Search

#yestosweatyselfies

Iona Bruce
Dec 13, 2015
2 min read

I love magazines. I definitely have a little bit of an obsession. But health & fitness mags have never made it into my collection. Why? because their portrayal of women exercising is ridiculous.

Because us ladies would much rather just elegantly pose with some pink (of course) dumbbells.

TAKEN FROM WOMEN’S FITNESS MAGAZINE

Or smize whilst holding an exercise band.

TAKEN FROM WOMEN’S HEALTH MAGAZINE

Or y’know, just stand fiercely with our hair done all nice. Right?

TAKEN FROM WOMEN’S HEALTH & FITNESS MAGAZINE

And of course we all have our profesh make-up on & show off our totally not photoshopped perfect abs whilst we're at it.

I’m sorry, but none of these images say to me, check this awesome woman out. She’s killing it! She’s sweaty and red-faced and feeling awesome about being healthy. These photos say to me that women can’t really exercise. They’re not strong enough. But it’s ok people. It’s ok. They can look really nice whilst they stand next to the equipment. Well, some women can anyway. Just the ones that have 6-packs and ‘pretty’ faces. Don’t they look pretty?

Well, I’m fed up of this crap. I do not have abs. I don’t look like I’ve just come from the hair salon after going for a jog. If I chose to wear make-up, it does not remain flawless after I've pushed myself.

This is what I look like.

Red. Sweaty. Puffed.

Determined. Proud. Strong.

Being fit and healthy doesn’t necessarily mean you have muscles bulging from every part of your body. Being fit and healthy means that you look after your body, you take part in exercise that you enjoy, you eat well. What you wear or what you look like is irrelevant. And most importantly, being healthy is being proud of what you individually achieve and feeling fantastic about your body, whatever shape it is.

Let's change the way people view women & exercise. Let's celebrate it, let's encourage not exclude, let's build each other up not feel better by putting someone else down.

Let's share our beautiful post-workout photos. No photoshop, no filters. Just sweat, tears, messy hair, red faces and everything else that comes with moving our bodies. No more unrealistic visions of women sitting pretty.