Dara Torres's Abs and the Average Woman's Body Image

Reader Comments
Back to blog

I totally agree with Cammie. I have a photo of Dara on my desktop right now reminding me to get up off my middle-aged butt and get back into the gym. For those who find it disgusting I would guess are the ones contributing to the obesity crisis in this country. Personally, I feel the same in regards to pop psych about how eveeyone's body is beautiful. Bull..some are just down right repulsive..especially the really fat ones. There I said it..no matter how un-PC it may sound. I love Dara's body and it's something healthy to aspire to be. Now get off your fat lazy butts and workout and quit resenting those of us that do.

Jen of IL 5:40PM August 02, 2008

I resent the idea that somehow, because she has ridiculous abs that Dana Torres is not a "real" woman. I also resent the statement that "real women have curves." Real women come in all sizes, from round and voluptuous to skinny and petite. To imply that Dana Torres is any less of a real woman because of her superb athletic ability and incredibly lean bodily is kind of insulting.
All female bodies are different, and what is important that we all try to be as fit and as healthy as we can be. To say that anyone who strives for this ideal is not a real woman is not very helpful.

Tonya H of DC 5:01PM August 01, 2008

Seeing her picture on the cover of Time was disturbing-I ripped it off! If we all worked out for a living and had unlimited cash resources, yeah, we would all look better. But there is more to life. Work out as much as you can and look the best you can -- that is of course different for everyone.

Sue of 1:33PM July 31, 2008

Why do we focus on how Dara's body LOOKS instead of on how it WORKS.
Dara is an exceptional athlete, whose body reflects the combination of her genetic gifts and hard work.
It's true that very few of us will ever have access to Dara's three coaches, two stretchers, two massage therapists, a chiropractor, and a nanny, all at the cost of at least $100,000 per year.
However, the average American woman watches 5 1/4 hours of television per day.
How much t.v. do you think Dara watches?
If you look at the comments in TPP's NY Times Health blog, you will see that lots of people find Dara's body disgusting (their words). Others find it fantastic.
I find it inspirational that anyone of any age is able to transform the body that God gave them into the type of physique required to compete and win at the Olympics.
DR
http://healthhabits.wordpress.com

DR 8:03AM July 31, 2008

While Cammie from Troy seems to think people SHOULD feel bad about they way they look, I tend to think that IF you feel bad about the way you look, then you SHOULD do something about it. You're not here to be aesthetically pleasing to anyone else except yourself and even then, if you want to let go, let go.
You're the one who has to live in your own skin, after all, so you may as well be comfortable doing it. If you're not, put on a new 'outfit'.
The bottom line isn't one of aesthetics but of body image. Telling someone they SHOULD feel bad for looking like Elsie the Cow (according to whose yardstick, anyhow?) is both untrue and rude. But if looking like Elsie the Cow makes you feel uncomfortable and sad, THEN you should do something about it to improve your body image.
Telling people they should feel good or bad about the way they look buys into the whole peer pressure thing to look like a runway model at Auschwitz. That's both unattractive (certainly to me) and extremely hazardous to one's health - more so than for someone obese. Those suffering from Anorexia or other body-image-associated disorders tend to die a lot younger than someone "cow-shaped".
It's nice that you're in shape, Cammie. But you're the keeper of your own body - not your sister's keeper. If you don't approve of the way someone else looks, tough. Don't look at them. Remember, there are people out there to whom your thinness and tone is repulsive and for whom Elsie the Cow is the epitome of beauty. If Elsie's okay with it, that's all that matters. Take your offended sensibilities, and your encouragement to change the way other people feel about themselves, elsewhere.
Oh, and the latest research indicates that stress will kill you faster than obesity. This means that people who are obese and stressing about it should do something about it. But if you're not stressed about it, it may not be as healthy as it could be, but it's probably not going to kill you as fast as a thin person constantly obsessing about their own body image.
So if you're the stress-monkey, A-type personality, I'd strongly suggest learning effective relaxation techniques, regardless of your weight. And if your weight bothers you, do something about it. But don't let the jog-monkeys make you dance to their unrealistic standards.

Fatesrider of CA 8:39PM July 30, 2008

I'm not in agreement with you here. Some bodies are just better than others - that's all there is to it. I refuse to buy the PC body image cult that says that Rosie O'Donnell's body is no worse than Gisele Bundchen's. I work hard to maintain my body and am proud that it's toned from years of daily running and regular workouts. People who look like a Elsie the cow SHOULD feel bad about it, and they should be encouraged to change the way they look. They shouldn't be spoonfed pop psychology about how everyone is beautiful in her own way. Some woman are hot and some women are not. Accept it, or get off the couch and do something about it!!!

Cammie from Troy of OH 5:31PM July 30, 2008