tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21545190228401411972024-03-13T12:57:37.519-07:00Martial Coder: Martial Arts, Software Development and CynicismRambling about Martial Arts, Work, Software Development, and Life. All drowned in a lite cynic sauce.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-20428999916100076492012-08-22T21:04:00.001-07:002012-08-22T21:04:45.507-07:00Emerald City Judo: IntroFor our anniversary the Mrs. bought me a Gi. A good, heavy-weight, competition Gi. Since that time I've worn it but a handful of times. Mostly because I'd stopped playing Judo. I had begun lifting, and set Judo aside to focus on my lifting. I was under the impression that I could lift, and lose weight, and be healthy. I couldn't effectively lift, and play judo with any hope of recovering and avoiding injury.<br />
<br />
So, the Gi hung in the closet. Every time I opened the closet it was there, pressed, hung, waiting.<br />
<br />
Today, I took the Gi out of the closet, and decided to get back on the mat. Frankly, I'm 315lbs, my cardio for the past year has been almost non-existent. I'm strong, stronger then I've been in years, but after ten minutes on the mat I realized I was badly dehydrated and feeling ill. So, I took a few minutes, got my breathing under control, and got back to it.<br />
<br />
Class ran for just under two hours. With two young students, and a number of black belts. With more black belts, then colored belts, it was an interesting class. We opened with between ten and fifteen minutes of warm-up. Jogging, sprints, high-knees, the usual. I sat out for the mat crawls, and shrimping to catch my breath.<br />
<br />
We began by practicing an arm bar from mount, focusing on technique. One point I did find interesting is that keeping the knee that's on the mat tight to the opponents body, and leaning slightly forward, made it much easier to swing the other leg over, to finish the arm bar.<br />
<br />
Class then moved into techniques on the ground. We worked a turn-over escape from guard. You'd sit up, take a cross the body over-hook, then bridge. Alternating sides. The objective is to trap the arm, and roll the opponent onto his back.<br />
<br />
We then moved into escapes from being mounted. The first, was a turn over. You bridge, bringing the opponent forward. They post, to keep their balance. You trap and arm, by cupping the tricep with both hands. Then, you'd pull the arm to your opposite ear. Opponent's right arm, to your right ear. You trap the shoulder, and the same-side leg, bridge, and roll into mount.<br />
<br />
The second escape from mount involved shrimping. You start, by bucking the opponent forward. Your second bridge, you shrimp onto your side, gaining space. With your lower leg, you press their leg away. Then, using your hand, you pass their knee over yours, and shrimp the opposite way, taking half-guard, and working onto the back.<br />
<br />
We then moved to breaking the turtle. The first was a turn-over into a pin. Head-to head, keeping pressure on the back, you work the right hand, under the arm, to take the near side lapel. You want to keep the thumb outside of the opponents Gi. This means that your right thumb will be pressed into their chest, and you'll have a fistful of their near-side lapel. You then cup the other arm, with your left hand at the tricep, push into the opponent, wait for them to push back, then you pull with the left hand, at the tricep, and roll into the hole on that side. Using the right hand, which is full of Gi, you roll them over, and come to your stomach.<br />
<br />
Alternately, you can use the same movement, as a choke. Instead of taking the lapel in the right hand, come across the face, then come back until you can catch the lapel. Slide the thumb in, grab the tricep with the left hand, and roll through. Your left hand should come through to grab your own lapel, slide the right hand, under the opponents chin, and rev the motorbike for the choke.<br />
<br />
The two hours flew by. I found the class to be easy-going, and friendly. The black belts teaching ranged in size from around 130lbs, to near my size, which was a welcome change. I'll definitely be back.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-39363206569311093572012-08-08T14:18:00.001-07:002012-08-08T14:18:25.418-07:00Stronglifts: Week 16Day 1: B<br />
Squat: 195lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 225lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 200lbs.<br />
Bench: 170lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 115lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 205lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 235lbs.<br />
<br />
