Why Fort Collins Women Embody the Idea That Strong is the New Skinny
Big breasts, wide hips and a narrow waist. If you were to walk around Old Town Fort Collins, more now than ever college females are starting to stray away from this ideal image. If you were to look at women today you would probably see biceps, triceps and a heck of a lot more leg muscle. Women today are finding that picking up kettle bells are a more empowering form of beauty than lipstick. This “fitness-crazed” society is not only healthier, but more empowering for women everywhere.
When and why did it all start? It wasn’t until 1970, when Title XI was passed, that women started to participate in sports, and do more physical exercise. This was the start of women learning to find beauty within themselves in a completely different way, other than how society wanted them to. Fitness icons such as Jane Fonda, who like many women could not meet the model body type, launched the home fitness video industry which made it okay for women to have muscles. One of my favorite stores is Lululemon which Fort Collins recently opened a shop in Old Town Fort Collins. The ideal target market for Lululemon is fit, yoga loving females. Living in a town like Fort Collins, this type of athlete is far from the typical athlete we see. Scattered all around Old Town, and Campus West are fit bikers, and rock climbing lovers who wear Lululemon because the material hugs their muscles, not skinny bones.
Women today especially college females still like the idea of a toned body, but have amped up the expectations by striving for an even more toned body with more visible muscles and definition. When I think of women and fitness today, some words that come to mind are lift, squat and protein. This was not the case just 15 years ago when words like yoga, walking, and skinny were the ideal fitness goals. If you were to spend an afternoon in Campus West, maybe drinking a beer at Road 34, or Playing pool at Barcade, you would amazed to see how many women are running up and own Elizabeth. To me this vision brings me nothing but happiness. These strong girls are setting an example to not only college students, but people everywhere that being healthy and strong is cool.
While some people find this “fitness-craze” annoying, in reality it’s been around for awhile, social media just makes it more visible. Although your Instagram feed might be full of meal prep pictures and constant progress pictures, I think it’s important to keep in mind how cool it is that not only women, but how men want to take better care of themselves as well. This newer fitness era is giving people more confidence than ever. Places such as Facebook and Instagram are great tools to show it off, and people are taking advantage of this social media world.
While you might have to wait until some warm weather arrives, be on the lookout for fitness events held in Old Town over summer. Workout programs such as “60min strength” and “Drop It Like A Squat” are coming this summer, and embody what the new image for women is. With a town like Fort Collins, which is known for biking, it will be easy to pick out women who are ready for the new fitness era, of strength over size.
As a female who loves to run and workout, I hope that more women will find this “fitness-craze” to be a positive reflection on society. This idea that strong is the new skinny, not only is changing millions of lives but, shows that the world is striving to move outside the locked societal roles, that women have been put into for countless generations. Women everywhere are starting to learn that it’s okay to have muscles, and be strong.
So ladies, don’t be afraid to add some extra weight to your squats, the world is on your side!
