Differentiating fitness role models from unhealthy comparisons

[Grizzy]

So I watch a *lot* of Netflix. I often try to find a series that has a physically strong/fit female character as an inspiration.

 

I within the last month finished Battlestar Galactica, and Starbuck was my idol. I figured she had the same base body type as me; wide-ish hips and shoulders, not-gigantic-boobs, just much more muscle and far less fat.

 

 

I mean, I wish my shoulders were rounded and muscled like that. I love the scenes where Kara is working out and doing a bunch of push-ups or something. It makes me want to do that.

 

And then, more recently, my fantasy-netflix-fitness-role-model has been Phoebe from Charmed; she does a lot of martial-arts in the show, but I'm not sure how much of it is actually done by the actress. And her body type is definitely nothing like mine. I will never have boobs like that.

 

So it's really hard for me to tell whether I'm actually looking up to characters as inspirations to work out and eat right, or if it's just thinly-veiled thinspiration that will make me feel like crap about the way my body looks.

 

Thoughts?

[CrisciMalosh]

It truly depends... if the actress is genuinely of a similar body type, then I see little harm, and maybe even some good to it... but if not... then that is a different story. It depends on the slant you take when comparing yourself to the other woman. If you keep it positive, then admire away.

[Vintage]

Hmm. I always appreciated the BSG scenes that had one of the women kicking ass or generally being physically tough. Boomer/Sharon/Athena has a great body as well and they did show that they worked at it. 

 

But overall, I look at it the same way I do most things on TV or in movies. There are characters whose qualities I admire (not just appearance, but athleticism or personality) and the fact that that's an actor pretending doesn't affect my ability to admire the character. I just differentiate the character and actor in my mind. The actor's job is to make it look like they're physically tough/ strong/ smart/ heroic/ funny/ etc. But the character is the one I'm admiring and finding inspiring.

 

But it does help to have real people role models. 

[Genni]

As long as you bear in mind that it is her job to look like that and she has the time and money to make it happen. I personally do it when I'm having a big butt day. I look up Beyonce or something and go "it's cool, having a big butt is sexy as hell".

Also I think muscle goals are healthier than skinny goals, which is what it sounds like you are doing.

[obax]

I agree with Vintage that you can admire the character without necessarily admiring the actor (not that admiring the actor is a bad thing, though, you just have to realize that it's their job to look as they do, and for a lot of regular people, it's more like a hobby, or just one part of a busy and complicated life, and therefore harder and more time-consuming to achieve those results).

 

I tend to admire performance abilities rather than looks, though, so I admire Starbuck too, but for the character's personality and ability to constantly kick ass (not that I don't admire her physical strength, but that's secondary to what she actually does with her strength). The actor may be faking the capabilities of the character by having off-camera assists or weights made of cardboard rather than iron or whatever (which might be the case even if the actor is capable of doing all the things the character can do, since the character only does it once while the actor does it through multiple takes), but that doesn't mean you can't admire and strive to be like the character you see on TV.

 

And as far as I'm concerned, Starbuck is a fine role model to have! I hope one day I can kick ass half as well as she can!

[Polaris]

One of my fitness role models is Claudia Black. Well, role model as in, I don't know what kind of exercises she does or what kind of a person she is - but when I think about what kind of abs I'd eventually like, I think this. I wouldn't mind her arms either. (Or her face, but that's harder to achieve. ) I don't think it's unhealthy to have a clear, visual goal of where you want to end up. But it is important to realize that it'll take time and blood sweat, and the result will probably not be exactly the same.

 

I mean, I know I'll never look like Claudia Black. I'm shorter and have way more hips and I don't tan, and she also seems like a naturally lean/thin person, which I'm very much not. But looking at those pictures gives me a direction to head into, and I know I'll be happy even if I'll only get partially there. And then I'll buy kick-ass leather pants too.

[DirtyLittleSecrets]

Buffy is a huge reason I got into working out. I wanted to be as physically capable as I possibly could and found that having Slayers as my role models was hugely inspiring. Buffy and Faith both have much more slender body types than I ever will but that doesn't worry me in the least. 

I love my body for what it is and what it is capable of. I'm alright with having a little extra body fat and if my thighs get bigger as I work out it isn't an issue (unless I have to buy new pants). 

 

Role models only cross into being thinspiration when you're no longer doing the actions for yourself but to create this ideal body you've fetishized. You'll know when it starts to cross over into something that isn't healthy 

[katpower]

I have nothing to add to this conversation, except that Starbuck and Claudia Black/Aeryn are my fitness inspirations too... yay scifi girls!

[TillyD]

Gina Torres (Zoe on Firefly) and Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck) have been my fitness role models from the beginning   But, as someone else said, I keep in mind that they are paid to look that way, and have more time/money than I do to get there.  However, when I see them do something (like the pushups, pullups) it motivates me.  Not necessarily because I want to look exactly like them, but because they're showing that women can be strong, and sexy.  Role models are fine, as long as there aren't unrealistic expectations. 

 

I'd rather have those women as role models than an anorexic model.  I mean what the hell is a "thigh gap"?!  Don't look at these women and aspire to look like them, rather aspire to be like them.  There's a huge difference.

[CrisciMalosh]

Thigh gap is an unfortunate new trend where when your knees are together, your thighs do not touch.... it is just begging girls to go anorexic, IMO

[TillyD]

Thigh gap is an unfortunate new trend where when your knees are together, your thighs do not touch.... it is just begging girls to go anorexic, IMO

 

Sorry, the question was sarcastic (can we get a sarcasm font please? )  But, I could not agree more.  If I see one more meme about thigh gaps on Pinterest I may have to strangle someone.  And people wonder why women have body image issues?  It makes me sad...

[CrisciMalosh]

No kidding, my little cousin is sooooo very proud of her thigh gap, without realizing that she looks like a crack whore.... (which she really does, unfortunately using drugs runs in her arc of the family)

 

I personally love the fact that I have a big butt, and thighs that accentuate it. =D  I used to hate my legs though, because my grandmother thought that I was fat (when I was teeny, because my thighs touched, le sigh) 

 

I figured you were being sarcastic... but there are also ways to lace poison towards the subject with an explanation =D

[MariahSnow]

Thigh gap is an unfortunate new trend where when your knees are together, your thighs do not touch.... it is just begging girls to go anorexic, IMO

 

Sorry, the question was sarcastic (can we get a sarcasm font please? )  But, I could not agree more.  If I see one more meme about thigh gaps on Pinterest I may have to strangle someone.  And people wonder why women have body image issues?  It makes me sad...

 

I actually have to purposely look away when I see that shit on Pinterest. That place is one giant fail for fitness advice, and I see my cousin pinning up everything like, "do these exercises to trim your midsection!" 

 

My face starts hurting from all the times I *facepalm* on Pinterest. 

[Ataraxia]

I feel it is more powerful to have a role model for their inner qualities.  If you emulate someone with great inner qualities and have fitness goals, you will get in shape.