A recent article: “Fab Abs,” attacks women over 40 who are using fitness to look fantastic– and ageless.
The argument suggests that athletic injuries and ailments, like joint problems and arthritis, occur more often because of “extreme fitness.” Although working out too much can and does lead to injury, the article sets up a false opposition between mature “uber-fit” women and “real” ones who “let themselves go,” thus misrepresenting both health and social concerns.
All evidence-based studies show that working out consistently, rather than “letting yourself go,” improves quality of life and reduces the chance of health problems, including arthritis and hip problems. If spending hours at the gym is an improvement over Botox to stay young, healthy and look great, feminists should advocate access to this strategy for all instead of shaming those women that manage to access these benefits through tacitly demeaning, cliche images and falsehoods. Rather than perpetuating a myth of impossible femininity, fit aging athletes and celebrities may be redefining femininity in terms of strength and health rather than fragility.
Praising “letting yourself go” to resist “a nation of female Peter Pans” echoes hysteria about takeover by mature “uber-fit” women, by accusing them of turning into masculine rulers and tricksters. The story grossly twists information and shames women using language that smacks of misogynist, agist cliches, while claiming to be feminist and concerned.

Nicole Kidman, age 55 (Looking amazing!)