Journey, Not A Destination

[sensa516]

Interesting... I'd love to see the data on it. I haven't heard of it personally... but that definitely doesn't mean it's nonexistent. Learn something new every day. Do you remember what sort of medium you saw the article in? Was it on the net?

It was a health journal of some sort....I had a friend studying sports medicine at northeastern and it was laying around. Needless to say I'm not so much friends with this person anymore so getting the info is a bit tough lol

 

[Steve]

Well if you come across the data, please pass it along.

For me though it was a very personal experience getting over some of my injuries. My injuries really screwed with my head b/c they took me out of my real passion in life... strength training and sport. It was a matter of overcoming the disappointment of losing so much ground as well as learning to trust my body's abilities post-injury/surgery. Therapist or not, it was on me to find that trust again.

And trust comes with time, as we all know.

Two years, that's a long time. Are you no more comfortable now than you were then? It wasn't my most serious injury but it was the one with the largest impact on my lifting career... my elbow injury. That took me a solid year to build the trust to actually attempt heavy pressing movements in the gym.

I still think about it at times but it doesn't hinder me at all. Namely it pops in my head when I'm maxing out and pushing the limits. Beyond that I'm comfortable.

 

[sensa516]

I think part of the problem is I've been dealing with it for so long...my first injury I was in 6th grade lol sad yes and continued on and off all throughout highschool so it almost feels like at times my body is conditioned to treat my right knee as being injured because more often than not it has been

 

[Steve]

Again makes perfect sense.

Consciously think and experience something long enough and changing your habitual thoughts and beliefs become extremely difficult. Tis why some people feel fat even after shedding 200 lbs and reaching their goal weights. The mind is a powerful, powerful thing.

Even since a particular experience with a particular doctor with one of my injuries... I've always sought out the best. When the best clears me to do the things I used to do in terms of exercise, it's somewhat reassuring. But it's still tough. As I said above, if I have an okay from the doc and I'm not feeling pain... the only way to progress is to practice.

I'm also a believer in if you think you'll get hurt, chances are greater that you will. I'm not sure what mechanisms this might work through but manifestation of the thought has been a reality in my life.

 

[sensa516]

Recovery is a strange thing indeed....I had surgery on my back and the way they went basically cut through my left shoulder. After I got the ok to do everything again one really good tip I got was to start carrying my purse on my left shoulder instead of my right. It sounded weird at first but it worked. I stopped babying my left side. However I cannot run around with a purse on my knee so...lol at a loss there

 

[LovelyLadyHumps]

Yup, as Mal explained that's me on top of Mt. Haleakala in Maui, HI. By far the most amazing place my eyes have seen to date. It's a little over 10,000 feet up and what you're seeing out in front of me are clouds. It's as if you can reach out and grab them.

Through the clouds you can see the entire coast of Maui. It's heavenly to say the least.

Is that the sun setting or rising? I went to watch the sun rise and it was damn cold...you obviously have shorts on in the pic. I'm guessing you are like most men and don't get cold easily.

It is a spectacular view!

 

[LowFatMilk]

Yup, as Mal explained that's me on top of Mt. Haleakala in Maui, HI. By far the most amazing place my eyes have seen to date. It's a little over 10,000 feet up and what you're seeing out in front of me are clouds. It's as if you can reach out and grab them.

Through the clouds you can see the entire coast of Maui. It's heavenly to say the least.

A photographer's dream (figure out if I was talking about you are the scenery now. )

But its an amazing picture. What a great memory for you to have!

 

[Steve]

Is that the sun setting or rising? I went to watch the sun rise and it was damn cold...you obviously have shorts on in the pic. I'm guessing you are like most men and don't get cold easily.

It is a spectacular view!

1. The sun was setting.

2. It was fucking cold.

3. I'm a huge baby and I was crying b/c it was so damn cold, so no... I'm nothing like most guys.

4. It's heaven on Earth.

 

[Steve]

A photographer's dream (figure out if I was talking about you are the scenery now. )

But its an amazing picture. What a great memory for you to have!

