Is “Strong the New Skinny”

Posted byWonderWoman & FitPosted inMisc Blog PostTags:, , , , , , , ,

So the newest saying from around the block is “strong is the new skinny” and I realize this has been going on since CrossFit became a hit and everyone figured “fuck being thin”, let’s get huge and muscular – both men and women. I just have some two cents I would like to share about this particular saying.. and maybe some of you will agree and maybe some of you will disagree and look at it differently, doesn’t matter, this is my opinion and you can either take it or walk away with your own opinion. 

 

For one, I will admit, that people have called me both, “skinny”, “lean”, “strong”, “muscular”, so I have been on both sides of this spectrum and to be honest, I don’t consider myself “skinny” by any means (sure growing up, I was), but muscular, sure.. I mean, for a female one may agree I have a muscular body frame – and I am okay with that, judge me if it makes you happy. I particularly don’t find anything wrong with being skinny or being more muscular or perhaps being both, and if that bothers you, well you are on the WRONG blog page. 

 

I have lived by: being skinny doesn’t make you weak, and being strong doesn’t mean you can’t be skinny (I know we have this thought that muscular men and women are all bulking looking and have a giant amount of mass) but I know plenty of leaner people who are just as muscular & have strength gains. So, this whole chitter chatter about being skinny is no longer attractive , is bullshit (and yes, this is what that saying means to me) it means we are saying, skinny girls are out and the strong ones are now in (same goes for men). Well I am sorry to be a total douche bag, but before this whole let’s get big and tough happened, we were all saying “fat is not cute” and being skinny makes you attractive — anyone else remember those days? so now, I have taken notice that people on social media seem to making these depressing statements that are basically nailing skinny females (and possibly men) to a wall, saying they are no longer the cool thing and now if you want in the cool crowd, become a stronger person and have abs and have quads that seem more defining… oh gosh much, much more. Well I hate to break it to you, it really isn’t any of your damn business how someone chooses to have their body frame/body image, it never was your business, so if you make it your business, then you are the PROBLEM. We can make our bodies our business and if you choose to be thin and run marathons, cool or if you choose to be muscular and more defining and do bodybuilding, that is cool too! BUT neither one of those physiques is BETTER than the other. Everyone has preferences, doesn’t mean the other side is wrong or ugly, or should be looked down upon. I hate when people talk shit about someone’s else choice of physique, we can’t possibly think that everyone in the world should be the same. 

 

This is me saying being strong is not the new skinny, being skinny doesn’t make you weak and you don’t have to choose between the two, just be you! Thanks for reading! feel free to share, comment, like and follow.

 

Your Fitness Blogger,

Shay-lon xxoo

Published by WonderWoman & Fit

You can assume I have a love for fitness & a love for Wonderwoman -- both assumptions are correct. I am an ACSM certified personal trainer of 8+ years -- I currently reside in Ohio and live a simplistic life at the age of 29. If I am not lifting, I am eating, sleeping, traveling, exploring, or movie watching. I recently moved during a pandemic, now I am focused on self care (self love), building a business of my own in personal training, becoming a professional blogger, starting a podcast and doing things that make me happy! I am a sister, daughter, and loyal friend --- I love everyone's dog and I am on a mission to pet as many dogs as possible everywhere I go! LOL. My mission is to talk health (physical/mental), design programming, motivational speak, learn, grow, prosper, build others and make as many people smile as possible because I want nothing more than to be the change I seek in the world.

42 thoughts on “Is “Strong the New Skinny””

  3. I agree 100%!!
    Strong, skinny, not skinny, overweight by conventional dubious standards, as long as you are healthy and happy than you are good!
    There is a lot to be said for not attempting to fit your body into unrealistic “ideal” body shapes whatever they may be!

    I love that you are saying it…more people should…

    I am totally going to reblog you 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Heyyy! How ya been?
      I am so happy you commented and agreed, because it is nice to see that someone understands my thoughts and know where I am coming from. It is true, being strong doesnt have to define you as better and vice versa. None of the above is better than the other, each athlete has a use for their body type. I will be sure to check it out when you post it, glad you are for body positive! — make sure to comment me when you post it 😀

      Shay-lon

      Liked by 1 person

    2. I have always been annoyed at the “strong not skinny” memes 😀 it was great to see I am not the only one!! It would be so much easier if we didn’t spend our lives trying to fit into “ideals” that don’t suit our body type!!
      You inspired me to finished my Body Positivity post… 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    3. RIGHT! you are definitely not alone, and although I know some people may disagree with this post, this is how I feel about this whole damn meme.. it is bodyshaming at its finest in my opinion. People don’t see it that way because it is supposed to be “upliftng” and motivating, but how does it motivate the opposite b0dy type? it doesn’t, it is basically taking another body type and comparing to one and saying one is better than the other and I have always thought it was bullshit. I am glad this post could inspire you to finish yours, I just finished reading your most recent post and loved it, you definitely did a great job displaying your thoughts on being body positive not only for yourself but toward others.

