“I’M BIG BONED I CAN’T HELP LOOKING THIS WAY.”

we all have to live with genetic predispositions. But that doesn’t mean we can’t put up a fight: Just because your parents were overweight, you don’t have to face the same fate. With a concerted effort you can change the way you look. If you’re big boned (in our terms, a mesomorph), you can choose to upholster those massive bones with fat or with firm, taut muscle. Which would you rather have? It’s entirely up to you.

“I DON’T WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE VANITY.”

This is a central issue in fitness, and the question of vanity both defines and undermines all our ideas, preoccupations, and fears about the way we look. If beauty is, in fact, skin deep, then why should we care about the way we look? Well, for one thing, health is more than skin deep, and to the extent that we can influence our own well-being, fitness is certainly more than mere vanity. Psychologists distinguish between narcissism (an obsessive preoccupation with oneself) and healthy vanity, which speaks to our sense of self image and the way in which we present ourselves to the world. Few things are less attractive than a preening, self-involved individual who doesn’t seem able to pull himself away from the mirror. But someone who has worked hard on his physical package and who has an easy and comfortable attitude toward himself is more likely to accept others in just that way. That’s the kind of person you want to be around. We’re working toward self acceptance and pleasure, not obsession and narcissism.

“MY PHYSICAL ABILITIES LIMIT ME.”

Guess what? Everyone has limitations. I’m not expecting to turn every reader of Basic Training into an Ironman triathlete or a bodybuilding finalist. But every man can improve his cardiovascular condition, build muscle, extend his flexibility, change the contours of his body, and learn a sport he can enjoy. Most important, everyone can take pleasure in feeling that he’s improving his fitness level, adding fun to his daily routine, and years to his life.

WHARE DO I FIT IN?

In a world filled with so many types of men of all shapes, sizes, and colors, each with his own appeal, fashion incorporates the evolution of the male form. As we enter the new millennium, what men wear is not merely pants and shirts, but what’s under those pants and shirts. It’s not enough to wear good-looking clothes; a man needs to look good under them. And getting beyond the whims of fashion and fad, it’s not just the look of a toned, fit body that’s so appealing it is the way that level of health and development makes you feel.

There are three basic body types: ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. Relatively few bodies are purely one type; most of us exhibit the characteristics of two or even three types.

Mesomorph: Square and solid, with broad shoulders and narrow hips that are neither fat nor thin these are the characteristics that define the mesomorph Most men with this body type tend to make more accelerated muscular gains, increasing their strength and their size relatively quickly. John Travolta is a classic example: Possessed of rather slim, supple physique in Saturday Night Fever, he was trained by no less than Sylvester Stallone for his role as a buff dancer in Staying Alive. Other mesomorphs: Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson (again indicating striking physical changes this body is capable of), and Woody Harrelson

Endomorph: Burly or husky describes the endomorphic individual, who tends to store more body Fat than either of the other two. Their shape features rounder edges yet still maintains a strong and powerful stature. Dan Ackroyd, John Goodman, and Jay Leno are good examples of the endomorphic body type. Endomorphs need to be careful, but they can make extra ordinary physical gains with proper diet and the right workout program.

Ectomorph: Long, lanky, and lean are good descriptive words for the ectomorphic type. This body’s characteristics are typical of many swimmers and basketball players. With a solid weight-training program, the ectomorph will make strength gains and improve definition, but packing on bulk may be more difficult. Some examples: David Letterman, Brad Pitt, James Woods, Michael “Kramer” Richards, Michael Jordan, and Dennis Rodman (obviously these last two are very highly developed ectomorphs, indicating the level of work to which you might aspire in your fitness, exercise, and diet routines).

The most difficult part of any lifestyle change is developing the motivation and direction we all require to get the results we want. The desire to look and feel good isn’t enough, Getting to the point at which you can enjoy being fit requires more

Men who take up a new activity in their spare time usually do so with a vengeance. They want to perfect their skills in a particular sport or hobby, and then proceed to excel at it. I believe that most of the drive comes from the ego. Nonetheless, a man can find great satisfaction in proving to himself that he in fact has the ability to learn and master a great task. It makes him feel like a champion, or even a king. This power is like a drug it can intoxicate the most sober of men.

Living a fit lifestyle is more difficult than learning to play golf, shooting hoops, or taking part in a weekend league. These activities require our learning something very specific, and not really adjusting the way we have lived for years. This latter type of commitment affects all areas of our lives: socially, at work, in our relation ships, at home, with our significant other, and, most important, with ourselves.

Basic Training can be your guide in offering you a new direction. It will dispel the myths about exercise and can help you put together a smart plan to get you moving. These men may not necessarily be who you are, or even hope to be, but you can have the kind of body that you want through plain old hard work and discipline. We all need to start some where! Let this be your time to take action, and see yourself as strong, lean, and powerful, Basic Training is a holistic approach to a stronger body, a healthier way of life, and a more relaxed day-to-day existence