How buff is too buff? The first lady and Madonna shape the issue: It's about femininity and strength.
First Lady Michelle Obama stands tall and regal in her official portrait, a double strand of creamy pearls around her neck, her figure clad in a fitted Michael Kors dress. But there's one aspect of this seemingly benign photograph that's causing something of a commotion, and it lies in that exposed 10-inch-or-so stretch between her shoulder and elbow. The first lady is buff, and she's not afraid to show it.
Her curvy biceps have become something of a lightning rod for remarks from both sexes in a larger discussion of how much female muscle constitutes too much. While some praise Obama as a role model in a world gone obese, others say she's gone too far in displaying the fruit of her workouts. Read one online forum comment: "There is nothing uglier than manly, muscular arms on a woman. Mrs. Obama should be hiding them instead of showing them off."
Says personal trainer Ramona Braganza, a member of Gold's Gym Fitness Institute, "She's burning so many calories constantly and her metabolism's sky-high. I'm not being hard on how she looks, but sometimes it's nice to have a little body fat as you get older. It's just healthier looking, and people almost look younger when they do that."
For Obama (who told People magazine she hits the gym almost every day), the decision to wear sleeveless designs that show off her physique sends a strong message, says Janet Lee, deputy editor of Shape magazine. "If she was at all self-conscious about her body, she wouldn't put it out there." And that may be intimidating and unsettling to some who are used to seeing first ladies more covered up.
Yet arms are the one body part women often don't mind flaunting, Lee adds: "They may have issues with their legs or their midriff, but they can get away with showing their arms." When they're firm, Lee says, it's like waving a flag. "It's your fit calling card, and it lets people know that if your arms are in shape, your body's in shape."
The first lady's taut form may be forcing women to think about their upper-body musculature, but let's not forget a potentially bigger influence: fashion. The sleeveless season is almost upon us. "This is the time of year everyone's starting to think about bikinis and tank tops," Lee says. "Women are definitely wanting to firm things up so they'll look toned and fit. The panic will be starting soon, no doubt."
http://www.latimes.com/features/lifesty … 7463.story
