The Josh Bridges Post that Got Everyone Up in Arms

Some background.

Last Wednesday, Josh Bridges announced on his IG that he and WODSTAR are releasing a new program for women called “Lean.”

Well that’s cool.

Except, maybe not. The Internet had a field day in the comment section and by Thursday the post was deleted. But WODSTAR is still releasing the program, which they called the “Get fit, but don’t make me bulky in the process” program.

And that is cool. Because there is no rule that says women have to want to get bulky.

Buttttttt…it’s the next line that has us scratching our head a little.

“Let’s face it…men and women have different goals.”

Wait. We don’t know about you but we know lots of women that have the same goals as a lot of men in the gym.

…and

It continues. Here’s what the original description said before it was updated:

“Females that follow a male-oriented training program develop traps and bulk in all the wrong places. So, say goodbye to one rep max bench days! This program is built to make you a lean and mean female machine. No more pooch belly, lunch-lady arms, or cottage cheese legs. This program is going to target all those spots with endurance and conditioning training.”

“If you’re like most of us…you signed up for CrossFit to look good naked. So why spend months trying to perfect your snatch when all you really want is to look smoking hot for your next Instagram post.”

They didn’t.

Oh but they did. Right and wrong body areas? Pooch belly? Cottage cheese legs? Pretty sure no one told athletes like Cayla Haney that she wasn’t supposed to be lifting heavy. Or Stefi Cohen. Or Brooke Ence.

Language like this bolsters the underlying notion that there is one specific form of beauty to be attained. That there is a wrong or a right way for a woman, any woman, to look.

There is not.

And if you don’t believe how toxic this sort of language can be, read the story about CrossFit Rising Phoenix and how one athlete’s comments about how “those [Games athletes] look manly” had a ripple effect across that gym that was more than about sensitive language.

Stereotypes like these are how athletes like Maddy Espinoza get teased at school.

Beauty, and health, does not mean the same thing for any two people. If a woman wants to “lean out” and train for a 5k, awesome. If she wants to mass and lift heavy and have traps that break tank top straps, fantastic. It is not right vs. wrong. Have at it.

And, for the record, we’ve been saying this for a minute. Strong is beautiful and ladies, you get to define both.

Editor’s Update: We’ve been told that Bridges apologized in the comments on Instagram but since he banned us on Instagram we can’t verify that.