People spend an awful lot of time comparing their body to the bodies of other people. Maybe it is because we look for uniformity in our lives and the need to fit in with other people requires that we look similar to ‘the norm’ (whatever that is). Then again, we want to stand out from the crowd in more socially acceptable ways. We want to look just slightly better than other people because being prettier, more muscled, leaner, and more handsome, etc., may provide social advantage.

By practicing the body comparison game, people assume that the results that they see in others can be duplicated by them. This is a common issue with people who attend gyms and work out in group settings. You will see them sidle over to the person lifting weights next to them ask what techniques they use to achieve their results, what their fitness program consists of, what supplements they take, what dietary patterns they follow, and believe that if they follow that routine, the same outcome will be achieved.

However, every body has a different physiological makeup. The program that the person next to you at the gym follows may be a good one for them. Your body will probably respond to training methods in different ways and it is better for each person to assimilate techniques that work best for them and their physiological composition. Maybe a substitution in exercise is needed; perhaps a reduction in the number of repetitions based upon previous injuries is required; or possibly, the amount of time devoted to a fitness routine has to be altered. The important part of any exercise equation is to adopt a fitness routine and follow through on a plan that works best for the individual.

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