Living In Interesting Times

I had the realization recently that everything I've been doing fitness, research, learning and philosophy-wise has been preparing me for what's to come.

Keep doing what you're doing.... 

The Chinese curse I've been referring to since my first encounter with it goes, "May you live in interesting times." I was told it was a curse, but it could also be a blessing. Many elements of life can be switched 180 degrees depending on our perspective. I like to think of it as a curse because it provides a challenge for me to over come.

Times have been interesting for me since the age of reason. I was born in the middle of the week, under the first of two full moons of that month, in the "upside down year." President Kennedy - the last US President to be assassinated - started the Peace Corps earlier that day. I arrived about dusk. First step on the stairs.

I've learned from history and observation that this civilization has always been in turmoil. A constant conflict exists on all levels of society. One can discern and compare the politics of the 'hood to the politics of the globe and realize that they are not very different at all. It comes down to competition over cooperation. We are conditioned, probably in the womb, to compete with our fellow organisms; to be better - and when better stopped being defined by skills, wisdom, or intellect, it began being defined by the amount of stuff one owned. (Of course the concept of ownership had to be invented, but that would take me off on another tangent.)

True to the Chinese curse we are living in "interesting" times. In case this becomes a time capsule, let me just enumerate what I believe are the top five existential threats to humanity. (I think these are all related.)

1. The global economy is in danger of collapsing. This is a threat because humanity has become so dependent on money... buying stuff... that most of us don't know how to actually do things for ourselves. Also because of money, private property and ownership, we've become isolated from our neighbors and tend to have a hard time cooperating with one another even if it would save our lives. 
2. Apparently World War III in imminent. Prognosticators connect this to the economy. They speculate that it's because of the Central Bankers need an excuse for the system to fail so that they can reset it. Historically, the point to war as being the answer to this conundrum. 
3. The combination of ignorance, stupidity, shortsightedness and somnambulism has made it easy for the "They" (aka Powers-That-Be) to control the masses. This control has made us dependent on stuff like status, entertainment, gadgets and the like. It's also fashioned us into haters of those who have more (of the above) than "we" have. While simultaneously inspiring us to hate those who have less than we have by telling us that they hate us for what we have. which leads us into wars and killing and destabilizing regions.
4. Global Climate change. Since I'm not a scientist and I'm not actually going out and taking measurements of ice tables and glaciers, I have to decide which hypothesis I want to believe; that which blames the phenomenon on humans and which can be alleviated by the digging into the public's pockets - or - that something extraterrestrial if affecting the Earth (as well as other planets in our solar system, including the sun.)
5. Which brings me to the Nemesis Gang; a brown dwarf star that travels with its own posse; three planets and two moons and is said to be making its 3600 year unwelcome visit into our solar system. The alternative media fear this visit could cause an extinction-level event either by knocking asteroids into the Earth, electro-magnetic interaction between planets Earth and (most likely) Nibiru, by heating the Earth to a point that's intolerable to human life, or causing a catastrophic pole shift. Observers/historians suggest that it was on one of Nemesis' (aka Planet X) visits to our solar system that was responsible for the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs. And, according to Sitchin, Nibiru, the outer most planet is where the Annunaki came from - so we may be looking at an alien invasion as well. 

The Nemesis Gang - A mini constellation.

Interesting times indeed.

I've started to feel that my way of life, the decisions I've made, the disciplines I've practiced, the books I've been given to read - or those I've discovered, the lectures I've "attended" and even the friends I made (or tried to make) are not just random. It might be lucky, or what I like to call magic, but there now seems to be a reason to it/for it. Although, (as mentioned in a previous post) I haven't been (to my consciousness) contacted by a spiritual being yet, it feels like what I'm doing and where I'm going has significance - as if it's part of a plan. It could be all (or mostly) in my mind, only time and perception will tell. 

A long time ago, I worked with a guy (a pandit) who read my palm. The take-home message, that I never forgot and that reassures me was Keep doing what you're doing. Certainly anyone can tell you that, but it let me know I was on the right track. To stay on that track I have to have the confidence in myself and the track. Every so often I meet someone along the way that reassures me. 

Finals Days of BBC5 - Evals Time (Again.)

