Yvonne Craig (Batgirl and Green Lady from Star Trek) – Looks Better than Present Day Female Fitness Models

Ok, first of all, you mean overDO, not overDUE. Library books are "overdue" … someone who does too much is overdoing it.

Next, so you're saying that you prefer form over function? You'd rather a woman have "light muscle tone" (which is something that doesn't actually exist) than be fit and in shape. You do know that lifting weights and building strong muscles also increases bone density, which helps prevent osteoporosis in older women? That building strong muscles also helps women maintain a higher metabolism which makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight?

But I guess like the people who prefer their women unhealthy skinny and don't care because they "look good" – for you it's all about looks and not about real health for women?

Rusty,

The sexiest female bodies to me are volleyball players, toned and in shape but not too lean. Those figure athletes go up and down in my book. Monica Brant is amazing for being able to maintain that level of fitness, and she does look good, but Jessica Alba has her beat in my book. i don't like it as much when women have more muscle definition and separation than i do, though that might also be an ego thing lol.

Hi Rusty, could you please post some photos of females who have had success with intermittent fasting. There are lots of examples of men on the web but hardly any women! Some IF studies showed that women's blood glucose levels suffered while that of men improved..just wondering if this makes IF more successful for males than females? Thanks.

I prefer the look to be somewhere in the middle between Jessica Alba and a fitness model. I agree some of the women in the video are too much, but there were a couple that looked good to me. Someone like a Jillian Michaels is the right muscle tone I am aiming for…or someone like Gina Carano and a little leaner than that.

Your such a trekkie Rusty;)

Softer is better in my opinion. Sure Monica Brant has put in a ton of work to get to where she is, but from my perspective give me old school physique of a classic woman any day everyday.

Mrs. Brady (Gisele) comes to mind these days for me…

Kara. you should be what makes you happy. Rusty is just giving some suggestions on features that the opposite sex finds attractive.

we can all agree that being healthy comes before looking good. But usually when your healthy the looks will follow.

Good write-up Rusty! ! ! totally agree with u the slightly softer looks is my appealing as compare to the lean n hard looks on women.
Why no mention of Halle Berry ? she is one who works out and still maintain the soft curve.

@kara can you not correct grammar please? really?

Remember what Rusty is promoting on this website. He is keeping theme with his website, the Fitnessblackbook look while at the same time encouraging the health benefits of resistance training. He stated it right there. He also has an article addressing Metabolism and Muscle Mass and how it doesnt help that much.

Hi Rusty,

long time no comment from me. (where is that 28 hour day)….lol

I have been reading every post and congrats to you for developing an awesome site.Really looks like all your hard work is coming together with great rewards for you and us the readers.

Keep up the great work buddy….thanks.

@Kara,

I'm sure Rusty knows the difference between overdo and overdue….its obviously a typo.

Furthermore, it may be an idea to re-read Rusty's post, especially the last paragraph.Rusty has always been a big advocate for both men and women performing resistance training and all its advantages.

I dont think Yvonne craig looks unhealthy and skinny….quite the opposite in fact….so, i'm not sure on what basis you say "its all about the looks and not about real health".

Lastly Kara, for women to achieve the physiques of fitness competitors, they have to take some very discipled and sometimes extreme measures to achieve that look.Extremes that FORCE the body into that shape. And i can assure you that FORCING is hardly healthy or natural.

G.

I'm with Rusty on this subject, but my reasoning is a bit different.

Consider the subject of BMI. Too often, we think of this in terms of obesity, but in reality it deals with mass. The amount of mass your heart can realistically support. Someone who has a low body fat percentage but high BMI is still overweight. Not overfat, but still overweight.

The pictures above simply highlight this fact. The reality is that women should have a higher percentage body fat than men.

Rusty,
An important article! I think you have it exactly right! I can't speak for anybody else but I like my women to look like women! I think that this level of leaness not only looks unnatural, it is unhealthy and for most women is not attainable. Another point you made though not the focus of the article per se is that we should look to the past for examples of great physiques. Jessica Alba is stunning in her beauty and while she is very lean looks very natural and healthy as well.

I don't think you're old or old fashioned, and you're definitely not in the minority to say that fitness models may not be everyone's ideal female. I do disagree a bit however when you say that women look unattractive when they overdo their workouts.

I don't disagree with the general message, because it is obviously meant to apply to those fitness model types who are getting huge and ripped, which can be unappealing for women. However, a vast majority of women will not get anywhere near this level even with a decent amount of heavy lifting. It's images of those fitness models that scare women away from lifting in the first place, and so they go the complete opposite direction and spend hours on the treadmill, woefully misinformed about the fact that including strength training in their training routines won't even get them close to that.

I've actually already got a post on this topic [I know, I know, I gotta get the damn site up] and I think there should be a little more emphasis on the fact that women will NOT look like this if they lift hard. From what I hear, fitness models put even the most diligent of bodybuilders to shame with their attention to detail and OCD surrounding their physique. The take-home message should be, yes this particular look is unattractive to most men, but it is also a huge lifestyle choice much in the same way bodybuilding is, not an accidental or likely result of a normal training program.

[Ps, sorry if that was long. The topic was fresh in my head and part of my comment was from my own post on female lifting.]

Kara,

I think you may have misunderstood. I recently read an article about the show Mad Men, which is set in the 60's, in which the actresses were told to try and refrain from losing weight and even gaining weight in some cases to get that curvy look. Your comment reminded me of this, but I don't think this is what Rusty's saying at all.

This article is highlighting the extreme that is fitness modeling. Women have an immense ability to still look feminine despite being well-trained [most female athletes manage not to look masculine], however, some choose to go to an extreme. You mentioned form over function, but these models forgot about function a long time ago.

I completely agree with this post! As a woman in my early 20s, I find that alot of fitness magazines feature women with bulging muscles as the ideal picture of health and beauty. I think that women should have curves and should be soft, but toned at the same time. To me, women that bodybuild and put on bikinis and heels and prance around the stage look more like crossdressers! There's just something weird about it…

Kara,

Read the article again. Rusty is just saying that he doesn't like manly chicks. Neither do 99.9% of men.

I totally agree Rusty. My hubby hates seeing women with too much muscle it looks so masculine.
I like to look slim and feminine. If I overdo exercising my legs they tend to get bulky which I hate.
It takes a lot of discipline for women to get overly bulky and get down to teeny fat-levels. A lot of them stop menstruating because of this.

Women can lift weights and get all the benefits that Kara talks about without going to extremes.

Pic of Jessica Alba!
http://www.freakingnews.com…Jessica-Alba

Rusty

You crack me up – only you would use Batgirl/Star Trek green woman to illustrate your point…but it works!