      Shay-lon

      Liked by 1 person

    4. Most of the”fitspiration” memes out there are basically body shaming in the guise of motivation!
      Being inspired to better yourself in your own way is one thing but one size definitely doesn’t fit all!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Strength is something everyone should reach for. This does not mean you need to deadlift or squat hundreds of pounds. Having the strength to tackle everyday tasks is sufficient enough (picking up babies from the ground, picking up furniture and moving it, etc.). My thoughts are that being weak in common everyday tasks makes someone helpless. Therefore, being strong is vital to your health and everyday success.

    The other point you made was that being strong does not have a certain look either, which is completely true. The biggest bodybuilders on the planet might be damn strong, but what use are they if they can’t even fit through a door? I have also seen big looking dudes not be able to lift anything other than a weight, which makes them slightly useless as well.

    Good point on the article. As far as slogans go though, yes “strong is the new skinny” if people want to take a saying and run with it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes, while I agree with your first paragraph, my article was not aiming to discuss why strength is important and why someone should consider being strong, I think we all can agree that strength is important.
      My only point of this article was to discuss my thoughts on the bodyshaming part of it , the negatives, the shit I see on social media that disappoints me..
      I understand your point on someone with muscle who can’t lift.. or fit through a door, but I don’t care about that particularly because some just want to look the part and that is fine by me, and if they have muscles that are considered “useless”, well eh.. who I am to care, not my body.. if that is what they want, then let them run with it. Anymore most people I know want to look the part and don’t care about being extremely strong..

      Anyways,
      we agree to disagree that is fine by me 😀 thanks for sharing feedback.

      Like

    1. Thank you Lynne!
      You know as much as I do, I am all for body positive and I am all for making women and men both feel as though it isn’t a one size fit all gig, and that it isn’t another person’s business how you mold your body as long as you are healthy and like it.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Good post. Everyone is built different genetically and I think that embracing who you are and being confident in your own skin is as sexy and attractive as you can get

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Heey there just wanted tto give you a quick heads up.

    The words in your post seem to be running off thee screen in Intertnet explorer.
    I’m not sure if this is a formatting isssue or something to doo with browser compatibility butt I thought I’d post to let
    you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed
    soon. Cheers

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hey! Thank you for mentioning this, I did not know this and I appreciate it, I will try to figure some things out so it can eliminate or reduce the issue! much appreciated!

      Shay-lon

      Like

    3. This! Quality over quantity. Some people are genetically gifted, being naturally super strong or some people train to be that strong but society puts you down if you don’t instantly lift weights that fills the eyes.

      Liked by 2 people

  13. I would spit few fires about people being strong doing crossfit but that would turn me into another douche amongst many, I respect the choice but being strong is very broad, taking example on how you finished your post is one proof that it comes in many shapes and sizes. Biologically we tend to choose more attractive physical features and on the other hand we are free to be what we want to be, but the society is too blind that it hurts, their unrealistic standards are researched based on eating one apple a day on gratuitous amount of testosterone because people are afraid of lorries/trucks because that’s alpha and being alpha is cool (sarcasm). I tried to teach stupid but that’s impossible and any time of the day I still clean my shoes on the front door. Nice post!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you thank you 🙂
      Hey no worries about spitting fire over here, we like the honest thoughts and never feel like you can’t be honest on my post. While I don’t want anyone to get offended or hurt by comments, I always am open to honest thoughts and opinions as long as they aren’t written rudely. If that makes sense?
      Anyhow, I consider strength to be not what a person looks like, and always have thought that way, and while we base it off how big someone’s arms are, it is very well proven that just because he/she has big arms doesn’t mean they are “strong” by societies standards. Good awesome feedback, enjoyed it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Really good read. I may be in a similar boat in that I have been on both sides of the fence with this.

    Be comfortable with how you are; as long as it’s not a detriment to your health. Or just be comfortable with what your goal is.

    Strength isn’t just a physical attribute 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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