Punching Out the Boredom

I've been skating a lot lately, and I've been hitting the weights, but I got so bored with running. And jumping rope? Dull, dull, dull.

So, I bought a little something today:

Now, they're kinda lame in that you are shadowboxing with gloves on as if you were really an MMA fighter, but they were only 9 bucks and came with a (pretty weak) fitness DVD.  I have always loved using heavy bags, shadow boxing etc... so now I can get some good resistance and cardio at the same time.

Massage/.com

I got a full, one hour massage yesterday.  It was amazing.

Something that I've neglected while on this fitness path is relaxation. I'm not good at relaxing. I have a hard time sitting through an entire movie because I feel the need to work on something. I have this overwhelming desire to create whether it is a blog post, an article, my skateboard magazine (Luchaskate), music (I have a band called Lucha and the Flatspots), or to create skateboarding.  I believe the act of skateboarding is like dance, you create something that lives, in an original state, only in that moment. You can video the action, but it is never the same as the moment it is created.

So, laying down for a massage was a very new, eye opening experience. It was amazing. I learned that I NEED to slow down sometimes. I've not been doing my yoga/stretching. I've been so busy, and this is THE BEST time of the year to be a skateboarder. While it is hot, it doesn't rain much and if it does rain, it dries very quickly. I've been skating four or five times a week and continuing to work out.

In my desire to create, I've been thinking of creating a static website based on the blog. Rather than detailing my day to day experiences, I'm thinking of writing articles based on what I'm seeing and learning.  I'll let you know more as I get the website planned and started.

S.F. Self Image

Soul Fitness: Self Image Part 1

First off, I apologize about the language in the image, but this image inspired this post.  I was about to begin writing a series of posts about male body image, and how we, like women, can struggle with body image. However, I saw this on facebook today, and despite playing it off as a joke, it got me thinking.

What has happened?

Well, first, what is the meme trying to say? Is it because the kid on the right seems somewhat effeminate? Is it because he isn't debonair? Is it railing against who is in our current pop culture spotlight?

I'm not exactly sure, but I do think it is the latter (although this person disagrees).

I can't speak for all men, nor would I want to. I can only speak for myself, and what I get out of the meme. When I see the image on the left, I don't see an actor that I just watched in a movie last night (Sword of the Valiant. It is awful and I loved it). No, in the meme I see my grandfather. I see the man who kept his fingernails perfectly manicured, wore a suit to work everyday, kept his hair perfectly combed...in all honesty, I see my first childhood hero.

On the right? Well, I have no idea who that actually is, but I guess that he is some kind of pop star or other. Who is he? He is the current generation, one step removed from me. Honestly, he is of little consequence to my thoughts. I am focused on the grandfatherly image on the left.  What has happened?

As I type this, I looked down to see my fingernails. They are well maintained. My hair is kept shorter than my grandfather kept his, but it is also well kept. I don't get (or have to) wear a suit to work every day. I wear a white jacket instead. I'm lucky. I get to put on a crisp new jacket every morning.

Still, part of me will always wonder if I stack up against these male role models I grew up with. They were always so hard working. They gave of themselves and asked for little in return, and that is where it hits me hardest. These idealized images I hold in my mind are very hard to live up to.  But that isn't a bad thing! I sit back and compare myself against these men of the past, and it gives me a firm ground to work from.  Because I had such good men as mentors, it gives me a great place to start from as a parent.

Comparing ourselves with others, especially those we look up to, can be difficult. We idealize them while we see our own faults. I still hold on to a lot of the punk rock aesthetic. In fact, today I wore shorts with argyle socks. Debonair, I wasn't. But, while I can't beat myself up thinking about how I 'measure up' it is a good thing to sit back and analyze sometimes. We have this wonderful ability to be able to mold and re-create ourselves to a larger extent than we sometimes believe. I know I've done a lot of self analysis and re-molding over the last five years (since becoming the parent of an amazing son). This blog is just one of the tools of my own metamorphosis. I was out of shape and wanted to hold myself accountable, publicly, through a physical metamorphosis. It has become more than that as the physical ties into the spiritual, mental etc...

