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PeteZaHut
Guest
What exactly is vanity?
Is it wrong to work out because you like the way it makes your body look?
Is it wrong to work out because you like the way it makes your body look?
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SteveGC
Guest
This might help…
Vanity of Vanities: Ecclesiastes
The idea is to not put one’s trust in the pleasures of this world, nor to be inordinately fixated on these things. Not that all things of this world are inherently bad, but the attention given to these things at the expense of Godly things is bad. Very bad.
In simpler terms, I would say working out for the sake of a desired “look” is something to be very cautious about. It can quickly fall under the broader category of narcissism if not tempered with a strong Christian perspective of the human body. One way you can determine if your motives are moral is to answer this question:
Why do I care what my body looks like?
Answer as honestly as you can, stating all the reasons you can think of. Then look at each answer under the lens of Christian morality, and perhaps the conclusions will be readily apparent to you.
God Bless
Vanity of Vanities: Ecclesiastes
The idea is to not put one’s trust in the pleasures of this world, nor to be inordinately fixated on these things. Not that all things of this world are inherently bad, but the attention given to these things at the expense of Godly things is bad. Very bad.
In simpler terms, I would say working out for the sake of a desired “look” is something to be very cautious about. It can quickly fall under the broader category of narcissism if not tempered with a strong Christian perspective of the human body. One way you can determine if your motives are moral is to answer this question:
Why do I care what my body looks like?
Answer as honestly as you can, stating all the reasons you can think of. Then look at each answer under the lens of Christian morality, and perhaps the conclusions will be readily apparent to you.
God Bless
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06convert
Guest
I agree. It’s perfectly ok to want to be a healthy person. If being heathly causes you to look nice, hey good for you. I would say that if you just want to look good, you may be skating on thin ice.
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Newbie2
Guest
Seems to me there’s a wide margin of interpretation to what “looking good” may mean.
I used to work out daily, mostly for training for sports, but with kids, job and life I’ve lost interest and work out occasionally because I ***have ***to, not because I want to. I never thought that I’d lose the desire to exercise.
Anyway, in high school there was this kid who was in the weight room daily…not terribly “big”, but in pretty good condition. I’d say out of his two-hour daily workout, he spent 45 minutes looking in the mirror. THAT is vanity.
IMHO, pushing one’s self past healthy to fit in this or that size dress or pants size is vanity, or bulking up to impress people at the beach or pool is vanity. Bulking up for sports training can go either way.
Not to mention that there are plenty of “fit” people who could look better…that would be pushing vanity.
It’s all in where one’s motivation lies. If a person wants to be healthy, works out and ends up looking great…that’s not vanity. The person that knows that spare tire or extra 20 lbs. is not healthy and wants to remove it (them)…that’s not vanity. A person who wants to look “acceptable” or “presentable” to attract a mate…that can be borderline, again depending on how far past looking one’s best they take it and intend to go.
I used to work out daily, mostly for training for sports, but with kids, job and life I’ve lost interest and work out occasionally because I ***have ***to, not because I want to. I never thought that I’d lose the desire to exercise.
Anyway, in high school there was this kid who was in the weight room daily…not terribly “big”, but in pretty good condition. I’d say out of his two-hour daily workout, he spent 45 minutes looking in the mirror. THAT is vanity.
IMHO, pushing one’s self past healthy to fit in this or that size dress or pants size is vanity, or bulking up to impress people at the beach or pool is vanity. Bulking up for sports training can go either way.
Not to mention that there are plenty of “fit” people who could look better…that would be pushing vanity.
It’s all in where one’s motivation lies. If a person wants to be healthy, works out and ends up looking great…that’s not vanity. The person that knows that spare tire or extra 20 lbs. is not healthy and wants to remove it (them)…that’s not vanity. A person who wants to look “acceptable” or “presentable” to attract a mate…that can be borderline, again depending on how far past looking one’s best they take it and intend to go.
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StCsDavid
Guest
If working out only serves to glorify one’s ego, that’s vanity.What exactly is vanity?
Is it wrong to work out because you like the way it makes your body look?
Your body is a gift from God. It is a temple for the Holy Spirit. It is the place where Christ physically enters into in Eucharist. So it makes sense to treat it as best you can. If working out adorns your temple for the glory of God, fantastic.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling good about looking good. Just exercise the cardinal virtue of temperance.
Also since your body is infused by your soul, don’t forget your spiritual exercises.
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crowonsnow
Guest
There’s a difference between vanity and self esteem.
Of course you want to look good. Jesus and Mary are never pictured as overweight or anorexic. They look good because their looking good sends a message. When a person is fit it says something good about that person.
We want things to look good, including ourselves. It’s a sign of hygiene and good health and reflects personal effort. If we bake an apple pie or paint a room we want those things to look good too. We’re no different.
A fat unhealthy appearance sends the message that I don’t make good choices when it comes to what I eat. It says I lack self control. It says I don’t get enough exercise. It basically says I’m a selfish person because I don’t consider the fact that there are other people that depend on me, and that I should keep myself healthy for them.
There are already more than enough fat overfed unhealthy people to go around. Don’t become another one.
Of course you want to look good. Jesus and Mary are never pictured as overweight or anorexic. They look good because their looking good sends a message. When a person is fit it says something good about that person.
We want things to look good, including ourselves. It’s a sign of hygiene and good health and reflects personal effort. If we bake an apple pie or paint a room we want those things to look good too. We’re no different.
A fat unhealthy appearance sends the message that I don’t make good choices when it comes to what I eat. It says I lack self control. It says I don’t get enough exercise. It basically says I’m a selfish person because I don’t consider the fact that there are other people that depend on me, and that I should keep myself healthy for them.
There are already more than enough fat overfed unhealthy people to go around. Don’t become another one.
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