What video, picture, program or article will attract more eyes in fitness?
The one promising a chiseled physique with a pointy set of 6-pack abs. Try adding the promise of developing a transparent set of abdominal muscles in your social media video or pic, and you will note more views, likes & comments than most other posts of yours.
Why? Because through the years, the trend of fitness has shifted to a false, and sometimes dangerous attraction towards developing a set of sharp six-pack abs. This obsession caught on the western world quite early, and the 80s actions heroes within the likes of Arnold, Stallone, Van Dam, were ones mainly liable for this variation in mindset of the population.
Though the craze in India was quite late to catch on. As far as I remember, it was the Hindi movie industry, which initiated this trend, and it was after the famous song “O O Jaane Jana”, where actor Salman, showcased his shirtless physique, with a visual set of abdominal muscles.
However, the craze really caught on after the arrival of social media, when tons of fitness freaks, began displaying their ripped physique online, virtually every second of the day, and this craze has no end in sight.
This mindless obsession with developing a transparent set of sharp six packs has nothing to do with fitness or health. It’s simply a fashion trend, which has been fueled by the display of false and unrealistic body image, propagated through the years by the media.
Six packs don’t mechanically make you fit, but in addition they in any way mean that you simply are unfit. The reality lies somewhere in the center. Your health, mortality, wellness or longevity aren’t indicated by the variety of packs visible within the mirror. In most cases, that’s simply to fuel your ego and make you’re feeling to be a component of the present trend.
Women generally store higher amount of body fat than men. 20-25% is taken into account a healthy range of body fat for ladies, and a healthy range of body fat for men is app. 10-15%. A body fat percentage over 20% for men or 30% for ladies is taken into account a sign of obesity, which results in multiple risk aspects like heart problems, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia etc.
In most cases, when your fat percentage falls below app. 15%, your abdominal muscles start getting visible. And that’s something people should try to achieve, though a rather higher amount won’t make much of a difference either.
The problem is, the obsession with having an especially low-fat percentage, well below 10%, and using all kind of extreme methods to attain them. Worse, trying to take care of that fat percentage for a very long time, because your Instagram handle demands so.
There are only 4 ways you possibly can achieve a below 10% body fat:
- Extreme diets which involve drastic calorie control, or literally going off a complete macronutrient like carbohydrate; salt/sodium manipulations, water control (specially days before the photo shoot), and on top of that, use of utmost anabolic steroids, diuretics, fat burners and virtually all the things they will.
2. You are genetically extremely gifted, and a lean muscular look with a low fat percentage comes quite naturally to you. In fact, your problem is gaining lean muscle mass.
3. You are an expert athlete, who’s each day routine involves multiple high intensity workout sessions, rigorously monitored weight loss plan and multiple processes for optimal recovery. For e.g. track & field, mma & marital arts fighters, soccer, basketball, swimming, hockey etc.
4. You are a one who’s each day work involves extreme amount of physical labour, like a farmer, or a each day wage labourer performing heavy work like working on a construction site, or digging roads etc.
But out of the highest 4 conditions, none (specially the 1st one), has anything to do with health and wellness. For some, it’s a consequence of utmost physical work, like athletes, farmers and labourers, yet for others, it’s more genetic.
Therefore, having a set of natural strong abdominal muscles, a fat percentage just under 15%, and an awesome overall health, when it comes to no dietary deficiencies, a well-functioning cardiovascular system, immune system, digestive system, endocrine system, central nervous system etc. is what needs to be the aim.
That’s why a sportsman could also be extremely fit when it comes to his muscular strength, endurance and other fitness components, and have a transparent set of six pack abs. But he won’t be called healthy, if he’s having constant digestive issues, or affected by anxiety issues, or falling sick often.
On the opposite hand, having a chicken legs, but a pointy sex of six packs has no word except ‘stupidity’ to define them.
That’s why, having a pointy set of six packs, and affected by anxiety and depression, eating disorders, digestive issues, multiple dietary deficiencies, losing hair, weakening of bones, low self-esteem, has nothing to do with fitness.
But does that mean, anyone with higher fat percentage, where the abdominal muscles aren’t that clearly visible, is unhealthy? Absolutely not.
Here is the image of legendary Gama Pehlwan and Bruce Lee, masters of their very own sport, but none of them ever focussed on developing sharp six packs. They focussed on extreme physical and mental training to achieve the highest of their sport, fulfilling the demands specified by front of them. Bruce Lee’s six packs were in consequence of extremely low fat percentage on account of extreme amount of coaching he underwent, not because he left salt and water before his photoshoot.
The great Dara Singh Ji, wasn’t fascinated by having a pointy set of six packs, for his Insta handle.
Sunny Deol was one in every of the strongest actors we have now had. But his focus was never on showcasing a set of six packs.
These were the outstanding physiques which Indians possessed way before independence. One look and today’s youth will declare them as enhanced physiques (when an individual is on anabolic steroids). By the best way, back then there have been no filters or photoshops.
But on this tech-crazy world, the actual exertions and natural strength is overshadowed by pics of steroid filled (not competitive bodybuilders) and photoshopped physiques of children, who turn fitness guru virtually overnight.
And this craze has no end in sight. There is a complete industry which revolves around obtaining and maintaining – sharp six packs. People are obsessed to a level, where they’re afraid to even put a chunk of chocolate of their mouth, and consider it as cheating with your complete process.
“How to get six packs?” continues to be probably the most searched query on Google. And so is “ get 90% without studying?”.
Your six packs, won’t pay your bills
Your six packs, won’t repay your loans
Your six packs, won’t deal with your loved ones
Your six packs, won’t pay your taxes
Your six packs, won’t buy you a house
Believe me, there isn’t a fun in having chiselled abdominals and an empty pocket. Focus in your overall development when it comes to fitness, overall health, higher funds, smarter personality and other traits. Six packs are at all times complementary
