I'm sure that one time or another we've all picked up a tabloid magazine to see what the latest diet or exercise regime one star or another was doing. You turn the page and you'll always find some other star in apparent dire straits; a drug overdose a broken marriage a teen star going to rehab and tragically and all to often a death. The irony here is that we look to these stars to tell us how to keep our bodies in shape and there are many who aspire live like their favorite star.
The truth is that those diets don't and will never work and those exercise regimes as written wont either. The pictures that you see are all air brushed and when those stars walk the red carpet its only after having done about six weeks of intense dieting and exercise. There maybe a handful of the Hollywood elite that have a truly healthy lifestyle but by and large the tabloid stars don't and if they did you wouldn't be reading about them in the national star or page 6 of the post.
I believe the reason that so many are drawn to tabloid entertainment is that the tragic nature of the hollywood life style resonates with many. We've become a nation of "reality" TV junkies. We watch the juvenile interactions of the characters and involve ourselves in their lives in voyeuristic way because as I said before we find some some resonance there. I guess that we feel less alone in the day to day challenges that we face. Be warned weather it a magazine a TV show a book or a rumor you heard at the beauty salon you are being manipulated. Theres always a sad story that will bring a tear to your eye and keep your ass glued to the couch.
You are being targeted and the vicious cycle of tabloid press, TV and advertising will ultimately cause you to believe that you're not good enough have enough of the "right stuff" or worst of all they will show you that you can behave in an infantile way and that redemption is just around the corner.
What does this have to do with fitness? EVERYTHING!
Getting in shape being healthy living a healthy lifestyle being an athlete all require a change in the way we think about ourselves. Theres not one person reading this right now who can't accomplish amazing things or who can't create an absolutely amazing life for themselves an their family. Your health is the most important thing that you have, the discipline and challenge of a healthy diet and exercise plan are your first steps to actualizing your potential as a human being. When you are healthy you have great self esteem you feel great about yourself and the radiates and inspires others. The challenges of your personal training or if you will your healthy life plan can teach you how to handle the challenges of your daily life and get you off of the couch and into the game. I could go on and list many other benefits but i want to leave you with this, it and excerpt for Nelson Mandela's inauguration speech written by Marianna Williamson and its something I read daily.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Paul Virtue
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