I have to say, slim without muscle cuts is my preferred choice on a woman. A ripped physique just doesn't look right on a woman at all. I am old fashioned too….Jessica Alba is hot, her physique (in say, the Fantastic Four) is awesome.

Chris

Hi Rusty
Thanks for pointing me out to your spring training schedule. It helped a lot in formulating my own schedule.
I agree.. the hottest girl in my gym is one who has curves in all the right places and not the one who is ripped enough to seem to be able to tear your head out. great post as usual.
Thanks!

Agree with you Rusty, Bat Girl was the hottest. And Jessica over Monica, though I do agree Monica amazes me with what she has accomplished. But spray on tans don't do much for me.

Female athletes with the best physique:
volleyball players
tennis players
swimmers

I agree with Rusty. I'm a 40 something female in pretty good shape Too much muscle on a female does not look good. It's actually a little intimidating. I think fitness females work extremely hard, but they are not living a normal life between workouts and somewhat extreme dieting. I knew a female who entered a show like that, her diet forbid most everything and after the show, she treated herself to nachos and got sick. To me that's just not healthy. You can be fit, with muscle tone and look great. I agree that my husband does not want me to be hard as a rock with no softness. I really don't want to look like I have more veins than him I just want to be toned with nice muscle definition.

Kara, I know you mean well, but Rusty is definitely not saying that females shouldn't lift weights. I for one am rather slender, so I must lift very heavy just to keep my muscle tone. If I do too much cardio (interval cardio of course), I actually start to look skinny fat – which is gross. Absolutely lifting weights is great for females, but there are extremes like with eating/dieting. You have to find what works well for you. I don't follow everything that Rusty states (only because I'm tiny and slender, and I can not afford to lose weight), but I do agree with his general take on fitness/eating. Kara, I'm not trying to pile on here, but I really think you need to reread what Rusty wrote. Even look at his other articles (which I've read every one of them). He never ever suggests not lifting weights or doing body weight exercises for females. Again, you need to adjust your workouts to what works best for you. There is no one size fits all. We are all different shapes/sizes.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Rusty keep up the articles, I love all of them, even if they don't pertain to me specifically.

I would certainly pick Yvonne Craig or Jessica Alba. Her and Paul Walker shirtless (my wife would add) is the redeeming quality of Into The Blue. She looks amazing. I would even pick someone like Kim Kardashian over the muscle look. Maybe a bad example…Salma Hayek. But that's just me, I like the curves. Granted, I would probably try to get her to lift some weights. Hell, I'm still trying to get my wife to do some heavier lifting.

Spot on Rusty! I don't know where the idea that really skinny women (or muscular women for that matter) are attractive came from. Maybe too many Calvin Klein ads in the 90s? I 100% prefer women with curves. A slim waist with a nice round booty always catches my eye, and someone who you can tell takes pride in their appearance and takes care of themselves without going overboard is always attractive as well.

what a great post! i agree with you Rusty. i've gotten a it too muscular for my likeing due to following advice of fitness entuhusiest. Now i'm trying to lose the bulk. I wanted to know what your thoughts of power yoga as a means to tone? is it a waste of time?

Good call on Yvonne, i like classic women, and the 60's have some very good examples.

I also am not very found of fitness models, they have too much muscle for their frames, and a lot of them i'm sure use drugs, because without testosterone it's just not possible to build so much muscle, that's nature pure and simply.

I would vote for Jessica Alba anytime.

At Kara: Rusty has always defended health first, looks second, but usually both things go together, as you know or should know, if a woman trains with weights, she'll look good and yes her bones will get more density, but if she trains naturally (no drugs) and if she eats healthy foods and keeps calories low she'll never look like a fitness model, and i mean NEVER. I hope my grammar is good enough for you.

Keep up this excellent blog Rusty

Right on Rusty. You always have a knack for posting beautiful women on this site along with some cutting edge health and fitness info, for which I cannot thank you enough. Star Trek had a host of hotties over the years. Good ol' Capt Kirk was one lucky space cowboy. I just thought I would add one more to your list of hotties. Singer Marie Fredriksson of the group Roxette was 31 when singing these. She has always been my ideal woman. If you got time check out the videos of one very fit woman in her 30's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sJPUTTfNbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrD1hjjex5Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWsSDnlyosM

Seems like someone was too busy picking over this article for "form" and ignoring its "function" and content.

Anyway, I agree with you here, Rusty. Men and women have different shapes for a reason. I like my feminine shape, and I feel really blessed to have the genetics that I do – I can slim down and get strong without losing my hourglass shape. That said, every woman has a different shape, and those women who are more masculine should be proud of their physiques. I don't think any woman should try to force herself into an unnatural shape.

Anyone who thinks that fitness models are role models for a "healthy" women is sorely mistaken. My wife competed for 3 years, and let me tell you I supported her like crazy while she was but was so happy when she stopped. Women are not designed to have body fat that low. Now I love some muscle on a women, a very mild six pack some arm and shoulder def AAAhhhh!! I love the look of an athletic women.

Agreed on the impressive, yet unappealing physique of female fitness idols.

I actually prefer an even softer-shaped woman, such as the lovely Scarlett Johansson:

http://www.beyondhollywood.comscarlett-johansson

Wow this seemed to be a very controversial article/topic! Im a older woman and I can tell you from experience and my own preferences that the Monica's of the world dont exist in quantity and the Jessica's of the world are usually a bit heavier than that! I think that a nice mix of the 2 would be ideal. Something where a woman can be strong to do more than just housework! but look feminine and have soft features to identify that she's a "she"!

Perhaps, for men to like the more feminine look, is equivalent to women liking men to look more masculine. Of course, avoiding the extremes. Thats why we have men and women!

Kara, Ive been reading a few of your posts on various topics and it seems you dont really agree with what Rusty has to say, but instead of jumping down his throat, maybe if you just read for a while and see how it sits, then you'd give it a fair chance. Rusty has alot of years in this field and has people and training and living a the top of his list. Of course, not everyone will agree with what his beliefs. Perhaps, if hes so offenisve, you can find another site for info. Rusty has given me alot of insight with food, exercise, and just motivation. I enjoy his articles. Lighten up a bit and maybe you will learn something.

Kara, I just re read my post and I see some typos and grammar mistakes, so no need to correct me.

Volleyball players look great, but during the Olympics last year, what I noticed were the pole vaulters – those women had the best bodies ever! However, diversity is a wonderful thing…isn't it great that we don't all have the same look! How boring would that be!

i think a lot of muscle looks appealing on men and women, but knowing what most women would have to go through to get in that kind of shape makes me instantly think this person must eat/sleep/breath training. its a lifestyle turnoff for me if a man is huge and bulky, likewise if a woman is ripped like that, its either constant workout centered living, or of course chemicals. id like to have a life that doesnt include being sweaty 4hrs out of the day and having to weight every morsel of food that passes the lips. these people "live" muscle development. not my kind of life. id like fitness to enhance life, not take it over. i will admit, i do find muscle attractive, but its too expensive.

