Why do whites women become fitness obsessed as they older?

[Anonymous]

A diagnosis of pre-diabetes did it to me. 10 years later, lots of exercise and my blood sugar levels are back to normal.

Diabetes is common in Pakistan and more women die from it then men. It is good that more women are exercising there now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because exercise is healthy and there is a strong health culture in America, especially in the upper classes.

Also self discipline is seen as personally virtuous.

Our husbands work out also. Our families take sporty, hearty, active vacations. We socialize with our friends in running groups, hiking, and soul cycle classes, etc.

We put sporty outdoorsy stickers on our cars.

It is a whole culture.

everything is true except that exercise is not particularly healthy. however it is essential for this culture to belive so because that's the essential ingredient of this new religion - a belief that virtuous people exercise and will be healthy while rotten people will be punished for their lack of exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pakistani American here.

White American women generally are expected to look "sexy" well into their older years. There is no other alternative for them in society as they age. Obviously their bodies age and the only thing they can think of to stop the hands of time is to work out so much so that they retain their 00 figures from their twenties. This doesn' make them look young but its better in their POV than the alternative.

In other cultures women also have the pressure to look young but it usually stops after marriage and kids. Once middle age sets in, women happily embrace the role of the matriarch of the family and don't go out of their way to compete with their 22 year old daughters.

In America a woman must perpetually look nubile and 22.

Or else theyre invisible.

I don’t buy the, “I work out to feel good” argument. I work out and yes, I have a sense of accomplishment but that is tertiary to the main objective of being thinner and having more clothing options. I can do this because I have daily household help. There was no way in hell I had time for this when I didn’t have household help. I have to get the kids ready for school school, drop them and look decent at work and then be back home for them and to spend at least 45 minutes cooking a decent meal. Sandwiches aren’t a thing in my foodie culture.

Times are changing in Pakistan as well. My friend that just moved back said the mom’s pick up their kids at Karachi Grammar School dressed in Lululemon and that the gyms and personal trainers are much better than Equinox. More and more women are wearing western clothes that are not as forgiving as eastern clothes. You can only hide your fat arms and love handles in a loose tunic....not lululemon.

Perhaps it’s health or perhaps it’s the “images” pervasive in society that our husbands are exposed to that our fathers didn’t see as much in their generation? The ideal beauty is becoming thinner and thinner. I.e. Angelina Jolie and Amal Clooney. Even the Bollywood actresses are
much are now then a generation ago.

So what if you don’t buy it? A number of women are saying that. My DH says the same thing. Believe what you will.

[Anonymous]

Not to mention, more money = more free time to exercise.

[Anonymous]

I hate exercising but have started to do it again regularly to stay healthy as I get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A white girlfriend I have is gorgeous. Hottest girl in our group. She turned 30 last year and was on a health/fitness kick she’s whittled down from a size 4 to 0 and looks very muscular and thin. Face looks gaunt. Youthful glow gone. Why why? She still had so many good years left!

it's not white women, it's a subset of american whites. it basically serves as a substitute for religion and has a lot in common with puritanism.

I used to think this too, but now that I am 43 and spend all day at a desk job, fitness is the only thing that stands between me being miserable and in chronic pain eventually. I think older white women like me are just fortunate to have the time and money to be able to focus on fitness. I wish everyone could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because exercise is healthy and there is a strong health culture in America, especially in the upper classes.

Also self discipline is seen as personally virtuous.

Our husbands work out also. Our families take sporty, hearty, active vacations. We socialize with our friends in running groups, hiking, and soul cycle classes, etc.

We put sporty outdoorsy stickers on our cars.

It is a whole culture.

everything is true except that exercise is not particularly healthy. however it is essential for this culture to belive so because that's the essential ingredient of this new religion - a belief that virtuous people exercise and will be healthy while rotten people will be punished for their lack of exercise.

Are you always this nasty? It's an ugly thing. I'm white and I exercise because I enjoy exercising! I swim and go to yoga everyday. My husband is Bangladeshi and he exercises too! Your culture can be so overbearing. Just leave us alone. Some Americans are naturally thin and we enjoy exercising. I have a disease that causes joint pain and I've had it all throughout my 20s. Swimming and yoga help with my pain immensely. Exercising is healthy. Perhaps you should look into volunteering instead of trashing your "friends ".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because exercise is healthy and there is a strong health culture in America, especially in the upper classes.

Also self discipline is seen as personally virtuous.

Our husbands work out also. Our families take sporty, hearty, active vacations. We socialize with our friends in running groups, hiking, and soul cycle classes, etc.

We put sporty outdoorsy stickers on our cars.

It is a whole culture.

everything is true except that exercise is not particularly healthy. however it is essential for this culture to belive so because that's the essential ingredient of this new religion - a belief that virtuous people exercise and will be healthy while rotten people will be punished for their lack of exercise.

Sorry lad, you're crazy.

[Anonymous]

I played soccer from 5-22 years old. I ran track in high school as well as playing soccer. My team was very competitive--National Champions, etc. Once I stopped playing, I needed that exercise fix. Since soccer requires incredible amounts of endurance (particularly for a midfielder which I was)--that easily parlayed into distance running. I ran 7 marathons in my 20s-early 30s.

I have always lifted weights. I am a true mesomorph. I have never been 'skinny'. I have olive skin and a round face so I have never looked 'weathered'.

