Health or Vanity?

[Josh137]

I was asking myself this question last night as I drove to a local health club to start on my first tan in many years [yea I know tanning ] anyway, I was thinking about all the reasons I have committed to a healthly diet and exercising type life style. I must admit that it is probably for me 70/30 for vanity/health. In the end is doesn't really matter either way as long as you really change your eating habits and stay active. Part of my training is for my motorcycle racing fitness and that does motivate me while I am training, but so does checking out my progress in the mirror! [BTW, I am a happily married guy with a new baby so its not like I am doing it to attract a new woman.]

I felt compelled to share this, and I want to see what other persons' reasons/motivations are.

Josh137
190->172

[stepsinsc]

I think for a lot of people when you're younger its mainly for vanity reasons, but then it changes to health reasons with time. For me its for both. 60lbs ago I hated my appearance so much (vanity) that it made be depressed (health). So it can be hard to put a ratio on the two, they can go hand in hand a lot of the times.

[Super Fink]

I would say its 50/50....when you look good (vanity) from where you were before, you will feel good...the two go hand in hand wether you want it or not.

I have been dieting for 3 years now...and its more of a health thing then vanity now but I would be lying to say looking good (or better) doesn't mean anything!

[lordscarlet]

Mine is probalby about 95/5

I'm 24, I started at a relatively "healthy" weight (5'10.75" and 169 pounds) it was just too much fat for my taste and all in one place. I decided it was finally time to get in shape and feel good about my appearance. In high school I was skinny and couldn't take my shirt off at the pool because I was bird chested, now it's because of my gut.

[marcus]

Yeah I guess vanity plays some part. I'd be lying if I said Ididnt want to look good and impress other people.

Probably the main reason for me is that I respect people who keep themselves in good condition and I believe a healthy body promotes a healthy mind. So for me to get myself really fit I would gain a lot of self respect and know that I achieved something that I've wanted for a long time. Without worrying about what other people think, it would make me feel like a better person, someone who could set goals and achieve and get what they want. I've had this weight loss goal for so long that my initial motivations I have forgotten, but just finally achieving it would make me as a person like that now I've achieved this, I can achieve almost anything.

Its kind of hard to explain.

Marcus

[John Stone]

Cool subject.

For me it's a little of both, but there are also textures involved that don't really fall into health and/or vanity. I think when we work hard at something difficult (like staying dedicated to a fitness program), and we feel good about how we look, our confidence level skyrockets. Having been on both sides of the proverbial track, I believe that self-confidence (not to be confused with egoism) is paramount to success in all areas of life. If you are not confident in yourself, it shows. It's like B.O. - it permeates the room you are in. You can't hide it. Similarly, if you are self-confident and feel good about the way you look and who you are as a person, you can't hide that either. We all sense these things about one another subconsciously.

There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance. Anyone who says they don't care about how they look has just given up. I know, because I used to say that. Obviously I was lying to myself because I would never want to look like I did a little over a year ago.

Interesting story: when I first started losing weight and was beginning to feel more positive about myself, I noticed that strangers would just start talking to me out of the blue. This NEVER used to happen to me. I think I used to project "GO THE F*** AWAY" because I was so miserable and disgusted with myself. Once I started to change my self-confidence increased and, without saying a word, people picked up on it.

[Andrew M]

[color=royalblue]Interesting story: when I first started losing weight and was starting to feel more positive about myself, I noticed that strangers would just start talking to me out of the blue. This NEVER used to happen to me. I think I used to project "GO THE F*** AWAY" because I was so miserable and disgusted with myself. Once I started to change my self-confidence increased and, without saying a word, people picked up on it.[/color]

I totally agree. The last time I was in shape (95.0kg from 125.4kg) I had far more random interactions with people. I think it's because of you being happier with yourself. If you are happy with the way you look, then you won't mind others seeing you, and so you can spend all of your energies being interesting, rather than worring about your (bad ) appearance.

As for my reasons, vanity mostly, but as I get older, the health fraction keeps getting bigger.

Andrew.

[Paul J]

its mostly about appearance for me.

[Natesfortune]

If it was only about health people wouldn't tan when they lost weight. Tanning is very unhealthy for you, and will make your skin age more quickly in the long run.

It's clearly about both for most, and I think that's completely okay.

[ReS]

30%vanity/70% health

Happily married with 2 children, my wife loves me regardless of apperance. But i went up about 40 pounds in 2003, so thats the vanity part. I didnt like what i was becoming.
But i had high blodpressure, little/no energy and everything in my body seemed to ache. Now after just one month of training, those symptoms are gone. Lots of energy, of the blood pressure pill and when my body hurts its only from workouts. :db:

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Natesfortune

If it was only about health people wouldn't tan when they lost weight. Tanning is very unhealthy for you, and will make your skin age more quickly in the long run.

It's clearly about both for most, and I think that's completely okay.

Mine is mainly for looks and I wont' be tanning. Of course, that could be because my Irish heritage means that my skin color options are either white or bright red.