Couldn't agree with you more.
Sela Ward, Carrie-Ann Moss, and almost any of the women on BattleStar Galactica are my favorites. Women – if you're lean, spend time in the gym to keep some muscle and aren't self centered – you're probably a babe.
Great post. Women need to hear this message a lot. It's not that hard to look good.

Rusty, I totally agree with you. I have an athletic build and love the definition in my arms and abs and so does my hubby. Its more of the volleyball player look! I also prefer the leaner, less muscled up look on men, but that's just my opinion!

Very nice article Rusty! I grew up in the wrong era… I love 60's and 70's women!

Kara, looks like you read what you wanted to read instead of what Rusty actually said, read back through especially the last paragraph, Rusty does say resistance training is critical for women.

Kara, you should read Rusty's articles from the beginning, and re read if necessary, to fully grasp his beliefs and methods before you criticize an individual who has two decades experience in the fitness realm. I guess if you can't realize that Rusty knows his shit and must have a know it all attitude, then go ahead and see where that gets you as far as learning the new trends and concepts in fitness.
I think female physiques that are similar to Monica Brant look to forced and manly. I think it is far better to go after the look of a Jennifer Aniston or Jessica Alba. They are muscular, toned and still have a feminine look. The point is both men and woman should strive for the look of Hollywood actor role models who have a lean, athletic, natural amount of muscle look.
I'm sure I have many errors in my grammar to be corrected, but oh well, I tried to the best of my ability.
Patrick

Great post, Rusty.
I definitely agree that the female bodybuilder look is unnatural.
Also, by preferring the coveted Jessica Alba look, you are not necessarily choosing "form over function" since you can't look like J. Alba without (a reasonable amt) of resistance training anyways.

For most girls though, even achieving low bf levels like Jessica Alba is difficult. Another valid comparison is between the skinny-fit-Alba and the fuller-looking Jessica Biel http://www.musclemeasure.com/…/jessica-biel-bikini1
and even farther along the scale, Scarlett Johanssen.

I'm curious to know your thoughts on this since I find it harder to 'maintain' myself at bf below 20-24%. I manage to get super lean for events by tweaking things, but bf always 'settles' back on the higher end. Any tips?

and I gotta agree with Sue G that its a good thing there are different body types. Reminds us that fitness is about achieving a personal best.

Great write up Rusty…I would have to agree that a female bodybuilder look is way too much, the same as it is for the guys..a good fit, lean body is sooo much healthier and much easier to maintain.

Ray

Call me an old timer (36 years old) but I find Marilyn Monroe's figure to be the most appealing to me. Good post Rusty – just joined your site today, keep up the good work! (P.S, as for the best physique for a bloke – my screen name says it all)

Oops, screen name was supposed to read "Quantum of Solace" as the ideal physique for a man, lol

Hey Rusty. Can see what you mean from your videos. Some of these women just look too ripped.

Kara, you should be careful with all the hormones you are taking…I can sense some rage in your writing. You just reminded me of a feminist who gets mad at a man for comitting the sin of opening a door for her or offering her his sit.
First of all, don't start your post by insulting someone just because he mispelled a word. By the way, what you wrote also has some mistakes.
Second. Before you write an answer, READ and UNDERSTAND what the writer is trying to say.
Third. All you say about working out for your bones and high metabolism is very good, but, you can decide to look like Arnold (which it would be pretty ugly) in order to avoid osteoporosis and still get it if you don't put enough calcium in your body. A non-muscular woman won't get osteoporosis if she does her homework.
Fourth. Not all men like skinny women, just like the majority of men don't like muscular women, or even women don't like muscular men. I would even say that women don't like men with the "Hollywood" body promoted in this site if there are no brains to go with it. Yes, I would rather date Monica Brant over a 300 pound woman, but I would definitely date someone like Halle Berry or Salma Hayek over your fitness friends. And according to you, the two I just mentioned are skinny (yeah, right).
So I don't know what was your problem before you went into fitness crazy, but relax. You like to look like those women in the fitness industry? Great for you. But don't get pissed off if a lot of men don't like you and they prefer someone like Jessica Alba.

I forgot to say that now you can correct my post. I know I made a lot of mistakes.

Okay as a female I have to state my opinion. Yes almost 100% of men do not like women with muscles, it is what it is. I actually agree myself. However, to use Jessica Alba as an example is where I have a problem. Mainly, because she's just skinny, I don't see any amount of toneness in her. She's just skinny plain simple. I wish you would have used a better example. Someone who looks like they actually work out. I think its quite sad that we keep promoting skinniness to women. Jessica Alba based on her weight and height is most likely under weight, after all the camera adds 10lbs. Not the best example since the average size for a woman is 12.

I love muscular women! I often have my woman chop fire wood. Also one time we got mugged in downtown Oakland and she knocked the guy out in one punch. Sexy!

Scarlet, I have to disagree with you regarding Jessica Alba. It all depends in what you consider skinny. Skinny for me (and for many latino men, and I mean men form Italy, Spain and the Caribbean) would be the typical model that you see in catwalks or magazines. Jessica is not skinny the way you mean it. She has curves. If she was skinny, like you say, she wouldn't have a butt or even breasts (unless she has silicon, which she doesn't). I have worked in advertising for 25 years and I can tell you that when someone is skinny (like many models) there is nothing to grab on and they don't even look healthy (until you use photoshop).

Rusty and others who can give advice,

I have been really enjoying reading all your older posts regarding diet and training for that lean hollywood look. I had a question regarding your post about not seeing fat loss results for the first few weeks of a diet and training program even if you are creating a strong calorie deficit. As I mentioned in your last post, I have been doing 2-3 hours of moderate intensity cardio daily in order to lose fat and some muscle and the bulkiness I have. I have been doing both running on the treadmill and running on the elliptical without using the handles to mimic running without the impact on the joints. According to the readout on the machine, I burn around 1,000 calories in one hour, and this is after I enter my weight at the beginning. I assume that I am only burning around 850-900 calories/ hour since the machines tend to be 10-15% higher than actual calories burned. Thus I am usually burning 1500-2000 calories a day from exercise. As a result, I have been eating at my maintenance calories according to BMR which is 2500 calories a day and letting my exercise create the strong calorie deficit. I am trying to lean out as fast as possible without much worry about losing muscle since I just want to look lean and toned, similar to the David Beckham body. Since I am creating a 1700-2,000 calorie deficit daily, will it still take 2-3 weeks before I see visible results in the mirror or will I see them sooner since I am doing a lot of running? I would appreciate any advice you can give me regarding what my calorie intake should be a day. I am 5'10" and 170 pounds and would like to get down to 155 pounds. I do the 2-3 hours of moderate intensity cardio a day and lift 3 days a week.