You can click on the image to see it full sized (suggested)

These images will be poster sized when I launch the the 6th Season of Bajai BootCamp aka BBC6.

Longer ago than the years I've been working out I met a Philadelphia body builder who told me it's not the quantity of muscle, but the quality. I was probably bulky at the time; the muscle I'd built while in the Navy had been covered by the fat that came from eating too much bad food too often. When I finally got my act together in the mid-1990s, all I wanted to do was lift weights - "guy lifting" I called it. Everything I did was to build upper body aesthetics, which meant a lot of bench presses and working the muscles that supported heavy bench presses. I got better definition up top, but the belly was still big and present.

Eval pic from 2000 (Y2KC)

I'd dropped 25 lbs. landing at an even 200 by the turn of the century and I was pleased with that. All I wanted to do was get stronger.

Okay, so let's fast forward to 2011 when I decided that every day should be a workout day and I'd make myself accountable to my self by not only training daily, but posting a blog about it.

At some point I succumbed to the reality that nutrition was more important than exercise and that my plans to train harder and not align my diet with training discipline was mythology. Breaking my old eating habits turned out to be more difficult than getting into the gym on a regular basis.

Let's take another leap to March of last year (2015) when I decided to eliminate wheat from my diet. It wasn't as tough for me as it's been for several of my friends - I either don't have opiate receptors in my brain (doubtful) or there's just something odd about me, because I didn't have that much difficulty quitting the wheat. Of course this meant giving up pizza, wraps and my favorite, quesadillas. The results speak for themselves. Images 1 and 2 show the difference between a diet of wraps, pizza slices and carrot cake (all little goodies I used to treat myself to on a weekly, or even monthly basis) and a diet without.

December 2011, 6 Months into BBC-1

Another realization, which I'd made years earlier but put into practice with verve as I learned more and more about food and eating, is that dieting is not an on-off strategy... it's a lifestyle. Two of my favorite double-entendres, are fit for life and eat for life, because both are very, very true.

A week ago, I wondered if maybe I wasn't eating enough protein to fuel my muscles, (I posted an entry about this), so I decided to buy more protein foods, basically meat (I handle meat better because I have O+ blood, there's an entry about that also) - turkey, chicken and grass fed Angus beef, to go along with the lamb and goat I've been eating for a while now in my stews and soups.

Essentially, going into the next season of Bajai BootCamp, I'll be eating more Paleolithically and as for the training regimens, I'll be adding (have already added) wind sprints; I'll be continuing with the body weight/gravity training and weight lifting once a week. The walks will continue, because that's primarily how I get around and hopefully, I'll be able to add more yoga and martial arts exercises (which both mesh nicely into body weight training) into my routine as the seasons progress.

So, that's it. I've managed to post several more photos of myself on this blog. No apologies. I didn't realize until I saw the 2015 pic along side today's pic just how much of an improvement I've made.

I keep getting better as I move through time.

This is important to emphasize because there are people with less time on this plant than I've spent here, that consider themselves old and believe they can't change their situation, improve their health or their physique. There are three reasons I do this now, 1) because I'm addicted; 2) I like the results; 3) I want to prove it can be done.

Thanks for indulging me.

Life Style: A Current State

The term lifestyle and the connotations thereof fascinate me to the point of temptation toward delving into its origins and how it became a symbol of status. But I won't. This is about me and mine. Somewhat of a time capsule (and since these aren't backed up) it may end up dissolving like the oral capsule.

Note to self: Backup this series. 

Genting Highlands, Malaysia foto by Jini

Here's the current state of my lifestyle; I work, I workout and I travel... in that order. I have a handful of close friends, one of which has the time and the interests in road-tripping around for eats, looking over real estate and shopping. I'm not a big shopper, but any opportunity to get out of the city I accept. Plus, we're a lot like twins... or more accurately Yin & Yang. In that we're very similar in ideology, although we approach life and lifestyle differently to end up at the same place.

My other close friends are pursuing careers and educations and/or family lives that are satisfying them and/or preparing them for their futures. I see them occasionally. Some of them live in other states and cities, but we're still close, in that way that transcends geographical distance.

