| No matter what age you may be, no matter | | | | contrary to the behaviour of a genuine health |
| what your body shape, you can become a fitness | | | | model. |
| model. Even if you have a disability you can be a | | | | So the place to begin becoming a fitness model is |
| fitness model. Being a fitness model is different | | | | by making an realistic assessment of your own |
| from being a fashion model. | | | | body form. If you want to be a fitness model and |
| Being a fitness model is not about matching up to | | | | encourage others to follow a healthy lifestyle you |
| a stereotype. You may be pear shaped, tall or | | | | must be happy in your own skin. |
| short. It really doesn't matter. What matters is | | | | Your fitness regime will then be directed towards |
| fitness and your attitude to your body. | | | | improving your natural body shape not towards |
| If you have had to overcome difficulties to | | | | attaining an unrealistic goal. You should set |
| achieve a better level of fitness then you make | | | | yourself attainable goals for improved |
| an even better fitness model. There is no | | | | cardiovascular function, resistance work and |
| question of absolute standards. | | | | endurance. |
| Fashion models tend to be unnaturally slim for | | | | There is no need to work out for longer than half |
| their height. Many of them are unhealthily | | | | an hour a day. Your whole life does not have to |
| underweight. They set a standard that is not a | | | | revolve around training as a fitness model. You |
| good one to follow. The image of the fashion | | | | have to ask yourself fit for what? You are aiming |
| model often persuades young women and girls | | | | to be fit for life. There is no point being a fitness |
| that they need to diet obsessively in order to lose | | | | model if you do not have any life apart from |
| weight. A fitness model should not go down that | | | | training. Remember that there is life outside the |
| route. | | | | gym. |
| Fashion models look like that because they make | | | | As a fitness model you must also pay attention |
| the clothes look better. If they have no curves | | | | to your diet. This does not mean starving |
| the clothes hang smoothly. They look like that | | | | yourself. It means eating for optimum nutrition. |
| because of their genes. They are chosen for their | | | | Then your skin will be clear, your hair shiny and |
| unusual shape. | | | | eyes bright. You will positively glow with health. |
| But being a fitness model is about accepting your | | | | This is how a fitness model should look. |
| real body shape not about selling clothes. If you | | | | There is no point being able to say that you are |
| want to be a fitness model you should put | | | | the ideal weight for your height if you look |
| impossible stereotypes out of your mind. | | | | washed out and ill. The way to avoid this is by |
| No matter whether you are a man or a woman | | | | eating properly. Make a careful study of your |
| you should learn to accept your own body shape. | | | | nutritional requirements. Learn which foods contain |
| Obviously fitness training will improve it but it will | | | | what vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Food |
| not make your legs longer. Set an example by | | | | is about more than calories. |
| rejecting the ideal of unnatural slimness. | | | | Eating nutritious food should not be a miserable |
| Men have another false body image forced upon | | | | business. A real health model must have a positive |
| them. They are encouraged to go for perfect | | | | attitude to food. Eating healthily is not meant to |
| abdominal muscles and bulging biceps. But there is | | | | be a punishment. |
| no need to look like a body builder to be a fitness | | | | Finally, a health model takes a positive attitude to |
| model. Many men have light frames and will never | | | | other people and encourages them to feel good |
| achieve the body builder look. | | | | about their own bodies. We all need a supportive |
| Unfortunately some men are tempted to resort | | | | network of people around us to be healthy and a |
| to artificial aids such as steroids in body building. | | | | health model should set the example in helping |
| This is very harmful to their health and is entirely | | | | others to be healthy. |