The traditional geek archetype isn’t commonly known his athletic prowess. Geeks often get a bad rap in the realm of fitness. Maybe it has something to do with our social awkwardness or innate computer skills. Nevertheless, most of the geek world is actually well suited for a life of fitness. The very aspects of geekdom that stigmatize us at parties and in the office can easily be relayed into strategic advantages in the realm of diet and exercise. Binary humor aside, here are a few ways you too can become a true fitness geek.
0001: Be Smarter – True geeks have a reputation for being “curve breakers”. They’re full of book smarts and are capable of applying their knowledge to real life. Try to analyze fitness from a “smart” perspective. Do some research and try to determine the science behind fitness. Personally, this was my first step in approaching diet and exercise. I read articles, books, and websites to determine how to properly lose weight according to biology. I’ve tried to relay much of what I learned on this site, but there is a still a wealth of information out there. Figure out what your body needs to run and how you can program it to be the fit machine you’ve always dreamed of.
0010: Be Obsessive – It is no secret that geeks can be a little obsessive at times. This is actually one of the main characteristics that distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Utilize this to your advantage and fully devote yourself to meeting your fitness goals. For the first nine months of my weight loss, I was meticulous about logging everything I ate. It drove my wife crazy. She tried to call me on my obsession and get me to give it a rest but to no avail. I was losing this weight no matter if I had to record and monitor every aspect of life for the next ten years. Now truthfully, obsession can be dangerous if taken to extremes. However, if you just focus your energy on meeting your goals, you will reap the rewards.
0011: Look for shortcuts – My favorite part about being a geek is learning how to be efficient. Bypassing standard procedures in order to achieve the desired goal the fastest way possible (what some lovingly refer to as “hacking”) is practically a core value of the geek community. With this mindset, you can really accomplish a lot. Avoid repetitive or unproductive exercises. Eat foods that provide nutrients and are filling at the same time. Try high intensity intervals instead of other time consuming cardio workouts. There are plenty areas where you can cut corners to achieve results. The fun part is finding them out for yourself.
0100: Utilize Technology – This is no secret. Geeks love their gadgets. Again, however, this can be useful in the realm of fitness. Personally, I use several high tech items to get the most out of my workouts. One of my favorites is a heart rate monitor/pedometer that I used extensively in training for a marathon last year. I frequently bring along an mp3 player on my jogs and there are numerous iPhone apps designed to help your pursuit of fitness. I also recently mentioned 15 web applications that are great for tracking your fitness progress. Fitness gadgetry is a huge industry right now. Take advantage of what engineers are currently creating for our health.
0101: Refuse to be bound by traditional standards – Ignore pre-determined ideals set forth by the rest of the world. Be yourself and feel free to express your own identity without stressing about how others view you. Not all of us will get to 1% body fat or be able to bench press 300 pounds. Your standards aren’t my standards and vice-versa. However, neglecting your own health just to shun society’s conventions aren’t helpful either. Be healthy and fit for yourself; let the male models fret over their glamor muscles and South Beach diets.
