What's the actual point of all this?
And no.... I'm not having an existential crisis, this is the first question I like to ask people in my consultations.
If your goals are:
To look more attractive to other people
Feel stronger than others
Looking like you work out and deserve respect for it
To avoid being judged by people for being overweight
To get thin for a certain date
These are all considered 'extrinsic' goals. They're all based on the perception of others.
So, what happens once you reach these goals? Do you suddenly expect that missing piece to your life puzzle to be complete? You've suddenly got muscles or you can now see the six pack and everything is fine?
This is almost never the case.
Especially in a sport such as bodybuilding, you will NEVER be satisfied with how you look, ever. There is always someone better.
Now, there is certainly nothing wrong with having extrinsic goals, they can be a really good motivator to get started, chucking fuel on the metaphorical fitness flame to get the fire started.
But for a healthy LONG TERM sustainable approach to health and fitness, it's best to have a mixed approach of Extrinsic and Intrinsic goals.
Intrinsic goals are internal, such as:
I value being healthy and confident in myself
Getting stronger will keep me fitter for longer
Working out starts my day right
Finding joy in the process, not the finish line
Next time you catch yourself comparing yourself to others and focusing too much on your extrinsic goals, remind yourself that intrinsic goals matter too! This will reinforce a better and more balanced approach to fitness.
"The man/woman who enjoys walking, will walk farther than the man/woman who's goal it is to walk the furthest."
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