It was the look that got everyone interested in fitness and bodybuilding. I'm talking about Brad Pitt in Fight Club, of course.
It doesn't get much better than this. He's 5'11'', 150 pounds. Brad Pitt is living proof that sometimes less is more. You don't have to put on a ton of muscle to look good. What I admire about Brad Pitt's physique is not just his muscles but how wonderfully symmetrical he looks. Everything is just in perfect proportion. His trainers really knew how to get him into that perfect shape for the movie. He's still thin. He just naturally holds an extremely low body fat composition. He also put on a little muscle. Even in his 60s he still looks amazing. Proof that age is relative, like time.
What's my pursuit? Well, not to become Brad Pitt. I'll never have his genetics or good looks. But here's what I can take away from his physique. He was mostly skinny. But muscular skinny. And he was healthy. That's more or less the kind of physique I'm after. It's there to be reached but always a little too far to be realized. But who doesn't love rainbows?
Pitt had peak abdominal leanness. His abs possessed less fat on them than most men. If we didn't have a world full of sugar and were back in the hunter-gatherer days, men with abs like that would be the usual look. It's one thing to be genetically blessed. That's a pure gift from God. But it's quite another thing to take the time and make the effort to develop and maintain that gift over the years. Right now I'd say I'm about peak natty for someone at my age with average genetics. I'd love to remain active until the day I die. In particular, I'd really, really like to be able to surf for another decade if the Lord allows. To do that I'll need a body with enough strength to paddle and swim. Good muscle. Healthy amount of fat. Decent size. Sadly, with the incessant permeation of our brains by social media, physique inflation is a very real thing. Natural doesn't even look normal anymore. Fitness has become less about health and more about art. You're either shredded or have a dad bod.
Friend, be proud of your own progress. I'll try to do the same. Be very careful of who you let influence you. As you know if you've been reading my blog, I've decided to stop just chasing results and start building the discipline that guarantees them. I say this as someone who used to be a poster boy for laziness, hated the gym, wasn't naturally strong or athletic, and made every possible mistake in the book when it came to health and diet. But if I've learned anything through trial and error it's this: Do the habits, and the outcome takes care of itself. For example, here are today's steps.
Tomorrow I may get in more or fewer of them, but I will strive for at least 10,000. Furthermore, I will do my running in the sun (with 70 SPF suntan lotion) and grab me some vitamin D along the way. And, while I don't idolize Brad Pitt or anyone else for that matter, I know I can learn from him. Someone has said there are two kinds of comparison -- torture, and teacher. Torture has to do with things you can't change. I have no control over my age, height, or genetics. But when you use comparison to motivate and inspire you, it becomes a teacher. Bodybuilders look cool, but it's the more natural look (like Pitt's) that I'm aiming for.
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| Taken today. 6'4". 190 pounds. |
At the end of the day, when all is said and done I'd like to become neither worryingly lean on the one hand nor unhealthily fat on the other. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be completely worth it.