Many people approach physical fitness for cosmetic reasons; but real strength training is about body, mind and spirit, not good looks

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Do you jump right into a workout without warming up? Do you "jerk" the weights when strength training? Do you overstretch in Yoga class because you don't want to look like a noob? Editors from Fitness Magazine offer some tips in this article, but I'd like to go past the obvious and get to the real story about poor fitness habits. The worst habit of all is working out purely for cosmetic reasons. You know what I mean: pumping weights just to look good instead of developing core strength. Or hanging out in yoga class just to show off how limber your pelvis is.

I see it all the time in the weight room: guys pumping iron what have huge upper bodies but tiny bird legs. One look tells me these people are there just to get big biceps, not to enhance their health. I call these type of workout guys "punks," because that's all they ever achieve: the punk look.

If you never strength train your legs, you'll never achieve impressive strength. A strong upper body combined with a wimpy lower body is freakish. It's lazy. And it's not even a good strength training strategy either, because nothing will produce more Human Growth Hormone in your body than five sets of maxed out leg press. So many people pump weights in the hopes of generating more HGH in their bloodstream, but if you're not using your big muscles, you're short-changing yourself.

Not warming up is certainly a common problem, and so is improper form when weight lifting, but I think the biggest issue for most people is the fact that they're working out for all the wrong reasons. We should all be pursuing physical fitness for the sake of whole health: body, mind and spirit. Not to have eighteen-inch biceps that we can show off at the beach. Looking good is the side effect of being healthy, it should never be the aim.
About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored more than 1,500 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient LED lighting products that save electricity and help prevent global warming. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and adult gymnastics. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org


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