A few weeks ago I blogged on “How to Build Muscle Quickly” where I mentioned that only a friend and I were the two remaining people who had continued to hold an active membership at a local gym after the conclusion of high school early this decade.
Well, I was in a fairly comprehensive discussion with my friend on Sunday (funnily enough, at the gym). We were contemplating where everyone had gone and why everyone had seemingly abandoned their dreams to look toned (for most of the girls) and buff (for most of the guys). However, the conversation quickly changed paths to ”exercising to look good”.
As long-term consistent exercisers, both of us agreed that exercising to look good was not a long-term strategy for success. It explains why many of our peers had dropped their gym membership and consequently “given up” on themselves. We concluded that vanity just isn’t a long-term motivating force, in solidarity.
Upon thinking about this discussion in more detail, it makes more and more sense to me. I’ll admit that when I first joined the gym at 17 years of age, I joined because I wanted to look good. It’s probably the number one reason why people join. After all, we all want to look good don’t we?
But after a while, you come to realise first-hand that exercise has so many added side-benefits other than just “looking good”. Sure, you obtain tone by losing fat and building muscle…but the benefits to exercise are so multifaceted. Yet it’s nearly impossible to fully comprehend these benefits if you haven’t experienced them first hand. I’m talking about the emotional, mental and spiritual benefits that defines that person. In an article I wrote three years ago, “My Transformation – Exercise And Diet Just Isnt Enough“, I discuss my first-hand experiences with these benefits of exercise. To this day, I continue to grow as a person with every single workout as I learn new things about myself not only physically, but also spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
Here’s why exercising to look good (in isolation) is like a dog chasing it’s tail. Upon initiating an exercise routine, typically it will take at least four weeks to notice any physical changes. Personally, it took me 10 weeks during my BodyBlitz competition to see the changes that I was happy with (and that was with full-on non-stop exercise and diet!). Now even if you have the patience to see this physical manifestations of your hard work, eventually you will get sick of looking at yourself in the mirror. Once you get sick of your admiring your physical being, then what do you do?
The irony is that, as I mentioned above, most people (myself included) begin exercising to look good. But as you see results, your emphasis will inevitably change from “just” exercising to look good to all these added side benefits that transcend far deeper than any physical manifestation. You begin to feel more healthier, confident, empowered, stronger (physically and emotionally), you have better concentration, enhanced sense of self, greater patience and appreciation for investment of planned time and effort. The list goes on…
Now, I’m not for one minute suggesting that exercising to look good is a bad thing, or a superficial approach to life. I think exercising for vanity is one hundred percent acceptable because “why” you exercise is your own personal choice! After all, it is your body! Personally, I still exercise to look good, but I do so in what I feel is a healthy equilibrium with all the other benefits of exercise.
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