Fitness Influencers’ Nonsense Vs. Fitness for Men and Realities of Aging

Many men want to resemble “Men’s Health” magazine over models; young men, especially. Unfortunately, just like famous models won “the genetic lottery,” few men, even if they had paid for trainers and the ideal foods, are hired as models. To look Adonis-like may have perks. But how much depth is there if the effort rivals a part-time job?

Influencer Ashton Hall, whom CNN.com mentions regarding male fitness ideals, exemplifies questionable concentration on looking ripped. Those who pay attention to him don’t know how seriously to take his strange tactics; Rising before 4:00am or dunking his face in ice water.

Many men want to resemble the model images, which women seem to swoon over. According to the Men’s Fitness Online Survey, 68% of men aspire to be functionally fit instead of pursuing a model image. according to a poll from LifeTime 2025 Wellness Survey, 12% of gym-goers aspire to be as chiseled as those cover models are.

Nonetheless, 12% of men being extreme and foolish in the name of a perfect physique should ring an alarm. Research and experts have proven that, as persuasive as fitness influencers are, the “expertise” they provide is often a misnomer. How many of these “experts” carry credentials like those from the National Association of Sports Medicine?

Men wanting to build chiseled bodies is recent in human history. The CNN.com article about Ashton Hall, from March 29^th, describes the fact that prevailing image of masculinity and self-care have become fitness and image conscious during the last two generations: “That attitude started to shift around the ‘70s and ‘80s, as bodybuilderArnold Schwarznegger normalized caring about aestheticsand Calvin Klein advertisements objectified the male form. By the ‘90s,unrealistic body standards— six-pack abs, broad shoulders, bulging arms — afflicted men, too.” If the chiseled body puts the beauty on your arm, then you’ll pursue that chiseledness.

(In my opinion, as ripped as Ashton Hall is, I have seen more emphatic examples of chiseled brown bodies.)

Aging plays a role in how cover-worthy you’ll look. The metabolism and in-turn physique from your 20s differ from those you’ll have in your 30s, 40s and later in your life.

For example, I am (was) innately slim. Until age 50 my body had a metabolism which held a steady slimness of around 140lbs, and a flat tummy. Then Covid lockdowns came. I aged. And I gained weight. When I was 51-years-old, a physical therapist ended a session during which I wondered if I was exercising enough. He declared “you look great for 50. Heck. You look great for 40”. I had a weekly habit of lifting weights thrice per week, riding a bicycle twice per week, and more.

At age 52 my abs had the shallow makings of a six-pack. But, at age 53 my ego scowled at the baby tire, which I saw and had replaced my flat belly.

Age was changing my physique.

People forget that, even if your strength routine, and eating are aimed toward a chiseled physique, then that demand on your energy and time could equal a part-time job.

Thankfully the Men’s Health survey indicated that most gym-goers, 68%, worked toward functional strength instead of a barely attainable image. Few people have the genetics for that cover model body. Some of us, knowing that a chiseled body doesn’t always equal functional strength, avoid some influencers’ head-scratching tactics.