The Mrs. is out of town through the 25th. This gives me a chance to get in nine workouts, three per week, with minimal interruption. I intend to do just that.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-26986427519596400742012-08-06T21:13:00.002-07:002012-08-06T21:13:38.669-07:00Bachelorhood Day 1The Mrs. is in Japan for the next three weeks. In order to stave off boredom, and depression I've decided I'm going to do the following:<br />
<br />
1) Exercise. I'm going to keep lifting, three times a week, and if I can manage it, I might go swimming a few times as well.<br />
2) Cleaning. I'm going to clean, and organize, the entire apartment. With the end objective of the Mrs. returning to a spotless house.<br />
3) Cooking. While I'm no great cook, I need to eat. I also need to eat actual food. In that vein, I shall cook dinner, as often as possible, and pack my lunched daily.<br />
<br />
Let's see how it goes.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-1388045778710348102012-07-26T16:46:00.002-07:002012-07-26T16:46:48.518-07:00Stronglifts: Week 15 RebootIt's been a long time since I've been in the gym, specifically 12 days. I'd like to say I had an excuse, but truthfully, there is no excuse. I got lazy. I gave up. I was upset with the Pro Club, and let that frustration keep me out of the gym.<br />
<br />
I have nobody to blame but myself.<br />
<br />
I'm dropping my squat weight, again, to 185. I have, evidently, not been hitting parallel. So, I'm going in with the idea that I'm going to lift correctly. In order to guarantee that I can focus on form I'm basically restarting. Truthfully, it hurts. It upsets me, and I'm sure in the coming weeks it's going to be incredibly hard for me to get in the gym, and lift. Yet, this is something I feel I really need to do in order to progress.<br />
<br />
Let's just hope it works.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-61410070461503848492012-07-16T15:06:00.001-07:002012-07-26T16:43:39.844-07:00Stronglifts: Week 15Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 235lbs.<br />
Bench: 160lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 110lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 185lbs.<br />
Press: 110lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 295lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 190lbs.<br />
Bench: 165lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 115lbs.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
I started this week late, which seems to be the norm. I've had trouble keeping to a three workouts a week schedule. Between house hunting, work, and other issues creeping in I find it harder, and harder, to devote the time I need to lift, and stay sane.<br />
<br />
Day 1 this week felt fantastic. De-loading on the upright row was the best decision I could have made. It felt fantastic. Squat feels good, bench continues to feel good, I'm looking forward to lifting. However, I've grown disenfranchised with the gym I'm at, and am looking forward to the first of the year when I can switch.<br />
<br />
Contracts suck.<br />
<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-66074584393587446912012-07-02T18:31:00.002-07:002012-07-16T15:00:36.187-07:00Stronglifts: Week 14<span style="background-color: white;">Day 1: B</span><br />
Squat: 280lbs.<br />
Press: 125lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 275lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 225lbs.<br />
Bench: 155lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 140lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 230lbs.<br />
Press: 110lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 285lbs.<br />
<br />
I had hoped that my squat weight would keep going up. I was pushing myself towards a goal, with nothing in mind except the weight. That's one of the dangers of lifting without a coach, or partner. You don't have anyone to keep you on the straight and narrow. I was lifting, but I'd lost sight of why. I had gone back to ignoring my body, ignoring the pain in my knees and back from poor form. I had stopped lifting for health, and enjoyment, and started lifting for weight. I should have de-loaded a few weeks back, across the board. My squat, form was falling apart, I was at my limit for bench press, and my overhead press hadn't been good since day one.<br />
<br />
It's was hard for me to admit that I was pushing too hard, too fast. That I had drifted from my stated goals into something less healthy. I dropped my weights on squat and bench last night, and while my form for squat was still shaky it was easier to control the weight, and make sure I was lifting properly. Bench was a similar experience, the weight seemed incredibly light, even with only a 40lb difference.<br />
<br />
I did not de-load my upright row, and I should have. I'll drop that weight next week as well. At present, the only lift I don't feel a need to lower is my deadlift. We'll see how that feels on Saturday.<br />
