(no subject)

[rm]

So starting with the stage management gig last week I've been working out. This is perhaps too strong a term for remembering to work with the girly weights I've dragged from house to hosue over the years and doing some crunches and some leg stuff. But if I want to be able to hit people with sticks... well I have to be able to hit people with sticks.

I haven't particularly noticed any improvement yet, other than I'm sore all the time and I've gotten to the point where I don't really mind and yesterday I had to run in the rain, and I didn't mind, which was particularly bizarre as I hate both running and the rain, but it amsed me, because it was a hassle, and I wasn't out of breath afterwards which is new.

It's a strange thing at 31 to say "I'd like to be able to carry more than groceries", but I think it's an appropriate thing to say. Speaking of groceries, I've been eating well, but not perfectly and it shows in every conceivable way. Last night I ate non-organic beef for the first time in ages, because it just wasn't convenient for me to go to anything but my local grocery store, and the taste was so different, and not in a good way.

This stuff is probably pretty boring to most people, and I'll venture to guess annoying to some (being the size I am, I've often found that some people get angry when I talk about food, exercise or wanting to refine my body), but the fact is I've not been strong in a long time, and I've never been strong like this or stronger than I've needed to be to be graceful or whatever. And quite aside from the hobby of the moment, this is important to what I've chosen to do, in terms of performance, so I am going to write about it from time to time, and it reflects nothing other than the standards I have for myself _solely_ because they are the ones most useful to me.

On that point, I've been meaning to do this for at least a year, but I guess I wasn't ready yet. I've had other bouts of fitness, at the behest of others, but there's nothing quite like "I wanna be able to kick your ass" for self-motivation.

In other news... nervous about rehearsal today. Actual audition for Richard III next week. Should really go to work. But as is per usual of late, my distractable soul is profoundly fucking disinterested. Also, am such a walking cliche -- today's CDs: The Chieftans (long Black Veil), Dead Can Dance (Aion), Soundtrack from The Piano. Today's BPAL scent: Lightening.

Comments

[rothko.livejournal.com]

I've been very conscious of people's resentment towards skinny people lately. I lost at least 15 pounds, probably closer to 20, over the winter when I was stressed and still working and constantly upset -- and I still haven't gained it back. I am dangerously underweight, I have no appetite, and it's really beginning to worry me. But when I talk about it with people, they sort of snort and say "God, I wish I had your problem." It's like look, people, this is fucking serious, so don't give me any shit. I didn't have any weight to spare in the first place, so having lost this much is really a problem. If I hear the equivalent of "oh, cry me a fucking river" once more, i may just lose my shit.

[rm.livejournal.com]

My general observation on the subject is it seems people find it acceptable to say awful things to heavy people they don't know and skinny people they do know.

[targetmp.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be too concerned with the girly weights. Of course, the first week I started working out again I couldn't hold my arms straight I was so sore. I had bend them out very slowly. That soreness eventually is less intese and last less time.

a subject near and dear to my heart

[ludimagist.livejournal.com]

But if I want to be able to hit people with sticks... well I have to be able to hit people with sticks.

Are you planning on hitting people with sticks in any particular cultural idiom? Is this a performance thing or a martial arts thing or both?

Re: a subject near and dear to my heart

[rm.livejournal.com]

Neither... exactly. This is I have a bug up my ass about renewing my ties to the SCA and participating in combat stuffs there.

Quite aside from that, there's also the minor fact that I need to get around to taking some stage combat classes, which I will probably do in the fall.

For all my fondness for many things Asian, my interest in their martial arts is nearly zero (that said I used to have a crazy and evil boss who was insanely good at kendo, and that, despite the fact that I loathed his very existence, always seemed peripherally intriguing).

Re: a subject near and dear to my heart

[ludimagist.livejournal.com]

Quite aside from that, there's also the minor fact that I need to get around to taking some stage combat classes, which I will probably do in the fall.

I suggest you check out http://www.fights4.com/ and http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/swordplay/ for classes. Both have great instructors (I've trained with both organizations, they both rock). Fights4 is doing a regional workshop called "Summer Sling" in late August that always has beginner classes and is a great way to test drive the instructors.

[kalyx.livejournal.com]

I so hear you with the resentment of skinny people crap in our culture. In my own case, I have multiple sclerosis and it is important to maintain good heath to hopefully battle any neurological decline. But when I talk about diet and fitness, people get nasty since I am a size 6 and under 130#. It really isn't right.

but as for using girly weights, any weight that is challenging after 6-12 repetitions should be enough to start seeing some strength improvements. There are also all kinds of body weight exercises that can be done at home with little extra equipment. You can do dips on two chairs, push ups, etc. And I've considered getting a fitness ball to use for lower body strength training at home since I currently do not have a gym membership.

and good luck with hitting people with sticks. I just went to a martial arts demo for kendo and it looked so very, very fun. Dressing up in samurai armor and thwapping people on the head with sticks. Good times and SCA stuff is probably a bit similar.

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty heavy and have been for most of my adult life; when people talk about their bodies at all mostly I want them to be happy, you know? occasioanlly I've had thin men put themselves down and it's like, no, actually, you can't get away with that around me any more than I'm comfortable with my female friends putting themsleves down for being too heavy or two narrow or not busty enough or whatever, you're all lovely in different ways. I can see anyone wanting to be healthier and stronger; I love how you'll post about eating a bunch of junk food, like, skinny people and fat people and in b/w people get to eat stuff they like.

[aynatonal.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty much the poster child for trim not always equaling healthy or fit. My level of cardio fitness is completely pathetic, even though I'm considered slender for my height (or a "skinny bitch" as one of my friends likes to say). My new goal is to be able to run away if something carnivorous is chasing me. Right now, I'd probably get eaten.