Hey, Joob!

WHOA. There’s a topic I’ve never ever covered on Hey Joob. That’s inappropriate. Kidding! Grow up.

The fact is, sex appeal is a huge deal in the ‘fitness biz’. Having a blog about all-things-related-fitness, it is a small wonder I have not discussed it until right this second, really. Sure, gaining muscle and strength is empowering as all hell. When I hit a new PR, I pretty much dance around with pride for the next 3 days and will tell any living creature. Sometimes non-living creatures too.

“Hey there Stump! Guess what! I deadlifted 225 this week!”
“GREAT JOB, JULIET! You rock!”
(Many exclamation points are involved.)

…….However…….

If you told me that you didn’t lift heavy crap, or exercise at all for that matter, without even the slightest hope of altering your physique, I would say 1) bullshit or 2) you’re in the minority. It might not be your main goal, but I think most people think about it to at least a small degree. We’re animals and, as such, one of our most basic functions is to reproduce. To reproduce we need to be desirable to the opposite sex (or same sex if that’s how you roll – I’m not picky). Part of being desirable to a partner is physical attraction.

And this, my friend, is where the message gets all kind of jacked up. Bad – obsession level bad. I just need to lose 5 lbs. I just need to be a size 2 (or 4 or 6 or whatever. women’s sizes are stupid). I just need to build up my shoulders. I just need to ‘tone’ the bat wings. I just need to build a big back and sick pack abs. Girls love guns!

Ultimately, we all have dream bodies, but how much of this is really to make us “attractive” and how much of it is some kind of self established “bar”? We constantly go around treating our bodies like they’re not enough of anything – even when we do lose that 5 lbs.

This post was motivated by an interesting thing that has happened to me in the last 2-3 weeks.

I’ve stopped thinking about food.

Okay, well, I think about food constantly, but not the same way I used to. Eating has simply become something I do… I think about fun new recipes I want to try and what I’ll make for dinner, but I don’t once stop to think about how a single meal will impact my physique. I don’t think about how much fat is too much added. I don’t feel guilty when I eat out. If I overdo it at one meal, I might fast or skip a meal because I’m simply not hungry.

I just put food on my plate, eat it, eat more if I’m hungry and not if I’m satisfied. No thoughts of “repercussions” involved. The results? I’ve steadily and easily maintained and I’ve not even considered “leaning out” or losing any fat as a potential course of action. No, seriously. I feel sexy and beautiful and wonderful without the need to change my body in any way.

I have never.ever.EVER. felt like this before.

Realizing this, it made me think about what really makes us attractive? Sure, a physically attractive body never hurts to look at – I won’t argue that point. But! How much of that is adding to our sex appeal? How much is our pursuit of sex appeal making us less appealing?

Things to be considered.
I’ll share my thoughts in Part Dos, but I’m curious to see what y’all have to say on the subject.  Okay….GO!