More Than Muscle: The Impact of Weightlifting on Society Weightlifting is often perceived only as a method to enhance physical strength and body appearance, however, its impact extends far beyond muscle. Weightlifting contributes to a healthier, more resilient society by building mentally strong and socially connected individuals. From the release of mood-boosting brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin during workouts to the therapeutic effects of managing stress and trauma, weightlifting offers countless mental benefits. Additionally, the physical transformations made through consistency with weightlifting bolster one's body image and self confidence, while social interactions stemming from weightlifting communities create a sense of …show more content…
Whether it be for weight loss or muscle gain, the visible progress that comes with weightlifting can have a profound impact on one’s perception of themselves. For those who are trying to lose weight, seeing the numbers on the scale go down or noticing a looser fit in clothing can be immensely empowering. Similarly, individuals looking to put on muscle can take pride as their muscle size and definition increase over time, reflecting their hard work and commitment to achieving fitness goals. In a journal article titled “A Systematic Review of the Effects of Resistance Training on Body Image” SantaBarabara and coauthors (2017) provide a meta-analysis of numerous studies regarding the effects of weight training on body image and self esteem. The authors found that a substantially large majority of the studies indicated an extreme effectiveness of weight training in improving self image, concluding that “resistance training can significantly improve multiple dimensions of body image, including body satisfaction, appearance evaluation, and social physique anxiety” (SantaBarbara et al., …show more content…
While cardiovascular exercise has its merits, it alone cannot provide one with the comprehensive benefits crucial to a healthy society that weightlifting can. Firstly, weightlifting requires a different type of mental focus and discipline than does cardio. The concentration and determination required to push past preconceived mental barriers to lift weights is exclusive to this exceptional form of exercise. The mental fortitude acquired through weightlifting extends far beyond the gym and is exemplified as these individuals approach challenges in their daily lives. Secondly, weightlifters obtain a sense of community as individuals support and motivate each other through workouts and gym experiences. Social interaction from weightlifting creates a supportive environment where individuals can build relationships, learn from one another, and apply newly found social confidence in interactions outside of the gym. These social bonds contribute to greater mental wellbeing and a sense of belonging – two vital aspects of a strong, healthy
When you look in the mirror you see your imperfections. You see your perceived flaws; things that nobody else recognizes about you and you think that there has to be some way to change it. In today’s world, society places impossible standards on the way you’re supposed to look and recently young American males in their teen age years have become increasingly self-conscious about their physical appearance. In the article “The Troubled Life of Boys; The Bully in the Mirror” author Stephen Hall investigates the changes and causes of the increase in males becoming concerned with wanting to be more muscular.
At the Gym, written by Mark Doty, dramatizes the conflict within the mind of a bodybuilder and his desire to change who and what he is. The speaker observes the routines of the bodybuilder bench-pressing at a local gym, and attempts to explain the driving force that compels him to change his appearance. The speaker illustrates the physical use of inanimate objects as the tools used for the “desired” transformation: “and hoist nothing that need be lifted” (5,6). However, coupled with “but some burden they’ve chosen this time” (7), the speaker takes the illustration beyond the physical use of the tools of transformation and delves into the bodybuilder’s mental state. The speaker ends by portraying the bodybuilder as an arrogant, muscular being with fragile feelings of insecurity.
Leit, Richard, Ph.D. "International Journal of Eating DisordersVolume 31, Issue 3, Article First Published Online: 14 MAR 2002." The Media's Representation of the Ideal Male Body: A Cause for Muscle Dysmorphia? Wiley Online Library, 14 Feb. 2001. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
This includes muscle size, tone, and overall strength. Not only this, but lifting weights has also been shown to improve psychological health as well. This is done by increasing self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Evidence of lifting weights can be traced back to the origins of man. As far back as cave painting and scrolls, there exists evidence of weightlifting. Initially as an expression of strength, to competition and functional training, weightlifting has carved its path through the ages. It has taken on a new role in the modern world; athletic training. With an entirely new emphasis in sports on speed, strength, and flexibility; weightlifting is more popular than ever. Unfortunately, young athletes often do more harm than good by injuring themselves lifting. When these uneducated lifters try to jump right into a program, lifting more than they should, an injury is imminent. What is overlooked, is that when weightlifting is done correctly, it has a great potential to prevent injuries instead of cause them. Understanding how the body works, using proper technique on the appropriate lifts, and participating in regular physical activity can greatly reduce the risk of athletic injuries.