Thanks,

Sam

kara,

Thanks for the lesson in English. I don't mind when people point out typo's, but not in a condescending way. You remind me of a manager I used to work with…When I was younger Pat Riley (NBA coach) came to speak about leadership at a manager's meeting I was attending. The speech was brilliant. Pat was using a dry erase board to draw diagrams and give us visuals. At one point he misspelled the word "tomorrow" and someone raised their hand to point it out to him (he spelled the word with two M's instead of 2 R's). I think the person interrupted him mid-sentence when he was telling a story about when he first began coaching Magic Johnson. All of us sitting at the meeting just cringed, because only someone with little tact would point out such a minor thing. We all understood the word he was trying to convey. Pat just smiled with a little bit of a smirk and erased the word, and replaced it with the correct spelling. That event didn't make Pat Riley look less intelligent, it made the manager look insecure. The manager was trying to build himself up by finding a flaw in Pat Riley. That manager had many abrasive personality traits, by the way, and not many friends. Not trying to be harsh, but when you type it just stinks of negativity.

Frank Z,

Female volleyball players do tend to look great as do female soccer players. Many of the fitness models are pretty women, but they would look so much better if they backed off a bit.

bex,

Anna over at PathToFatLoss.com has many pictures and videos. She does Eat Stop Eat and is in great shape.

Ingrid,

Sometimes Jessica Alba looks a little more fit. Jessica Biel also gets a little leaner from time to time. They both look good conditioned as well.

David,

I'm a complete sci-fi dork…Star Trek, Star Wars, The Matrix, and anything dealing with time travel.

Gabriel,

Yep…the majority of the time if you do what it takes to look good, you will be healthier. While this is not true 100% of the time…I'm betting that more often than not, this is the case.

nimrod69,

Halle Berry does look outstanding. There are countless amounts of women that look great…just didn't have space to list them all.

BurritoKid,

Thanks for having my back. I don't mind of people disagree, but this woman just comes across as really bitter and negative. If she wants she can go through and proofread the 220 posts and 13,000+ comments on my site. I make typos all the time!

G,

Nice to hear from you. I think you were reading the first month I started this little site. Yep, it has come a long way. You just never know what will happen when you start a site. I had a bit of luck mixed with a lot of hard (but fun) work. I look forward to keeping this site rolling along for at least a few more years…heck, maybe I'll never quit. It really is rewarding work.

Greg,

I agree with this point on BMI. I know a lot of people believe it is okay to be over the healthy BMI range as long as they have low body fat percentage, but I think there is something to be said for being lighter. Anyway, something I should do a post about.

Josh,

I think the guys in the 60's had it right as well. Something happened when bodybuilding hit mainstream in the mid 80's with Arnold was making the blockbuster action movies. I think we are slowly recovering from the fake tans, fake boobs, and the pumped up 80's inspired bodybuilding look.

Yash,

I agree with you completely. I really do think women should do resistance training and shouldn't be scared of the weights. If they wind up a little too muscular they just need to back off (but that doesn't happen too easily). One of the biggest reasons I wrote this post was for the women who have been working out, look great, but don't look like a fitness model…I just want to let them know that we don't want them to look like fitness models. Can't wait for you to get that site up. I'll help you get it rolling along when you launch it.

Brittany,

My girlfriend feels the same way. She always points out that these woman look like cross dressers. Some of the women who compete are pretty, but there are a decent portion who have more angular manly facial features than me…which I don't like at all.

Sue,

There is a weird subculture that likes the ripped women, but this usually happens from repeat exposure to seeing photos of this type of body. I don't think it is a natural state for men to be attracted to this type of physique. Obviously attraction isn't everything, but the low body fat levels these women reach are unhealthy as well. That picture of Jessica Albs isn't right…weird what they can do with photoshop!

Chris,

Yeah…I can't just do a boring post on female physiques without adding flavor! Jessica Alba does look great and I could name hundreds of other beautiful women in movies and TV who had the right mix of being fit while remaining feminine.

Abir,

I'm glad that helped you out. Sometimes it helps to see exactly what someone else is doing to see how all the pieces fit together.

rob,

You are right about female tennis players. More often than not they are slim without being too muscular. I forgot about tennis players.

Marion,

Thanks for the compliments about the site. I try my best to talk about subjects that I think will interest people. In order for a woman to reach the low body fat levels that these fitness models do, she has to torture her body. A guy can get a six pack over time without living in the gym and still enjoying good food…for a woman to get a defined 6 pack she has to go to extremes. Even if someone did prefer this look, the amount of sacrifice it takes isn't worth it in my opinion. Like you mentioned to Kara, I'm all for women lifting weights or using body weight resistance. I think that both men and women should carry a natural amount of muscle for their frames. The sleek toned look without looking like they live in the gym…like a volleyball player, tennis player, actor or actress, etc.

Joe,

Yep…you can't go wrong with any of those women you mentioned. Guys also like the curvy Kim Kardashian, Salma Hayek, and Scarlett Johansson build. Bottom line is that even with these various body types, these women look extremely feminine. Guys simply want a girl to look like a girl…simple as that. Of course their will be exceptions.

Ramon,

"A slim waist with a nice round booty"…you are sounding like Sir Mix-A-Lot…good point. I think skinny is fine as long as women retain their soft features. Some women are naturally skinny and look great. It starts looking bad if a woman pushes herself to be much skinnier than she is suppose to be.

karie,

I have a friend that swears by power yoga. I don't know enough about power yoga to comment, but my abs look great from doing planks, which are yoga-inspired…so I'm guessing that there are many other static holds that would tone other parts of the body. If you already have too much muscle, then give it a shot. It sounds like a decent game plan for slimming down a bit.

Helder,

Thanks for responding to Kara in a polite, but effective manner. I like the grammar comment at the end. I can tell immediately when a fitness model or female bodybuilder has done a lot of roids. The voice is a dead giveaway…and it is scary…seeing is believing!

Joe,

I remember Roxette…she did keep in great shape. The music could be a bit corny at times, but I like that…I'm not too cool for this type of stuff.

Palidor,

I agree that both men and women should aim to enhance their natural shapes while getting fit. Salma Hayek shouldn't try to look like Penelope Cruz and vice versa…they are both amazingly beautiful women with 2 extremely different body types.

Brad,

So you know first-hand how brutal this is for women to drop down to such low body fat levels. Just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done. Some muscle is nice…the good news is that there is a preference for every different body type.

