What does health and fitness mean to you? Are you in it for yourself or to please others?
The truth is Health and Fitness can be anything you want it to be. It can be a hobby, a passion, or a lifestyle. If you’re really lucky health and fitness can be a career. But it’s personal to you, not for others to judge. Take, for example, Serena Williams. Serena is one of the most decorated tennis players and athletes ever who has inspired a generation of females. Despite her success, however, she has often been criticised for her body image. People have called her too muscly, too masculine, and she has even been called out for having cellulite (which is totally natural by the way). Instead of discussing her achievements, we’re focussed on how she looks.
Society tells us to eat healthy and exercise. Here’s a woman who does this to her maximum capacity. And she still told she’s not good enough. Fortunately, this hasn’t stopped her from being a success. Serena has a champion’s mindset. She continues to inspire and break barriers. However, it’s not Serena who we should worry about. It’s the younger generation who are on the front line of society’s views. Children are subjected to impossible beauty standards which can lead to eating disorders, anxiety, and bullying.
The NHS website describes exercise as a miracle drug that improves our self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy. However, these benefits are not portrayed in today’s media. So why is fitness and exercise focussed on how we look rather than how we feel?
The reason is money. The media is influenced by corporations who are relentless in their efforts to make as much money as possible. It is said the world is run by psychopaths: people who are empathy- deficient, glib, and manipulative. Whether or not this is true, people who put our well-being at risk for their interests are not to be admired. These include social media influencers who promote dangerous fat burners online. Unfortunately and inevitably, their influence is creeping into our behaviours. Constantly chasing perfection is a losing battle. As American Psycho, Patrick Bateman, once said: “I feel shit but I look great”.
We need move away from this psychotic behaviour. It’s time to stop checking the mirror after every sit up but, instead, enjoy the process of our endeavours. We can focus on the true essence of exercise: enjoyment.
Exercise boosts serotonin, endorphins, and other feel-good brain chemicals. That’s why we feel great after exercise. Fitness is not about our physique but how we feel on the inside. The prize isn’t a great body; it’s a better quality of life.
It’s not easy to ignore society’s views. It takes a bulletproof mentality to block out external influences that tell us we don’t fit in or we’re not good enough. But we can learn from Serena Williams and her champion mindset. Furthermore, we can take inspiration from her favourite poem:
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
Fitness in Your 30s 