Thanks very much.

And it's got to be the scenery.... trust me. I very far from photogenic.

 

[Steve]

A photographer's dream (figure out if I was talking about you are the scenery now. )

But its an amazing picture. What a great memory for you to have!

Thanks very much.

And it's got to be the scenery.... trust me. I'm very far from photogenic.

 

[Steve]

Man did we have some gnarly storms last night around here. We lost power for a bit but not long. I'm not sure I've ever seen lightening quite as bad as that. It was cool to watch. It also brought a cold front, which we needed desperately. It took us from 100 to 88 today which feels wonderful. Less humidity too.

Last night I went for hot wings. I don't actually get hot wings anymore. I get San Antonio flavor, which is a mixture of ranch and hot sauce. It's amazingly good. I had 25 and a pitcher of beer. Damned if that didn't hit the spot.

I can't even tell you what I'm going to for physique wise at the moment. Am I happy with how I look? I never complain... it's all a matter of perspective. From one angle, which I don't let my mind drift to often, I know I could be so much better. Compared to my ideal physique given my genetics I'm waaayyyy off base. From the other angle though, I'm happy to be able to do the things I do, which I don't take for granted. Things like doing the Presidential Traverse. Or doing some crazy mountain biking... some of the toughest on the east coast actually. Or being as hard on my body as I am in the gym. I like to think about those things and in truth, I'm happy.

But I'm starting to feel stale, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think some people might feel stale so they throw their hands up in frustration and take a few steps back. I pride myself on being more proactive than that. When I'm stale, I want to make some forward progress. As I eluded to the other day though, I don't think going the strength/muscle route this time is what I'm after. The opportunity cost might be a lesser degree of 'bigness,' which is sort of scary since I don't have a lot of that to sacrifice. But I'll gain better health and more cool, better athleticism.

I'm at a point in my life where I don't want to sit around and look like I workout. I want to be at a picnic and play crazy games like tackle football with the teens. I want to be able to rip out back flips as easily as I stand up from a chair.

So I'm really developing the mindset to go this 'performance' route.

That said, it will probably be short lived, lol. Once the colder months come around I'm going to want to bulk big time, I know it. I feel skinny right now and I am... I'm sitting at 180 lbs which is the lightest I've been in a LONG time. I figure while I'm light it's a good time to get more active... but I don't think I can take the skinny feeling very long.

We shall see.

 

[maleficent]

I'm very far from photogenic.

Oh come on - you're plenty cute... and probably better looking in person

But I'm starting to feel stale, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think some people might feel stale so they throw their hands up in frustration and take a few steps back. I pride myself on being more proactive than that. \

I can relate to the frustration thing - i'm working on the proactiveness..

But I'll gain better health and more cool, better athleticism.

better health is great - better athleticism means better beefcake pictures for Mal YAY!!! It's all about me don't ya know

I'm at a point in my life where I don't want to sit around and look like I workout. I want to be at a picnic and play crazy games like tackle football with the teens. I want to be able to rip out back flips as easily as I stand up from a chair.

that's very cool... and you'll do it too..

 

[Steve]

Oh come on - you're plenty cute... and probably better looking in person

Nah, the pictures I post are good ones.

There a million others I wouldn't dare post, lol. I'm not photogenic in most cases.

better health is great - better athleticism means better beefcake pictures for Mal YAY!!! It's all about me don't ya know

Better athleticism means less beefcakeness in actuality. I might be leaner but I'll be smaller too.

 

[Darth Pooh]

I liked the sound of the fitness angle you were talking about... some back to basics hardcore type training (the kind of shit you see in movies when the guy is training for some blood oath type crap).

However, feeling skinny at 180 and looking at your size (I'd say you're probably about 8% BF, but that's by guessing only) I am a wee bit jealous... but that there is the genetic lottery working for/against us (mind you, I am not taking ANYTHING away from your hardwork).

 

[Steve]

I liked the sound of the fitness angle you were talking about... some back to basics hardcore type training (the kind of shit you see in movies when the guy is training for some blood oath type crap).

