From Aesthetics to Performance: Embracing the Virtue of Temperance
It’s been two and a half weeks since the Natty Nationals, and my body has changed. I’ve consciously traded my 8-pack for something closer to a 4-pack, shifting my focus entirely to performance over aesthetics in both weight training and marathon preparation. Is that a fair trade?
If you know me or follow my writing, you’re aware that Stoicism is the guiding philosophy in both my training and my life. While each Stoic virtue plays a role, temperance has never been more relevant to my current journey.
Temperance: The principle of doing things in the right measure—neither overindulging nor neglecting what’s necessary.
Moderation has always been a challenge for me. Once I find my groove, it’s hard to pull me out of it. This single-minded focus has its advantages—I can pursue a long-term goal with relentless dedication—but it also comes with its challenges. Adapting to new habits, ditching old ones, and admitting when it’s time to shift gears isn’t easy. It’s equally difficult to accept my human limits and give myself the time to recover from intense physical demands or the pressures of daily life.
Looking back on the shape I maintained for the majority of the summer is certainly a point of pride. However, I accept that remaining in that state year-round is unnatural and unrealistic. Simply put, maintaining an extremely low-level of body fat combined with constant workouts and cardio is antithetical to the virtue of temperance.
Accepting this isn’t as simple as it sounds. Reaching that level of fitness requires immense discipline, and it’s not a mindset you can easily turn off. I’ve had the privilege of meeting many inspiring individuals in the fitness industry over the past few months. I respect the courage and determination that define this field, but I’m also aware of the pervasive lack of self-acceptance that can overshadow these virtues. I know my conflicting feelings about my body are shared by many fellow competitors and by countless others outside the competitive sphere.
So, let me take a moment to remind you: It’s okay if you don’t look like an action figure. It’s okay if your priorities shift and your focus changes. A healthy lifestyle should always be the goal, but when the pursuit of health (or a certain look) becomes an obsession, it can easily become unhealthy.
Embrace your mortality and find strength in your ability to adapt. Pursue your dreams, but don’t forget to take a step back now and then to see the bigger picture. And above all, talk to someone if you’re struggling with how you feel about your body. This is your one body—honour it every day, not just physically but spiritually, through your actions.
Temperance:
"Moderation of the soul concerning the desires and pleasures that normally occur in it; harmony and good discipline in the soul in respect of normal pleasures and pains; concord of the soul in respect of ruling and being ruled; normal personal independence; good discipline in the soul; rational agreement within the soul about what is admirable and contemptible; the state by which its possessor chooses and is cautious about what he should."
- Plato