Don't Be a Show Dog

Stop worrying about being skinnier than you are because you think you feel/look wrong.

Stop worrying about cutting fat or gaining muscle simply because you just want to fulfill somebody's idea of what constitutes physical attractiveness.

Don't look at magazines or watch TV shows and movies to get the idea of what body type is most aesthetically pleasing according to some council or group of people is, in fact, objectively optimal.

If you put yourself on stage because of your appearance, you will be poked and prodded, grabbed and judged.  You will be humiliated.

You wanted to look good not to make the world less horrible, or to help others, or to be strong enough to take on life's challenges.  But because you wanted to look nice for an audience who would judge you, nod, and move on.  Your strength and structure does not even need to have a functional purpose.

Don't be a show dog.  Show dogs are inbred filth, genetically modified to look cute and do virtually nothing.  They suffer a slew of physiological problems as a result of our want for something dawww adowable.  They live in agony, wheezing and limping because that's what a group of sad and lonely dog-obsessed people decided are the best traits for a type of creature to have.

This doberman (the only breed of dog that seriously scares the fucking Christ out of me) is molested, measured, practically choked, and made to do tricks.  Not for its well-being or for the sake of others, but for the prestige of its owner and a silly organization.

Likewise, humans have similar groups of people who make strict and harsh judgments as to what constitutes the ideal visual representation of strength and beauty.  Here, listen to a dude explain the weird ass rules of bodybuilding.  Keep in mind that they're a little trickier for women because they consider things like "is she so big that she looks 'unfeminine'?" and "is she too lean?" on top of the rules they have for guys.

Mutts, by contrast, have it all.  They aren't really a cuteness-heavy lot, and they don't make it into AKC shows.  They're not purebred, so they're of generally lower value, but that means they're free of useless responsibilities that are heaved on the unwilling shoulders of those beloved incestuous offspring.  They have more genetic variability, and thus fewer physiological problems.  By not preparing for shows, they have time to do things that dogs do best: Play, run like idiot maniacs, disobey, relax, and work to make the world a more livable place, god damn it.  If I may, mutts are more than museum exhibits under glass, they're here making life happen.

All while following newlyweds around beaches.

When do appearances matter?  As a symbol of your work and as an indicator of potential.  Not solely as the end you are seeking, but as a sign.  Cutting fat is fine, but why bother doing it if you're only concerned with looking pretty?  If your desire is to lose fat to be stronger for your bodyweight, than that's practical.  To cut fat because you want to be like totally shredded like those dudes in 300, broa, then all is lost for you.  Your body adapts to what you do and trying to cheat or lie about who you are is, well, lying and cheating.

There is no point in trying to look fantastic if you're incapable of performing in the way that your phenomenal body makes it appear you're able to perform.  I even mentioned this in a previous post.  If you look like Captain America but you can hardly engage in functional acts of strength (helping a friend move, hiking, fending off an attacker), then you know you're either a work in progress, which is fine, or a show dog.

Another aspect of this is pure Darwinianism.  One might argue that sexual attraction is a dominant aspect of reproductive fitness, but that's based upon the precedent that one is able to survive to reproduction and create offspring who are, in turn, fit to survive and be equally sexy.  If you're cute and attractive and foine then that's all well and good, but do you have the chops to show for it?  You've got 25" pythons or a 25" waist, but so what?  What does it mean that you have that?  Are you stronger?  Healthier?  Find ways to truly challenge yourself and make this world a better place with your newfound strength and health.

By obsessing over, and performing the act of, making your body fulfill totally subjective standards of beauty or just plain cuteness, you are surrendering yourself to be examined, judged, and criticized.  It doesn't matter if you look stronger than one if you aren't, or if you act like you're more productive than me and you aren't.  Learn to see action and not superficial traits.