I just realized, that as with the term lifestyle each element of my life can be a blog post in its own right, so I'd best exercise some discipline on this topic.

I've worked at the same job for about 28.5 years at this point. I've never been laid off or fired. Never been out of work for any amount of time since I enlisted in the US Navy. Yeah, I'm a veteran too. I've got the age the time and the ambition to retire from this current gig. I've chosen to leave at the end of this year, however I have yet to commit to this decision. In a way I am in transition and perhaps a self-imposed limbo. I have imagined what I'll do next, but haven't planned anything specific. I don't plan - I kind of dream and let life and opportunities happen. Again, this could go off somewhere, but let's move on.

Chillin' with first born, the unexpected blessing

I live in the house grew up in. I bought the house 10 years ago from my parents, as my dad was ill (and passed in 2008). Up until that point I'd been renting from the 'rents, paying the bills and so forth. I've made a few improvements, but haven't invested too much money into it, as I don't plan to stay here. In fact the current state of the neighborhood suggests that my timing is close to perfect. I should be out by December. I have declared I will not spend another winter in Philadelphia.

I've been a dad slightly less time than I've been at the gig. This gig and my first born came along at about the same time; serendipity I'd call it as neither were planned, although I knew each could happen and remain grateful for the synchronicity. Both of my children are off pursuing their dreams, living in cities other than here, so I have a few places to visit when I wrap things up at my current location.

Number 1 Son, Following his LA dream

I exercise every day. I used to be obsessed,  now I'm addicted (committed). I'm a fitness professional in addition to what I do at the main event. I've been teaching/leading group fitness classes/sessions since 2007. I'm pretty fit, however lately I've been getting tired sooner. My Auntie immediately cited my age. I told her, "Age is the last excuse." I don't buy the conventional statistics that we slow down with age. In fact I believe the opposite. So instead of taking it easy because I feel tired and weak (relatively speaking,) I go harder and longer. I'd stopped... for some reason, working out every day and went every other day instead; which is my theory as to why I was feeling as I was. So, I went hard two days straight and already stated to feel better. Unless something extreme happens, I won't be backing off again. I had to restate my personal standards - and work up to them again. And that's all I'll say about this, (except, I'll go hard again tomorrow.)

From regional road trips to meeting internet friends around the world, I get to travel a little bit. A little bit was a fine description a few years ago. I've been able to wander and explore more and more often in the past few years. Because I'm miserly when it comes to material wealth and status, and refuse to pay for unnecessary recurring services (i.e cable TV,) I can stash airfare, train fare and bus fare away for an adventure or two annually. I am not burdened by the expenses of a motor vehicle, which is kind of a double-edged sword as I miss those events I'd surely attend if I was still driving; but oh well - we prioritize don't we? What I like least about traveling is returning. It used to be returning to Philly; now it's returning to the US. The paranoia is palpable. On my last re-entry, I was instant-photoed (the way I used to do to prisoners at the gig), then thumb-printed before I even got to the customs inspector. It was pretty smooth after that; no undercover entrapment specialist walking a beagle came to sniff my crotch after this most recent trip.

Finally, a few notes for my future self to look back on and reminisce over or laugh about, depending on how the future unfolds. I am single and don't date per se. In case there's any doubt as to my preferences, I'm not gay (not that there's anything wrong with that). I can imagine this, now classic line, will soon be coming after a declaration of heterosexuality as the future majority will be pansexual and/or polyamorous. "Straight" will mean depriving one's self of the joi de vie or the variety of what life has to offer.

More often than not I eat at home and cook my own food. I'm not a foodie, I'm not a vegan, I'm not Paleo, (but I'm closer to this than anything else), I'm not militantly organic. People, I'm happy to say, even those I've only recently met, recognize my Zen. However they mean it, I appreciate them for recognizing it.

I'm very much in transition as a human and a personality. I'm excited and a bit nervous about what comes next. I think about that day after the last day of work. As mentioned earlier I've been working for decades... probably four of them. I will probably work again. What I hope won't happen is the paper chase. I don't have ambitions of material wealth, status, or such as keeps the global economy healthily unhealthy. I picture myself as a Vagabond Philosopher teaching 6th to 8th graders about life and numbers and how the two relate; hosting meet-up groups/workshops coaching people on how to become effective and qualified group exercise instructors, or myself being a live-in personal trainer. Building houses, even if it's just hauling away the excess, for Habitat for Humanity and working on farms, whether it's in South Jersey, Wisconsin, or somewhere in India or New Zealand. I just want to keep moving, learn some good stuff, teach some good stuff, be with good people and then pass along what I've experienced.

