Form=Function

Many of you don't know this, but I wasn't always a fit, health-minded individual. (Ok it was a joke-almost all of you know this!) Let me rewind for a moment, though. In high school, I gained interest in drafting and architecture, and that is initially what I decided to pursue in my early years of college. I began at UIC in the Architecture program, and one of the major things that still hovers in my thoughts is "form=function". Truthfully, I didn't really grasp this concept until much later, and although it sounds simple, it is the continual thought process that evolves, grows, and keeps re-defining itself in my mind. Think about a church. If you take a look at many different blueprints/floor plans, you will see many that resemble a cross. There is usually a main building bisected by another where the sanctuary is. (This is a basic design, but it makes sense.) Much of the architecture in Chicago and around the world resembles thought processes regarding function and environment, reflected in the design. Think about the Willis (Sears) Tower. Like many of the buildings designed by the influence of the time, the lines of the building lead up, with windows, vents, and other crossing patterns. The function of the building is to house many different offices efficiently and effectively, and you can tell from the outside that it is a basic grid-like pattern. Look on google maps at Chicago itself. Isn't it, too, a dense grid of streets, blocks, and structures designed to house and transport a multitude of inhabitants? Makes sense, right?

Think about your body and daily movements. What types of movements do you do? What types of movements is your body designed for? What types of things are you doing to promote what your body was designed for? Additionally, what activities or non-activities are you performing that are a detriment to your function, and are you properly trained and fueled to efficiently and effectively perform your functions? Think about it. How do you look? Sedentary, overweight and obese individuals don't look like they do because they perform athletic activities, and they surely aren't the product of healthy eating. If you eat and practice to be a couch potato, your body will reflect it. Likewise, think about football players for instance. Football is a complex sport, having different position players performing different tasks. Offensive linemen are massive, strong, and tend to have a high percentage of body fat, which makes them slower, yes, but much more difficult to get around and move, making their form effective for their task. A wide receiver looks much different, and the best ones tend to be tall, lean, flexible and fast, allowing them to become good at long routes, jumping, and reaching to make athletic catches.

My point is this--if you want to look different, think of what activities you want to perform better, how you'd like to move, and what benefits will come from being able to perform a certain way. It's okay to want to look a certain way, but knowing what you'll be better at and striving for that instead of just saying, "I want to look good naked," or something like that will be a much better benchmark of achievement. Have a great day, everyone, and thanks for reading!