<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-20384353480281216752012-06-19T17:25:00.000-07:002012-06-26T06:54:38.499-07:00Stronglifts: Week 13Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 265lbs.<br />
Bench: 190lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 130lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 270lbs.<br />
Press: 120lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 265lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 275lbs.<br />
Bench: 190lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 135lbs.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-81771890088814157512012-06-19T12:43:00.000-07:002012-06-19T12:44:15.631-07:0012 Week Experiment: Wrap-Up14 weeks ago, I began a 12 week experiment. My goal was simple I wanted to see if I could prove, in practice, that I could lift, feel good and hopefully drop weight. I began with the following weights.<br />
<br />
Squat: 95lbs.<br />
Bench: 95lbs.<br />
Press: 50lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 50lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 95lbs.<br />
<br />
Now, 14 weeks. and 36 workouts later my weights are as follows:<br />
Squat: 260lbs.<br />
Bench: 185lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 125lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 255lbs. <br />
<br />
My weight has gone up, but given that I haven't been doing much in the way of cardio, I really can't complain. So, given that I've at least doubled my weights across the board I think I can call the experience and unqualified success.<br />
<br />
Now what?<br />
<br />
Stronglifts isn't meant to be a 12 week and you're done program. I'm still seeing nearly linear gains across the board and I feel fantastic. I plan to continue, with one key change. I'm going to start rowing after my lifting sessions. I'm not yet sure how this is going to work, time wise, as the Missus is already upset at how long my workouts take, but I feel that some sort of cardio is critical if I want to keep lifting, and lose weight.<br />
<br />
I'm going to keep the 12 week cycle. I like that, and I think it works. Basically, it gives me a concrete goal to shoot for, and helps keep me in the gym. With the added cardio, I hope to see my weights go up, and my weight go down. We shall see.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-74664230798502492162012-06-12T10:08:00.004-07:002012-06-12T10:08:57.394-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 12Day 1: B<br />
Squat: 250lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 255lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 255lbs.<br />
Bench: 185lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 125lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 260lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 255lbs.
<br />
<br />
Trying to wrap up this 12 week program, I began March 13th and am now in my 14th week. While I'm not happy about having taken two weeks longer then planned, I'm very pleased with the results overall. I could make excuses, vacation, injuries, but in the end I chose to not go to the gym, time and time again. I could have finished last week, but with work, I chose to give in to the funk, as opposed to going and lifting.<br />
<br />
That's one of the hardest parts about a self-directed program. Nobody makes you go to the gym. There's no incentive to go, there's no push. You have to get up, and you have to go. That's been hard for me. Even though I know it's good for me, even though I know I'm seeing results, and I feel fantastic, it's still hard to get up, and go.<br />
<br />
Part of it is that I dislike leaving the Missus at home. Part of it is work, stress, and a lack of time. Part of it is in the later weeks my 25-30 minute gym time became a 60-70 minute gym time. Heavier weights, longer recovery between sets, and injuries, all slow me down in the gym. However, at the end, I chose to not go. I chose to fall behind.<br />
<br />
I'm going to finish this week, and then take it easy till Monday, when I'll start over. I'm going to drop 50 or so pounds off my squat for the next 12 weeks, to work on my form. It'll take me three, or four weeks to get back to 250, but I hope in the long run it'll be beneficial. Ideally I'd like to see 315 in my next 12 weeks. It's totally doable, and it would certainly put a smile on my face.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-41278908433036627992012-05-29T14:51:00.002-07:002012-05-29T14:51:33.128-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 11Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 235lbs.<br />
Bench: 175lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 130lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 240lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 245lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 245lbs.<br />
Bench: 180lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 135lbs.
