I have finally started to see some results from my "rigorous” physical training. Without buying a gym card or compromising my lifestyle (beer, wine, cheese etc) too much, I ran a half marathon at a descent amateur time, my muscles are getting bigger and my stomach smaller (with a name like Adonis, you have a lot to live up to). It is like turning back the hands of time in a way when you start to look like you did 5 years ago. So why this shallow fixation with physical appearance? Well, at my age, that is somewhere between 25 and 30, you have to start taking care of yourself if you still want to look like Daniel Craig in James Bond when you’re 45, if you still want to play tennis when you’re 65, and if you still want to play golf when you’re 75. Plus if you let yourself go for too long, your stomach fat will get so attached to your body that the only way to remove it would be through a small but powerful hose (own theory).
I used to think that exercise freaks had their priorities wrong, and if the obsession with fitness takes control of your life, I still regard it as “unhealthy”. But if you view it from an evolutionary theory perspective, exercise freaks and muscle idiots are easier to understand. Ever since the beginning of our history as humans, starting with “Homo Erectus” and to a certain extent even with the plain monkeys, social status and physical appearance have been crucial qualities in fulfilling our strongest drive, sexual reproduction. If you happen to believe in divine creation and all that, and you are offended by the notion of primate forefathers, then I apologize for my omniscient arrogance but I won’t take this perspective into account.
To get back to the point I am trying to make, physical appearance has for a long long time been a key success factor in attracting a partner to mate with. If monkeys and Neanderthals would have had a greater understanding about physiology, they probably would have started to work out. Even though other qualities like social status, intelligence and reliability have more importance to most people in modern times, appearance will always be key quality. So from now on whenever I see muscle freaks, I will no longer think or say anything condescending about them. They are probably just trying to compensate for lack of other key qualities. Only problem is, they are overcompensating. Right girls?
I used to think that exercise freaks had their priorities wrong, and if the obsession with fitness takes control of your life, I still regard it as “unhealthy”. But if you view it from an evolutionary theory perspective, exercise freaks and muscle idiots are easier to understand. Ever since the beginning of our history as humans, starting with “Homo Erectus” and to a certain extent even with the plain monkeys, social status and physical appearance have been crucial qualities in fulfilling our strongest drive, sexual reproduction. If you happen to believe in divine creation and all that, and you are offended by the notion of primate forefathers, then I apologize for my omniscient arrogance but I won’t take this perspective into account.
To get back to the point I am trying to make, physical appearance has for a long long time been a key success factor in attracting a partner to mate with. If monkeys and Neanderthals would have had a greater understanding about physiology, they probably would have started to work out. Even though other qualities like social status, intelligence and reliability have more importance to most people in modern times, appearance will always be key quality. So from now on whenever I see muscle freaks, I will no longer think or say anything condescending about them. They are probably just trying to compensate for lack of other key qualities. Only problem is, they are overcompensating. Right girls?
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9 comments:
I'm in complete agreement with you except on your last point: "muscle freaks compensate ...".
Why? you argue they want to compensate, meaning you assume they have major weaknesses/flaws. I think they just try to be the best, because today life is a competition.
I did the same notice few weeks ago and I have decided to do more sport, which I do twice a week in Amadeus premises. Trust me, after 30, that's not the same story, you NEED to do sports... especially if you don't change your lifestyle.
Fortunately, UEFA Euro 2008 will start soon which will allow us to drink beer as usual ;)
hmm.. yes. Of course there are quys who bodybuild for competitive reasons. But I do think that in many cases, making yourself a huge monster is a compensation for feeling like a weak little kid inside. Of course, any physical improvements you and I pursue are not grounded in a flawed self-image, we just try to keep up ;)
As far as Euro 2008 goes, all training/diet will be forgotten!
To be honest im gonna go with Lionel on this one. Personally im not a fan of big fuckers, cos I myself am averagely built and admitedly, sometimes it does suck.
Although, yeah i hate this whole psychological bs that theres always a reason for something. You never here people say that intellectuals read because their physically weak (although this may well happen). These are all extremes, id say some people like to be huge it makes em feel good, and it doesnt necessarily mean they have a defficiency in other areas because that can be applied to anything. You buy nice shirts, cos you feel you need to make up for something, you read, you keep abreast of the news, you cut your hair and beard, you have a blog (hint hint nudge nudge, just kidding!)...hehe
FOVC
and you have a blog.. hehe! Nice one! Me on the other hand, I love to analyze the psychological explanations of human behavior because I believe that just like animals, many of our behavioral patterns can be broken down and explained by evolutionary theory, buying nice shirts included ;) But what you are talking about, cutting your hair, trimming your beard, writing blogs etc, is not over compensating like making yourself a Belgian blue.
But it's true, building your body up in the extreme doesn't NECESARILLY mean that you’re compensating for a deficiency, but I would say that Dolph Lundgren is the exception to the rule. Thank you for commenting! Keep reading, cutting your hair, and since you have strong opinions on many subjects, why not start a blog as well?
My answer will have two parts. First the serious part; Analysing the reason for something or anything is always good and constructive. However, is there not a slight chance were over analysing? Using statistics and coincidental correlations to base purely our purely speculative theorys: Such as the whole deficiency.
To be honest, I like finding the reason behind things, but others you should just let be. Who cares if someone is lacking in confidence and balances it out. Its his/her way of dealing with problems and its as valid as any. Who are we to tell him he has a problem and is doing it wrong.
Frankly, I think human beings are way too complicated to be treated as mere right and wrongs or to be classified oh so simply.
For the second part of my answer, and on a somewhat more humorous note: This sounds like a more than valid reason to be huge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6XO3ecsJRk&feature=related
I rest my case...
FOVC
About the blog, thanks for the encouragement, although I think that maybe starting a blog would be like opening the floodgates of my brain and vomiting it all out onto a page...
Honestly, i dont think I am interesting enough to have a blog :D
FOVC
PS
IM coming to Nice with Manu and Dave on around the 10th of June!
BANG!
FOVC
mmm.. I do realize my highly limited capability of any deeper analysis of human behavior. And I do not give myself the right to decide what's wrong or right. But I do give myself the right to publish my opinion, which is that in many or most cases, muscle freaks are trying to fill a hole. But as you argue, whatever floats your boat, as long as you don't hurt anybody, go ahead! I am merely giving my amateur psychologist view on observations of human behavior. Mostly for entertainment purpose.
And I have a confession to make, although I’ve never come close to being in the proximity of Arnold “The Governator” Schwarzenegger’s shadow, I have lifted weights a bit in my days and do understand the satisfaction. But to turn on my cynical side, if you have a look at the average chum who gets caught up in the game and turn himself into a revolting vein-plastered hulk, I’d say 7 times of ten I can spot their deficiency! Ha!
Thrilled to hear that you will be honoring us with a visit! I wonder if we can top the partying that went down in Paris..
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