Exercise has become a mass obsession in America, the organizing axis around which everything else — clothing, food, even work — revolves. Last year in the United States, fitness memberships reached an all-time high of 72.9 million; cookie and pretzel sales fell while workout-friendly alternatives like beef jerky and nutrition bars flew off the shelf. Normal people have developed “protein anxiety”: If Rule 34 of the internet dictates that every topic has a porn equivalent, then Rule 34 of contemporary nutrition is that every recipe has a sad cottage-cheese knockoff. Gen Z is purportedly the “swolest generation.” Gyms have become the new bars, offices, and hotels. At Chelsea Piers, where membership starts at $220/month, you can access state-of-the-art equipment, but also co-working lounges, day care, nutrition coaches, and exclusive social events. Is all of this actually good for us? Read catyzhang's essay on what fitness culture gets wrong for #FeelTheBurn week at the link in bio. ...