Why I Wore My Shirt in the Pool

It is in our nature to hold on to what we believe. Studies have shown that once we are emotionally invested in an idea, then we become resistant to arguments against it. When this happens, no matter if new facts are presented, no matter if circumstances change we will hold on to that belief. Often, in the face of overwhelming evidence against the belief, we will just start holding on even harder.

This is why I used to always wear a t-shirt swimming. In the pool, in the lake, it didn't matter, I wore a t-shirt when I swam.

I'm sure it had something to do with this:

When I graduated high school I was 5'7" tall and weighed 120 pounds. In my mind, the idea that I had become invested in, I was a scrawny little wimp. I was pale skinned, weak, and frail. 

Negative body image affects boys too.

Even when it was no longer true, I maintained that idea in my head for years. Even now, I feel uncomfortable taking my shirt off to swim. To this day, I get embarrassed when I come out of the water shirtless.

What the advertisements try to tell us is that if we can change our bodies, become more muscular, or thinner, or more tanned, or more toned, we will like ourselves, and others will too. For me, and I am willing to bet for  a lot of other people too, changing the way my body looked did very little to change the way I perceived myself. 

I'm still uncomfortable in shorts.

For me, fitness is not about trying to make my body acceptable as defined by others, it is not about trying to fix the way I look. For me fitness is about enjoying life to the fullest. 

I want to live longer. I want to always be able to put the 50 pound bag of dog food in the cart. I want to be able to run after my dog if he manages to get off his leash. I want to be able to play soccer in the backyard with my daughter. I want to be able to keep up with her when she wants to go for a bike ride. I want to be able to give her a piggy back ride even when she's all grown up and comes home to visit. 

I don't emphasize the idea of exercising to fit into an outfit, or into a mold that someone else set up as ideal. If goals like those get you exercising, I will be glad to help you fit into those pants, but my real goal, my ulterior motive, is to get you healthy and strong so you can minimize illnesses and injuries and maximize your time enjoying life.

If you want some fitness training or advice, let me know, I'll be happy to help.

Steven O'Nan 

stevenonan.trainerize.com

https://www.facebook.com/StevenONanPersonalTrainer?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark

www.gettonedfitness.com