While rebellion against being my father/grandfather/parents happened, it also ended. It did a full circle. As children we (those of us with good male role models) idolize our fathers. Later we rebel against them.

Finally, we become them.

And I'm very proud of that.  Love to you dad, and both of my grandfathers. Thank you for all you did for me.

Old Video #1

I had a conversation on facebook with an old friend (she isn't old, we've just been friends for years) about cooking. She brought up vegan curry with tomatoes and chickpeas. I love a quick, easy chickpea curry. Here is a video I made last year of exactly that dish. Now, I wasn't in the shape I am now during this time so don't think I'm trying to pass this off as current (I'm not even sporting a beard these days).

I want to start eating more things like this. I've lost fat cutting out sugar, but I've stopped eating veggie meals like this and I need to pick that back up. It has been so easy cutting fat without the sugar that I've allowed myself to eat some bad stuff as long as it doesn't include sugar.

Week 12?

I've been so busy that I've missed some posts. I had the new issue of Luchaskate (my magazine) to put out (plus the website to work on). I had an article to write for an upcoming issue of Memphis Health and Fitness. I had a two day volunteer project going on. I have the best kid in the world to spend time with...

...things got busy for a minute and I missed posting the last picture. So, without further ado, here is the 12 weeks of exercise/low sugar dieting picture:

The physical changes have slowed down, but I continue to notice some slight changes. I've not done well on my diet, however, and I really need to readjust how I'm eating. Sugar, I'm staying away from, but that doesn't mean that I'm eating my healthiest. I've been giving in to a lot of un-heart healthy foods lately and this blog isn't about how much of my abs I'll see. It is about being my fittest when I turn 40 in a few months. I'm looking to add some vegan meals back into my diet to start consuming more beans and fresh veggies.

I'm also looking forward to posting some more soul fitness blogs in the near future, and I've been thinking about men and body image lately. I may pursue that line of thought more in the future.

Week 11: Breakfast Cereal

Okay, I'm sick of eggs and oatmeal every morning. I mean SICK of it. I wanted to find a sugar free breakfast cereal so I started reading labels on the breakfast aisle.

Wow!

There is sugar added to EVERYTHING! Even the "healthy" cereals are full of sugar.  Finally, I found a couple. The first is Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Cereal. I want to try this one, but it was over 6 bucks for a tiny box, and I can live with eggs and oatmeal before I spend that much on a cereal.

The second I found is Uncle Sam. Ding ding ding! We have a winner. This stuff is affordable (just a few bucks for a box) and it is full of great for your body ingredients!

New breakfast delimma is solved! Bring on week 11!

Btw, I currently weigh 162 pounds, about 13 pounds under where I started. I continue to see thinning in my face. The last bit of belly seems to be going away. I'm skating so much that I'm only doing sprints once a week. I'm not jogging. I lift weights three times each week. Day one is for arms and chest. Day two is legs. Day three is back and shoulders. The workouts take about 40 minutes.

Lifestyle

Mine has officially changed. When I go to buy food, I'm not tempted to buy high sugar foods. I'm in a routine of healthy eating. Even when I'm going for fast food, I opt to go to Wendy's where I can grab a baked potato. I still eat burgers, but I have quit eating the bun (sugar), ketchup (sugar), and mayo (yep, it usually has sugar added to it too). I haven't even been tempted to get fries. Strangely enough, I don't even crave them. Rather than having a candy bar, I'll eat a Carbmaster yogurt (3 grams sugar per container) or a Pure Protein bar. I look forward to my workouts. I really do enjoy lifting weights. Hmmm...I have been skipping the occasional run, but I've been skating so much that I don't mind missing a run. I mean, I've been skating A LOT. The sun is up later, and there is more opportunity to shred. So, shred I have been.