551_zps517008c8.jpg
  • crandos
    crandos Posts: 377 Member
    jessica biel is so hot
  • eryquem
    eryquem Posts: 66 Member
    The irony is that Jessica Biel's actual workout routine is a well rounded blend of cardio, bodyweight exercises (as well as incorporating dumbells), and yoga.

    Even though the only way to get a body like hers is to lift heavy.
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    The irony is that Jessica Biel's actual workout routine is a well rounded blend of cardio, bodyweight exercises (as well as incorporating dumbells), and yoga.

    Even though the only way to get a body like hers is to lift heavy.

    lulz

    Are you her personal trainer?
  • eryquem
    eryquem Posts: 66 Member
    She's trained by Jason Walsh. And both he and Jessica have talked with the press about what she does for exercise.

    This page goes into detail: http://www.popworkouts.com/jessica-biel-workout-secrets-thin/
  • cats847
    cats847 Posts: 131
    She's trained by Jason Walsh. And both he and Jessica have talked with the press about what she does for exercise.

    This page goes into detail: http://www.popworkouts.com/jessica-biel-workout-secrets-thin/

    "Celebrity trainer Jason Walsh has Jessica Biel do weight training, but keeps it light so that she doesn’t get big muscles."

    "We tend to use lighter weights and do more reps. We keep moving so it becomes a cardio workout, too."

    HAHAHA

    Irony indeed...what an interesting twist to the story...so what are we supposed to think now????

    Now I don't know what to believe about Jessica Biel. Maybe the grand truth will only be revealed when we find out how much she can deadlift. :tongue:
  • wannabeadancer27
    wannabeadancer27 Posts: 44
    I can understand everything he's saying, but I'm still scared to lift. As a female who is 5 foot 9, the idea of doing something that might challenge my femininity is a real mental block.

    What does height have to do with it?

    growing up half a foot taller than all of the boys and being told by society that women are supposed to be shorter and smaller than men in order to be "cute" can make one develop a complex.
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    She's trained by Jason Walsh. And both he and Jessica have talked with the press about what she does for exercise.

    This page goes into detail: http://www.popworkouts.com/jessica-biel-workout-secrets-thin/

    "Celebrity trainer Jason Walsh has Jessica Biel do weight training, but keeps it light so that she doesn’t get big muscles."

    "We tend to use lighter weights and do more reps. We keep moving so it becomes a cardio workout, too."

    HAHAHA

    Irony indeed...what an interesting twist to the story...so what are we supposed to think now????

    Now I don't know what to believe about Jessica Biel. Maybe the grand truth will only be revealed when we find out how much she can deadlift. :tongue:

    You do realize that lighter and more are all relative right?

    Ferruggia suggests lifting heavy but also suggests higher rep ranges (8-15 vs. 3-8) for women which you can safely assume you'd be using a lower weight to accomplish. You can also still lift in this rep range while using progressive overload and doing big compound lifts. What Ferruggia is saying and what Biel and her trainer are saying are not mutually exclusive.

    Besides, anyone who lifts heavy and doesn't dilly dally between sets knows that it gets your heart pumping which is a cardiovascular benefit. Biel and her trainer were very vague based on the quotes you posted. And you also have to realize that rarely are lift big and eat articles big sellers in women's fitness magazines... solid advice is found in much better places... like men's fitness magazines. Or sites like Jason's, Bret's, Nia Shanks, Sohee Lee, etc.

    Ferruggia discusses how much editors censor what's written in fitness articles:

    "I once wrote an article for a female fitness magazine and when I suggested that the readers increase the weight once the movement became too easy the editor I was working with freaked out.

    “Isn’t there something else we can tell them other than to increase the weight?”

    Yeah, tell them they should be in the kitchen, bare foot and pregnant like they belong, for Christ’s sake!"

    I am beginning to doubt people's comprehension abilities or that they even read the original article.

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