When is lifting weights a sin?

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belprezt

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I’ve been lifting weights for almost four years now and I really like it! I like the pump, feeling sore the day after and all of the health benefits i’m getting along with it. Recently though I heard a guy talk about his conversion story and he mentioned that he lifted weights, but he did it to look good. This has really struck me and it is causing me anxiety as to whether or not my intentions are pure. Occassionally, I do look at my arm to see the if there are any noticeable results, or look at my stomach to see if I’ve lost any flab. My aim is to get stronger, be healthier, and gain muscle, but are my actions wrong? I’m not trying to show off with my body and I do try to avoid looking at myself in the mirror too long. Is it wrong to occasionally check to see if you are making physical changes? The words the guy said are really causing me anxiety. When does it be become a sin to lift weights?
 
What’s wrong with lifting weights and exercising to be more attractive? Is it also a sin to dress nicely, wear make-up, or style one’s hair? The sin is in vanity. It is possible to improve your physical attractiveness without falling into vanity. With that said, it is advisable to speak with a priest or spiritual director to better reflect on your own interpretation of yourself and your improvements to understand if you are being vain.
 
moderation, balance… if it is taking over your life… preventing you from things that need you.

As someone said to me years ago, spending time on the computer is fine as long as it does nto stop you from digging the garden…

obsession with appearance? :rolleyes:
 
Try not to let it cause you anxiety because he is coming from a different place internally than you.
I exercise,ice skate etc and I do it because I want to be healthier and it’s ok too to want to look reasonable externally (within reason).

The sin,as mentioned,is when it produces vanity.

Some people also become self absorbed,worship the body,put excessive value on the external appearance of others and themselves,judge people according to how attractive or fit they are etc,are shallow and beauty or fit obsessed etc and this is the problem.

If you don’t have this type of mindset above,and don’t think yourself higher than others because may look externally “better” or think that fitter or prettier girls are more worth than less attractive ones,then I wouldn’t worry about it:)
 
I don’t think you are doing anything wrong, it just sounds like a hobby.
 
There are two types of guys at gtms. The guys that lift weights, spot people who need help, smile and encourage the newbies, and are there to work out.

And then the kind that takes a dumbell and stand at the mirror for an hour and hold the weight, and their shirt, up to admire their bicep and abs. And chat up the other gym rats. Make passes at the women doing their thing - In such a way that they’ll see the bulgey arm and stomach.

The latter guy is being a tool, for sure. And I don’t know if he’s sinning. But I bet his motives and goals aren’t exactly goodly.

But I also don’t think it’s wrong to check yourself out and like what you see. You would expect there to be improvements that need to be tracked. In fact I’m pretty sure that’s healthful to do so - to track your growth.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
When it becomes a form of idolatry. Vanity.
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Precisely. The CCC 2289 warns us against “a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for its sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports.”

In my opinion, it does no harm to pay attention to your physical fitness and appearance, as long as it does not distract you from your greater duty to love God and love your neighbor.
 
Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and you are taking good care of it. It is perfectly normal to look at yourself to see how you are progressing when you exercise. It becomes a sin when it’s vanity and the other posters have already defined that and it is not you.

You have excellent goals to be healthier and that also takes self discipline which is a good trait to have.

Enjoy your work outs and t heir results and God Bless.

Mary.
 
belprezt said:
I’ve been lifting weights for almost four years now and I really like it! I like the pump, feeling sore the day after and all of the health benefits i’m getting along with it. Recently though I heard a guy talk about his conversion story and he mentioned that he lifted weights, but he did it to look good. This has really struck me and it is causing me anxiety as to whether or not my intentions are pure. Occassionally, I do look at my arm to see the if there are any noticeable results, or look at my stomach to see if I’ve lost any flab. My aim is to get stronger, be healthier, and gain muscle, but are my actions wrong? I’m not trying to show off with my body and I do try to avoid looking at myself in the mirror too long. Is it wrong to occasionally check to see if you are making physical changes? The words the guy said are really causing me anxiety. When does it be become a sin to lift weights?
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Do you often get anxious if your intentions are pure? Concerning other things you do in life?
 
I don’t often get anxious about other things in life. Maybe it’s a sign that I need to focus on other things in life other than what I like to do.
 
belprezt said:
I’ve been lifting weights for almost four years now and I really like it! I like the pump, feeling sore the day after and all of the health benefits i’m getting along with it. Recently though I heard a guy talk about his conversion story and he mentioned that he lifted weights, but he did it to look good. This has really struck me and it is causing me anxiety as to whether or not my intentions are pure. Occassionally, I do look at my arm to see the if there are any noticeable results, or look at my stomach to see if I’ve lost any flab. My aim is to get stronger, be healthier, and gain muscle, but are my actions wrong? I’m not trying to show off with my body and I do try to avoid looking at myself in the mirror too long. Is it wrong to occasionally check to see if you are making physical changes? The words the guy said are really causing me anxiety. When does it be become a sin to lift weights?
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I workout on and off for the purpose of looking good and being stronger and healthier. I am not as consistent as I should be, but I don’t feel any guilt for looking in the mirror sometimes to see if there is any improvement (when I am more consistent with my workouts).

There is nothing wrong with looking good and trying to look as good as you can. It reminds me of the passage from the sermon on the mount where the hypocrite tries to look like he’s fasting. He allows himself to look dirty and unkept. He looked somber so that everyone would know he was fasting.

It is also similar to the push for people to ignore beauty. You can’t ignore the physical just because you are spiritual. All truth is revealed through the physical world. Beauty isn’t skin deep; it reveals a deeper truth. So I encourage people to search for beauty in the world, whether it is a beautiful woman or the beauty of nature. Similarly I think you should be as strong as you can, and look as good as you can while you can. Not to be better than others, but so that you can be the best you can be. Realize that there are deeper truths than physical truths. And there are things that take precedence over working out and your own concerns.
 
Mongo said:
It is also similar to the push for people to ignore beauty. You can’t ignore the physical just because you are spiritual. All truth is revealed through the physical world. Beauty isn’t skin deep; it reveals a deeper truth. So I encourage people to search for beauty in the world, whether it is a beautiful woman or the beauty of nature. Similarly I think you should be as strong as you can, and look as good as you can while you can. Not to be better than others, but so that you can be the best you can be. Realize that there are deeper truths than physical truths. And there are things that take precedence over working out and your own concerns.
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You mentioned “Beauty isn’t skin deep,it reveals a deeper truth”.
What is the deeper truth you think it reveals?

I’m not sure this is quite true that it reveals a deeper truth as there are attractive women/men that are beautiful on the inside and there are attractive women/men that are “ugly” on the inside.

Personally myself I was once very attractive (according to men) but my face changed with an illness and I am no longer attractive- but inside,I have not changed (neither better or worse) despite my external face changing.
External beauty (whether people or nature) in itself is ok,but people should reflect internally to make sure they arnt worshipping/idolising beauty.
 
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