You and Your Personal Reality
May 25th 2007 18:57
What is the greatest fitness myth? I'm not sure that there is one answer to this question,but I will suggest that a particularly destructive myth is purveyed when magazines splash the perfectly fit and shapely throughout their contents,hoping that you, the not-so-shapely or fit, will buy them to find out an easy way to reach cover model status really soon.The fact is that the number of perfectly proportional individuals with no tendency to add more than 10% body fat is statistically very, very low. The rest of us are not so blessed, but we are subject to the allurement of being told that we can be. I think that this is a dangerous idea.
In men the desire to get huge and veinous can lead to abuse of drugs.The bodybuilding world is full to the brim with men injecting whatever into themselves to add additional muscle and trim additional fat,often beyond levels that are already freaky. The fact that short term compounds of various kinds work is tempting,especially when their detrimental effect is often not apparent until damage has been done.Yet, even "roided" to the roof, most men cannot attain muscularity and vascularity to the extent that they may wish. It is simply not in the cards. In addition, the effects of steroids etc are at best short term. I wonder how satisfying the descent to normalcy can be for someone who has reached a higher level and is now literally shrinking and smoothing his way back to where he was.
For women being subtly reminded on a regular basis that low body fat with large breasts and perfect hips is really the ideal has the worst kind of effects. Eating disorders and gratuitous plastic surgery are rampant. The air waves hum with all kinds of devices whose use is purported to bestow the above upon any woman who pays for them. Phony diets all revolve around the idea that years of bad eating can be erased from the body and Venus-like beauty will emerge.
What is a reasonable approach to your personal fitness? First, accept certain realities about your physical gifts. You are what you are on a genetic level and,yes,you could give up everything else and go for bodily perfection. The price will be so high and success so ethereal that you are imbalanced to seriously consider this. Second, vow to improve what you have and to be persistent at it. I think that the person who says to himself that he is going to do what he can do,improve what he has, and keeps reminding himself that that is his goal will reach a level of fitness and satisfaction that will make his efforts worthwhile. Consider this the next time you catch sight of some magazine cover. Your servant, as always.
In men the desire to get huge and veinous can lead to abuse of drugs.The bodybuilding world is full to the brim with men injecting whatever into themselves to add additional muscle and trim additional fat,often beyond levels that are already freaky. The fact that short term compounds of various kinds work is tempting,especially when their detrimental effect is often not apparent until damage has been done.Yet, even "roided" to the roof, most men cannot attain muscularity and vascularity to the extent that they may wish. It is simply not in the cards. In addition, the effects of steroids etc are at best short term. I wonder how satisfying the descent to normalcy can be for someone who has reached a higher level and is now literally shrinking and smoothing his way back to where he was.
For women being subtly reminded on a regular basis that low body fat with large breasts and perfect hips is really the ideal has the worst kind of effects. Eating disorders and gratuitous plastic surgery are rampant. The air waves hum with all kinds of devices whose use is purported to bestow the above upon any woman who pays for them. Phony diets all revolve around the idea that years of bad eating can be erased from the body and Venus-like beauty will emerge.
What is a reasonable approach to your personal fitness? First, accept certain realities about your physical gifts. You are what you are on a genetic level and,yes,you could give up everything else and go for bodily perfection. The price will be so high and success so ethereal that you are imbalanced to seriously consider this. Second, vow to improve what you have and to be persistent at it. I think that the person who says to himself that he is going to do what he can do,improve what he has, and keeps reminding himself that that is his goal will reach a level of fitness and satisfaction that will make his efforts worthwhile. Consider this the next time you catch sight of some magazine cover. Your servant, as always.
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