You win some, you lose some.
While I made it to the gym bright and early today, my workout wasn’t exactly kickin’. I went through the motions but left feeling a little meh. Not every workout deserves a gold star, but at least I managed to work up a bit of a sweat and that definitely counts for something!
Today’s workout began with 20 minutes on the elliptical before I wandered around like a tool bag, hoping to feel inspired to do some kind of a leg workout.
In the end I completed three sets of 15 repetitions of the following exercises:
- Step ups
- Leg press
- Lunges
- Deadlifts
- Hamstring curls
I didn’t lift weights that challenged me as much as I could have, but it still felt good to get moving. Plus, a yummy breakfast awaited me when I arrived home!
Breakfast
Today I made myself a bowl of banana gingerbread oats.
I made the oatmeal just like my pumpkin banana oats, only I used milk instead of water, omitted the pumpkin and added a scoop of Stonewall Kitchen gingerbread pancake mix that the company sent me to try.
The gingerbread pancake mix added a delicious punch of flavor to the oats and I can’t wait to use it to make pancakes this weekend.
Moving right along…
ESPN’s Body Issue
I typically blog from my home office on a desktop computer, but occasionally I’ll use Ryan’s laptop to blog in another room.
While the homepage on my computer is my iGoogle page, Ryan’s is ESPN.com. Last night as I turned on his laptop to blog, I actually found myself intrigued by ESPN.com because there were nudie pictures of athletes staring back at me.
Oh la la!
(Source)
The pictures were taken for ESPN’s third annual Body Issue, showcasing the bodies of top athletes who compete in a wide range of sports, including hockey, bowling, soccer, tennis, golf, surfing, football, basketball, marathon running and Paralympics.
Powerful men and women were photographed in the buff, though no manly parts or lady bits were actually shown. The athletes posed for the magazine, showing off the bodies that they pour hours and hours into training.
Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler said, “This is not about being sexy but about being strong and powerful and showing girls it’s OK to have muscles. … And that strength and power is beautiful.”
Question of the Morning
- If you were a top athlete, would you ever consider posing for ESPN’s Body Issue?
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Hell yes! I love this! I love these woman who are toned and buff and are not waif like with ribs poking out! If I had the body of an Olympic Athlete I would 100% show it off like this! I think it gives such a better body image than model who are 5’10 and weigh 100 pounds.
If my body was righteous (righteous? where did that word come from?) enough that people wanted to photograph it to show off my awesome cut muscles, then I’d highly consider it 🙂
…if done tastefully, and without showing off the goods, of course!
i was checking out the picture of the cover this morning – i dont know if i would consider posing nude – i guess they are fully covered and not “sexy” like playboy so it could be OK!
Is it weird that I find these pictures more beautiful than anything else? There’s something purely artistic about them– Just knowing how hard they worked for those muscular strong bodies!
you should watch the video about the photo shoot on espn.com! it’s cool!
If I had that body, I’d walk around my neighborhood naked.
LOL!
I didn’t know that it was possible for Hope Solo to look even more intense off the soccer field! She is amazing!
My university puts out a calendar similar to this featuring different clubs each year. It’s pretty funny actually. The clubs pose with things that represent their club to hide their naked parts.
The nudie pics are pretty awesome. I’d definitely do it! I love that espn is showcasing strong body types! And you’re damn right that it’s okay to have muscles! 🙂
I absolutely love these pictures! My husband and I were obsessed with them last night!
I would definitely pose for this if I were a top athlete. I think the pictures are so beautiful and show just how hard and dedicated these athletes are to making the most of their bodies.
PS…The Ryan Hall and Steven Jackson pictures are INSANE!!!
I personally love ESPN’s yearly Body Issue. Unlike other nude campaigns, this one makes me feel strong and confident because the people who are modeling embody (no pun intended!) those exact qualities. And those are the qualities I look at in role models.
The human body is beautiful and I celebrate it being displayed in a tasteful way like this. Tasteful and downright yummy. 😉
yes! i agree. the pictures are tasteful in my opinion and seem to be taken in a way to show movement and show off the human body in a way that celebrates its form rather then objectifies it.
Love the quote! & I would TOTALLY do it, if they asked..and I was a famous athlete. 😉 Can’t wait to check out the pictures- I bet they are awesome!!
whenever I have a blah workout I usually tell myself its better to do something then nothing at all, so kudos to you for still going and getting it done even though you weren’t feeling it!
If I was a top athlete with a rockin bod I would do a nudie pic like that
Last year when Diana Taurasi was on the cover, I flipped out! I love her!
just fyi, i just tried commenting on your blog, but i couldn’t! 🙁
Try it again!!!! Just fixed the problem.
Your breakfast sounds/looks delicious! I need to bust out some hot oats soon…..