Besides their health benefits, exercises also offer social comfort to many people. Moreover, regular exercising and fitness also keep me active. Therefore, I train regularly, and my fitness routine can only be disturbed by other social and professional activities. Fitness and yoga fill me with energy and stamina. This training is also helpful in concentrating, making me alert when serving my patients. The energy I derive from exercises keeps me alert. However, my values and behaviours could also hamper my ability to appreciate the problems of others, including obese people, whom culturally unaware people consider careless and
Holmstrom, A. (2004). The effects of the media on the body image: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 48(2), 196-217.
When people see a barbell most of them think of this subculture because it is one of the main items bodybuilders use like in bench press or squats and also deadlifts and shoulder press and other workouts. Being the most commonly used weight among bodybuilding I think that the barbell is the perfect icon for this subculture because anyone would think of th...
Body image dissatisfaction is increasingly identified as an essential target for public health action ( Paxton , 2002, P. 2) Body image refers to a person’s unique perception of his or her body. It is how we perceive our selves, how we think we appear to others and how we feel about our looks from “our own internal view”. ( Nio, 2003, P3). This internal view is associated with the person’s feelings thoughts and evaluations. It can either be positive or negative. Negative body image could be associated with low self esteem. This could include low willingness to be involved in activities due to poor body image. Self-esteem is an important psychological need of human beings. It is very essential for a person to have a positive body image in order to face and overcome challenges in life. It helps to boost motivation and mental attitude.
Bodybuilding still gave them a sense of empowerment that not only influence them to compete but also affect other aspects of their lives. For example, empowerment was a critical factor in enabling women to see they had the ability to change and shape their individual worlds. In the midst of social constraint, female bodybuilder exert control over their lives through the conscious decision of becoming bodybuilder through shaping and changing their bodies. Female body building become a form of agency. And through that they develop the strengths to try out other things in life. In this study, just like the other one many competitors reported a feeling in self- worth. Competitors also reported feeling more confident too. However, with anything there are both benefits and costs to do what you love and in this study it took note to how the cost of being a bodybuilder can affect your physical and mental
Studies of body image in the past have gained varying results as to the groups that are affected, as well as the amount of impact body image has with these groups. There has also been much debate over the validity of methods used to judge body image, and how well the measurements used actually correlate participants’ actual views of body image (Cash, Morrow, Hrabosky, & Perry 2004). Some factors that have led to this discrepancy in answers are questions that were framed to be more suitable to attain the attitudes of one gender over another. The initial studies of body image focused upon simply body shape which seemed to be more important to women, whereas body image affects were seen for men when questions of muscle definition were included into the questionnaire process (Ridgeway, & Tylka, 2005).
Social Issue Research Centre (2012). Mirror, Mirror- A Summary of Research Findings on Body Image. Retrieved from http://www.sirc.org/publik/mirror.html
“Do you even lift bro?” has become the new slang phrase in this period where fitness has become a popular trend across the globe. It has become apparent that fitness, for the most part, dominates many aspects of social media – from infomercials on the best workout videos to the plethora of “how to” fitness videos on YouTube. However, the cause of this fitness boom has been debated for quite some time. Many people assume that the rise in fitness occurred because of its correlation to longevity, but I believe that fitness became popularized through social media. Through the help of celebrity-athletes and the advancement of social media outlets, the public’s perception of fitness (mainly aesthetics) changed from being only for the select few to the obtainable goal of the average citizen.
The gym where I train and workout, the Dubuque Martial Arts Group, is a place where I know who I am. It is a place I can go to escape my problems for a while and release some stress. It's not the actual physical building, but rather the events that have occurred there over the years. It's where I have formed some of my closest friendships. It is the place I have invested years of hard work for many of my accomplishments. To some it may seem odd that a place associated with sweat, blood and physical pain mean so much to someone. However, in my eyes it's almost like a second home.
...m Collegiate, there are possible solutions to boosting one’s body image. Broadening their perspective on beauty and health, developing a positive self-esteem, discontinuing any comparison of one’s body image to others, and enjoying their own body shape and size; these are a few ways in which one can provide a positive approach to their body image.