Strength Versus Aesthetics

Should men worry about how they look?

I’m not talking about guys making sure they’re well groomed or well dressed.  That’s one of those things each guy should determine for themselves.  Personally, I appreciate sharp clothes and all that, though I’m more likely to be dressed like a slob most of the time, so who am I to judge?

What I’m talking about is whether a man should be worried about the aesthetics of his physique or not.

Lord knows that my physique isn’t much to look at, though my wife seems to enjoy the view well enough.  However, what about in general?  That’s the question that strength trainer Mark Rippetoe answered in this podcast I came across a few days ago.  It’s kind of long, and takes a couple minutes to really get rolling, but please bear with it:

Of particular interest was where Rippetoe makes a hell of a point about aesthetics when he points out that your six-pack abs won’t impress anyone unless they see it, but if you’re muscular overall, even if you have a bit of a gut, they’ll still know you put in the work.

What that means that if you’re like two-thirds of all Americans, you may still need to lose a few pounds, but the rippling six-pack may not be the best way to spend your gym time.

Mark and the host, Mike Matthews, have a hell of an interesting discussion regarding the issue and it’s well worth your time to watch and learn.

Seriously, I wish I’d seen this when I was 19.

Author: Tom

Tom is a husband, father, novelist, opinion writer, and former Navy Corpsman currently living in Georgia. He's also someone who has lost almost 60 pounds in a safe, sustainable way, so he knows what he's talking about. View all posts by Tom