Why You Shouldn’t Become a Gym Rat

The Case Against Being a Gym Rat: Finding Balance in Fitness

In the world of health and fitness, the term "gym rat" is often used to describe individuals who are dedicated to spending an excessive amount of time at the gym, prioritizing their workouts above all else. While staying active and committed to regular exercise is undoubtedly important for physical and mental well-being, there are several reasons why becoming a gym rat may not be the healthiest approach to fitness.

1. Overtraining and Burnout

One of the most significant risks associated with being a gym rat is the potential for overtraining and burnout. Exercising intensely and frequently without giving your body an adequate chance to rest and recover can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Over time, this can result in decreased performance, increased risk of injury, and a loss of motivation to continue working out.

2. Neglecting Other Aspects of Health

Focusing all of your energy and attention on gym workouts can sometimes come at the expense of other important aspects of health. Neglecting proper nutrition, sufficient sleep, stress management, and social interactions can have negative impacts on overall well-being. It's essential to maintain a balanced approach to health and fitness that incorporates all of these components.

3. Limited Variety in Workouts

Spending excessive time at the gym can lead to a narrow focus on a specific type of exercise or workout routine. This limited variety not only increases the risk of overuse injuries but also prevents you from experiencing the full range of benefits that different types of physical activity can offer. Incorporating diversity in your workouts can improve overall fitness, prevent boredom, and keep you engaged in your exercise routine.

4. Social Isolation

While the gym can be a great place to meet like-minded individuals and form connections with others who share your passion for fitness, spending too much time there can result in social isolation. Building and maintaining relationships outside of the gym is crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Prioritizing social interactions can provide much-needed support, motivation, and a sense of belonging that may be lacking if you spend all your time working out.

5. Unrealistic Body Image Expectations

Constantly striving to achieve a certain body type or fitness level can lead to body image issues and unhealthy relationships with exercise. Comparing yourself to others at the gym or on social media can create unrealistic expectations and put unnecessary pressure on yourself to look a certain way. It's essential to focus on being healthy and strong rather than chasing an idealized image of perfection.

My Personal Experience

In my earlier years as a personal trainer, I got very into training as a bodybuilder. Arnold Schwarnegeger and Franco Columbo were my vintage era idols and I watched modern bodybuilding back when Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler were battling to be crowned Mr Olympia. I would lift weights on average five times per week, sometimes twice a day on opportunities where I had the time, like on holidays. I competed in three bodybuilding competitions. 

My focus of my training was primarily aesthetic, and I exercised and dieted diligently. I looked great, but at the same time my relationship with food, loved ones and my mental health suffered. To take it to that level takes a very selfish and dedicated focus, and it certainly contributed to the break-down of my marriage at the time. Eventually, I was able to recognize the damage it was doing, and I was able to moderate my efforts. I diversified the type of activities I was doing and steered them away from a purely aesthetic goal. 

Thankfully, I didn’t go down the route of taking anabolic steroids which many do. I was aware of the potential negative health impacts, and with my father's early death from a heart attack being acutely active in my mind, this kept me grounded. 

Finding Balance in Fitness

Instead of striving to be a gym rat, consider adopting a more balanced approach to health and fitness. Set realistic goals, listen to your body, prioritize rest and recovery, and make time for other activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Remember that fitness is just one component of a healthy lifestyle, and it's essential to nurture all aspects of your well-being to truly thrive.

In conclusion, while regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, becoming a gym rat and prioritizing workouts above all else may not be the most sustainable or beneficial approach to fitness. By finding balance, listening to your body, and focusing on holistic well-being, you can cultivate a healthy and fulfilling relationship with exercise that supports your long-term health and happiness.

The gym doesn’t have to be your only avenue to exercise. Move widely, climb, swim, dance, skip, surf, walk, skate, fight, f*ck and enjoy the gift of movement that your body has given you.

Why you Should Train for Health over Aesthetics

The Importance of Exercising for Health Rather Than Aesthetics

In a world driven by image and appearance, the emphasis on physical aesthetics often overshadows the primary reason why we should exercise: our health. While the desire to achieve a toned body or sculpted muscles is not inherently wrong, prioritizing aesthetics over health can lead to detrimental consequences in the long run.

Understanding the Difference: Health vs. Aesthetics

Health and aesthetics are often intertwined, but they should not be viewed as one and the same. Health encompasses a wide range of factors beyond physical appearance, including cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. On the other hand, aesthetics focus mainly on how the body looks externally - factors such as body fat percentage, muscle definition, and size.

The Risks of Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Health

When individuals exercise solely for aesthetic purposes, there is a tendency to engage in extreme or unsustainable practices. Crash diets, excessive cardio, and over-reliance on supplements are often seen in pursuit of the "perfect" body. 

Use of anabolic steroids, especially in younger adults, has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. According to the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey of 2019, non-medical anabolic steroid use almost tripled in the 18 years between 2001 and 2019.

These practices can have negative consequences on both physical and mental health, leading to issues such as nutrient deficiencies, metabolic damage, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia.

A dirty, not so little secret, not just in the fitness industry, but the majority of high-level sports, is that performance-enhancing drugs are widespread. In addition to the aesthetic advantages, they also give a performance edge. This contributes to a very warped perspective of what is achievable and ‘normal’ for the average person. Adding to these deceptive marketing strategies, air brushed photos and filters only adds to the problem.

An additional factor to this, and I speak from personal experience from my days competing as a bodybuilder (drug free), is that when you “look your best” (shredded & chiseled) you probably feel your worst. You have been dieting for a long time, your energy levels are low, you have to drag yourself through every workout and your libido has rock bottomed to zero. Essentially, your body registers you in a famine state and thus does its best to preserve energy by minimizing its expenditure. Far from being a sex-hungry adonis, you probably just want to curl up on the sofa and distract yourself in any way until the dieting is over whilst resisting the urge to crack and binging on gallons of ice cream. This is not an optimal state of health to be in, far from that.  Your cover body fitness model will not look like that year round. Well, not unless they are using the aforementioned performance-enhancing drugs and even then they won’t maintain their ‘peak’,

The Benefits of Prioritizing Health

On the other hand, exercising primarily for health can bring about a host of benefits that extend far beyond appearance. Regular physical activity has been proven to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It boosts mood and mental well-being by releasing endorphins and reducing stress levels. Improvements in strength, flexibility, and endurance enhance daily functioning and the overall quality of life.

Set your goals as achievable benchmarks of performance that don’t require going to an extreme instead of how you are looking, and you will likely be a lot happier. 

My mantra is to do just enough in the gym setting to reap the health benefits from it and then, if you want to move more, find other things to do in the form of sports, dance and other physical activities. 

Shifting the Focus: From Aesthetics to Long-Term Health

To shift the focus from aesthetics to health, individuals should adopt a holistic approach to exercise. Instead of fixating on the number on the scale or the size of muscles, focus on how exercise makes you feel. Set your goals as achievable benchmarks of performance that don’t require going to an extreme, rather than how you are looking.  Pay attention to improvements in energy levels, stamina, and mental clarity. Celebrate small victories such as running a little further or lifting a little heavier.

Conclusion

While there is nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel good, the primary goal of exercise should always be to improve and maintain overall health. By shifting the focus away from aesthetics and towards long-term well-being, individuals can cultivate a positive relationship with exercise and reap the numerous benefits it has to offer. Remember, a healthy body is a beautiful body, regardless of what may be warped societal standards of aesthetics.