This week we have the distinct honor of hearing from Cooper Klein. He’s a blogger and designer that is currently writing for SmoothDecorator.com, and he’s graciously offered his words of wisdom for us this month about how a gentleman is to care for himself in a way that respects his body and instills confidence in his life. I hope you find it helpful, and insightful. Enjoy!
Esteemed gentlemen, honored reader, today we are going to talk about the importance of physical prowess. Back in the day before the gentlemanly way of life became a seldom occurrence and the notion of an ideal male physique took a nasty turn for the worse, men were powerful. They were strong, they held the raw power in their hands to conquer the challenges of the day.
As you are reading this in your gentleman’s study, you might find it as a bit of a surprise that your physical appearance and capabilities have anything to do with your gentlemanly persona, or how others perceive you. In reality, physical health and blatant virility have everything to do with your personality as a gentleman, which is why today, we are going to emphasize four golden rules every gentleman should live by in order to ensure lifelong health, strength, and happiness.
Get Your Diet in Order
Before you roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty in the gym and on the trails, it’s important to understand the role nutrition has on your overall health and how it can help you reach all of your fitness goals faster. Quite simply, healthy eating is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Now, this doesn’t mean that you need to give up your favorite brand of whiskey or put out your cigar, but that does mean that processed food and unhealthy substitutes should no longer be a part of your menu.
Everything in moderation gentlemen, so be mindful of your alcohol intake as well, and try to introduce more clean foods in your diet, preferably those rich in proteins, to fuel your body and help you push through your workouts. With that said, let’s move on to the training itself.
Focus on Weight Training
You needn’t be Eugene Sandow himself (the first bodybuilder and a gentleman at that) in order to build a physique you can be proud of, but the fact of the matter is that you do need weight training in your life in order to build some much-needed muscle mass. Putting size on your frame is not only a great way to raise your self-esteem, but muscle is also important for building a healthy, strong physique.
There are two ways you can approach this challenge: you can join a gym, or you can work out at home. Being a busy gentleman that you are, you needn’t waste your time at the gym if you’re not up for it, and you can achieve the same results with a few key pieces of fitness equipment in the comfort of your home. You only need an adjustable bench and a dumbbell rack to transform your body, so don’t hesitate to start.
Throw in Some Cardio Work
Notwithstanding the importance of building lean muscle, a gentleman’s body also needs to boast adequate cardiovascular strength, in order to rise to the challenges of everyday life, as well as some extraordinary situations. A true gentleman should not be caught struggling to catch his breath, nor should there be an inkling of physical inferiority in his demeanor.
This might sound a bit superficial at first, but the reality is that the exterior can have a profound impact on the way you perceive yourself, and the way others perceive you. With that said, you also want to focus on improving your cardiovascular endurance with cardio exercises in and out of the gym. Simply take on a lengthy hiking trail or go running in the park and witness as your body becomes sturdier and more resilient over time.
Adhere to Proper Post-Workout Recovery
Lastly, a gentleman doesn’t only “abuse” his body in order to make it stronger, he also takes care of it and nurtures it in order to improve the forging process and reach his goals efficiently and effectively. If you’re smart and tactical like a true gentleman, then you will supplement your workouts with enough sleep every night, you will drink plenty of water, and you will be active even on your rest days in order to support healthy blood flow throughout your body. This way, you will have no problem coming back to every training session stronger than before.
A gentleman is not frail or feeble, nor is he a man who hides behind a tailored suit. A true gentleman respects his vessel, takes care of it, and understands the importance of physical health. Follow these fitness rules, and you will have built a well-rounded gentlemanly persona.
- A Gentlemen’s Persona - January 17, 2019
- How to Create the Perfect Gentleman’s Study - September 20, 2018
