Body images of women have changed with fluctuating trends over the years, and amongst the media images and fashions of the day, there are real women considering what they want too. So what do women actually want when it comes to their fitness and their bodies? Is it all about being slim and trim, or more about being toned and improving function? What motivates women to keep fit today?

Exercise Vs Women?

In 1912 Harpers & Bazaar magazine asked women: 'Are Athletics a Menace to Motherhood?' Over the years, this idea of exercise potentially working against women's best interest has been evident, with question marks over fertility and fitness.

Any mom knows just how exhausting a new baby can be, so surely pregnancy is a time to put your feet up, isn't it? This is the time when you relax and do as little as possible, making the most of the relative calm before the storm of nappies and sleepless nights.

There are a myriad articles and magazine features that bombard women with images of what is supposed to be the physical feminine ideal. But for most women, these are not looked at with much pleasure. Indeed, they make most women feel feel inadequate on some conscious or subconscious level.

Diet and body shape has become an obsession in these modern times. Women are bombarded with images of skinny females and toned models, and constantly told how to reach the ideal weight through a confusing mix of fad diets and trend exercise. Some women feel so pressured to attain the perfect figure that they become dangerously self critical, and put themselves down for not succeeding.

You might not want to spin round in a circle in public wearing a leotard before saving the day, but embracing your inner Wonder Woman is about experiencing life to the full. For the modern woman this means a good quality life that comes from being fit and healthy.

The image of a man with rippling muscles pumping iron to let off steam is a stereotype that few people bring to mind when they think of a woman keeping fit. In the case of the female fitness fan, the old fashioned image is of a sedate lady lightly perspiring in a gentle exercise class.

We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is linked to obesity and disease and that more active people live longer lives. But why is this the case? Science could reveal an answer that links exercise and disease with the key being the effect working out has on women's hormones.

Forget pumping iron to look like Mr. Universe, or working out to flex macho muscles; most women want to exercise to be healthier, happier and more active in their already busy lives. Many women have personal fitness goals too, such as losing weight, toning up and making sure they are flexible for their everyday activities.

A youthful, glowing complexion, with toned muscles is what most people would love to see when they stand in front of the mirror. Sagging jowls, dull skin and a grey pallor are all signs of ageing that can make you look old before your time. With today's technological advances, many women are opting for a whole raft of innovative, non-invasive treatments and surgeries, after all, there's nothing wrong with a little helping hand now and then.

With one in six couples trying for a baby in the US not finding baby success after a year, the issue of infertility is a ripe one. Whether environmental, genetic or other health reasons are to blame for the rising rates of fertility problems, there is a growing interest in how lifestyle choices can potentially affect possible pregnancies.