You Don’t Need to Look a Certain Way to Be Strong
Close your eyes and imagine a strong person.
If the first image that comes to mind is someone with a six-pack or a sculpted body…you’re not alone. Let me bust this myth of strength and fitness having a certain “look”.
Strength is about what your body can do (for your own everyday needs) not how it looks. It’s easy to get caught up in the visual side of things because we’re constantly bombarded with images of what the “ideal” body is supposed to look like.
But real strength? It’s often invisible.
Take sumo wrestlers, for example. These athletes are some of the strongest people on the planet, but their bodies look very different from the “traditional” athletic ideal. Their strength isn’t defined by their appearance but by their ability to move massive amounts of weight and engage in high-intensity physical combat. Similarly, heavyweight lifters may carry a larger frame, yet their power is unmatched in the gym and competition.
Even within the Olympics, we see athletes in various sports with different body types. A weightlifter, a sprinter, and a swimmer all possess different physiques, yet they are all incredibly strong and “fit” in their own way. These athletes show us that strength and “fitness” don’t need to come in a specific shape.
And because not all of us strive to run marathons or lift the heaviest weights, strength for us might mean being able to hold a yoga pose, perform a Pilates move, carry the groceries or lift a baby without back pain.
So, what type of strength do YOU actually need?
It’s easy to set a goal for yourself based on a certain number on the scale, or the image of an ideal physique, and lose track of what actually matters. To live your life well, enjoy your hobbies, and remain independent into old age.
So much of how a body looks comes down to genetics — yet it's sold to us as something achievable through discipline and sacrifice (imagine big eye roll here).
The fitness industry needs a shakeup for sure! And it starts with us. Let’s aim for strong not slim, mobile not sculpted, and grateful for the bodies that work tirelessly to keep us alive!
Agree? Let me know.
Stay strong and flexi,
Ana