I wouldn’t pose for it, but it is very cool what the human body can do! And I love when a woman is strong, confident, and has muscles! Soooo great 🙂
I love ESPN’s Body Issue! (I love everything ESPN really.) Gretchen’s quote hits the nail on the head… it shows how athletic women are strong and powerful and fit, which is sexy in itself. In my opinion much sexier than any “super model.” If I were a top athlete with a super defined body, heck yes I would pose! Top athletes are was motivate me day in and day out to continue to be an athlete myself.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that has a less than stellar workout sometimes. It can be kind of frustrating, but it’s better than nothing at all! Good job and way to push through it. 🙂
When I initially thought about posing nudie, I immediately thought, “hell no!” But then I thought about if I had an incredible body like those athletes that I worked so hard to obtain, then “hell yes!” I’d want to show it off!
i had the same thoughts at first! i was like “NEVER!” but they seem tasteful and aren’t taken to objectify the athlets but showcase their bodies in a beautiful and artistic way.
I totally would! I like that it shows that even top performance athletes aren’t stick skinny/nothin’ but muscle. We’ve all got real bodies and being “in shape” = a LOT of shapes!
I think these pictures are beautiful, but I don’t think that’s something I would personally do myself. I think people should have respect for how much they show of their bodies. Maybe I’m too old fashioned?? lol
Those banana gingerbread oats sound amazing! I had me some yummy pumpkin banana oats for breakfast this morning.
I love the idea! Strong is beautiful. I think it’s a thousand times better than what we normally see: skinny girls with huge boobs and hardly any clothes on. Those images make me think “I’ll never look like that.” These athletes make me think “I CAN look like that” (well, not really. but you know what I mean 😉 )
ha! i know! they are badasses!
I always thought Hope Solo was gorgeous, but in that photo you can just see all the hard work she’s put into becoming a premier athlete. I get super shy and self-conscious about things like that, but I would hope I could get to a point where I’m so proud of my body that I’d want to participate! Plus if I was a professional athlete with that kind of body, I could probably kick the butts of all the haters!
Err… I’m probably a little too modest to do that my self, but I think it’s awesome that those athletes did! I like Gretchen Bleiler’s quote! Muscle is sexy! I wish more women thought that way- I’m so tired of hearing my girlfriends say they won’t lift because they don’t want to get “bulky”…
I would definitly do it! these women are strong and beautiful, its refreshing to see them being honored because of hard work and determination! Too much emphasis is put on rail thin women, more should be put on these powerful ladies!
These kinda photos are inspiring and make you want to bring out the best in you…not feel like you aren’t good enough and don’t measure up! Go ESPN!
I love this! The pictures are pretty cool…I am fascinated by muscles so this is so cool! I like that they are showing strong women who still look totally feminine and the guys aren’t too shabby either. Although I’m not really into sports so I don’t really recognize these people 😛
heck yes i would!! those athletes work damn hard for those bodies and should be proud to show it off!! that picture of hope solo is incredible.
Yes! If my bod looked as hot as some of theirs, I’d totally do it. And I love what Gretchen said – yes, we’re women, but it’s ok to have muscles… and plus, they look awesome!
Breakfast looks delicious. It almost looks like rice pudding, which I have a weakness for. I am still on the search for a low sugar recipe (I have blood sugar issues)!
I think Hope Solo is SO beautiful and she is so comfortable in her own body. It’s awesome 🙂
If I was a top athlete, I would consider doing the EPSN Body Issue because I think it shows just how REAL athletes look after hours of training and dedication (like you said). As long as it wasn’t “glamorizing” any particular stature, or weight I think it would be really cool!
I’m comfortable in my body, but not comfortable enough to appear naked in front of people for them to photograph me. Like nothing may be showing in the pictures, but I bet there were some slips during the photoshoot! Just awkwarrrd.
yes! i think i’d be too nervous during the photoshoot!
The one of Helio Castroneves (sp?) cracks me up.
Some of those pictures are barely hiding their “private bits” and I couldn’t help but think about the pictures displayed the naked body and such a small part of the body falls into the “taboo” sexual category and then you just have the rest of the body which is about so much more then sex. We’re conditioned to think naked = sex so much and I thought this did a great job of showcasing it as more then that.
I was going to write a comment similar to this! So often we think it’s taboo to see a naked person or that naked = bad. While I definitely understand privacy-related reasons for not wanting to share your naked body, I think if our culture took some of the stigma out of being naked (it’s not always sexualized), it wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Well I’d have to make that call in the moment lol. At least these pictures are celebrating how beautiful our bodies really are v. objectifying it like you said.
Brings up a good point about what Gretchen Bleiler said about it being ok for women to have muscles. I showed my hubby my bicep which just a few months ago practically did nothing when I flexed it and now how it actually moves…and he says “Now don’t get all manly on me” or something to that effect. I assured him that I don’t wish to look like a female body builder, but I want to be a strong women and able to handle myself in any given situation.