Michael,

I think both men, women, and house pets find Scarlett Johansson pretty. The thing that makes her special is that she doesn't look like a cookie cutter hollywood actress…she has her own unique look…and you are right, her curves look great. The same could be said for Ashley Judd…just flat out beautiful. I'm guessing most women would find Hugh Jackman extremely attractive…some people are just really, really good looking…like "Zoolander" good looking.

mickieb,

Kara isn't going to start a Rusty fan club any time soon (not that I would ever want that to exist…too much pessure to behave all the time). A lot of the time I think she just reads the title and skims. Anyway, thanks for backing me up. I just want to help those who enjoy the site and not worry about those who don't. Kara certainly isn't the first person to dislike my site. No worries…she can find her info elsewhere…but if she is ready to comment and ask questions I will be more than willing to help her out.

Sue G,

Pole vaulting is an insanely tough sport. You are right, quite a few of those women look great. I agree with your point on diversity…it is nice to see a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Rachel,

When it looks like a man or woman is trying too hard it always seems less attractive. I advise guys to shake the "gym look". If they are pretty muscular, no need to wear tank tops and flaunt it too hard. When they dress a bit more "GQ" and look more like they just have a great body, it is a better look. Again, James Bond comes to mind. You wouldn't see him wearing a cut up tank top to flaunt his muscles. I guess for women it would be the idea of the sexy librarian type look vs a woman who wears a bikini top with low rise jeans. I guess being fit without looking like it rules your life, is always the way to go. Correction…being fit without having it actually take over your life is the best approach.

Derek,

I like your point. That women look great by simply staying lean and slim while maintaining "some" muscle. This is accomplished by a good diet, some resistance training (weights or body weight), and some type of interval cardio and a bit of steady state cardio.

Pixie,

I do see society swinging away from the big muscled up look on both men and women. That overly bulky look is slowly dying out. A lot of people who have carried 20-30 pounds of excess muscle understand how sluggish it makes you feel. Lean and mean is where it's at!

TonyKim,

Well, growing up in the 70's was fun…but you have the benefit of youth on your side (for now). I actually think the "10's" (2010-2019) are going to be amazing! I'm really positive for what is going to happen in the future.

Frank Z,

Yep…I do believe that women should do resistance training…especially when dieting hard. This is the only way to maintian muscle while under a strict diet. If women just diet and do cardio, they will lose muscle at the same rate they lose fat…and wind up being "skinny fat". This is the exact same advice I give to men as well.

Patrick,

I think the Hollywood look is so appealing because these people train to maintain a normal size, while reducing body fat. This is attractive to us, because it is the way we were probably meant to look. Technology has made most of us so inactive that we lose our base muscle and put on excess body fat. The "Hollywood Look" in my opinion is just the way we were suppose to look…a natural amount of muscle and less body fat than people who are inactive.

Jess,

My guess is that you look fine at 20-24% body fat. Do you feel like you have any visible fat bulges or anything like that? If not, I simply wouldn't worry about it. Also…I do realize that Jessica Alba has good genetics along with following an active lifestyle. I don't think every woman should aim for her look…and to be honest, many guys prefer women with a little more body fat.

Ray,

Any body type that looks forced never looks as good as someone who finds a happy medium. I used to diet down to 4-6% body fat each summer, but realized that this was just a temporary look…and was a little bit forced. I now stick around 8%-9% body fat year round and feel like it is a better look. I would have no problem getting to 4% body fat, if I felt the need…I guess I just don't feel the need as much anymore. Like you said…the best approach is to find a look that is easy to maintain.

Steven,

That is funny…I knew you meant Daniel Craig and not Marilyn Monroe as the best physique for a guy. Thanks for signing up with Google Friend Connect, by the way. Google still has this in Beta, but from what I understand this thing will explode bigger than Facebook within the next 6-12 months.

Tom,

What is sad is that most of these women have really pretty faces. As long as they don't do roids, they won't do irreversible damage. They can back way off and regain their natural feminine physique.

The Spaniard,

You never cease to entertain me! I love this part best…"You just reminded me of a feminist who gets mad at a man for comitting the sin of opening a door for her or offering her his sit". I was going to posibly edit this post or e-mail you and ask if I could make it nicer, but the entertainment value is way too high. I am lucky to have such a witty person commenting on my blog on a regular basis. Great stuff!

Scarlet,

That is probably not the best picture of Jessica Alba. I have seen many pictures of her where she looks a little more fit. As far as the average size woman being a size 12 goes…who wants to be average? If I was an average size male, I would probably be 30 pounds overweight and have a little bit of a pot belly at the age of 39. Although the average size female may be a size 12, that isn't ideal…and probably isn't healthy the majority of the time. To me a good range to shoot for would be closer to a size 6-8…possibly a size 10 on a woman with a bigger frame. My girlfriend is in the 2-4 range and looks outstanding. She is petite, but stays active and watches her diet. She doesn't look ultra-skinny and still has amazing soft feautures. Again…I don't want to put down any woman that is a size 12 or above…just want to point out that average isn't a great goal to aim for.

Jason G,

What are you doing get mugged in Oakland? Were you wearing a Seahawks or 49'ers jersey? That is one tough city!

Sam,

What I would do is workout a little less, but diet harder. Either way, you have created such a strong calorie deficit that you should see results very quickly. Check the scale after 3 weeks and see if you have dropped 5-6 pounds. If so, you are on the right track. You should drop more weight from week 4-6…and will most likely hit your goal by this time. This is of course an estimation based upon my experience…not exact. Get back to me in 3 weeks and tell me what you weigh and how your workouts feel.

A lot of comments for just posting this…keep them coming!

Rusty

Sam, wouldn't it be easier to create the deficit with your diet rather than exhausting your body with so much exercise?

I see what you're saying when it comes to women being too muscular sometimes. I've always liked the fitness u.s.a. models, especially along the lines of a Kiana Tom andTrish Stratus type. But I've seen them go extremely overboard as well. My workout primarily consist of martial arts training and body weight exercises so I think that "natural" look that you're referring to is right up my alley.

Speaking of the 60's look, check out Sherry Jackson in the "Space Croppers" episode of Lost in Space (Hulu), as well as Batman and in Star Trek (Google Images). Also, Deanna Lund of Land of the Giants, Diana Rigg, Barbara Feldon, Barbara Eden, and Donna lauren. The reality check is that some women would lose weight by smoking to reduce appetite.

Rusty,
Its hard to be sarcastic on the internet. I was joking. I am with you on the softer look for women. I do live in Oakland however and the Seahawks are my favorite team.

