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Post by TM79 on Dec 10, 2014 16:16:48 GMT
We were wired to NOT need to lift weights because we already got a workout in doing REAL things. Perhaps that is why we do it. Because it is the closest we can get to living the way we were intended to live.
If someone ever asks why you spend an hour planning an activity that takes two hours to complete, that primarily involves being in a cold, dimly lit garage, inflicting pain on yourself to get a little bit stronger, or to prove to yourself that you could get that one extra rep, or that additional five pounds. Perhaps it is something that they just don't understand. It's a "man" thing. And believe me, even some "men" don't understand it. We are a dying breed.
In my office, there are no pictures on the wall. There are no books on the shelf to make me look smart. On one desk is my laptop and phone (plus the usual "office" stuff like pens and scissors). On the other, there are some steel pipe fittings that need to be welded. Over in the corner is the only meaningful thing in the room. A life-sized, cardboard cutout of John Wayne. He's standing there with his left hand on his hip, his right hand is holding a Winchester Model '94 Rifle and a six-shooter is in the holster. Under his brown, dust covered cowboy hat he looks at me with squinted, tired (but determined) eyes as if he just arrived in town from a full day on horse back, walked into my office and then he says, "what is that thing you keep typing on boy? What are you doing sitting in here?" I know sir. You're absolutely right. And no, I don't have any whiskey, but I'll go out right now and buy you some with the last ten dollars I have in my wallet.
If you need me later, I'll be out in the garage lifting weights...
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Post by jaysun on Dec 11, 2014 0:38:10 GMT
We were wired to NOT need to lift weights because we already got a workout in doing REAL things. Perhaps that is why we do it. Because it is the closest we can get to living the way we were intended to live. If someone ever asks why you spend an hour planning an activity that takes two hours to complete, that primarily involves being in a cold, dimly lit garage, inflicting pain on yourself to get a little bit stronger, or to prove to yourself that you could get that one extra rep, or that additional five pounds. Perhaps it is something that they just don't understand. It's a "man" thing. And believe me, even some "men" don't understand it. We are a dying breed. In my office, there are no pictures on the wall. There are no books on the shelf to make me look smart. On one desk is my laptop and phone (plus the usual "office" stuff like pens and scissors). On the other, there are some steel pipe fittings that need to be welded. Over in the corner is the only meaningful thing in the room. A life-sized, cardboard cutout of John Wayne. He's standing there with his left hand on his hip, his right hand is holding a Winchester Model '94 Rifle and a six-shooter is in the holster. Under his brown, dust covered cowboy hat he looks at me with squinted, tired (but determined) eyes as if he just arrived in town from a full day on horse back, walked into my office and then he says, "what is that thing you keep typing on boy? What are you doing sitting in here?" I know sir. You're absolutely right. And no, I don't have any whiskey, but I'll go out right now and buy you some with the last ten dollars I have in my wallet. If you need me later, I'll be out in the garage lifting weights... AWESOME! I feel ya...I'm same place you are.Typical back and forth between my wife and I: "DON'T SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY, I'M TRYING TO SAVE FOR (insert vacation, holidays, etc)!" " OK, I'll be careful to watch what I spend." (later that day) "WHAT DID YOU SPEND $34.76 ON THIS MORNING?" "Umm, gas and a Krispy Kreme." "I THOUGHT YOU BOUGHT GAS THURSDAY?! WHY DO YOU NEED GAS SO SOON?" "Umm,I drive a lot." You get the idea. My wife isn't really that bad, but things do get tense at times. I hate holidays, these days, everyone gets uptight and...anyway. I train because it makes me feel better. I agree that "real" men seek out conflict of some sort because we are wired for it. I also train because I want to be strong now and when I'm 70. I had an older teacher friend ask me if I were going to work out. (I dress out in my office and then go to the car.) And I replied, "Yeah, I'll be 58 when my youngest graduates HS. I figure I need to stay strong." She said," Take it from me, its a lot easier to keep "it" than to lose it and try to get it back." BTW, my desktop wallpaper at work is Ricky Bruch. Tell Mr. Wayne I said hey. |
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Post by TM79 on Dec 11, 2014 15:10:22 GMT
I thought more about this post last night and felt bad for what I said about the Prius driver wearing tight pants. I edited the original post to exclude that part as it goes against the site's mission. Don't get me wrong, I don't get the whole men wearing tight pants thing and I am strongly opposed to this society and our culture's attempt to emasculate men, but if you like to push it in the workout room, respect others and happen to wear tight pants and drive a Prius, you're still more than welcome here. I apologize. There are an abundance of people like that where I live and most of them happen to go under the speed limit in the passing lane while they post updates on their phones. In addition to that, they seem to have a general lack of common decency toward others. It drives me crazy. But I shouldn't generalize. That isn't right.
To your response, these are certainly different times than the old days. I'm with you completely on staying in shape. I lost it briefly my senior year in high school through my freshman year in college. After those two years (we all remember how those days went) I decided to go running one day and had to stop and walk before I had made it two city blocks. After that, I vowed to never get that out of shape again as long as I am blessed enough to be able to exercise. It's great that we, and many others share that mindset.
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Post by jaysun on Dec 11, 2014 19:45:07 GMT
Don't be ashamed of what you said. I mean it is good that you retracted and feel bad about it, but sometimes you have to get stuff out AS YOU SEE IT and FEEL IT! Metro-Hipsters aren't all bad, just like we get caught up in training stuff, they get caught up in their stuff too. I do have to say that I get a wide berth when I am at a hipster joint.
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Post by TM79 on Dec 13, 2014 16:16:16 GMT
I ended up editing out a large part of my original post because it goes against what I'm trying to do in my life. As tight as things are, I can not look at myself as a victim. Nor should I complain about it. Having a victim mentality and complaining about one's circumstances are both weaknesses.
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