Vagabond Philosopher, Pretty much how I envision my earth-self

If this blog lasts another decade or two, we'll all be able to witness the change - in my growth and perspective, in my attitude, and physically as well.

I think I can share this with you now. A few of you anyway.

Sometimes the spirit in me recognizes the spirit in others. What is that recognition? That we are everything that is was or will be. We are made of the same stuff as the universe because we are the universe. We are the hands on the wrists, the fingers on the hands, the nails, skin, hair, pores on the hand that's on the body that's in space-time. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

That is all.

Namaste

Body Evals #1

One of my goals was to maintain my body weight below 180 lbs through the winter. It helped that Philadelphia experienced a warm to mild winter and that I spent 3 weeks, which is about a quarter of the season in hot climates, (see earlier entries). My other goal began as a question; one of those, I wonder ifs... the if, was whether I could achieve a 3:1 ratio of of lean muscle mass to body fat. I have a scale that kinda-sorta measures that, but it's not precise and I'm not completely honest with the input. Nonetheless, using what I use the way I use it, I hit 3:1 and indeed surpassed it very slightly a few days towards the end of March.

In the videos I uploaded on my FaceBook page I attributed the fat burn to long steady-state walks. It's a long story as to how I figured this out, finally believed it and subsequently added it into my routine. Today in fact, I opted for walking over lifting because my numbers had gotten into the red zone. (Again, another story.)

Asian smackdown tour 2002

I was also curious to know what 3:1 looked like - it was time to take some evaluation shots, so I thought I'd post them up and critique and compare... if I can.

To our right, a blast from the past, 2002 or there abouts and I think this was taken with film and then later scanned in and digitized. At this point I was already six years into my Fitness Renaissance. I'd gotten down below 200 lbs.

3-30-2016Just under 180 lbs, 3:1 Ratio, <15% body fat

                     To the left, an updated eval shot. The stats are in the caption. The lighting is different so it makes it a little difficult to see much of a difference. Even if there's no visible difference I'm okay with that too. Living 14 years and not changing (for the worse) is fine with me. That belly is still a bother though.

Okay, so let's get right onto some better shots. First, check out the back. I am not simply trying to get ripped back here, but strong as well. I really want to strengthen what I call the upper-upper so I can train like the other kids... you know, pull ups and planges, handstands and such.

The back is actually ripped!! And one thing that

looked odd to me, in this pose anyway, I actually

look, skinny... and back dimples seem to be trying

to make an appearance. 

If only the front was as ripped. Stubborn belly

fat is why I'm walking when I'd rather be lifting.

But, we got to do what we must for the results we

want. My right side is still.. and will probably always

by much more jacked than the left - I am very

obviously right-dominant. Otherwise I cannot

say that I am displeased by these results. 

I think the take home points from this evaluation shoot... is that I am still making improvements, if not muscular gains.. "at this age" and I'm not letting the senescence boogieman scare or worry me into taking it easy or slowing down. Fortunately there's no one in my life advising me to do this. 

One of the benefits of my antisocial loner lifestyle - the worries and statistics of outside voices don't reach my psyche. 

And that, my friends, is the first body evaluation post of the year. I may do a few more. I want to keep my weight at 170 - 175, keep body fat at 12 - 13%, muscle up to 82 - 85 lbs of muscle (and I may be getting greedy here) and whatever that ratio will be, (close to 4:1) I'll be good there. It's a big challenge and I wonder the same as I did when i was going for 3:1... is it possible and what will it look like on me. 

Cheers.

Epochs of Life

This is part of an ongoing study of humanity and the different phases of life that we all go through. My theory is that we all going through such changes and ways of viewing the world, based on how many years we've lived. Further, this theory makes use of the notion, or maybe even myth, that we become completely new people, physiologically, ever seven years.