I may be one of the rare females who likes a muscular physique on a woman within reason, preferably more athletic and functional over the symmetry of the figure/fitness model look. I do agree that female body builders are not very attractive to look at, but those women are extreme. From what I've read about the fitness world there is a distinction between figure, bikini and bodybuilders. A lot of what you see on stage and in magazines is only achieved for brief amounts of time through extreme and often unhealthy dieting practices and dehydration for specific events and sometimes a little outside help.
I agree with the person who posted that perhaps Jessica Alba was not the best example of a woman who is fit, since she seems to fit more into the typical Hollywood skinny category. Someone like Jessica Biel or Jennifer Garner might represent a better picture of a lean, athletic and functionally muscular build. I personally like the look of track & field athletes male or female. They are typically lean, but strong looking and not too over done. Just my opinion.

Lots of entertainment first thing in the morning in office! Seriously Rusty your commentators are a riot! I agree with all your views. Kara why would a fitness professional ever say that a woman's looks are more important than her health?

P S: Just read your post -The Naked Female's Body… very funny not to mention re-assuring! Not that I am fully convinced but anyways… (Kara the s is deliberate). Just realised there is a ton of stuff here that I have'nt read!

I was at a Black Eyed Peas concert last Saturday. Fergie's body and her abs in particular, are awesome. I thought she looked better in person dancing on stage than in still photos. So, that is a body shape I’m impressed by.

We live in Hawaii and frankly, we have a lot of beautiful women and men. The ability to play outdoors all year – surfing, swimming, hiking, biking, etc. – can make for a great body. But the other part is attitude. Beach people wear less and feel more comfortable in their own skin. The internal conversation is less about, "Do you think I'm sexy?" and more about “Am I having a good time?"

besides what kara has said regarding spelling (wo realy kares how u spel kara?) it brings out somethin ive been wanting to say for a long time…

yeah its true, rusty does prefer form over function. the problem is that a functional body does not necessarily mean low low body fat, "getting ripped", "calorie restriction" etc. (although one could argue in some ways it does). over the years here i have seen increasingly seen rusty use ultra conservative methods towards working out and frankly it is…horrible. maybe its just a reflection of his age or something.

someone who trains for function will always outperform someone who trains for form, no matter what. there are not many truths in the fitness world but this is one of them.

that is where my "philosophical division" with FBB lies, and this is why I am really no longer reading FBB as much as I use to…or perhaps not at all after this post…all i see here are people trying to _look_ good (on what, 2 workouts per week no less, and basically starving themselves), instead of _being_ good. it is just simply too superficial here. on FBB actors and actresses are used as examples, when in fact athletes (or rather, Olympic athletes), both male and female, should be used as examples (they are used but only very sparingly). with respect to eating, just keep your normal diet and eat very healthy and you wont have any problems.

my advice is to workout to _BE_ good, to perform and excel at your sports/activities, NOT to look good (and for heavens sake, any real athlete will not run on the treadmill). looking good will always always come as a result of being functionally fit. it is simply an end, not a means.

I think the thing to remember is that the fitness models in the first video are only in that degree of condition for very short periods of time, after dehydrating and manipulating macro's. The rest of the time they look a great deal softer.

Same with the photo shoots – they very rarely walk around in that degree of condition for more than a few days.

I personally prefer the shapely athletic look, but not in competition condition.

However, I do think Tammy at the end has gone way OTT, but each to their own.

Michelle that is exactly what I meant to say that Jessica Alba is just skinny and not a good example.
To the spaniard, I happen to be latina myself. And I know for a fact that Jessica Alba for a latino man is considered too skinny. Latin men like curves. I happen to have a build like Jessica Alba and am considered too thin for latino men standards. Therefore, I have to disagree with you.
Rusty, I agree that a size 12 is not healthy the only point I'm trying to make is that at least in the pic you posted neither is Jessica Alba. Most of these thin Hollywood actresses are not healthy and are not good examples. Also, I just wanna say I'm new to this site and its my first time posting anything so I'm excited and I looove it!!!

I have to make a comment about Jessica Alba. She is definitely not too skinny. I think she looks fit. I always find it amazing when females knock females that are petite and on the slender size. I'm slender, but fit. This is my natural genetic code. I can not help the size that I am, but heavy woman have no problem letting me know that I'm "skinny" in their eyes. I work very hard to keep weight on my frame. I eat more than most woman but do not gain weight easily. I'm 5'1" and I try to keep my weight between 102-108, which at times is extremely difficult. I'm the opposite of a heavy person. I have to eat, or I will lose weight. Do you ever think maybe some of these Hollywood females are maybe genetically different then you? This might be why they are thin. I think skinny is someone who looks unhealthy and who is skinny and flabby with no muscle tone at all. In my opinion, Jessica Alba does not look unhealthy at all. Remember people, there are all different shapes and sizes. Not everyone has a weight problem of being too heavy – sometimes thin woman have to overcompensate for being thin.

Also, I honestly believe a size 12 is a little on the unhealthy side. I agree with Rusty that a 6-8 should be the size that heavier females shoot for. I have a few friends that are in the 5'8"-5'10" range, they are a little overweight and they wear size 10s. I just think that society as a whole is getting bigger and bigger; and that's why there are more size 12s than necessary.

Since I tested to have Jessica Alba's BMI in another post, she is the clear winner here. lol.

Seriously, Alba looks better. It really is hard for most women to get a muscular physique anyway. Not enough testosterone or something.

Great post. Again, the reason I keep coming back to this site is that you give sensible advice and inspiration too. And I love the Trekkie stuff! And pix and videos. Fun.

Rusty, i do agree with you but i have a problem. I have been weighlifting fo the past 3.5 years to try and reduce my bodyfat to around 18% and to try and increase my metabolism (maintenance is around 1600 for 5'6, 59kg and around 17/18%BF. However i must have a lot of mesomorph in me as I ave developed some signifcant muscle and all my friends (and now me too) find it too much. I can squat 100kg for 3 reps but who cares, i would like to lose some of the muscle ut maintain the same BF so how do I do this. and how the heck to i maintain through weightlifting and not gain any more muscle. By the way i managed to gain all my muscle on lowish cals and running two marathons in this time. My body likes to be musular but i now find it not as feminine as i want to look IMO.

Sir Mix-A-Lot! Lol Rusty! You are old school. To me a woman should be curvy. Like The Spaniard says, something to grab onto is what makes a woman appealing. Voluptuous is a term I feel should come back into fashion.

Jason G, I new you were being sarcastic, but I didn't respond before because I couldn't stop laughing when you said: I often have my woman chop fire.
Now I agree with you in one thing: a woman kicking ass is sexy. When I was in my 20's I had a friend who was black belt in karate. She was beautiful, sexy and skinny (if you want to call it like that)…but man, she could kick ass. It was really cool to walk with her anywhere thinking "don't mess with me, she will kick your butt".

When women overdo their workouts and do too much volume of lifting they can put on too much muscle.

