Maybe "Gym Bro" is Not The Final Form
What if we're looking at this all wrong?
Everyone has their reasons why they choose to get started with a new fitness routine. Losing weight, getting a 6 pack, building bigger arms, fitting into a wedding dress. The list goes on of course. But I would argue that an outsized amount of attention goes into the aesthetic elements of a person’s fitness journey, at the expense of attention being paid to what’s best for one’s body.
We often judge our progress almost exclusively by what we see on the scale or in the mirror. Sometimes we even assess our instructors by how much measuring tape we’d need to use to get around their biceps… or how little we’d need to get around their waistlines.
But the truth is, I've seen exceptionally strong guys who really didn't know what they were doing, and I've learned from extremely knowledgeable fitness professionals who were moving less weight than some beginners.
“… there's a lot of benefit in allowing these things to come to you as side effects … the mirror will take care of itself.”
If someone is a power lifter or a bodybuilder, they may view the amount of weight they can move or how big and cut they are as their sole measuring sticks for fitness. If you're competing in a sport, then sport-specific specializations and assessments makes sense. But otherwise, it may be worth looking at your fitness journey through a slightly different lens… and in many cases a much healthier one.
Having that moment where the form cues “click”, and an exercise starts to feel natural. Developing real-world strength and mobility across multiple planes of movement. Putting in a workout and discovering you did just a little better than you did the last time. Each of these are often better measuring sticks for how much we’re advancing towards a healthier life. Especially early on.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to move heavy weights or achieve a certain aesthetic. We all want to look good. That’s totally normal of course. But for many people, I believe there's a lot of benefit in allowing these things to come to you as side effects of a more comprehensive concept of what it means to be fit, and not as something you're focused on, day in and day out.
Focus on the work in front of you. Focus on your health, and trust the process. It won’t happen over night, but with consistent effort, the mirror will take care of itself.
