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Ego Fit

Getting In Shape For All Of The Right Reasons: Part I

Hello there, my friends!  Today, I want discuss one of my latest observations.  To set the stage, I would like to give you a little background about myself.  I have been in the health and fitness industry for the last 15 years of my life, and I am truly passionate about it.  I started as a personal trainer working out of Gold’s Gym for the first 4 years of my career.  It’s there where I initially saw what I’d like to discuss today.

I distinctly remember observing “Tom” (name changed) at Gold’s Gym.  He was a specimen by just about anybody’s standards.  To this day, I can still vividly remember his massive chest and legs that looked like a finely cut statue.  No doubt Tom was a hard worker, hitting the gym day in, and day out.  I remember one time I started the timer on my watch, thinking, “I bet he cannot go two minutes without looking at himself in the mirror and flexing.”  Sure enough, he never disappointed.

I actually got to know Tom on a personal level, and I must say that I think he was a good guy despite his egocentric ways.  However, he carried a condescending attitude and would only give the time of day to those that he deemed “worthy” of his time and presence.  I happened to be a well-known trainer, so I was fortunate enough to make his cut.

As I got to know Tom, I also got to know his lifestyle.  To put away 300 mg of caffeine before a workout was no problem for Tom, along with his regular dose of steroids, pro-hormones, pre- and post workout concoctions, and a host of other chemical supplements that were all “proven” to help build muscle.  Visiting the tanning bed 3 times per week was also nothing to bat an eyelash over.  I still remember his leathery skin freaking me out a little as I got close to him–he looked like a rattlesnake!  By no means do I just want to point my finger at Tom, so now let me turn my finger to myself for a moment.

When I was 25-years-old, I was in the very best “muscle shape” of my life.  I took great pride in the way I looked, and I would do just about anything to maintain that look.  Caffeine pills, pre-workout supplements loaded with harmful chemicals, mass gainers filled with mega calories, and sleeping pills were common place in my life because “looking the part” was all that mattered to me.  I was guilty of staring in the mirror one too many times, and my ego was inflated like a balloon while I lifted weights in the gym.  I was the man, or so I thought.

My attitude began to change when I took a CEU course from the C.H.E.K. Institute (www.checkinstitute.com).  The founder, Paul Chek, was built like a brick house but did not look “overdone” or out of proportion as did Tom.  The most striking thing that I learned from Paul Chek is that fitness, muscle, and/or strength does not necessarily equate to health!  I began to learn how nutrition influences EVERY aspect of my life along with proper and appropriate exercise tailored to my needs.

I am now 10 years to the north of my egocentric ways, and I have committed myself to a holistic lifestyle that truly fuels my health.  Let it be known that there is nothing wrong with working out as hard as your muscles will permit, and that it’s also fine to take great pride in the way that you look and feel–heck you should, and I wish more people would!

What I have learned is this: some of us get into fitness purely for how it is going to make us look on the outside while giving little attention to what goes inside of our bodies.  You may be saying, “Well, you have to eat well to look good,” which could not be further from the truth.  If you look at 90% of the supplements out there that are designed to “make you look good,” you will find harmful ingredients that are not conducive to good health.  Same goes with nutrition.  I have observed many people take in processed foods, and other garbage foods because “they can,” and they continue to put on muscle or look good.

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My question is this: why are you into fitness?  Is it to look good or to truly lead a healthy lifestyle?  To be sure, it is great to look good, build muscle, and have a fit body, but why not take care of it in the mean time?  Be mindful of the food you eat, and make sure you don’t put ANYTHING in your body that is not conducive to its health.  Never let ego, or the pursuit of  a nice body get in the way of truly good health!  In part two of this article, I will further elaborate on the difference between be “fit” and being truly healthy. Life is good, my friends!

God Bless,

 

Griff

 

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