Aesthetics vs. functionality

[DrewChan]

Which is more important to you when considering muscle?

For a long time I thought Aesthetics - or actually never thought about it, just did weights and dieted-
But now strength with function seems so much more appealing - using real world application to gain strength -

Got somewhat inspired by tricking/parkour/ random russians working out on jungle gyms.

I would much rather be somewhat cut and be able to manipulate my body to that extent- over gym built-

I am not saying gym is an ineffective strength tool - I just think its restrictive

 

[guest2013-1]

You have to ask yourself if you want to look naturally cut or look as if you're building for a competition.

All muscle (IMO) is important. People just figured out how to work some of them out so that they look good too.

Go do tricking/parkour or whatever, and eventually you'll have what you're looking for without a gym

 

[DrewChan]

Meh - I am far away from either - just musing.

But your final statement kind of sums up my thoughts, 90% of people in gyms are there for fitness/aesthetics, not for competitions.

Therefore wouldn't calisthenics be a better overall option for most people [Health Wise]

 

[CrazYmonkeY159]

People always think that the two are mutually exclusive. People also think that big muscles hamper agility in a big way. It really doesnt do you watch UFC? The mid-heavyweight guys are big aesthetic and agile and have functional strength becuase they train for it.

Sure there are training regiments well suited for functionality/strength and others are more well suited for looks and aestetics, but that doesnt mean that you are sacrificing one for the other.

 

[DrewChan]

UFC guys are as agile as they are because they are fighters - their fighting alone ensures flexibility - while I don't watch it I assume it will be mixed martial arts including grappling - these will probably all have strict stretching regimes.

I actually didn't relay my thoughts properly in the original post-

I should have called it gym training vs calisthenics-

I think that just gym training will impede your flexiblity - theres no scientific basis to a lot of this - so I am open to correction

 

[cerebus]

Gym training will not impede your flexibility; look at the muscularity of the top gymnasts for instance. However it will also not make you a great athlete in any one specific direction. It will just keep you healthy and looking good. If you have a particular goal, like self-defense or dancing or competitive sport or gymnastics, you want to stick to that area and you will pick up a general level of fitness all around in any case.

 

[DrewChan]

Fair enough - I just think that gaining fitness and strength should have a goal -

A Dancer has a goal
A Gymnast has a goal

I guess on a personal level I find just gym by itself - pointless to an extent -
Sure use it as a tool in conjunction with a hobby/passion- I think most people fail though because of the above.

Again this is just personal opinion

 

[DerpiesFreud]

Start with functionality and aesthetics will follow... unless you want to be a body builder
I usually wear long sleeves and pants so aesthetics don't really matter to me
Functionality on the other hand allows me to perform daily activities etc.

 

[cerebus]

Fair enough - I just think that gaining fitness and strength should have a goal -

A Dancer has a goal
A Gymnast has a goal

I guess on a personal level I find just gym by itself - pointless to an extent -
Sure use it as a tool in conjunction with a hobby/passion- I think most people fail though because of the above.

Again this is just personal opinion

Just what I'm saying. So find a goal and go with it. Maybe aim to run the Cape Town marathon in a year's time. For me my goal is primarily just to stay healthy for the long term; that's enough for me to stay motivated. I know how I look in the mirror and when I'm getting flabby and it's already a constant fight to stay trim, which I don't always win, so I've got no motivational issues with fitness. But a lot of people need to see more of a carrot dangling which I totally get.

 

[DrewChan]

Well so were agreed in a round about way -

Still wouldn't you rather be trim AND perform backflips

 

[cerebus]

Well so were agreed in a round about way -

Still wouldn't you rather be trim AND perform backflips

The thing about gyms vs other kinds of exercise is that they are extraordinarily efficient in a time vs full-body results kind of way. Swimming, gymnastics, running, etc, require far more time input to get results, and often bring about an unbalanced form of health. Swimmers for instance tend to have underdeveloped lower bodies so they look like triangles. Gym is also not as repetitive as other exercises. If you have limited time and want to get maximum results, there's nothing better than the gym.

 

[DrewChan]

The thing about gyms vs other kinds of exercise is that they are extraordinarily efficient in a time vs full-body results kind of way. Swimming, gymnastics, running, etc, require far more time input to get results, and often bring about an unbalanced form of health. Swimmers for instance tend to have underdeveloped lower bodies so they look like triangles. Gym is also not as repetitive as other exercises. If you have limited time and want to get maximum results, there's nothing better than the gym.

This may be so - but I would rather enjoy the journey than force myself into a gym to lift lumps of metal - especially when its a never ending journey

 

[cerebus]

This may be so - but I would rather enjoy the journey than force myself into a gym to lift lumps of metal - especially when its a never ending journey

Yeah man.. if I had my way I'd most love to do a combination of running outdoors - preferably in a woody hilly area - and resistance-based strength training. I just can't fit it into my schedule

 

[DrewChan]

I guess thats true to, could always stick a pine airfreshner round your neck - get a treadmill and a huge LED TV which displays trees rolling by ^_^