I married somebody that also works out and is very into fitness. We share the need to get our daily workout in and support the other so they have the time to do it.

I am now in my late 40s and I get compliments on my 'tone' and lack of cellulite. I no longer do as much running. I really vary my routine. I spin, bootcamp, lift weights, pilates and run 5 miles 2-3 times per week. I walk a lot. I always take one full rest day per week, but I work out hard the other 6 days.

I am strong and don't have aches or pains. Staying fit gives me energy. I am prone to anxiety/stress so exercise is a HUGE part of my mental health and mood elevator.

I have boys that we are very active with. Family vacations always involve some hiking, kayaking, running, climbing, biking, etc. My boys have been shown a healthy lifestyle with nutrition and activity.

So, long story short, I have always been involved in fitness. I do follow the latest workouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because exercise is healthy and there is a strong health culture in America, especially in the upper classes.

Also self discipline is seen as personally virtuous.

Our husbands work out also. Our families take sporty, hearty, active vacations. We socialize with our friends in running groups, hiking, and soul cycle classes, etc.

We put sporty outdoorsy stickers on our cars.

It is a whole culture.

everything is true except that exercise is not particularly healthy. however it is essential for this culture to belive so because that's the essential ingredient of this new religion - a belief that virtuous people exercise and will be healthy while rotten people will be punished for their lack of exercise.

Are you always this nasty? It's an ugly thing. I'm white and I exercise because I enjoy exercising! I swim and go to yoga everyday. My husband is Bangladeshi and he exercises too! Your culture can be so overbearing. Just leave us alone. Some Americans are naturally thin and we enjoy exercising. I have a disease that causes joint pain and I've had it all throughout my 20s. Swimming and yoga help with my pain immensely. Exercising is healthy. Perhaps you should look into volunteering instead of trashing your "friends ".

what culture are you alluding to as overbearing? i don't think that poster said anything about a culture and nothing close to south asia.

[Anonymous]

Because thin is more attractive. Sorry, but it’s true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I played soccer from 5-22 years old. I ran track in high school as well as playing soccer. My team was very competitive--National Champions, etc. Once I stopped playing, I needed that exercise fix. Since soccer requires incredible amounts of endurance (particularly for a midfielder which I was)--that easily parlayed into distance running. I ran 7 marathons in my 20s-early 30s.

I have always lifted weights. I am a true mesomorph. I have never been 'skinny'. I have olive skin and a round face so I have never looked 'weathered'.

I married somebody that also works out and is very into fitness. We share the need to get our daily workout in and support the other so they have the time to do it.

I am now in my late 40s and I get compliments on my 'tone' and lack of cellulite. I no longer do as much running. I really vary my routine. I spin, bootcamp, lift weights, pilates and run 5 miles 2-3 times per week. I walk a lot. I always take one full rest day per week, but I work out hard the other 6 days.

I am strong and don't have aches or pains. Staying fit gives me energy. I am prone to anxiety/stress so exercise is a HUGE part of my mental health and mood elevator.

I have boys that we are very active with. Family vacations always involve some hiking, kayaking, running, climbing, biking, etc. My boys have been shown a healthy lifestyle with nutrition and activity.

So, long story short, I have always been involved in fitness. I do follow the latest workouts.

This. Most white girls play sports growing up. In some cultures, girls aren't encouraged or it's frowned upon. This is one of the reasons US Women's soccer got such a head start over traditional 'soccer' countries where only men played---England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I played soccer from 5-22 years old. I ran track in high school as well as playing soccer. My team was very competitive--National Champions, etc. Once I stopped playing, I needed that exercise fix. Since soccer requires incredible amounts of endurance (particularly for a midfielder which I was)--that easily parlayed into distance running. I ran 7 marathons in my 20s-early 30s.

I have always lifted weights. I am a true mesomorph. I have never been 'skinny'. I have olive skin and a round face so I have never looked 'weathered'.

I married somebody that also works out and is very into fitness. We share the need to get our daily workout in and support the other so they have the time to do it.

I am now in my late 40s and I get compliments on my 'tone' and lack of cellulite. I no longer do as much running. I really vary my routine. I spin, bootcamp, lift weights, pilates and run 5 miles 2-3 times per week. I walk a lot. I always take one full rest day per week, but I work out hard the other 6 days.

I am strong and don't have aches or pains. Staying fit gives me energy. I am prone to anxiety/stress so exercise is a HUGE part of my mental health and mood elevator.

I have boys that we are very active with. Family vacations always involve some hiking, kayaking, running, climbing, biking, etc. My boys have been shown a healthy lifestyle with nutrition and activity.

So, long story short, I have always been involved in fitness. I do follow the latest workouts.

This. Most white girls play sports growing up. In some cultures, girls aren't encouraged or it's frowned upon. This is one of the reasons US Women's soccer got such a head start over traditional 'soccer' countries where only men played---England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, etc.

I meant "American" white girls.

[Anonymous]

Like 9:18, I’ve played sports since I was 8. I’ve always been competitive and active and was a D1 athlete. My parents were athletes. It’s just what I grew up knowing. So I guess it’s different than women who become “fitness obsessed” later in life, but that’s my explanation.

I think in some cases it’s really just as simple as 1) we like to look and feel good and not gain weight and 2) fitness is a social outlet for many (running clubs, classes, training groups, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Because white men are conditioned to value skinny, big boobs, blonde, young. Men of color seem to like some meat on the bones.