If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that... I’d have about 2 or 3 dollars.
It's a real concern for many people however you want to name it.
But shhh…never let it be known that you want to get fit, lose a few inches, and maybe add some muscle.
The body police will be on you like this monkey on Florida man.
I incessantly talk about exercise and strength training being an incredible way to feel more confident and mentally strong as well as improving overall health as we age.
BUT IS IT OKAY TO TRAIN FOR AESTHETICS?? Do you feel guilty saying you wanna work out for aesthetic purposes like it somehow makes you shallow? Or are you worried that training to look a specific way must mean you’re insecure or hate yourself?
I think these conclusions are a little short-sighted and like most things, there’s a ton of nuance.
So while I understand the argument—I also think that training for a specific look is normal, fine, and also, for me anyway, a big part of WHY I train is … I want to see the fruits of my labor (I also want to *experience* them too of course, through improved strength, functionality, health outcomes, stress management, etc).
Self-compassion and working hard aren’t mutually exclusive. You can like yourself while also taking responsibility for your choices.
However, there is a difference between training to look a certain way because you *need* it to value yourself or be accepted, and training to look a certain way because hey, I am working my ass off and I want to see some damn muscle!😜
To me, having physique goals is perfectly normal. Just be sure to detach from what it means about your worthiness and value as a person and your contribution to the world. THAT can be a huge trap.
Instead, know you are perfect as you are right now, and don’t *have to* do anything if you don’t want to.
But if you choose to train for aesthetics, then just own it. Stay mindful. Separate your self-worth from how your body looks.
Work on your inside game and then just kick ass in your workouts.
If I haven't said it in a while, thank you for reading and sharing with a friend if you like what you read.
xo Jen
* fupa – fatty upper [**pubic] area
**insert other “p” word as necessary. Remember the song “OPP” back in the early 90s?
Yeah, like that.
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