Vanity? Selfish? Maybe.

Is working out vanity or selfish? It could be. If you're working out just to impress people with your massive and defined muscles, then yes, it probably is. If you're working out to keep a healthy life style, and to stay fit, then I don't believe you're being selfish and vain. But what if you're an athlete? You're probably trying to do more than just stay fit, you're probably trying to get stronger. Is that only for your personal gain? That could depend. If you're trying to become the star track runner on your team and don't care about your team, then that's obviously selfish. Let's say you're trying to become the best at your sport as possible. Not for only for your gain, but to help your team as much as possible. That's a good thing, and not selfish.

Another point would be to imagine an entire team that thought working out was selfish. So they didn't workout at all. Would that team do well at their sport? I doubt it, unless they played it all the time, which could be considered a form of working out.

So working out can help you with sports and staying fit. That's true, but what about after you're done sports? Should you workout? I think you should. Probably not as hardcore, but yes you should. Strength and fitness are good things to have. Somethings can't be done efficiently with out strength. I've noticed this already with working with friends, neighbors and my family. Some of my more fit friends and I are always volunteer for doing some physical labor that some ladies or older gentlemen can't handle, or just something that requires a bunch of strong guys. If I was a nerdy guy and never worked out I would have been less of a help to my neighbors, family and friends in that way. Also staying fit and strong could help your with your work if you landscape or have other jobs like that. If you live in Maine, then you know you need to be able shovel tons of snow. Working out can make that easier as well.

In Proverbs 10:4 it says: "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth."
So if you're lazy in your work your "hands make for poverty". What if you are forced to be "lazy" because you just can't do the work. You aren't actually being lazy, but you if you can't do your work, you're in trouble. Working out could help you with your work if your work requires physical strength. If your job keeps you active enough, then you may not need to workout.

Working out could be a hobby for some people. I'd say that's a pretty good hobby. It's better than video games or watching TV. But lets say you enjoy working out and don't need to. Is it selfish? Maybe, think of it like pie: I enjoy eating pie. If I eat a slice of pie while making sure everyone else can get some, that's not selfish. Now lets say I eat most of or the entire pie and leave none for anybody else. That is selfish. If you let working out take up most or all of your life, then it sure could become selfish, vain and an idol.

So to sum it up, I'd say working out isn't selfish and vain if you keep it in check. Don't let it take control of your life. It can change your eating habits, but that probably is a good thing. Eating healthier makes working out feel better and you get more out of your workout and time. There are many other things that working out could help, such as posture, thinking clearer (not super sure about this one, but I read a tad about it), and maybe even chasing your dog down after they chase a car or getting your cat out of a tree. I don't want to write about all the things working out can do, but I'll just say working out is a good way to stay healthy and can help you in your life.