<br />
<br />
"Accumulating injuries are the price we pay for the thrill of not having sat around on our asses."<br />
- Mark Rippetoe<br />
<br />
Every now and again a quote, a quip, a bit of wisdom comes by at just the right time. Last week I ran across the quote above as I was rehabbing an injured hip, and feeling grumpy over a missed workout. For those who don't know, Mark Rippetoe is a national level strength training coach, and one of the pioneers of peer-reviewed strength training. His quote not only made me smile, it got me out of a slump, and back into the gym.<br />
<br />
I've also been thinking a lot, as this experiment winds to a close, about the future. What comes after? Stronglifts isn't meant to be a 12 week program, then on to the next. Stronglifts is meant to be a long term investment, with a 12 week "intro" as I near the end of my 12 weeks, I feel strongly that I should continue, and that continuing would be beneficial. However, I spent some time asking myself why. I ran, a fair amount, to train for the Corporate Challenge, I've done Judo, and BJJ, on and off for years. Yet nothing has ever come as easily, or with the same enjoyment as weight lifting. In the end, after much consideration I've come to the following conclusions:<br />
<br />
1) I'm not a runner, I never have been, Biologically I'm simply not built to be a runner. I loathe the activity, and only enjoy running when it's the final 100m kick to the end.<br />
2) I'm a recreational martial artist. Simply put, the dedication required to be good escapes me. I don't want to train four, or five, days a week, for hours at a time. I don't want to be away from my wife for that long. On top of that, I'm too competitive to know that I'll never be good at my current involvement while at the same time knowing I'm not willing to give more.<br />
<br />
What does this have to do with lifting heavy things? I guess, when you find something you're good at, and makes you happy, do it. Even if that thing is lifting heavy things, then putting them back down.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-62840139447966591602012-05-20T17:21:00.000-07:002012-05-24T10:34:55.181-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 10Day 1: B<br />
Squat: 225lbs.<br />
Press: 110lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 225lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 230lbs.<br />
Bench: 170lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 125lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 230lbs.<br />
Press: 115lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 235lbs.<br />
<br />
The second day this week went poorly, to say the least. I've hurt my hip, and I'm finding it hard to lift significant weight. I aggravated the injury on Monday, when I attempted to squat 230lbs. I dropped the weight, and considered scrapping the entire session. In the end I finished, but my form on the forth, and fifth sets was so poor as to be almost not worth considering.<br />
<br />
I took several days off, to let my hip recover, and I'm going back tonight to pick up where I left off. Unfortunately, with being out of town this weekend that means that I won't finish this week until Tuesday of next week.<br />
<br />
This pushes Week 11 out through when I should have been finishing the program. It's not terrible, just a little frustrating.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-62740980664756345282012-05-10T09:48:00.003-07:002012-05-20T17:22:35.901-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 9Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 210lbs.<br />
Bench: 160lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 115lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 215lbs.<br />
Press: 105lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 215lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 220lbs.<br />
Bench: 165lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 120lbs.<br />
<br />
Had my first hiccup at the tail end of week 8. As a result both my squat, and overhead press won't go up for the first lift of this week. I'm confident the squat was just a hiccup, but the press worries me. It's not a lot of weight, but my shoulders have always been a problem for me.<br />
<br />
Part of me is shocked that I've kept this up for 8 weeks already and have only slipped one workout behind. I keep telling myself that I'll catch up, but I guess it doesn't really matter. I'm lifting, I feel fantastic, and I've started to include cardio in my off days. This should help me lose some weight.<br />
<br />
All in all, I feel good. I'm lifting, and I'm curious to see how this all turns out.<br />
<br />
<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-25407756407401695022012-05-04T09:48:00.001-07:002012-05-04T09:48:03.533-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 8 Day 1: B<br />
Squat: 200lbs.<br />
Press: 100lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 195lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 205lbs.<br />
Bench: 155lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 110lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 210lbs.<br />
Press: 105lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 205lbs.<br />
<br />
Not much to say, keep adding weight, keep lifting. Form is improving, and I'm feeling fantastic. Not much of a visible change, but I'm ok with that. I hit 200 last night (Day 1) and am looking forward to the start of week 10, where I should hit 225.<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-57031048235133014902012-04-27T11:01:00.001-07:002012-04-27T11:02:28.312-07:00Two Inch DifferenceIt's common knowledge that the squat is one of the best, if not the best, exercise for your lower body. Executed properly a squat works your legs, hips, and core muscles. Helps to strengthen your back, and generally will make everything below your belly button bigger, firmer, and sexy as hell.<br />