PLUS…when I found out that muscles burn more calories than fat, Let the strength training begin lol!
Hey Julie! Just had somethin’ random to comment on. A few days ago, you talked about decorating your home for the season. Well, here area few ideas that are pretty and NOT expensive. And they involve pumpkins! I got the ideas from my latest issue of Southern Living- check ’em out!
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/diy-decorate-pumpkins-00417000075483/page11.html
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/jar-o-lanterns-00417000075590/
Enjoy!
awesome! thanks for sharing the links!
No problem! I’m gonna try some of em out… when i can go pumpkin picking! or pumpkin getting, or taking 🙂
Stonewall kitchen is the best! I live in NH and I love visiting their store/café in Maine. Although, truth be told, a big part of that desire is because they have tasting stations all over the store of almost all their products!
If I had a strong, toned, powerful body I would absolutely pose for it. The athletes work hard for what they have, why not show it off. I did see something about it last night on tv.
Little case of runners knee here so I have been doing all Elliptical and stretching. Not sure what it will mean for my 10miler this weekend.
The Kidless Kronicles
muscles are amazing. I’d show them off if I had them…and those killer spray tans 😉
And I LOVE Stonewall Kitchen! Their stuff is so good. I go to Maine all the time and always stop by their headquarters to try stuff out and bring home goodies. Their pancake mix is, hands down, the best thing ever.
Is it weird that these photos immediately made me think of America’s Next Top Model photo shoots?? Seriously though, their muscles are incredible- if I had those I think I’d want everyone to know about it!
Those athletes should be extrememly proud of their bodies! They work hard on them and if I had a body like that, I would show it off too.
wow she is FIERCE. I heard about these photoshoots and I was intrigued… personally, I could never do it, but I love that these athletes were willing to! They should be proud!
I love it! Would i pose naked – absolutely if I was toned like the athletes! I do love the fact that now it is OK for women athletes to be muscular. WTA recently did a “strong is beautiful” campaign with female tennis pros. http://youtu.be/fUeuEfHwmuU. Worth a watch!
I think I would consider it given that everything is always covered up.
PS – LOVE the gingerbread pancake addition – that’s such a good idea! I love Stonewall Kitchen’s pancake mixes but have never done anything but make them into pancakes!
I think that this serves a purpose…showing that you can be STRONG and beautiful, you don’t have to be pin thin.
I don’t think I would, I wouldn’t want to look like I was rubbing it in peoples faces.
I think I would be willing to pose for the magazine, it’s a cool idea! 🙂
I also have a random question for you Julie, have you ever used your garmin watch inside? I’m interested in getting a GPS watch but it would be nice to have one that could pick up a signal inside the gym if it’s raining out and I’m running inside – that might be too much to ask though. 😛
i actually have only ever used it for running outdoors. i typically use a regular heart rate monitor inside (though i haven’t in a while).
my garmin doesn’t pick up a signal indoors a lot.. I’ve tried it. 🙂
I’m even so smart that I tried to use it on the treadmill to compare the difference between treadmill speed/Garmin speed… buuut obviously, a GPS watch only tracks how far you’ve moved. as in, I’m not moving on the treadmill.
..whoops.
Ha ha! That’s so funny! Sounds like something I would do. 🙂 Thanks for the input, ladies!
I would definitely! If you work that hard at something, especially the body, it deserves to be shown off. Really cool pictures!
I think its about getting in the buff, but I feel if I worked my butt off 24/7 and look like some of those do, Id want to show off my hard work. I feel this is in a completely different category than SI’s swimsuit issue.
*NOT getting in the buff
If I looked like Hope Solo, YES!!!!
Ok, I’ll shoot you straight: If I had the chance to pose (like that, i.e. tastefully covering my lady bits) I would jump at it! I kind of think that a lot of times, bodies look better sans clothes than anything you doll them up in. And, as a former (and reformed) streaker, there’s nothing wrong with showing a little skin now and then, especially if you’re proud of your body and it’s in a way to highlight the human form!
As long as everything was covered I would consider it. I would first have to get my confidence up though!
Well, I clicked on the ESPN link to check out the photos you mentioned and immediately minimized it as I continued reading blogs. I had completely forgotten I had another website open (and I’m home alone right now) and all of a sudden I start to hear voices!! I just about lost my mind until I realized that I had that website open and there was some kind of video starting. So, thank you for making sure I am very awake on this Thursday morning! 🙂
ahhh! i hope you weren’t too freaked out!
Yes I would. Their bodies are beautiful and strong. They are posing as athletes. Why not share with the world?
Those pictures are beautiful! My favorite pics are of Apolo Ohno (the first one), Alicia Sacramone and Ryan Hall. Such a cool idea for a photo shoot 😉