Stop demeaning female bodybuilders

Also I would like to point out that contrary to popular belief you can cut weight and build muscle at the same time. Now don't get me wrong, you won't make the muscle gains you would from bulking, but your muscles will grow as you lose fat. I know as I've dropped 30 lbs of fat and increased my muscle mass exponentially as well as my lifts.

Could it be the fat is gone and now muscle is more visible??

A lot of people only work out so they will look more attractive to others. So when they see people who are taking physical fitness to such an extreme they can't understand why they are doing it if it is not making them more attractive to others. They just don't understand the goals and motivations of a bodybuilder.

Note: To clarify I do not mean to say that bodybuilders are not attractive in general, but the competition/stage look with the thick glossy tans and the lights and the hiked up swimsuits and the low body fat levels that are not normally maintained, that look, while I understand it has its purpose, is not attractive to many people and is kind of freaky. So when average people see it on a poster or wherever they make rude comments even though they shouldn't.
I have a friend at my gym who does figure competitions and I think she looks really good every time I see her person, but I did see some of her competition pics one time and in my head my initial reaction was 'yikes!'

Oh hey there. I wrote this article!

I'm glad some of you enjoyed it and that it's provoked some conversation. Love seeing some of the responses for this.

I agree it's just as wrong to body-shame someone who is overweight as much as someone with a bodybuilder's physique - I like that someone pointed that out. They're very different situations, but the principle still stands.

Nevermind. Nothing to see here. Move along people.

I agree about not being demeaning towards anyone, regardless of their bodies. Calling someone's body "disgusting" is really, really rude, and I associate that kind of thing with internet trolls.

Needless to say, that goes both way. Overweight people shaming those who are thin, thin shaming the obese. Slim women shaming female bodybuilders, and female bodybilders referring to just about everybody as "not in shape".

I don't dislike female bodybuilders at all, but I have experienced a few times that they are critical of others and have a low bar for calling others "skinnyfat". Some love to promote the "strong is the new skinny" and how health is more important, although some appear to be obsessed. Sometimes it's accompanied by random commandments, telling strangers over social media to "lift properly girls!"
In a discussion about weight goals one fitness woman gave me a strategy as to minimize my body fat. I wrote that I wasn't really interested in going below 18% and that 22-23% was fine by me. It then turned into a discussion where I felt like I had to defend my goal, and the simple reason is that I think a woman's body is more attractive with a bit more fat on it, and secondly, that going down to 18% bodyfat, a woman's fertility gets compromised. These are really just facts, but I was called "hateful".

I am fine with whatever other people want for their own bodies, as long as they are fine with me handling mine. One person's goal is not everybody's goal, and that's ok.

you talked trash online someone came over and broke your face.

Oh hey there. I wrote this article!

I'm glad some of you enjoyed it and that it's provoked some conversation. Love seeing some of the responses for this.

I agree it's just as wrong to body-shame someone who is overweight as much as someone with a bodybuilder's physique - I like that someone pointed that out. They're very different situations, but the principle still stands.

Thank you for the article. It was good perspective a little shamming on my part. I don't like the look of overly built people, its a little terrifying to me. I can respect the effort and dedication, but I used to be one of the people who'd say "ew" in my head. I try really hard not to comment on people's bodies negatively because I don't like to be negatively commented on. Amending my thinking, however.

Could someone explain the spray tan thing though? I think that has a lot to do with my initial response of "ew". People aren't supposed to be orange....

First of all, original author, great article. I also liked the one it linked to about what "toning" means.

Second, as to spray tan, darker skin just helps show muscle definition better.

Also I would like to point out that contrary to popular belief you can cut weight and build muscle at the same time. Now don't get me wrong, you won't make the muscle gains you would from bulking, but your muscles will grow as you lose fat. I know as I've dropped 30 lbs of fat and increased my muscle mass exponentially as well as my lifts.

Did you start fairly recently?

My thoughts generally:
It's a tad rude to directly tell someone their physique is ugly, unless the have specifically asked for opinions.

However, I don't think people should be prevented from expressing their opinions in other situations. Yes, even those opinions that may offend others.

I think people that intentionally try and make their body a specific way should accept that not everyone likes it.
Just as someone in car 'modding' may find that when out of their 'scene' others think they've made it look horrible, so may others regarding bodybuilders.

As it goes, I'm not a fan of the 'competition' look for female body builders, but generally do like the "off season" appearance .

Oh hey there. I wrote this article!

I'm glad some of you enjoyed it and that it's provoked some conversation. Love seeing some of the responses for this.

I agree it's just as wrong to body-shame someone who is overweight as much as someone with a bodybuilder's physique - I like that someone pointed that out. They're very different situations, but the principle still stands.

Thank you for the article. It was good perspective a little shamming on my part. I don't like the look of overly built people, its a little terrifying to me. I can respect the effort and dedication, but I used to be one of the people who'd say "ew" in my head. I try really hard not to comment on people's bodies negatively because I don't like to be negatively commented on. Amending my thinking, however.

Could someone explain the spray tan thing though? I think that has a lot to do with my initial response of "ew". People aren't supposed to be orange....

First of all, original author, great article. I also liked the one it linked to about what "toning" means.

Second, as to spray tan, darker skin just helps show muscle definition better.

Thank you for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it. The "toning" one was much more well-received than I had anticipated so glad to hear your thoughts there too.