<br />
The Squat, done properly, is also a great exercise to rehab your knees. Have knee pain? Stiffness? Then squat. Build up the weight slowly, and you'll see a sharp reduction, to complete elimination of knee pain. For the past six and a half weeks I've been squatting regularly. For the first six weeks I had no knee pain, and at worse a twinge in my lower back. However after my workout last Saturday my knees were on fire. Absolutely screaming. I stretched, and babied them over the weekend and tried to figure out what I had done wrong. My previous workout, at 180lbs itself shouldn't have caused the amount of pain I was experiencing, so what had gone wrong?<br />
<br />
As I was stretching, and doing a few Hindu Squats, I realized I was compensating for the pain in my knees by rolling forward as I came up out of a squat. Imagine this, when you're doing a full squat your knees shouldn't come forward of your toes. You should drop your butt backwards, drop into a squat, then drive your hips forward to stand. This motion engages the muscles in the legs and keeps your knees from having to support the weight. This is the major reason why squats, done properly, are good for your knees. You don't lift with your knees, but with your legs, and hips strengthening the muscles that support your knees. By rolling forward I was, in effect, lifting with my calves, and knees. A recipe for disaster.<br />
<br />
With the source of the pain located, my bad form, I set about rectifying the problem. For years I've squatted high bar. Where the bar rests across the top of my traps, at the base of my neck. This is how I learned to squat back in High School and I've never taken the time to re-learn. High bar squats are easy to do, it's a fairly natural position for the bar, and it's easy to control the bar. However I was finding that at higher weight two thing were happening. First, the bar was rolling forward as I squatted putting pressure on my neck. While not painful this certainly wasn't comfortable. As I looked into the cause of my bad form I found that high bar squat, as it placed the bar higher on your body, and forward of your center of gravity caused two issues. One, you were more prone to arch your back, which would explain the back pain I was feeling, and two you took more of the weight on your knees. I figured something had to change.<br />
<br />
So, I went back to <a href="http://stronglifts.com/">StrongLifts.com</a> and looked at how they suggested you squat. I figure the program I was following might have some suggestions. Their suggestion, was to squat low bar. In a low bar squat you don't place the bar on top of your trapezius where I had been squatting, but instead on top of your deltoids. In layman's terms, if you run a finger down the back of your neck you will find a bony bump, right at the base of your neck. Just past that is where you squat high bar, and it's the bar pressing on that nub of bone that causes pain. For low bar, imagine you're squeezing a pencil between your shoulders, Your arms back, elbows pointed behind you at a roughly 30-45 degree angle. If you're holding this posture, and roll your head back you'll feel a shelf of muscle. Those are your deltoids. Large slabs of muscle that cross your shoulders onto your back.<br />
<br />
When squatting low bar you place the bar on this shelf of muscle. The difference is a matter of inches. The difference in the lift is incredible. Having the bar further back forces you to squat with a straighter back, and more upright posture. This eliminates back pain. Having the weight behind you forces you to drop back under the bar, in a good squat form, and makes it difficult, to nearly impossible, to come forward onto your toes to engage your calves. This further protects your knees.<br />
<br />
In short, I did five sets, or five reps, at 185lbs and have no knee pain, and no back pain. Though I will admit my butt is a little stiff.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-22799188135345575722012-04-24T10:27:00.001-07:002012-05-04T09:44:11.212-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 7Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 185lbs.<br />
Bench: 145lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 100lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 190lbs.<br />
Press: 95lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 185lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 195lbs.<br />
Bench: 150lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 105lbs.<br />
<br />
Squat form has degraded a little, I realized last night, as I wrapped up week 6, that as I was coming out of a squat I was coming forward to engage my calves more. While this will help me keep up the linear gains I've been enjoying it's not good for my knees. I need to be mindful of my form in my later sets.<br />
<br />
Deadlift is getting heavy too, even though it's less weight then my squat, and I have no trouble getting the bar off the ground my grip isn't quite up to par. Something else to work on I guess.<br />
<br />
I was shocked I completed my push press last night as well, 90lbs doesn't seem like much but pressing that much over your head gets heavy quick.<br />
<br />
The objective is to start running this week as well, to see if I can't cut some weight while lifting. Let's see if the weather cooperates.<br />
<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-57244899050221295862012-04-17T09:54:00.000-07:002012-04-17T09:54:22.346-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 6Day 1: B<br />
Squat: 170lbs.<br />
Press: 85lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 165lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 175lbs.
<br />
Bench: 140lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 95lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 180lbs.
<br />
Press: 90lbs.
