ENG 101.0800                                                                                 October 1, 2010

Prof. Magdalena Bogacka

Gladys Otavalo

In reality, there are many reasons for how the qualities of a man can reflect a fascinating masculinity. The qualities have created a big impulse in many men, especially "male rockers” to begin to exercise and strengthen their muscles of the body creating a real, powerful, dominant and strong public image. Although, there are many different activities and sports which can help to develop a male body stronger and bigger muscles, lifting weights is one of the most practiced sports for men, especially “male rockers”. This sport makes stronger men stronger in terms of body, mind and spirit. It also allows the man to develop a new lifestyle in a professional area and overall provides them the best opportunity for achieving complete success in the society through their physical perfection.

Lifting weights has motivated most men to get their dreams from getting a magnificent and spectacular physical and mental appearance like in the Men’s Fitness Magazine’ advertising (109) a young man feels proud for having his harder arms and a massive chest. In fact, many men love to lift weights because it allows them to make their muscles bigger which increases their optimism and their facial features reflect a lot of sensuality, pleasure and power. For example, the Men’s Fitness Magazine published a true story about a man named Kirk Myers who was a shy man because his weight was nearly 300 pounds. He had few friends and spent a lot of time alone in his bedroom, but his worry was not only physical, it was mental because he was unhappy about himself. After that he decided to go to the gym. His workout includes an hour on the treadmill at a slow speed and high incline. Consequently he gained confidence and pushed harder. A decade later, he has lost 125 pounds and kept it off.  Lifting weights keeps a closer relationship between minds and the body because it requires great concentration, dedication and practice to work on each exercise getting a successful workout. In addition, every workout should be stronger and most painful, its intensity strengthen all the muscles of the body and the mind showing strength and muscle.

Lifting weights is more than a sport; it is a new lifestyle. The men who practice it constantly have become bodybuilders which enable them to get a career like the advertising man who is a professional trainer and he takes care of his own business. For example, in Kirk Myers’ case his past helped him a lot because after his unforgettable experience he has earned a degree to be a personal trainer. Today, he lives in New York and he feels very happy and proud from helping others to be in the best shape of their lives. This profession allows him to do what they love to train others, teach them good techniques to get muscles, the best way to achieve an adequate and healthy nutrition and overall they teach to others the consequences about of the use and the abuse of steroids (Men’s Fitness-136). In addition, in 1904 a man was declared the winner of the first American bodybuilding contest called "The most perfectly Shaped Man in the World". Consequently, this sport of lifting weights has had a huge impact on masculinity encouraging many men to become more aggressive, stronger and have bigger muscles to have a better lifestyle.

Finally, this exciting sport, weight lifting, has caused many men to have a different and special acceptance in society.  Many years ago, the unique and accepted public figure to model and promote any product was the woman. However, times have changed; men have struggled to achieve their goals by creating your own personal and public image for society. For example, For instance, Bordo in her article refers about -rocker male- saying: “Many models stare coldly at the viewer, defying the observer to view them in any way other than how they have chosen to present themselves: as powerful, armored, emotionally impenetrable. “I am a rock;” their bodies (and sometimes their genitals) seem to proclaim”. In this way, this sport has created a significant value of strong physical developing the most valuable and harder core in society and the world.

Although women have enough mental and physical capacity to lift weights, it is necessary to recognize that women are characterized by their beautiful shape, smoothness, and softness.  In fact, the weight training area is almost always the male territory and if the woman makes the decision to lift weights, would end by having a muscular male physique looking little  feminine to society.

In conclusion, lifting weights is a sport that allows men to look stronger with a harder muscle allowing the male to have a excellent physical development and efficient ability to demonstrate their strength and muscle in his field, but more importantly, the male will get much success with his masculinity.