I recently saw an article on skiers that caught my eye as a swimmer. Sarah Lyall of the New York Times wrote about how skiers have a difficult time finding pants that fit. A link to the story is at the bottom of the post.
Watching the skiers come off the slopes after their runs here at the Winter Games is to see a parade of superconditioned lower bodies whose every powerful contour ripples graphically underneath what are essentially very expensive tights.“Yes, we have derrières,” said Chemmy Alcott, a British skier. “We’ve got booties. I’ve spent 28 years squatting in that squat position, and I’m really proud of it. It would be a lot easier for me to be a skinny normal person. I have to work really hard to get this muscle.”Skiers say that they need big legs and rears to get them down the slopes as quickly and forcefully as possible.
Watching the skiers come off the slopes after their runs here at the Winter Games is to see a parade of superconditioned lower bodies whose every powerful contour ripples graphically underneath what are essentially very expensive tights.“Yes, we have derrières,” said Chemmy Alcott, a British skier. “We’ve got booties. I’ve spent 28 years squatting in that squat position, and I’m really proud of it. It would be a lot easier for me to be a skinny normal person. I have to work really hard to get this muscle.”Skiers say that they need big legs and rears to get them down the slopes as quickly and forcefully as possible.
Well, I immediately wanted to jump up and yell "YES!" Open water swimming is a sport that allows people of very diverse body types to compete. Come to a swim, and you will see people of all shapes and sizes competing in the same field. A very common complaint, especially from female swimmers, is the thunder thighs. Trying on a pair of pants at the Gap is excruciating! they will be completely cutting off the circulation in my thighs, and then be 2 sizes too big in the waist. It is a never ending quest to find pants that are flattering, yet fit the muscles that have only been growing these past few months. My biggest takeaway when reading this article was a wish that some fashion designer could make pants specifically for people with athletic legs. There has to be enough demand between swimmers, skiers, and gymnasts! Body image issues run rampant in sports. It caused me to quit swimming once before, and to this day it can be a struggle. I even let the thought "I want to quit swimming so I can wear smaller jeans" enter my head this week. Thankfully, I was talked off the ledge by three awesome people. If just one clothing company could help design pants that we all felt comfortable and confident in, I honestly thing that it would help combat all of those negative thoughts!
Well, another way to combat negativity is a 3,000 meter work out like today's. That will make anyone feel amazing no matter what the jean situation is!
Hold Fast,
Laura
Link to New York Times article- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/sports/olympics/chasing-gold-and-jeans-that-fit.html?_r=0
Link to my story on the BMW bobsled (you know, for self promotion)- http://nbclearn.com/2014olympics/cuecard/68317
Amen! you got this one completely right Laura...glad you got talked off the ledge and keep swimming!
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