<br />
Deadlift: 175lbs.<br />
<br />
I'm still off track, I meant to get back to a normal schedule last week, but life conspired against me. In short, I finished week 4 last night, and will hopefully get all three lifts for week 5 done during week 5. If it doesn't work, I guess I'll try week 6.<br />
<br />
I got through my first Bench milestone. 135lbs, and it went up smoothly. Frankly, it was the only thing that went well last night. Rows hurt, squat hurt, everything hurt. I'm at the point where I need to do warm-ups for all of my lifts, and that means spending more time in the gym then I'm used to. While this isn't a bad thing I'm used to in, and out, in thirty minutes or less. With the added lifts, and rest between sets, especially on squat, I'm not getting out of the gym until 45 minutes. While that's not terrible, it's a pain.<br />
<br />
In better news all my lifts continue to go up. Let's see how long it lasts.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-25408145931746322912012-04-09T11:22:00.003-07:002012-04-09T11:23:44.609-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 5 Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 155lbs.<br />
Bench: 130lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 85lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 160<br />
Press: 80lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 155lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 165lbs.<br />
Bench: 135lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 90lbs.<br />
<br />
I get to be a little creative this week. The Easter festivities threw me off week 4, so my third workout for last week is happening tonight. Then, week 5 will be Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. I'm going to be so sore by the end of the week.<br />
<br />
I've also started playing with Fitocracy. (<a href="http://www.fitocracy.com/">http://www.fitocracy.com</a>) Basically, it's a website to track exercise. While that's certainly nothing new they have a few nice features. First, a really clean interface. It took me less than five minutes to log in, and enter my first workout. As you exercise, and track your workouts, you gain points, and can complete quests. There are achievements, discussion lists, and groups. Think social networking meets exercise. Achievements, and quests, are there to convince you to try new things. Ranging from free weights, to swimming, sports, and running they run the gamut from trivially simple, to asininely hard. However, the points awarded scale. So, if you're a nut-job cyclist, and you complete the 2,000 mile bike achievement you'll gain a suitably impressive number of points.<br />
<br />
All in all it's provided me with a fun way to brag about my workouts.<br />
<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-83348608901778792972012-04-02T16:29:00.002-07:002012-04-02T16:29:36.466-07:00Soapbox: FatI've tried to move away from letting things on Facebook bother me. However, in spite of my best efforts, something drags me back. Something is posted, or said, or referenced that simply gets my blood boiling. So, instead of ranting, and screaming, at the offending individual I'll retreat to my little piece of cyberspace and rant and scream here. If you don't wish to listen, or care, then that's just fine by me.<br />
<br />
I've written about health, fitness, and my issues with viewing weight as a protected status. I thought I had buried that hatchet. I thought I had moved past that. I guess not. My latest blood-boiling bit of internet lunacy is as follows:<br />
<br />
<i>"Activism works! We pointed out a problem to Planned Parenthood, asked them to fix it and suggest how, and they did what we asked! They've removed "obesity" from their list of health problems facing Alaska on this press release. Thanks to everyone who wrote e-mails and participated in this, another little step."</i><br />
<br />
Before I get to why this sent me into hypertensive hell let me explain the "cause" that Ragen Chastain of <a href="http://danceswithfat.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Dances With Fat</a> champions. She is a dancer, and admitted "fat person" she follows, and preaches a philosophy of "Behavior-Centered Health" in which the choices you make, and the lifestyle you lead are the important parts, not a particular weight or size. That all sounds great, right? No need to complain about people making healthy choices. However, she goes on to explain that her goals are as follows:
<br />
<ol>
<li>Accepting and respecting the diversity of body shapes and sizes</li>
<li>Recognizing that health and well-being are multi-dimensional and that they include physical, social, spiritual, occupational, emotional, and intellectual aspects</li>
<li>Promoting all aspects of health and well-being for people of all sizes</li>
<li>Promoting eating in a manner which balances individual nutritional needs, hunger, satiety, appetite, and pleasure</li>
<li>Promoting individually appropriate, enjoyable, life-enhancing physical activity, rather than exercise that is focused on a goal of weight loss</li>
</ol>
<div>
