Blog

Short blog posts, journal entries, and random thoughts. Topics include a mix of personal and the world at large. 

It's not for me

Have any of the presidential candidates said anything about ending Daylight Saving Time? Whoever promises to abolish the abomination gets my vote. My expertly calibrated sleeping schedule does not wish to be arbitrarily interrupted twice a year. Recalibration always takes a week, if not more.

I am enjoying the autumnal flavor of early dark evenings. In combination with the lower temperature, it makes for a cozy atmosphere at the home. Don’t you dare string out the Christmas lights already, though. Have some respect: absolutely nothing Christmas-related until after Thanksgiving.

Human anatomy differs from person to person. Certain exercises is fine for some, but may cause pain for others. For example: I am Asian, so I’ve zeros issues with squatting deeply (Asian squat joke). Ankle mobility is just fine over here. Some are not so lucky in dexterity, so their knees might bark loudly in anger in every attempt.

The exercise I’ve encountered thus far that creates pain for me is the upright row. After I increased the weight to 50 pounds, my right shoulder cannot take the load. Afterwards, anytime I raised my arm above shoulder height, pain shoots from the shoulder joint. I thought not raising the weight above my chest would alleviate the issue, but no. Upright row is simply not in my exercise repertoire moving forward. At least it’s not a big three compound movement!

Perhaps it’s unavoidable, given a long enough timeline (and actual progression in weight), that I will eventually injure something while lifting these damn weights. I’m trying to avoid it, obviously. Primarily by not adding on weight that quickly. Apparently, even if the muscles are ready for more load, the tendons and connective tissues might not be. It’s safer to progress slowly.

Walking in water.

Do you even lift, bro?

The only thing I bought from last week’s Amazon Big Deal days is a scale. Not for food, but to check my body weight. I’ve been lifting weights consistently for about a year now, and I was curious to see if I’d gotten any heavier. Muscle weights more than fat, I’ve been told.

And drum roll please, since last October I’ve gained a grand total of two pounds. I’ve certainly gotten stronger compared to last year, but I guess I am not eating at an enough surplus to gain lots of weight. The laws of thermodynamics cannot be violated: burn more calories than you take in, you lose weight. Intake more calories than you burn, you gain weight. It seems I’m barely above maintenance.

Sugary foods doesn’t necessarily make one fat. If I give you only one sugar cube to eat everyday - and nothing else - you’re going to be skin on bones in a few weeks’ time. The problem with sugar is that it tends to be part of calorically dense foods. Think ice cream, or a can of non-diet soda. Therefore it’s super easy to overeat. Halloween is coming up soon. Parents ought to look up just how much calorie those tiny pieces of candy contain.

If I want to built muscle mass quickly, I have simply must eat more. But, I am okay with this two pound per year pace, honestly. Besides, the point of strength training for me isn’t hypertrophy: it’s for longevity. I want to be mobile and able as late into my twilight years as possible. There’s also correlation between small body mass and lifespan. Think of the people in Okinawa.

Getting too big is also cumbersome for flying. I’m always envious of tiny Asian women, where economy seating might as well be business class for them.

My exercise goal is to be as strong as possible for my current leanness.

The lazy streets so undemanding.

Protect the gains

it is an utter disease for those of us who weight-train consistently. The disease of thinking you will get fat in an instant the one time we have to skip a work out. Go on a two weeks vacation? Better book a hotel with a passable gym facility, or hope the local gym offers a one day pass.

It’s the same disease that makes me think eating one singular donut will make my visible abs disappear. Poof.

Obviously, that’s not how it works. Getting into shape involves hard training over a long period of time; what makes you think getting out of shape would happen just like that? (Snap of the finger.) Even if the goal is to get fat (coming from skinny): it’ll take at least few months of stuffing your mouth like food is going to run out to see significant change.

Word on the street is that it is actually beneficial to take some time away from the weights. Especially when a particular exercise has not improved in the past few weeks. If you’re stuck at 10 pull-ups, taking a week break may get you past that plateau. Because what’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and expecting different results.

The last time I took a break from working out was back in June. It wasn’t by choice, as in, I didn’t choose specifically to take a break. I couldn’t exercise because I was in Thailand for my friend’s wedding. I am probably due for another week off, but it’s tough mentality to force myself to pause. I feel like I would be leaving gains (got to protect the gains) if I were to slob it up for a week or two. It doesn’t make logical sense, but tell that to the guy who is addicted to heroin.

The parable is: if you don’t take a break, your body will force you into one eventually (read: injury). Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that for me!

M2 on film. (Credit: Michael Yeung)