Everyone wants to be fit. We all want that "perfect body" that we see on TV and in magazines, the ones that look like they're literally sculpted by gods. We want people to stop and stare at us in awe when we're in public. I mean, who wouldn't?
Striving to be a healthier, more in-shape individual is something we all should do. Exercise and proper diet can drastically improve your life in a multitude of ways, the most obvious being just tossing a few extra years your way. We should all want to be in the best shape possible, but it must be for the right reasons and in moderation.
It may sound odd, but there really are wrong reasons for wanting to be fit. You should never try to get in shape to impress someone else. The only person you should strive to impress is yourself. Doing it for others is saying that your only worth in the world comes from your appearance, and that's just not true. You should be getting healthier for you and only you. It's your body, not theirs. No one should ever have any say in how you look.
All that matters is that you're happy with yourself. You can, of course, want to be healthier so that you have more years to spend with your friends and family, but that should be the only instance where you do it for someone else. Be healthy because it's what you want, not because you think you'll be liked more.
When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, it's important to remember to do just that. Your fitness journey shouldn't be obsessive or extreme. Far too often I'll see people go on dangerous and extreme diets or have their entire lives be centered around when they can go work out. There is a fine line between being determined/pushing yourself and being completely controlled by the lifestyle.
Diet and exercise shouldn't be the end all in your life. It's very important and there's nothing wrong with making it a high priority, but it shouldn't top absolutely everything. Unless you have a career in nutrition or fitness, it shouldn't consume everything you do. Just like everything in life, it should be practiced in moderation. Does it really make sense to spend your entire life in pursuit of looking a certain way? You can miss out on so much if you are constantly focused strictly on your health.
Yes, that's right. I'm saying it's okay to not worry about your health from time to time. Take a day off. Go out to eat with friends and order something fatty and greasy. Plop yourself on a couch and binge watch Netflix all day. Doing these kinds of things every once in awhile is not going to hurt you. In fact, it may help in some cases. Now, don't do that every day, obviously, but don't be afraid to say no to the gym when you need a rest. There are so many things to enjoy in this life, don't let an appearance obsession take you away from it all.
This doesn't mean you can't still be committed to your fitness goals. You can (and should) still push yourself as hard as you can in the gym and eat a balanced, nutritious diet on a daily basis. I'm simply saying everyone needs a break or day off every now and then.
Finally, I want to touch on the attitude you should have. I don't care what you look like or what you've been able to accomplish, you should never look down on others because you're in better shape than them. We are not living in a caveman age anymore, your fitness means jack squat today. A six-pack isn't a license to be a dick. Everyone in the gym is working to get better, looking down on them only makes you look bad.
I have spent the vast majority of my life in sports and workouts. When I started college, I stopped playing sports but continued to work out. Everything I've told you not to do in this article is something that I have admittedly done. There was a period of time when I only worked out because I wanted to impress people. I became obsessive, too. Everything took a backseat to my workouts and I would prioritize it over friends and family consistently. It was unhealthy and destructive.
Now, I'm able to keep it all in check. I continue to work out and follow a good diet, but I don't let it consume my life. I still go out with friends and take days off here and there just to give myself a break. I make my fitness a high priority, but definitely not the highest.
Keep your life in balance and maintain moderation in everything you do; don't set out to only impress others. Health and fitness are great qualities to have, but they're not the only ones. You have a lot more to offer than your looks, always remember that.
