Have you ever felt compelled to hide your fitness habit? Afraid to stand out as “that guy” or “that gal” who likes strange things like eating well and working out?

For those whose social circles tend to be centered around fitness already, this may not be the case. But for the rest of the world, walking around with the capacity to back squat hundreds of pounds, run a mile in 6 minutes, and do a few dozen pull-ups without much fuss makes you a bit of an anomaly, and sometimes that can be uncomfortable. We live in a society that generally values fitting in, and an outward movement against what’s common is often seen as an offense against those who occupy that common realm. I’m not interested in formulating apologetics for fitness culture, as I think this culture doesn’t really need defending. But I do think it’s important to address the elephant in the room: sometimes being a fit person makes you the odd one out.

In general, our society has taken a disinterest in our physical self, and therefore being a physically engaged and capable being makes you an uncommon being. Perhaps you’re the type for whom this has never been a problem. Perhaps you’re happy to wear your “fitness-y” self on your sleeve, and if that’s the case, keep it up. We need people like you. Or perhaps you’re content to be quietly satisfied with your efforts in physical improvement, but don’t feel the need to make a big stink about your fitness. That’s cool, too.

But here’s the thing: if you really want in on this fitness thing, be ready to be uncommon. Be ready to be the only one of your kind in the room, because it’s going to happen. And the thing is, it’s probably the best thing you can hope for. Common is easy, but in my view, it’s not a culture worth belonging to. Here are some common things:
- More than 2 in 3 American adults are considered overweight or obese, more than 1 in 3 obese
- Roughly 10% of Americans have diabetes
- Only 20% of Americans meet the government-recommended activity guidelines
- 2 in 3 American adults report having a diagnosed chronic illness
- Americans sit an average of 13 hours/day

Interested? Me neither.
Let me be clear: I’m not advocating parading your fitness about or making it your mission to share the gospel of burpees and thrusters with everyone you meet. One need look no further than social media political pages to see that shouting (literally and figuratively) about why your point of view is right does nothing to promote positive change. Nor am I advocating an ascetic life of abstinence from all indulgence -- I’m a firm believer in the value of the occasional pizza and ice cream indulgence and day of rest.
What I am advocating is pride and security in who you are: a member of an uncommon culture. And maybe if we all continue to reap the rewards of such uncommonality with pride, it’ll become a little less uncommon.

- Preston Sprimont

12/9/16

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  Take 10 minutes to establish a set of max unbroken double-unders

  
  

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  5k row