I don’t know why this has been a recurring theme today, but the “Image is everything” is everywhere I look… If you don’t know that phrase you probably aren’t 40-ish.

Background just in case, and for some nostalgia, of a fun time for athletes of the day… In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Andre Agassi and Cannon Cameras teamed up on a very successful advertising campaign featuring Andre with some wicked hair and a new Canon EOS Rebel.

Do a quick image search for Andre and you’ll know that the camera line lasted a lot longer than his hair. Irrelevant, but funny.

Workouts, shoes, and Workout Partners

It started bright and early this morning at the pre-dawn workout… My workout training partner and I were doing some pulldowns and a very large human who works out at the same time waddled over.

He was there to make fun of my new shoes… said they looked like they were straight out of the 90’s, but the funny part is he had on an almost identical model Nike that I had on…

I am very non-fashion oriented so I gave what any 40-ish smart ass 5am response should be – “Whatever dude, they look almost exactly like yours” followed closely by That Guy’s quick witted – “can’t you see them over your belly?”

Now, when I say he waddled over and that he is a very large human, I mean it in this context: A decade and a half ago, he played football (lineman) for a Major University at a Major Conference that rhymes with Yes-he-see located in the southern United States. We’re talking 300+ 6’3”.

He is still big and carries a lot of muscle, but he is 15 years older and eats/drinks like he is still in college and is more fat than he would like to believe.

That spurred a short conversation about how good of shape he was in because he just passed a physical to get more life insurance and how great all his medical checkup numbers were.

Except for the gout and the wheezing when he tries to do cardio I’m sure he is the picture of health. Also, maybe not including that extra 60 pounds he is carrying around.

He said, and I quote, “I am probably 18 to 20 percent bodyfat.” Now I’m no doctor and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t an accurate number so we tried to reason with him and it didn’t work – it was clear that his self image was that of a 300 pound college lineman, not a 330 pound, 30-ish, corporate cube dweller.

The conversation swirled around having to lose weight and he said he couldn’t because he was too big framed and he was naturally 330 and that was normal for him. Of course “That Guy” was having none of it and proceeded to give the simple equation of calories in < calories burned = weight loss. Lineman wasn’t too good with math and disagreed based on the “you’re wrong” principle of the “because I said so” and “I already eat right” line of logic… I think tomorrow is going to include a challenge to go to one of those BodPod places and get an accurate bodyfat measurement. Or for him to go home and take a shirt off selfie and compare it to this image of different body fat levels. No way he does it, but I might lay that gauntlet down for myself – will let you know the results if I do. The point is that he has this image in his head of his health and fitness level and that image is everything. Take a look at this article to put a little reality check on your own personal self image.

That Guy took it upon himself to send the image of the different body fat levels to our delusional friend so he may not be talking to us tomorrow anyway.

When you get right down to it, “Image is everything” is about as true as our society gets and it is getting worse all the time. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc are making your online “image” out of your own “images” that you freely give to them. Crazy Orwellian thoughts of 1984 dance in my head, but that is a story for another time.

ABS, Range Rovers and 16 year olds

I had to run home around lunch to take my 15 year old to the orthodontist. I won’t even get into the “image is everything” around that industry. Too easy.

What was interesting was a comment from her on the way home about a SWEET new Range Rover Sport that passed in front of us while waiting to turn on the highway.

She knows I’m looking at new cars so she always points out cars that I should like… so considerate.

I really hate spending money on vehicles, but that was a SWEET car. Then she says, “Dad, I’m turning 16 in a few months and I would look GOOD in that!”

Brief conversation ensues…

• Me – Yes baby, you would. Do you have $75,000 to pay for it?
• 15 year old – No.
• Me – Do you want to get a job making $10 an hour and work 120 hours a month/30 hours a week to pay for it? Oh, and quit playing travel ball since you won’t have time?
• 15 year old – WHAT? NOOOO!
• Me – Ok. What do you want to do to work for that car because you can have it, you just have to work hard for it.
• 15 year old – Hmmm. I don’t want to give up travel ball and I don’t want to work that much during high school. Maybe I don’t need that Range Rover.
• Me – True, but you would look good in it because you are a beautiful girl…
• 15 year old – DAAAADDDD  – back to texting/instagramming/snapchatting somebody somewhere.

Be your own photographer and photshop-per

There were several more example that I won’t bore you with, but if you are 40-ish and/or have a goal to lose weight or reach some goal then know you will have to work for it, but it is attainable.

Do a little goal setting, do a reality check on your current fitness level, but then immediately start working toward your goal.

Take your photo, photoshop it or print it out and literally cut out the fat – find your own image and work for it.

You can do it if you just get your head straight and keep the image is everything attitude.

Comment below with your future image or previous success using a goal image…