[spacemanspiff]

I started for vanity, although like many here I am happily married with a very loving wife. The more I think of it though, the more the notion of health keeps me going. I don't have kids yet, but when I do I want to be around for them. My dad nearly died of a heart attack when I was younger and I don't want my kids to have to worry like I did. Not to mention the best years of a lot of people's lives are when they are older and their kids are moved out, they are retired, and finally have time to do the things they've always wanted to do. I would like to spend time enjoying life with my wife when I am old enough to retire (only 24 now) and I think actually being alive will help me enjoy life a lot more

[CattleProd]

For me, it's about 30% vanity, 20% for health, and 50% for other people. I'm a quiet and shy kind of person, so being overweight didn't exactly help in the "picking up chicks" department. As for health, it's nice to be healthier and in shape, and not feel worn out all the time. As far as other people are concerned, I am "otomo" for my sensei. This means that when we go to seminars I am like his personal assistant, so that if he needs to demonstrate something I am there to take falls. I need to be in good shape to take harder falls and protect myself from injury.

-CP

[GM Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by John Stone

Interesting story: when I first started losing weight and was beginning to feel more positive about myself, I noticed that strangers would just start talking to me out of the blue. This NEVER used to happen to me. I think I used to project "GO THE F*** AWAY" because I was so miserable and disgusted with myself. Once I started to change my self-confidence increased and, without saying a word, people picked up on it.

That is a very interesting observation. I never thought about it, but since you mentioned it, I have noticed very similar things. At work particularly, in the past I would occasionally get a "good morning" from the receptionist on my way in, but that was about it. Lately though, I get 'hello's from just about everyone. I know it has everything to do with self confidence for me, because being more self confident means being more enthusiastic. Enthusiastic people tend to brighten the room, if you know what I mean. I can't say I'm "there" yet, but my self confidence has improved 100% (and still has about 1000% more potential for improvement as I progress).

As for the topic at hand, I certainly could not limit it to just the two motivators of vanity and health. There is much more to it. For one thing, it is not so much how I want to look, but rather how I don't want to look - that is the way I would describe vanity as my motivator. Its not a big deal to me how people see me, but it is a big deal how I DON'T want them to see me. The same goes for the mirror - it is not as big a deal to me how I look so much as it is how I don't want to look.
As for health, that is a motivator in the sense that I love the way I feel all day after a good hard workout in the morning. I can't remember the last time I had so much energy that lasts the entire day. Before starting, for all the years that I was overweight, I would never have energy. I had a hard time waking up in the morning, and certainly by the afternoon I was dead tired. Many times I would have to fight to stay awake during the commute (through Los Angeles traffic) home.
If you break it all down, and generalize everything, I suppose you can say that my motivation is 50/50 split between the two.

[Josh137]

Originally Posted by marcus

So for me to get myself really fit I would gain a lot of self respect and know that I achieved something that I've wanted for a long time. Without worrying about what other people think, it would make me feel like a better person, someone who could set goals and achieve and get what they want.

Good point Marcus. The self confidence gained from reaching these type of goals permeates all facets of a person's life.

I recently read somewhere how people at or near their ideal body weight, in some statisitical way, made more money... I would suspect this has something to do with self-confidence.

Josh137

[taffer]

i'd say its about 65/35 for me
i really like looking healthy, which in turn is looking good! but when i make more gains i feel alot more confident, i notice now i have the confidence to just start talking to people, like a random convosation, also i dont always have my head on the ground! its always up! (try to make my chest look bigger )

but as much as its nice to know your healthy, i think looking good is the main thing that makes people wanna lose weight, i mean if being overweight was attractive, i think this world would have MUCH larger problems!

[haven97]

I am 70/30 as well. Not that I would compromise my health to reach my goals just health is not my motivation.

Hopefully someday I can reach a 50/50 level because i do know how important health is.

[SLUDGE]

The correct formula to figure out the vanity percentage for a vanity:health ratio is 100-(age*1.3)



When I joined Fitness World last year, the sales/health person asked me what I wanted to do with my time (clearly gearing up for a pitch). I threw her off by mentioning I wanted to look good. "What about your health?" "It'll follow".

As I get older (I'm 23), my physical capability ceiling will lower a bit, and I'll hit it a little more. One thing about working out for the past year though, is I get a distinct feeling that I'm in my prime, and that I may never feel this good again.

[Mahdimael]

I'm pretty danged healthy- I've never had any problems. Never have smoked or done any drugs, because I never want to develop any. So for me, it's mostly vanity.

There is something else, though. It's recreation that I wouldn't do, normally. Sure, I play sports on weekends, but during the week I would sit at the computer or in front of the TV. I had fallen into a rut, and it was very easy to just watch "one more show" or play a game "for a little while longer". Now, I'm more motivated to do something worthwhile, even if it's just cleaning up the house or taking a walk.

[Josh137]

Originally Posted by SLUDGE

The correct formula to figure out the vanity percentage for a vanity:health ratio is 100-(age*1.3).

That's an interesting formula! But that means my 34 year body has the mind of a 23 year old. I'll take that as a good thing!