How to Get the Perfect Body

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about fitness, physical health and my body. On my 28th birthday this April, I spent the morning in the gym for the first time in around 4 years. I wanted to start this new year/age as I meant to go on: looking after my physical body.

I had a plan. I would go to the gym once a week in the beginning, as I can’t afford a membership at my local gym and I didn’t want to have to travel to a cheaper gym. Consistency is about ease and enjoyment, so if it was hard to go to the gym, I knew I wouldn’t keep it up.

Knowing yourself is key to making any lasting changes in your life

However, I’m rethinking this a little bit already! I have been to the gym twice since my birthday; once I skipped because my shoulders were hurting from a previous workout. I didn’t want to waste money paying for a gym session if I couldn’t get a full workout from it. Anyway, I now see the gym a little differently.

The gym is a tool in my toolbox, not a must.

Hear me out. This may sound like I’m lazy and am talking myself out of going by giving myself permission to go less. That is partially true. But there’s more to it than just that.

People think gym = fitness, gym = strength, or worst of all gym = health! That’s not the case! I can’t remember where I heard it but I love the saying that “if you think strength is only built in the gym then that’s like thinking knowledge is only gained in a library!” And it’s true.

Strength is subjective, relative, personal, conditional. Big, noticeable muscles does not mean you are necessarily stronger than someone with smaller, less noticeable ones.

I recommend that people interested in physical fitness watch a show on Netflix called Physical 100. This show was fun and inspiring but above all else it showed me that there’s different types of strength and fitness. That people who have never stepped foot in a gym can be muscular, strong and athletic.

Let’s talk about body type and genetics. I’m no expert, but many dieticians and personal trainers are now saying that how your muscles display can depend on genetics. One person could do the exact same workout as another for years and their results could differ widely (even if they ate the same food, too). I for one have very narrow hips, hip dips, and a naturally slim body. Therefore, I would react differently to a “healthy” diet and a workout routine than someone who has wider hips, naturally less slim, and are taller than me, for example.

Also consider your goals. Different athletes need different bodies. All the athletes below would have widely different goals for their body shape:

Yogi Sumo wrestlerBallet dancerSprinterMarathon runnerSwimmerWeight lifter Gymnast

All these people do impressive things, but their “perfect body” or optimal physique would differ because their sports require different muscles, body mass, and structures.

We everyday people may not be athletes of this sort, but we do need to bear in mind what we want our bodies to be able to do for us. If you want to run long distances with ease, you might not want to bulk up your arms and legs and lift heavy weights when that could cause heavier weight to have to run with. And on the flip side, if you want to lift heavy and bulk up, don’t overdo it on the cardio which will effect muscle gains.

The moral of this messy story is that the perfect body is the one that does what you want it to do, simple. Not how it looks, but how it performs for you. Maybe switch out your goals of wanting to look like Instagram and TikTok fitness influencers, and instead “run X miles”, “lift X weight”, “swim X laps”, “hold X yoga pose”.

Less focus on the outside and more on the inside

Trust me, I get it. I have wanted to tone my abs and grow my butt this year! And I’ve been cruel to myself about it, saying my butt is flat and I was sad when I started to see abs but then I quickly lost them. That’s what focusing too much on the outside can do. You may still be quite strong in reality, but because you can’t see it outside on your body, you get upset. No one wants that.

And you know what, I even felt anti-feminist to want to sculpt my body into a certain aesthetic. It’s not. It’s anti-feminist to tell a woman what she should be or do, but if she wants something for herself, that’s okay, too. It’s how you approach things, right? If the dialogue in your head is negative and self-deprecating, what’s the point? How does that serve you? Instead, if it’s positive and motivational, there’s no harm.

I know that for some, the outer physique is key to their goals and gains and progression and athleticism. That’s okay as long as you know it’s from a healthy place. But don’t chase something or someone that doesn’t fit your needs/life/self/reality. Don’t think there’s only one perfect body. That because the gym is popular right now and everyone and their grandmother seems to be lifting weights that you must too! If that’s not part of your life goals, then don’t go! Simple.

My goal now is to achieve a peak level of fitness that’s well rounded and personal to me. Focusing for now on body weight exercises the most, gym every now and then, lift weights for strength training, and do cardio. My main big goals are to do with yoga and feeling strong and athletic in general. We’ll see how that changes…

Last general adviceDo strength training as part of your exercise routine in the week because the NHS website recommends it, but this doesn’t need to be the gym or weight lifting necessarily Body weight exercises are amazing and build tone and muscle too Focus on what you eat just as much as how you move Food is fuel so make sure your body is getting the right nutrients and fuel to energise and maximise your workouts and goals Track your workouts for a form of progression and habit tracking instead of only focusing on whether you have abs yet!Be kind to yourself, being at peak physique takes time and patience and consistency, plus your starting point will differ from someone else’s so never compare timelines or progress

Love your body, no matter how it looks, and it will be perfect and in turn work better for you!

Sincerely,

S. xx