Cool, but you're missing the point

Beautiful, but that's not the point.

No posts last week since it was Thanksgiving. I figured the last thing people wanted to do was sit on a computer and read here.

Speaking of last week, I had a paper due on Monday. I chose my topic as "Tibetan Buddhism in Central Asia."

As I scoured three textbooks, I found some interesting information.

One was that of mandalas.

To make a long book short - since I didn't read it myself - the author was explaining how mandalas are viewed as pieces of art. Contrary to that belief, he says they're not meant to be viewed as art.

The mandalas have religious and spiritual significance.

Similarly, the same can be said about exercise. Chiseled muscles and no "cottage cheese" (flab) is what many of us exercise to attain.

While that's all fine and dandy, exercise wasn't always about that.

It was about getting stronger, faster, increasing athleticism, improving health, and to simply put it, improving all physical domains of your self.

So, don't look as exercise as a means to change your body. Yes, that's what a lot of us are after, but, we're losing sight of exercise's true purpose.

Improvement.

Are you making any?

Ladies: Admirable, but wasteful effort

Good luck finding a gal in the gym
doing anything remotely close to this.

I'm in the gym by around 9:40 this morning. My roommate got there earlier.

About 15 minutes later, he finishes up and heads back to our apartment. I move on to my second exercise for the session (dumbbell Bulgarian split squats).

All the while between sets, I notice girls walking back and forth. Upstairs in our gym, an array of cardio machines are available for use (big whoop) and you have to walk to the other side of the gym to get upstairs.

I sit on the bench, resting my 90 seconds. As I sit there, I look to my left and right. What do I see?

Not a single guy in the gym. I'm the only one there. Nobody else is touching the weights.

That's how it was the bulk of the time I was there. Now, I get up in the morning to lift weights because it's less crowded and I have other things to do later in the day. I don't know why all the girls go early. It seems like they're going for the cardio machines. At one point, a girl was standing and waiting for a treadmill.

Tsk tsk I say.

No guys around is a plus.

But what did I see? Women getting up early to use equipment that was already in demand by other women.

Kudos for dragging your behind out of bed this morning, but hardly the smart thing to do. It would be best to make use of the free weights that no one is touching.

I often hear some girls may be intimidated by guys lifting weights - which they shouldn't be - but if that is the case, then the morning is the perfect opportunity to avoid all the high fiving "bro's."

It's a shame.

Admirable yes. But, all that time and energy lost is not.

Might want to rethink if what you're doing isn't helpful.

Help a kid out

A Saturday post, how rare! I was suppose to do this yesterday, but ran out of time during the day. So, check out this email I got the other day.

"Hey everyone,

We had our general meeting earlier this evening and the reason we wanted to send the minutes out so soon is because one of our members made a very important announcement we would like to share with all of you. There is a little boy in Michigan who has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and his family is celebrating an early Christmas for him, his one wish: Christmas cards. If you have the time please send him a card in the mail as soon as possible to ensure he receives it in time. The cards don't have to be store bought, homemade will be just as appreciated! His address is:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, MI 48178

This is a very simple, but important wish for this little boy. Please take a few minutes to help make a difference for him and his family."

My university's Project Sunshine chapter sent this request as part of their meeting recap. I thought it was nice and it's just a small favor to ask anyone who can help out.

My roommates and I bought a card ($3 total) yesterday. We wrote our names in it and each a small message. I put,

"Always got excited when I got mail as a kid cause I never got any. Hope you enjoy this."

It's not too hard, but the thought will be appreciated.

Help a kid out.

And so it begins

He talked the talk, and walked the walk.

Let's start with a story. In my Hinduism class a week or two ago, my professor started telling us an anecdote. He said,

"So this mother comes up to Gandhi one day and says, "my son is eating too much sugar, can you please tell him to stop?" Gandhi told the mother to come back in 3 days with her son.

After 3 days, she returns with her son. Gandhi tells the boy, "don't eat sugar," which prompts the mother to ask, "why couldn't you say that 3 days ago?" Gandhi replied saying, "well, I couldn't tell him that cause I was eating too much sugar myself."

He stopped eating sugar before he told the boy to do the same.

Now, where am I going with this. Well, a friend is starting to exercise more and clean up his diet to lose fat.

I provided him with the exercise program. Now, since I'm trying to assist him in his goal, what kind of person would I be if I didn't have any truthfulness in my words?

With that said, the bulk of my food intake will be largely unprocessed foods and I won't be using my apartment building's elevators anymore.

So, when you give someone advice, make sure you practice it yourself.

A lot of people can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk?

Miscellaneous pile, 11/06/09

At the beginning of time, the universe was created....and then this blog.

Joking aside, school and side activities have been keeping me plenty busy. Anyways, let me just start.

1. I never enjoy how people go to professor's office hours and ask redundant questions. You wouldn't need to do that if you knew the material genius. Honestly, I get bored sitting and listening to the ill prepared talking up a storm of nothingness.

2. I ate copious amounts of white grains Monday night, which, I have not done in some time. The result? Feeling like I ate nothing and then crashing pretty hard a few hours later.

How hard you ask? Well, I passed out on my bed without noticing. It's weird waking up at 3:43am and thinking, "what just happened?"

3. I'm all about quality. When I get asked why I go out of my way to visit my barber, it's for that very reason I still visit him. I have yet to find a person who provides better service than him. Plus, I don't know many people who can give better advice either.

Remember quality when making decisions.

4. *waits for 10 followers*

5. Here are a few interesting finds.

- 5 1/2 questions with Jen Heath, for all those cyclists, runners, and whatever long distance sport there is. This is from August or September, but the information is solid.
- Rog Law Fitness, he interned at Cressey Performance. Smart guy, interesting blog, go check it out.
- Glamour's "What everyone but you sees about your body" article. What? Can't a guy read a little Glamour?
- Are you having a training experience? Most people aren't, which is unfortunate.

All good stuff. Read my fellow dorks! Absorb the goodness. Be the goodness.

6. What the hell does "be the goodness" mean?

7. My professor used this word, which of course, I had no idea what it was.

nepotism - (neh-puh-tih-zum) - n. - Favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship.

8. Video galore time, well, 3 is more than what I usually put here.

Pure badassness


Nifty, right?


Long, but worth the watch.

I don't advocate soda, and neither does he, but I do believe when you're doing something you enjoy, do it well.

That's all everyone, have a great weekend!