Batteling self image

Scott Schwab:

How is our life effected by the clothes we wear?

Self image is like self confidence. Those who have it, aren't as concerned with what they wear and will acccept the simple facts of who they are. Much like confidence, our dress effects everything from how people perceive us, to our supposed motives, and even our personalities. Have you ever said or heard this statement; "I cant go out, I have nothing to wear." You and I both know full well that there is a closet somewhere that is chucked full of clothes yearning to be worn. Usually the next statements are "yeah but nothing fits, or nothing looks good, or my clothes are all old."
If this is the case there are certain things that are a quick fix and some that may be a little more deep seated. We all have clothes, well except our group of readers down in Colorado who live in the nudist colony but I digress. However, the clothes we choose to wear represent who we are and often times the way we view ourselves in reference to the world around us. Clothing can show what types of friends we have, magazines we read, and tv shows we watch. We are a walking representation of the things we see and choose to internalize.

How does this effect our exercise?

Most people dress with the intentions of looking good or feeling comfortable. This is why companies make millions of dollars, based on us being walking billboards for their brand. Some may think this only applies to the clothes we wear outside of the gym. However, never is image more important than when you are getting ready to go and get your sweat on. It seems like at times, people spend hours getting ready for the gym and never even exercise. Others wear the baggiest clothing they can find and head for the gym, and yet others live in their gym clothes and should definitely have set times that the gym clothes must be taken off.
In short, you need to be comfortable and practical. You may not get the best workout if skin is hanging out everywhere. Equally challenging are the baggy clothes that every time you look in the mirror the word frumpy comes to mind. You do not need to dress up for everyone else, but dress up for yourself. You will have a better workout if you are comfortable and practical. Dress with the purpose of being happy and desiring to look good. Our goals of working out often revolve around looking good and staying fit. Its like new shoes. Wearing new shoes actually will make you run faster and jump higher! I once watched this documentary where this was proven by a boy in a sandlot with a Babe Ruth baseball that ran away from a big dog.

Conclusion:

Whether we like it or not, our dress represents our confidence level and the world we subscribe to. In reference to exercise, we need to dress in a way that we desire to workout and we are comfortable with the activity. We will have more effective workouts and achieve better results based on a mental shift in energy towards the obtainment of goals. We will always have better results with things when we dress according to the activity that we are doing. It is also helpful when wearing the clothes that make us feel happy and comfortable. When we look good, we feel good! When we feel good we play good! When we play good we win and when we win we are a success!

The link above is an article that talks about self confidence in relation to our dress.