Why is it that so many people allow others to define their self worth through the expectations those others place on them? The pressure to conform to narrowly defined standards of physical beauty set by the few often dictate the extremes to which many will go to attain the ‘perfect’ physique. Such pressure often results in both an unrealistic perception of how one looks (or should look) and, ultimately, an adopting by this person of a misguided approach to obtaining that which is considered the physical ideal. For example, because your personal trainer tells you that your body fat percentage falls outside of the ‘normal’ range for someone of your age, and because of this you are considered overweight, does not mean you should automatically be unhappy with the way you look. Sure, if your percentage places you in the clinically obese category, this qualifies as a concern. But if, for a woman, a reading of 27 percent is given, there is no sense in panicking. Being outside of the ‘desired’ range in this instance simply means you are faced with a choice: bring your body fat down slightly to reach a more ‘ideal’ percentage or be content with the way you look while working on others areas of your health and fitness (such as strength, flexibility and performance); working on the latter will invariably assist the former anyway. There is simply no sense in starving yourself and working to exhaustion in the gym in the hope of achieving a degree of physical perfection that others have set for you. 

Becoming obsessed with achieving the perfect look can be an exercise in frustration for many; genetic and environmental factors (culture and socioeconomic bracket), age and attitude can all conspire against those wanting to attain the physique of their dreams. Though it is important from a health perspective to lose excess body fat and improve strength and muscle composition, devoting unnecessary energy to obsessing over how best to cram your natural size 16 body into a size ten dress can drain you of the vitality needed to enjoy life to its fullest while making steady, gradual health and fitness improvements. Because an article in a woman’s magazine extols the virtues of thinness over a curvier look does not mean you should take such information as the gospel truth (in such magazines, advertisers of health and beauty products will often align with a periodical based on article content which supports the advertisers stance on how one should look, which reflects the benefits their products supposedly provide). So, try to be happy with what is reflected back at you in the mirror, even if it does not meet market and society-driven standards of beauty. Provided you are healthy and are working steadily to develop a body you are happy with, that is all that really counts.

About the author:

David Robson is a New Zealand-based professional freelance writer, book author, personal trainer and health and fitness expert. With his sound scientific and academic credentials he has helped thousands of people achieve their health and fitness goals both through his written works and guidance. As a staff writer, David’s articles can be read in leading health and fitness periodical Status Fitness Magazine. David can be contacted at: davidrobson19@hotmail.co.nz or at his website: davidrobsonelite.com