Again, nothing here really screams "blood-boiling rage" does it?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll go through her points one at a time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Accepting and respecting the diversity of body shapes and sizes</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Ragen's idea of respect goes something like this, if you're fat, GREAT! Nobody can tell you you're fat, or charge you more for insurance, or not hire you, or anything else, simply because of you're weight. Respect is never having to lose weight, or conform to an evil negative-body image. When you do that, it damages your self-esteem, and you're a fragile delicate flower.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Recognizing that health and well-being are multi-dimensional and that they include physical, social, spiritual, occupational, emotional, and intellectual aspects</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll be the first to admit that health is not black and white. That weight is hardly the last word on fitness. However, physical health, and emotional health are two entirely different animals. You can love your job, and yourself, and still be completely physically unhealthy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Promoting all aspects of health and well-being for people of all sizes</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
No issue with this one. Except that she has to tie it back to size.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Promoting eating in a manner which balances individual nutritional needs, hunger, satiety, appetite, and pleasure</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
There's nothing better then a 20oz prime rib, medium-rare, with a loaded baker, and a salad, with cheese, onions, and ranch. That's pleasure on a plate. Guess what? That's not healthy. If I'm going to eat like that I'm going to pay for it, either in the gym, or on the scale. That's life. Health, and "culinary pleasure" are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but one can't feel good by eating nothing but ice cream, until sated, and then get mad when they gain weight. When they are not healthy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Promoting individually appropriate, enjoyable, life-enhancing physical activity, rather than exercise that is focused on a goal of weight loss</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
On paper, this is just fine. But how do you track exercise if not through caloric expenditure? I can walk on a treadmill, at 0 incline, for hours, but it doesn't really do anything. I can say it's "life-enhancing" till I'm blue in the face, but it doesn't make it exercise, any more then a Milky Way is diet food.<br />
<br />
So, let's go back to the quote above, I'll re-post it, to save you scrolling up:<br />
<br />
<i>"Activism works! We pointed out a problem to Planned Parenthood, asked them to fix it and suggest how, and they did what we asked! They've removed "obesity" from their list of health problems facing Alaska on this press release. Thanks to everyone who wrote e-mails and participated in this, another little step."</i>
<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
They "pointed out" that obesity isn't a health problem in Alaska. Guess what? Just because PPH caved and took obesity off the list doesn't mean that the obesity epidemic goes away, or that all the obese people in Alaska are suddenly fit, and happy. All it does is hide the problem. Congratulations, you're "activism" has buried a segment of the population, preventing them from getting help. Feel good?<br />
<br />
I'm sure it does.</div>
</div>Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-5084030239438691602012-04-02T15:43:00.000-07:002012-04-02T15:43:43.930-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 4<br />
Day 1: B<br />
Squat: 140lbs.<br />
Press: 70lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 135lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: A<br />
Squat: 145lbs.<br />
Bench: 125lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 80lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: B<br />
Squat: 150<br />
Press: 75lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 145lbs.<br />
<br />
I went back and cleaned up Week 3, there's a new Blogger interface, it's slick, but it likes to add random blank lines. It's not too bad if I remember to go back and clean everything up but when I forget you have random lines where they shouldn't be. Anyway.<br />
<br />
Finished up Week 3 last night. At present I'm one quarter of the way through this little experiment. Frankly, if we take away the fact that my lower back is sore, I've managed three weeks of fairly solid lifting without injury. I received my first compliment at the gym the other day. Generally I show up, lift, and go home, yet in the middle of my Day 2 workout a younger guy came up to me and complimented me on my squat form. It was odd, to say the least.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I wanted to get up on my soapbox and rage a bit, but I think it's better I keep my training, and my politics separate. For the good of all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-60376292528873439992012-03-28T17:30:00.000-07:002012-04-02T14:27:47.472-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 3Day 1: A<br />
Squat: 125lbs.<br />
Bench: 115lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 70lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 2: B<br />
Squat: 130lbs.<br />
Press: 65lbs.<br />
Deadlift: 125lbs.<br />
<br />
Day 3: A<br />
Squat: 135lbs.<br />
Bench: 120lbs.<br />
Upright Row: 75lbs.<br />
<br />
I had my Day 1 workout last night. Evidently 125lbs is the point where squats start to "feel" heavy. I was still able to do my full routine with minimal rest between sets. However, there's that moment when you square up, with the bar across your shoulders, and a little voice in your head says "Hey buddy, this shit's heavy!" I got that voice last night.<br />
<br />
