I went to the gym with a friend last night – instead of a drink and appetizers to catch up, we use an elliptical machine and ten minutes in the sauna – and as we were standing in front of the cooler trying to decide between drinks with ridiculous names like Muscle Milk and Monster Mass, a trainer began to offer suggestions. After a few minutes, the conversation turned to our fitness goals.
When asked what I was looking to achieve, I explained that I want to be able to do more, physically. Hike farther, balance longer, lift better. “If I get lost in the woods, I want to know that my body is strong enough and lean enough to survive. I can learn how to make fire after I’ve trained my body to withstand the stress of finding and breaking branches.”
Oddly enough, the trainer’s goal was similar…if a bit more intense. “I’m preparing for a body building competition right now, but once that’s done, my next goal is to go hunting without a gun.”
“Like, with hand tools, or…”
“I’d start with knives, I guess. You know how some animals hunt, sitting still and waiting for things to pass their way? I’d start like that.”
This is where my brain exploded, and where my friend chimed in that she “just wants to be pretty.” (FYI: She’s already insanely gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that makes people jealous and angry. The kind that people call “classic” and drop their jaws at. She’s less than ten pounds “overweight.”)
It’s interesting to think about what our different goals are, physically, and how they relate back to our own expectations, society’s pull, and even the primal urges from our evolution. I know that my goals definitely relate to the idea of being able to “do it on my own,” which is something my upbringing and the feminist movement have taught me to expect of myself, to strive for. My friend’s goal was a bit more superficial, maybe, but about surviving nonetheless, if only in a more suburban way. And that trainer: can we say primal caveman urges? Wow.
Why do you work out? What influences your health goals?
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Comments ( 9 )
At this point, my goals are pretty simple. I just want to be able to walk up a hill or carry kitty litter to my apartment without getting winded. Pretty sad, I suppose, but I’ve had a lot of issues with knee problems and so I’ve just avoided working out.
I’ve started swimming, and even though I can only do three laps (resting after each length of the pool), it’s still got to be better than doing nothing.
Ivy´s last [type] ..Pinup Photoshoots and Knittin’ Kittens
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Ivy added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
3:11 pm
Hm…I think my goals have changed from when I first began to work out to my more frequent pace now. I think I work out now because it is a way to clear my mind, build my endurance and help boost my metabolism. At first, it was because I wanted to lose weight (still do), but I didn’t see much further beyond that point. Now, I feel like it’s important to be physically active and have the endurance to take on taxing activities.
Sheena´s last [type] ..Summertime- And the Livin’ is Easy
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Sheena added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
3:21 pm
When I belonged to a gym, I always liked to tell myself that I was training to be a killing machine, ala Alice from Resident Evil. It made me feel badass and kept me motivated.
Really though, I just want clothes to fit me well. My goal isn’t really to be skinny – I just want to be reasonably well-proportioned so that things fit the way they’re meant to.
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Erin added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
3:24 pm
Wow, that trainer has issues and I do not like it.
My exercise goals are really about keeping my cardiovascular system, brain, and bones healthy. I’m interested in longevity. That’s about it. It’s not that I don’t want to be thin, I just think that’s more about diet than exercise.
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Erika @ Health and Happiness in LA added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
3:47 pm
I think my motivation to work out shifts, but overall, about 80% of what drives me is related to being a better runner. I’m training for my third marathon, and I approach working out (and days off, actually!) with the knowledge that I will be SOL come race day if I am unprepared. The other 20% of my motivation is probably some combination of vanity, habit, stress relief, and leftover eating disorder.
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Lucy added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
4:30 pm
Wow, I used to want to do the same thing– learn to hunt without a gun. Then.. I stopped eating meat, haha!
I don’t even like calling it “working out”.. when I think of working out, I see it as a chore. I like running, walking, hiking, because it makes me feel good. It’s a way to relieve tension, feel exhilarated, and happy with myself… and I always like challenging myself to do more, run farther, etc. I also like being strong! 
Oh, and I like being healthy too, haha…
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sui added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
5:58 pm
Gyms, Goals, and Girl Power: Why Do You Work Out? http://shar.es/mVPvH
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Jennifer Nicole added these pithy words on
Jul 21 10 at
8:09 pm
Lindsay Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Out of curiosity, what do you call it instead of “working out”? I agree that what you call it has a LOT to do with how you approach it and how you feel about it.
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sui Reply:
August 5th, 2010 at 9:19 am
“Moving your body”. Working out sounds like a task.. “work”, after all.
sui´s last [type] ..project- summer 2010! weeks 7 & 8
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