What you need to make clear is that it takes a HUGE amount of weightlifting for women to "overdo" it . . . 99% of women are never even going to come close to that. Here's a girl lifting 245, and she looks much more like Jessica Alba than a fitness model: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLIXQz_8erA

Also, here's a Canadian national deadlift record for a 105-pound woman. She's lifting 311 pounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K_qiq3Wbzc

Kara,

A woman can be in very good shape, have great bone density and cardiovascular health, and not look like Monica Brant. Monica Brant is disgusting, and does not look healthy.

A fake tan, fake breasts, and abnormally large muscles for a woman.

Let's compare her with Jessica Biel. Jessica Biel works out regularly, you can tell from pictures that she is well-muscled and in great shape, but it's not so over-the-top. Biel looks like she'd be able to lift a decent amount of weight (her shoulders are actually pretty broad for a woman, and her hips look like they can generate a lot of power) and yet she still looks like the epitome of femininity. Jessica Biel should be what women shoot for, not Monica Brant.

Scarlet, first of all, it is great that you are Latina. Where are you from? Now, I don't know what type of Latino men you are talking about, but if you come to Spain or Italy I can bet you anything no one will ever say that you are to skinny if you look like Jessica Alba. At least in the two countries I have mentioned a skinny woman would be someone like Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton, and even Angelina Jolie…and they would be considered skinny because there are no curves there (I am not talking about having big boobs…there are curvy women with small breasts). They have no hips and no butt. Jessica Alba, on the other side, is not as voluptous as, for example, Salma Hayek, Halle Berry or Eva Mendes, but she still has curves. Someone mentioned a movie she did with Paul Walker where she spends half the movie in a bikini. If she was skinny, would she have a bubble butt? When I was in college I had a Puerto Rican friend with one of the best bubble butts I have seen in my life…and she was, according to what you say, skinny. Now, the day she really got skinny she lost her butt. She became a sack of bones. But Jessica Alba is no sack of bones, and those latinos that consider you too skinny should check their vision. Let me give you a little test: try on a pair of Levis 501. If they are not baggy on the back and there is a nice curve, you are not skinny (Angelina or Nicole could wear the same jeans and you would never see anything back there).

Rusty is just stating his opinion on what a good looking women looks like and it so happens that the majority of men will back him up. I think that women just need to realize that men want woman that are feminine (weak and fragile). Jessica Alba is not a super fit women but she embodies the cute feminine look. As far as health and function are concerned women should not be dropping below 18 percent body fat. Hence any woman who works out for the ripped look is not going to be as healthy as a result and probably not as appealing to the average male. I am not saying that women cannot have toned arms, but they should just show muscle shapes and not individual muscle fibers and by no means have any kind of veins showing. For a woman who wants to be fit they should aim for a Jessica Biel look and go no further.

Rusty,

Since your a sci-fi geek you should check out Outlander (2008). Its a great time-travel scifi movie.

Geez all that just because I think Jessica Alba is not a good example. Its just an opinion and I'm sure plenty of other women would agree.

Spaniard, I'm from Miami a melting pot of all latin cultures. ; )

this is a comment to meg..i live in hawaii as well and went to the no doubt concert..Gwens abs were off the hook!!I agree with you..we have such good weather in hawaii its alot more fun to workout outside doing fun stuff!

Scarlet I agree. I'm not Latina, but I am from an area where there is a large population of Latinas and many of them are much curvier than Jessica Alba and they're not over weight. So I always find it interesting when she gets pointed out as having this fabulous curvaceous Latina physique.

Nobody is knocking women who are naturally thin. Obviously there are many different body types. But it is widely known that in Hollywood many women are UNnaturally thin and suffer from eating disorders to maintain those bodies. I'm not trying to take away from those that appear to be active and physically fit.

I do think it's unfair that it is taboo to criticize a woman for being over weight but okay for a heavier woman to insult or comment to a woman who is slender whether it's from genetics or hard work.

SOMEBODY … HELP! Please take a few moments if you have the answer to my questions! Thank you so kindly!

I really have found this website interesting. I think I shall follow some of its advise.

I am a 38 year old woman. I have been training and lifting for 1-1/2 years. I'm 5'5 and weigh 121 pounds. My body fat is probably around 16%. I haven't tanned since I was 23 years old, keep my hair healthy and long, and want to have the exact look to which you refer (the point is I want to keep a youthful, feminine look). Not being vain (please don't take it as such), but I turn more heads at the gym than any of the younger girls (point being, guys, quit thinking you have to be 25 years old to be hot).

However, I have 2 issues:
1) I have developed veins that somewhat protrude in my hands and forearms. I now wear long sleeves to hide these veins. I want them to go away. I started using retinol on them (to thicken the skin). If I completely quit lifting for a time, will they go away? I use my forearms quite a bit (back, shoulders, legs, etc) … so they are being used 5x a week. Yes, now I realize that is too much. The question: will stopping the weights eventually make the veins retreat? Any other suggestions?

2) I also believe I am too lean (hardly any fat). At my age, this is not good. Also, how do I increase my body fat, while not increasing my waistline (I'd actually like to decrease my waist). My proportions are currently 36-27-36. I also have the "ideal" lower/upper body portions in that I'm 60% lower body and 40% upper (having long legs and short torso). I would like to lose 2 inches from my waist without thinning my skin out anymore on my arms (i.e., losing anymore subcutaneous fat on my arms).
Question: Is it possible to lose inches from my waist without losing any more fat from any place else?

Thank you.

A beautiful example of well defined, lean body – http://www.bodyrock.tv

Hi Rusty and anyone else who can comment,

I am trying to speed up my workouts so I can get done with weights in 15-20min so I have more time for cardio. i am wanting purely tone, so what is shortest rest time in between sets I could have w/o sacrificing strength, tone etc? I was thinking 30secs and maybe the last heaviest set 45sec – 60sec the most… would this be okay?

Wishotherwise,

You could lay off weight lifting for your arms for a while, which could lower the appearance of the veins. I would also avoid back exercises which have a tendency to recruit the forearm muscles. If you continue to work out try to avoid tension causing work outs which usually involve slow movements with heavier weights while the muscle is straining. Tension causing exercises will make your veins and muscles protrude more. If you want to work out your arms try lifting weights that are light(do not put strain on forearms) and do 30 plus reps. This rep range is good for endurance and staying fit without adding a lot of new muscle or definition.

As far as gaining fat without it going to the belly is concerned I have to tell you its impossible. If you are skinny for your age I am sure a little extra belly fat won't hurt your appearance. A little extra fat might even help hide the veins. Just eat a slight calorie surplus of a hundred or so extra calories, so you don't pick up any bad eating habits. If you don't like monitoring calories try eating a 3 ounce piece of dark chocolate at the end of the night. You probably only need to gain five additional pounds so don't go over board. Only one to two pounds of this will end up in the belly so your stomach shouldn't look larger-just less defined and more natural.

