Hi I’m Scott Tousignant… and I workout because I want to look good. Training for aesthetic purposes has allowed me to continuously improve my physique, my strength, my endurance, my confidence, my health, and my zest for life.
Yet there’s a growing segment of the fitness community who cast shame on those of us who train ‘for looks’. Labeling us Physique Athletes as vain, conceited, non-functional, and even weak.
I find this interesting, because I believe my transformation story began much like many others…
Three years ago I woke up… looked in the mirror and didn’t like what was staring back at me. I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin, nor in my clothing… and my confidence was taking a beating.
In that moment I knew exactly what I wanted… to get rid of the spare tire and lower belly fat while carving out the details of my physique.
Not once did I look in the mirror and think to myself, “Damn… if I could only deadlift 600lbs I’d feel so much better.”
…But don’t get me wrong… I’m all about getting stronger. STRENGTH is an asset that will add to your quality of life… for life.
As a Physique Athlete one of my goals is to improve my strength in all rep ranges. But I take it a step further… carving out the finer details…. the ‘icing on the cake’ if you will.
…which is really why this is a silly kinda debate. If you look at it closely… training for aesthetics or training for strength and performance have a great deal of similarities.
Training For Strength and Performance vs Aesthetics
Physique Athletes and Strength Athletes both;
…Utilize the BIG LIFTS.
…Perform heavy sets for strength and mass.
…Include sprint work and high intensity interval training.
…Want to look better. Yes strength athletes want to look better. In some cases they’ll refer to their previously scrawny self in a negative way. They built muscle to look better. Some of them talk about the past mistakes they’ve made with gaining too much fat during a ‘bulking’ phase… and why it’s important to get lean. Some of them even compete in bodybuilding competitions.
The main difference in training is that the Strength and Performance Athlete will spend more time on the heavy sets, while the Physique Athlete will move on to perform a variety of mid-high rep sets. The Physique Athlete also typically performs more sets per body part… focusing on developing and sculpting the finer details.
One thing that plays on my mind… when you train for aesthetics you know exactly what your goal is… improve how your body looks… creating a symmetrical and proportionate physique with great detail.
What in the world does it mean to train like an athlete? What athlete are you trying to train like??? …a shot putter? …a linebacker? …a ballerina?
I’m 38 years old. I play in a competitive men’s hockey league… should I be performing dry land skating drills in the gym? I think that would be silly. It’s just fun recreation at this age… and how I train for aesthetics is doing alright for me on the ice. I’m among the fastest guys in the league.
What the heck does training for performance mean to the recreational weight lifter?
Are you training to perform better at each lift? Well, that’s exactly what a Physique Athlete does. Our goal is always to improve the quality of each rep.
Are you training to perform better at every day tasks? Physique Training will certainly help you achieve that goal. I recently had to shovel a crapload of snow off my driveway and I did it with ease.
There’s a misconception circulating out there, that Physique Athletes are fragile, weak, and non-functional… that their muscle is “All show and no go”.
I may not be the strongest guy in the gym… and I certainly do not have the strength of a powerlifter, but I consider myself to be pretty strong for a 160lb ‘Bro’.
As impressed as I am with myself for lifting more than twice my body weight… I have some female friends who can lift more than me. They keep my ego in check 😉
…and speaking of women, there’s a great movement among them, focusing on strength. You’ve probably head the phrase…
Strong Is The New Skinny
There are so many things that I absolutely love about this movement…
…It sheds a positive light on the benefits of weight training, strength, and muscle for women.
…It focuses on sculpting strong and sexy curves… firm glutes, round shoulders, sculpted arms… I LOVE IT!
…It EMPOWERS women.
…With magazines and media constantly bombarding women with images of frail and extremely skinny women… this movement has the potential to create a more positive and healthy image for women to aim for.
The only issue is…
The majority of images I see with the phrase “Strong is the new skinny”… are of smoke’n HOT women who are crazy ripped.
How come we don’t see photos of female Olympic and Powerlifting champs with the phrase ‘Strong is the new skinny’ posted on them??? Could it be that they don’t have a physique that is desirable to most women?
Strength is freak’n AWESOME! But it’s not everything. Judging by these photos… looking sexy is still a very important goal and reason for training.
Know What Your Goal Is
There is no shame in wanting to look your best. If you workout because you want to look good nekkid… “OWN IT!”
If you think it’s ‘vain’ for wanting to sculpt a hot body, you need to shift your perspective.
Your body is a miracle… a gift… it’s a thing of beauty… a work of art… a masterpiece in the making.
…Become fascinated with your body… and with your potential.
Get excited when see new details being carved out of your physique.
Get excited when you see new lean muscle growth… shaping those strong curves.
Develop an appreciation for your unique greatness. Don’t allow others to force their vision of what a ‘body of art’ looks like. Paint your own picture of strength, health, and aesthetics in your mind… and go to work carving out your own personal masterpiece… using the tools and clay that ONLY you have been given.
Conclusion
As I wrap this up… I just want to emphasize the similarities in training for performance vs aesthetics.
Understand that while you are training for aesthetics, your performance improves. I’m not talking about elite level sports performance… I’m talking about every day performance in life.
In most cases, when training for performance your aesthetics improve.
We’re all training to look better, feel better, function better, and live a life of zest and vitality. We just go about it in different ways.
…The Physique Athlete simply has a greater appreciation and fascination for developing the finer details of their body. It’s not vanity… it’s ART!
Sculpt a Masterpiece,
Scott Tousignant
About The Author
Scott Tousignant, BHK is a Certified Fitness Consultant and Elite Natural Bodybuilder with the UFE.
Scott specializes in helping regular men and women sculpt their body into a chiseled work of art. Viewing training as an art form and your body as a sculpture is a simple shift in mindset that brings out the beauty in your ongoing body transformation.
The art of molding and chiseling an aesthetically pleasing physique with ideal proportions, spectacular symmetry, and magnificent detail is one of life’s most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. It’s an opportunity for self growth and self discovery that will impact every area of your life.
Learn more about Scott’s physique-focused training programs:
Get a taste of Scott’s hardcore physique training programs with Physique Phreak
When Scott needs to urgently strip away stubborn sacks of fat for a photo shoot or bodybuilding contest, he turns to his time-tested proven system… Elite Physique system.