This theory is more anecdotal that scientific. I don't expect to ever prove it, nor to I expect it to ever be confirmed. It's just something I've been thinking about and thought I'd jot down a few notes. These notes, by the way, were originally jotted down in one of my notebook journals in September of 2011. I revise them every so often... here are basics.

0 to 7 is the age of learning. I've read that for the first seven years of a child's life their brain is in a theta rhythm, through which they basically absorb what they see and hear. These are the years of basic learning. (Which, includes the time in the womb.)

Ruby, age 1 - 2

8 to 14 is self awareness, which includes still higher learning. Often times these are the years of indoctrination. Unless idealism, creativity and magic is encouraged, it is in these years that the public, the state's system of rules and expectations cripple, if not destroy creativity.

15 to 21 - optimism and rebellion. Depending on what the example adults encourage the young adult will either look forward to a bright future, or they will rebel. Most people become sexually active during these years.

22 - 28 - and then, Reality sets in. Reality can be a shock if the child is not prepared. Perhaps the optimist discovers (or feels) s/he's been lied to; they played by the rules, so to speak and the rewards didn't come. Perhaps the rebel realizes that rebellion wasn't right for them and they change directions in life. The opposites might be true as well. Reality doesn't have to be ugly.

29 - 35 - Settling, conforming.. whether it's due to peer pressure, parent pressure or a matter of nature, most people in this group are in some kind of a relationship. They have kids, or pets, they are fairly well established in their lifestyles/jobs.

36 - 42 - The age of cynicism. This is my second favorite age. For some reason a lot of people I've talked to revisit their original dreams in this epoch often prompting a so-called midlife crisis, which I actually think is more of a condition for past generations. Often, the average person is, or feels they are in and dead end job/relationship or situation. Everything seems to suck during this age.

Post-Cynicism..40-something in Paris

43 - 49 - Originally I called this Reflection, but now i think this comes later. I've updated it to post-cynicism after 7 years of everything sucking, we stop caring whether it sucks or not. We've attained some wisdom in our experiences. We may have an idea that our plans aren't going to pan out the way we plan, but what the hell, we'll go for it anyway, we've got a back up. 

50 - 56 - It may not have been so in the past, but certainly in this era, and perhaps for the next twenty years, this epoch can be called, Renaissance. With somewhat of a heath and wellness revolution having grown since the 1980s, crossing the half century mark, with our minds and bodies in tact, we can move from a career we may or may not have enjoyed, to something that thoroughly fulfills us. If we've gotten a later start in life, this could still be a time of rebirth and reinvention, especially if we don't have an chronic ailments. If we do, renaissance can mean trying to get some kind of life back. Presuming you've made it this far, that is.

57 - 63 - Sharing Wisdom... the guru. In this era, this age group are grand (or great grand) parents by now and whether they realize it or not, they become teachers; through their memories, the stories they tell about growing up and how the world has changed, they teach those younger than themselves. There seems to be some kind of moral in every story.

64 - 70 - Perspective - this group has the perspective of the years they've lived. They generally have positive attitudes although they can feign cynicism. They've done something right to live this long.

71 - 77 - Indestructible - Those who are still standing, swimming, and even walking the treadmills or riding bikes at this age, cannot be fucked with. They've seen it all, (and I can only base this on the guys at the Y). The guru factor remains and they might tell you the same stories over and over again.

Jacinto Bonilla age 73

78 - 84 - Care takers. Whether in their home or a nursing home (or retirement home), those who are sharp at this age take on the task of caring for grands/great-grands, or friends who aren't doing as well, or, as I've read, pre-schoolers.

85 - 91 - Shadow... because I have no first hand experience with this age group. (Well, kind of). My guess is that they are wondering how much longer they will live. I will have to do more research on this. I'm sure it will come.

92  - 98 - Curios... It may be crass to describe this group as such, but if you're living into your nineties, people want to know your secret. Conversely you might be in a home waiting to die. But what if, as the health/wellness movement extends life into the 120s, what will the 90s be like for people who can still do everyday tasks??

99 - 105 - Comfortably numb. Someone said, and I've adopted this saying, "The first hundred years are the toughest." Could we get some kind of second wind when we cross this border?