Jason:

Thank you kindly. I am doing exactly what you said not to do (slow workouts with the back so I can really feel the negative).

Thank you for taking the time to respond. The reason all the 35+ celebrities (Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, Rene Zell… et al) have protruding veins in their arms is because the subcutaneous fat tends to decrease when you get older. It's a lot tricker to workout when you're 38 verses when you're 28 … you have to be a lot more thoughtful, because thinner skin and protruding veins do become an issue.

I'm perfect everywhere else except for my forearms. I just hope stop lifting will make the veins retreat.

Rusty,

Great post for the ladies.

I'm a male, and I've always been very lean & will always be on the lean side. I just always find myself wanting to pick up some more muscle. I have a good amount, I'm 6'1 weighing 170 with 5.6% body fat. I have a very intense workout regiment (lifting & cardio) that works for me. I guess I always just find myself asking, "will this extra 3,4, or 5lbs of muscle really be worth it."

wishotherwise,
if you wanted to take the cosmetic surgery route – have you seen the surgery where they pump up the hands with something to make them look a lot younger – gets rid of the veins etc. Wonder if it would work with the forearms??

I don't think you could have picked a sexier example than Yvonne Craig, Rusty.

I haven't seen the Batman TV show now for about 15 years but can still hear her sexy voice as she tries to sneak away from Comm. Gordon…OH DADDY!
I think I'll have to watch it again asap, it's long overdo!! Oops, I mean overdue.:)

Brad

Personally, i prefer the 60's brand of soft curves without being fat. i can't understand why men and women today prefer these women who look like they need to eat a sandwich.

Good post!

Rob

Yvonne Craig had an insane figure: 37-23-35, if the magazine article I read about her is to be believed. There has been a lot written about the demise of the hourglass figure, but these proportions were a lot more common in Yvonne Craig's time than ours.

…With that said, /this/ is my ideal look, although I have no idea how to get it without training in ballet for ten years. I worry that doing all those releves and plies would give me tree trunks for legs.

In my opinion women look beautiful at all levels of fitness that don't approach masculinity or obesity.

In the example above, I would love to have fun with Monica, whereas I would rather be serious with Jessica. It also has a lot to do with genetics. All men like a built Brazilian woman. Big, small or in between, they are all fine.

It also depends I think on where the man is in his life and what he does for a living. My basic rule is not to be with a woman that is stronger then I am. I believe it does something to the dynamic of the male/female relationship. It is also similar to dating a lady who is a 5th degree Blackbelt. I am not so sure this is a situation that most men would want for any prolonged period of time.

There is another issue of Testosterone . Women cannot approach the physique of Monica Brant without boosting Testosterone levels. Once this is done, I think it is hard for these women to think and act like a woman given the hormone imbalance. The best example I can give is Serena's overall aggresive behavior on the Tennis Court. I love to watch her play, but that level of intensity is best watched on television.

Wishotherwise,

A woman should have about 20% body fat to have soft feminine curves. In addition this will assist with your veins showing. I would also suggest to add MSM to your daily diet to relax the vascular walls.

Try to get your BMI to 21 or 22 which means 130. Start there and see if you like what you see.

The size of your veins is two things. The load you are putting on your forearms and genetics. By relaxing the vascular wall you will allow the veins to return to their normal preload size after a workout. You might want to take a Tablespoon or two of organic apple cider vinegar with sparkling water as well to assist with this.

Why should women only care about their looks? No matter who people find more attractive there is no doubt that Monica Brant is way more fit than Jessica Alba. I highly doubt Alba has any athletic abilities at all, even though she used to be an aerobic instructor (aka most useless fitness activity ever).

My experience is that women who wants to get somewhere with their training, other than just looking hot, ends up looking much more attractive. Recently I changed from a commercial gym (where the girls wants to look hot like Jessica Alba) to an athletic gym (where the girls want to run faster, lift more, jump higher and so on) and the athletic girls are way hotter than all the lazy Jessica Alba-wannabes doing aerobics and high rep work with 0,1lbs dumbbells.

Oh, and by the way I would definitly pick Monica Brant. I admire and appreciate all the hard work she did to look great.

Since Rusty wanted to hear from women I thought I'd weigh in. I agree with most people desiring the Alba Body over the weight lifter look. My goal is the Alba body. I think I'm definitely acheiving that and I'm glad you brought up this topic. My hubby keeps asking if I want a 6 pack in which I say NO I don't want a 6 pack just a flat smooth Victoria Secret abdominal look. There is a VERY interesting article about this and I'm going to try and post it when I find it. It talks about how most women want the bod you are talking about and most gym trainers are screwing up their clients with workouts that won't acheive that look. He sites Britney Spears as an example. Her stomach when she first came on the scene was flat and tiny. Then she hit the gym with a trainer and had this 6 pack going on which in realtiy made her waist look thicker. This is why I will continue to do Pilates (and others yoga) it (for me) helps give that slim sexy femenine looks vs the hard one.

OK Here's the article discussing this very subject:

http://www.tmuscle.com/…sexy_female_training

Well, I'm all for you. I love the all the pre-90's look. Being lating I'll tell you that we prefer the more curve look, beefy legs, hips, narrow waist. That Batgirl was a bomb when i saw her first time (about 6 yo), as also was Catwoman. To give you an idea of "latin body" just look at Shakira (obviously),Britney Spears (when not fat), Beyonce, Dennisse Austin (yeahhh!!!) and most gymnast and ballet dancers girls. But we must be fair with fitness models. Monica Brant has been a bombshell for almost 20 years. We must take into account that that is her "competition look", when they are in "off season" they come to the more soft look.Even women bodybuilders from the past looked great, check Rachel Mclish, Anja Langer, Gladys Portugues, Sharon Bruneau etc.

Genetics really does have a lot to do with it. No woman in my family has ever managed to get the "60's" slender look. A dozen of us have tried and hurt ourselves in the process. My daughter is right on the same track. But we build muscle *much* faster and easier than the average female. The average female who is 5'1-5'4 (like the women in my family) has 95-105 pounds of lean mass. (muscle, bone, organs, etc) The women in our family have 115-130 pounds of lean mass. If we keep a healthy body fat percentage of, say, around 22 percent, that makes us 150#. At that weight, we have all the right curves in all the right places and are "soft" without the jiggle, but we're NOT thin.

Only once has a woman in my family been thin. My mother came down with Grave's disease and nearly died. She went down to 128# and was emaciated. Her body fat dropped down to less than 5% and she was skin and bone.

So you guys need to think before you judge. Decide what you're attracted to and be happy with it. But you have to realize that there's only so much we can do to make y'all happy!