The “Gym” a place where people of all ages, body types and levels of fitness meet. In the past 5 years the popularity of going to the gym especially in teens has grown exponentially. We are now living in, believe it or not in what is known as the “aesthetic era” however corny that sounds. The need to look good on the beach or in the mirror has been wide spread amongst not only young people but a variety of age groups.
But are we doing it the right way? Have we over looked the actual meaning of health and fitness? A common question asked and wondered by many aspiring gym goers is “What age should I start gym?” This can be answered in many ways and there are a few myths and truths to be uncovered along the way, so let’s look at it from my point of view, a guy who recently started going to the gym 2 ½ years ago.
My name is Keith Picardo a fitness freak, health obsessed, gym goer, fitstagrammer and gym apparel brand ambassador. I have been featured on gym company’s Instagram pages such as “Rise Gym Gear” and “Alphalete Athletics”. I started gym when I was 18 years old just entering into University. Which I felt was the perfect age for me. Firstly I felt that my body had matured to an appropriate level where it would respond the best to any weight training I put it under and it was time to build not only size but strength. Like many young skinny guys who can relate, I was tired of being the “Stick” or the “toothpick” or the “chicken legs” of my high school days and honestly just wanted to fit into my clothes for once. But I also wanted to seek a healthier more active lifestyle and have what is known as a functional physique.
So what is a common misconception involved in going to the gym? Most of us think that working out will make us healthier, which is right and wrong at the same time. The golden ratio to a healthier lifestyle is 90% nutrition 10% exercise. Without the proper foods being put into our bodies consistently, we can never allow it to grow healthily and at a steady pace. What we put into our bodies should be of utmost priority. Natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oats are all prime examples of what the body was built to consume. Whether we are vegetarians or meat eaters, whatever we eat must be clean as well as balanced.
So where do you start when it comes to workouts? Before I started going to the gym I had built myself a solid background in fitness/sports. In school I found myself involved in many athletic activities such as football, as well as rock climbing where upper body strength was key. So my body had its foundation. Therefore young guys out there should establish that foundation as best they can before putting their body through strenuous weight training. Body weight exercises such as pull ups, dips, muscle ups, push-ups are a great way to build that core foundation and will prepare your body for what’s to come. It’s simple as doing 10 push-ups every morning when you wake up then gradually increasing that number over time and getting into a habit can drastically improve your body’s capabilities. They can be incorporated into many workouts not only at the gym but outside as well. Whether it be pull ups and dips at your local playground or push-ups and sit ups at your home. Where there’s a bar there’s a way!
There are many benefits of going to the gym. Firstly being in an environment where you see others exercising often gives you that motivation or drive to be better and perform better. Exercise and going to the gym helps keep the body and mind active by gradually pushing the body limits and forcing it to grow. You will see vast improvements in your overall strength, and daily tasks will seem much easier than normal. Over time you will also see improvements to your physical appearance and will gain a boost in your self-esteem. Gym funnily enough can also be that release you are looking for, from the stress of day to day life, a place to let out your frustrations and forget everything except the workout at hand. Over time you will have gained a new form of self-discipline whether it’s keeping on top of a well-balanced diet or sticking to a routine consistently in order to achieve results. Your mind will find new ways to motivate itself and will apply that same trait outside the gym in your work life.
A 1 hour workout is less than 4% of your day so come on get off that chair, what are you waiting for, go out there and better yourself. And just remember, humans were built to defy the odds, break the limits and never give up on the race.