Tips, tricks, and debunking myths: body image and training from a man’s perspective.
By Krishna Thadani for Feminx Focus
Body Image and its affect on mental health is a topic often centred around female experiences; however, its damaging consequences reach men as well. Hear Krishna‘s experience, how he turned it into a lifelong project, and how you can too.
Krishna’s Journey:
I started “working out” around July 2015. For the first 12 months of training all of my focus was on my physical body image in the mirror — I didn’t have any proper workout plans, goals, or knowledge of fitness. I was doing it for the camera aesthetics.
Around June/July 2016 I got a trainer and started learning more about fitness and working out as a whole, exploring new types of exercises and and exercise routines and learning which ones are the best for me. I was no longer simply doing cardio and low weight to be “skinny”.
Once I got more into the groove of training and gained more knowledge, I was confident enough to take the reins myself around 2017 and 2018: I stopped employing a trainer and started my real journey.
From my trainer I learnt the value of consistent training and goal setting when it comes to what I want to achieve in the gym. A trainer is committed to help you achieve your goals, making you work harder to succeed and then re-using that success to keep you motivated to create the best version of yourself. My trainer was flexible in terms of working with me to create my goals since initially I was not too sure what I wanted to achieve; however, as we got to know my body, the exercises we were meant to be doing became more obvious. I took all of this learning and applied it once I started training on my own.
Fitness and its importance in his life:
Fitness took over as one of the main things in my life: it helped me on my bad days by allowing me to clear my mind by doing something that I love, giving me time to retrospect and aiding consequently not only my physical but mental health.
The difference I felt without a trainer was being able to connect more with my body, learning about the exercise that suits me, creating my own goals on what I feel I need to do. I learned about the different “exercise seasons” such as toning/leaning up, bulking, weight loss, etc.
I would say that body aesthetics was a big part of why I started this process; however, as time went on it became only part of it, and not the one which dominated my happiness.
The confidence I have gained from training is a big part of the appeal, as are the different trainers, fitness enthusiasts and gym goers I have met throughout the years, making me love fitness so much that I decided to take a plunge and embark on a PT course which is currently in progress.
It has only been in the last two to three that fitness and mental health have started becoming topical features. It was once that I was in control of my workouts, feeling happy and confident, that I started realising how powerful training really is. Being in a gym environment whether that being in class or on the gym floor felt like home to me.
TIPS: How to create a positive relationship between working out and your self-esteem
- Think — release any negative thoughts, use it as a time to stop overthinking and focus.
- Re-energise — By training we burn calories and sweat, but most importantly we re-energise our mind. That sense of release in our bodies after a workout is euphoric, and a feeling I guarantee you won’t find anywhere else.
- Escape — It’s important to get some distance from what’s going on externally and have this time to yourself. The gym can be a safe space for you to be with your mind, control your thoughts and have fun.
- Anxiety — Being at the gym enables you to naturally relieve stress and get rid of previous anxiety, which for me is one of the biggest positives.
- Be proud and grateful — I feel proud and happy when I go train because I know I am helping myself all round and fulfilling myself by doing something that I love. I always feel grateful after a workout.
- Social Media — Everyone’s body is different, following a particular “instagram influencer/models” workout trend isn’t always the best for you and can actually be negative to your body, so don’t just do it because of the unfair expectations. With that being said there are many successful, qualified, incredible instagram/online instructors that share a lot of important and knowledgeable information.
- Enjoy!: Find a routine which motivates you to train and makes your body and mind react positively. Enjoying something is half-way to making it beneficial to you.
Debunking Fitness Myths:
- Girls can lift! — lifting weights won’t make you huge, weights can actually aid fat loss and toning your body
- Yoga, pilates, weightlifting and cardio are all GENDER NEUTRAL workouts, they are simply perceived as being either masculine or feminine because of their marketing.
- “STARVE TO LOSE WEIGHT” — This is a short term, non-beneficial, unhealthy way of losing weight. Finding a balanced diet that suits your body and one you are able to maintain is most important.
- “TRAIN EVERYDAY!” I agree that it is important to be ACTIVE everyday but REST is highly important to aid recovery and progress for your fitness goals. Have a balanced training routine, listen to your body when it needs its rest to avoid injury or burnout.
Lockdown Pace
Fitness and Mental health has been important to Krishna in the last 4 years — it has allowed him to join his body and mind together as one, transforming the gym into his favourite escape. He decided he wanted to help others in their journey.
Lockdown Pace is a platform aiming to help others to keep a good mental health in their fitness journey. By posting training tips, motivational boosts, and personal stories, it serves as a guide for others to find their motivation and lean on for some support.
Believe in Yourself and #SetYOURTone
Instagram: @lockdownpace; Tik-Tok: @lockdownpace