That's what I like about it too.

I'm not sure what I'll do with my new found abilities once I train them, if anything. I might just say, "Well, that was cool. Now I can run faster, cut harder, punch harder, jump higher, and do more work in general." Or I might say, "I want to start boxing." Or do something competitive. Who knows.

Or maybe even follow through with that parkour idea I was kicking around a couple months back.

However, feeling skinny at 180 and looking at your size

I'll try and get some current pictures... my size isn't the same as those pics. I think my lightest in any of those pics is high 180's, but I could be wrong. Most of them are closer to 200.

I might take a current pic soon, if I get around to it. I've just prioritized other things right now above eating for leanness and training for leanness. I do no cardio. I eat pretty much whatever I want just making sure calories are in check which I'm sure leaves me deficient in protein.

These kinds of things had led to a lighter, less lean version of my former self at the end of my last cut. That's never a good thing in terms of physique development. But it is what it is and it was a choice I've made consciously. Not a problem, just a choice.

(I'd say you're probably about 8% BF, but that's by guessing only) I am a wee bit jealous...

I'm not sure at all what I am right now to be honest. I'd say around 10 which is shitty for my build at 180 lbs. I could be off and I could be holding a ton of water which gives off the impression that I'm not as lean as I actually am since I've been eating rather shitty. Who knows.

but that there is the genetic lottery working for/against us (mind you, I am not taking ANYTHING away from your hardwork).

I know you're not taking anything away here, I really do.

That said though, if I never did any of this (the years of training and eating) and let my genetics go to what they are by natural selection, you'd be astonished what I really am. I'm talking no chest, bony elbows and knees, arms and legs that look brittle, ribs.... the whole 9 yards. I'm not exaggerating either. My body fat would probably be less than 10% too, but anorexics are less than 10%. Some of them anyhow. Being less than 10 doesn't = good physique.

When I was a kid and grossly thin I would have rather been a chubster. At least I would have had more to work with, leaving the psychology of both positions out of the discussion.

Whatever you see from my physique today is more than a decade in the making. For a huge chunk of my life I've battled my genetics to have what I have, physique wise. In relative terms it isn't much. In my terms though, it's enough.

 

[maleficent]

Or maybe even follow through with that parkour idea I was kicking around a couple months back.

let's go to the videotape please that'd be too cool

When I was a kid and grossly thin I would have rather been a chubster. At least I would have had more to work with, leaving the psychology of both positions out of the discussion.

that's almost sad to read... I always wanted to be a naturally skinny person - especially when I was a kid (grossly fat didn't hit til adulthood but I was never thin -- ever) i guess the grass wasn't greener on the skinny side of the fence either...

It's even more impressive what you look like now - knowing what you've overcome... and you've worked your butt off to get it - against pretty impressive odds (one reason why I will always defend you when people say -well you'd have to be fat to understand where fat people are coming from...

Parkour jumping - videos - please

Pretty please

 

[Darth Pooh]

That's what I like about it too.

I'm not sure what I'll do with my new found abilities once I train them, if anything. I might just say, "Well, that was cool. Now I can run faster, cut harder, punch harder, jump higher, and do more work in general." Or I might say, "I want to start boxing." Or do something competitive. Who knows.

Interesting... with my newfound abilities, I'd probably try to do some Matrix type shit... just goes to show how shallow I am... I am very interested in how it will improve strengths in terms of EVERYDAY use, not gym use. Like how much easier is it to move this and do that...

I'm not sure at all what I am right now to be honest. I'd say around 10 which is shitty for my build at 180 lbs.

I know you're not taking anything away here, I really do.

That said though, if I never did any of this (the years of training and eating) and let my genetics go to what they are by natural selection, you'd be astonished what I really am. I'm talking no chest, bony elbows and knees, arms and legs that look brittle, ribs.... the whole 9 yards. I'm not exaggerating either. My body fat would probably be less than 10% too, but anorexics are less than 10%. Some of them anyhow. Being less than 10 doesn't = good physique.