Ida Keeling, age 99

105 - 111 - History. Assuming your memory is still sharp and all the selfies you ever took on your cell phone are still accessible, you become living history. Every birthday you will be assured a place in the local newspaper or a shout-out from the Centenarian Club. 

112 - 118 - Elite... you become the aged elite, a curiosity, history, all of the above.

Every age above my own, I can only speculate about. Those ages below mine, I take from my own memories and from the children I've raised and watch grow up and the young adults I've worked with in the fitness industry. I reiterate, this is just a theory, not even scientific, and probably more fantasy than anything serious.

Live long and prosper.

Tough Girls/Tough Women

For some reason I'm thinking about women who have told me they were tough. The ones I have in mind are also short, around 5 feet tall. They've never told me their definition of tough, but one characteristic they have in common is, in their words, cursing like a sailor. I didn't have the heart, back then, to break it to them that "cursing doesn't make you tough."

Toughness is one of those amorphous traits that is hard to pin down because it's in the eye of the beholder. For instance, the women in mind equated aggressive language with toughness. I wondered where they got that idea, although I thought it prudent not to question it. Probably television; and further down the stream the men in and around their lives who they considered tough, probably learned how to act tough from television.

America's idea of tough, is a gun and a smoke.. Linda Hamilton, Terminator II

(But, then how was toughness defined and learned before mass media? Perhaps that discussion will come later.)

As a lover and admirer of people in general, and women in particular, I've noticed in many cases that those who self-identify as tough aren't very tough when it comes to the issues in their lives that they should be tough about. They might feel that dropping "f-bombs" here and there will cover up the weaknesses of their addiction to a substance or their codependent relationship(s), or their recurring illnesses. They might consider themselves tough if they can consume more hard liquor than the town drunk. These are actually (by which I mean usually) ways of avoiding the issues they are not tough enough to deal with.

Etymologically speaking, most of the words we use to describe people were first used to describe other objects. Tough is no exception; from Old English, strong and firm in texture, tenacious, sticky. As we can see, there's nothing about talking in its origin.

A tough person, is therefore strong; we can say strong it attitude, in convictions. A strong person is not dependent on substances and/or people that make them weak. A tenacious person never gives up, never quits until the goal is met or a need fulfilled.

What brought this blog into being was the idea that tough girls might display their perception of toughness with a sharp tongue and a cigarette carelessly hanging on the lips. They may feign disdain for symbols of status they are too weak to attain. They may endure an abusive relationship occasionally getting into fights with their partners to prove to themselves that they are really tough.

Whereas tough women, have or develop the strength and if necessary the cleverness and wisdom to defeat any addiction they might have that is holding them back, or diminishing their health; they have the confidence and power to walk into an uncertain future and away from a relationship that is hurting them both physically and mentally. They don't quit just because some asshole is giving them a hard time - they know that most of the time endurance is more powerful than harassment.

Fake tough is loud, boisterous and ultimately hollow. Real toughness is stealth, it's implied, and it doesn't present itself until it's necessary. It strikes with certainty and moves on with no regrets. And once it's realized and understood by those it must be directed against, it brings respect. Mad respect!

Future, Past

This picture is twelve years old; summer of 2004. I remember this as my strongest year. But it was only strong for the upper body. I was working my chest three times a week and I'd been doing so for three or four years. I was at a point where I benched 300 lbs. just once and never since. It was a struggle. At some point in the following years I switched up from upper body to lower body... butt and legs.

And I got stronger - over all. 

I should see if i can find a more recent image to compare it to.

This one's not as sexy or set up as well... It's from September of 2015. Looks like the torso is better defined, but still too much fat on the belly. I think the arms are more defined as well. Especially the shoulders, which is something I've both ignored and injured; (two injuries, both shoulders,  since the top image was taken.)

So, let's connect this to what this blog is about.. leaving Philly. I've decided that 175 lbs isn't low enough and recently re-calibrated my weight goal to 170. That's what I weighed when i started the gig so that's what I think i should weigh when I leave.

So - more high intensity interval training and more lifting. This past week I got it in almost every day, (except Friday.) But I can't allow weekends to slip away. I also can not allow traveling to knock me off my fitness or my diet. more on that later.