This is so weird to me man... I am sitting at 175 or so, and my handheld (got the Omron one, I love it) says I am about 11% or so. I know it isn't perfect, but for us to be this close... I dunno, I guess I do need to see current pics to understand what is really going on. I suppose my "loose skin" doesn't help the situation either (and I put in it quotes because it could still be fat, it could be loose skin, depending on what day it is and what article I read... Venuto and McDonald say more fat, others say... loose skin).

When I was a kid and grossly thin I would have rather been a chubster. At least I would have had more to work with, leaving the psychology of both positions out of the discussion.

Whatever you see from my physique today is more than a decade in the making. For a huge chunk of my life I've battled my genetics to have what I have, physique wise. In relative terms it isn't much. In my terms though, it's enough.

I am glad you said leave the psychology out of it here. I was about to pounce like a TIGER... claws and all! You've spoken to me in length about that issue and I am sure you've had experience with others about some in depth ramifications from it all.

BTW, I don't even think in relative terms "it isn't much" at all. You've broken a barrier like me, that society puts a high regard on (is it right? another debate that shouldn't really matter because it's moot). That puts you into a totally different light and when you say it isn't much in relation to Global Warming, I get your drift, but it's your way of life now and that is huge in terms of relativity to who knows you and how people interact with you. Same here... people just react differently to me now... sorry, side rant there. I just read it and thought you dismissed something haphazardly and I wanted to make sure you saw the importance of it all.

 

[Steve]

that's almost sad to read... I always wanted to be a naturally skinny person - especially when I was a kid (grossly fat didn't hit til adulthood but I was never thin -- ever) i guess the grass wasn't greener on the skinny side of the fence either...

It's probably different for boys and girls though, I'd assume.

The bigger guys I knew didn't have a problem with acceptance. They had girlfriends and all that. They played sports. So from the skinny perspective you felt inadequate.

Granted, there were the genetically blessed ones and that's who I'd pick to be if I had a choice. But the fact remains there were times back than that I would have rather been carrying extra fat than no muscle or fat.

It's even more impressive what you look like now - knowing what you've overcome... and you've worked your butt off to get it - against pretty impressive odds (one reason why I will always defend you when people say -well you'd have to be fat to understand where fat people are coming from...

Thanks.

That statement is going always be something I have to defend against. When I was less mature, I always viewed it as a weak out or excuse fat people were trying to make b/c they knew I could help them yet they didn't want to put in the work.

Now though, I completely understand where they're coming from. It's a very valid point. The trainer may understand the physiology of it all, but that doesn't mean he understands the mindset and psychology of it all and at the end of the day, that's what is going to make a difference with most big people.

Having worked with 4 and 500 lbs people though, and doing this for an appreciable length of time, I think I've developed a pretty good understanding.

And there's always the fact that a great oncologist doesn't have to be a cancer survivor to be a great doctor who helps people with cancer.

Or, from another angle, if I took the same approach to muscle building and only listened to those who have been skinny and are now professional bodybuilders, I'd be screwed. Or on steroids. They're training parameters only work b/c they follow the steroid path. If I were to try them drug free I'd be a mess, lol. Point being just b/c a trainer was fat is now skinny means jack all in terms of how he/she can help you. Sure, he/she may be able to relate... but relating is only a fraction of the battle.

I could rant on and on about this as it's something I've dealt with quite a few times. My main point is that argument doesn't offend me and I understand where's it's coming from. I just don't buy it too much. And for those who do buy it, I think every contestant that comes out of the Biggest Loser show goes on to become personal trainers...

I'm sure you can work with them for a thousand bucks an hour, lol.

Parkour jumping - videos - please

Pretty please

We'll see how I progress and if I can take being light for long enough a time to learn it, lol.

 

[Steve]

Interesting... with my newfound abilities, I'd probably try to do some Matrix type shit... just goes to show how shallow I am... I am very interested in how it will improve strengths in terms of EVERYDAY use, not gym use. Like how much easier is it to move this and do that...

Haha, that gets old quick. I'm the strongest guy in my family. It was cool at first. But after moving couches, refrigerators, televisions, etc.... it gets old.

I suppose it's all worth it though.

This is so weird to me man... I am sitting at 175 or so, and my handheld (got the Omron one, I love it) says I am about 11% or so. I know it isn't perfect, but for us to be this close... I dunno, I guess I do need to see current pics to understand what is really going on. I suppose my "loose skin" doesn't help the situation either (and I put in it quotes because it could still be fat, it could be loose skin, depending on what day it is and what article I read... Venuto and McDonald say more fat, others say... loose skin).

Ahh, but you're missing a big point/fact. 10% body fat isn't going to look the same on you as it does me.

You're writing off 10+ years of consistent, heavy weight training.

I have a much larger muscle base than you from this.

So when I'm carrying 10% body fat it isn't going to look the same as your 10%.

Stay consistent with cutting and bulking cycles and you'll develop a 'better' 10% over time.

I am glad you said leave the psychology out of it here. I was about to pounce like a TIGER... claws and all! You've spoken to me in length about that issue and I am sure you've had experience with others about some in depth ramifications from it all.

I understand the psychology of it all quite well. On both fronts, obviously more intimately on the skinny side of things.

Society puts more of a negative light on fatness, that I will admit. When you have anorexic models at the forefront of our media defining what beauty really is, it's much tougher to be fat than skinny. Even more so with females in my opinion, but that can be argued... as it has.

But it's not apples to oranges. I know big people who have gone through life normally. The societal pressures suck for anyone big, but beyond that, I know people who have fit in perfectly and are really happy people... not that anyone is saying fat=unhappy. It's just that although fatness really affects many people's lives negatively, I know a few who it hasn't.

And for me, my social circle growing up magnified my skinny issue. If it wasn't the family begging me to stop being such a picky eater, it was my friends in school making fun of how skinny my wrists were or my ribs.

Societal pressure certainly wasn't as strong but when you have the likes of the various fitness magazines and whatnot defining what an ideal man looks like, being overly skinny isn't anything to write home about and leads to feelings of inadequacies.

What's worse, being ridiculed b/c you're fat or being ridiculed b/c your too skinny? I don't think that's a question that can be answered at all. Each suck without a doubt. Our bodies mean so much to us, like it or not, so being ridiculed about your own is never going to go over well regardless of why said ridicule is happening.

Related to above, I know really skinny guys who are happier than all hell. They don't care about muscles or looks even. Just as being fat doesn't affect all equally, nor does being skinny. I suppose it's a matter of individual mentalities as well as societal interactions regarding the two issues.

Bunch of rambling, but the point is it's not a debate that can really be had. It's like arguing, to a lesser degree, which is worst terminal illness A or terminal illness B.

They both end up dead.

And in our cases they both end up with emotional distress as well as distorted body images.

BTW, I don't even think in relative terms "it isn't much" at all. You've broken a barrier like me, that society puts a high regard on (is it right? another debate that shouldn't really matter because it's moot). That puts you into a totally different light and when you say it isn't much in relation to Global Warming, I get your drift, but it's your way of life now and that is huge in terms of relativity to who knows you and how people interact with you. Same here... people just react differently to me now... sorry, side rant there. I just read it and thought you dismissed something haphazardly and I wanted to make sure you saw the importance of it all.

I appreciate that and trust me, I don't right it off. In relation to my own shortcomings and personal struggles, I've accomplished enough to keep me proud for a lifetime. I mean that.

In relation to what others who have put as much time and effort in as me, my accomplishments of pitiful. It's all a matter of perspective, and like I said above in one of my posts.... I don't have a problem with looking through the right 'lenses.' I don't feel inadequate at all... I've spent a lot of time developing a a healthy mindset and mind/body relationship.

 

[maleficent]

Haha, that gets old quick. I'm the strongest guy in my family. It was cool at first. But after moving couches, refrigerators, televisions, etc.... it gets old.

you get yourself a pick up truck and the moving crap will NEVER end