It's funny, The Mrs. once yelled at me, while I was lifting, saying that I was thinking about it too much. She, at the time, was right. But last night the one point I had on my side is that I knew the weight on my back was only 5lbs heavier then the previous workout. So, I could logic through that if I had easily gone 120lbs only a few days earlier then there was no reason I shouldn't be able to do 125lbs today.<br />
<br />
I think that's the biggest advantage of an incremental program. Even if you don't see the same results that you would with a more traditional split program you have the emotional safety net that it's only 5lbs more than last time in the gym. That, for me at least, is a huge help when I hit mental hurdles. Certain weights, regardless of my ability to lift them, always pose a problem. 135lbs, 225lbs, and 315lbs are huge hurdles, mentally.<br />
<br />
There's something about that first, second, and third set of 45lb plates that makes my knees weak. Even if I know I can lift a given weight, seeing those plates makes me doubt myself. That's another big gym hurdle. Getting out of your head enough to lift, and lift heavy, but not losing your focus, and the knowledge that the weight on your back isn't much scarier then the weight was two days ago.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning, I'll hit one of those milestones. I feel good, let's see if I'm overconfident.Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-46031928191007723472012-03-21T08:41:00.003-07:002012-03-28T17:19:20.508-07:0012 Week Experiment: Week 2I had a slight hiccup week 1, so I doubled up a workout to start week 2. Once the weights get higher I won't be able to do that, but at the moment the only ill effects I have from back-to-back workouts is a bit of tenderness in my shoulders.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Week 2, day 1, last night was a total of 22 minutes from start to finish. Just goes to show that when the gym is empty, and you know what you're doing you can get in, and out, really quickly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My weights for Week 2 are as follows:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day 1: B</div>
<div>
Squat: 110lbs.</div>
<div>
Press: 55lbs.</div>
<div>
Deadlift: 105lbs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day 2: A</div>
<div>
<div>
Squat: 115lbs.</div>
<div>
Bench: 110lbs.</div>
<div>
Upright Row: 65lbs.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day 3: B</div>
<div>
<div>
Squat: 120lbs.</div>
<div>
Press: 60lbs.</div>
<div>
Deadlift: 115lbs.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One thing I noticed. I should be deadlifting roughly 1.5 times my squat. Lifting a weight from the ground to hip height is easier then a full high-bar squat. However, with my starting weights, until I de-load, my squats will always be slightly heavier. I'm not terribly worried though. My lower back has always been an issue for me, and deadlifts, with a steady increase in weight should help that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I bumped my Day 2 Row up 5lbs to 65 lbs. For an upright row the bar needs to come to rest between each rep. The smallest bumper plate my gym has is 10lbs. So, 65lbs is the smallest amount I can row without needing to cobble together a riser of some sort. So, I "cheated" and went from 55lbs, to 65lbs. The lifts were still easy, and I'm progressing well.</div>Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-78001676638175565432012-03-13T09:38:00.003-07:002012-04-11T18:13:00.978-07:0012 Week ExperimentThis morning my weight was 310.8lbs. Not my heaviest, but close. Evidently the life of a bachelor was not kind on my waistline.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today I'm beginning an experiment. I've dabbled with StrongLifts 5x5 in the past, with solid results. However, I've often lacked the nutritional component. Now, with the Mrs. and I eating pescetarian the dietary side of the equation should be well in hand.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While I have dabbled in StrongLisfts in the past the goal in this experiment is to allow the program to run it's full 12 week course more or less un-altered. My starting lifts are listed below:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Squat: 95lbs.</div>
<div>
Bench: <span style="font-size: 100%;">95lbs.</span></div>
<div>
Press: <span style="font-size: 100%;">50lbs.</span></div>
<div>
Upright Row: 50lbs.</div>
<div>
Deadlift: <span style="font-size: 100%;">95lbs.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;">While StrongLifts recommends beginning with an empty bar, and I will be warming up with an empty bar, I do not intend to start at 45lbs for my lifts. Including this modification will get me to a weight that is still easy, and will allow me to work on form, and technique, without forcing me to wait additional weeks to reach a semi-challenging weight.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Each week I will be lifting three times, most likely Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On those days I will record my body weight and current lifts. At the end of the 12 week cycle, I'll post side-by-side photos from week 1, day 1, and week 12, day 3. I will then begin another 12 week cycle.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;">My objective with this experiment is not to prove the validity of the StrongLifts program as that has already been done time and time again. I'm looking to prove that I can lift regularly, on a </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">pescetarian diet, without sacrificing results, or incurring injury.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Day 1 : A</span></div>
<div>
<div>
Squat: 95lbs.</div>
<div>
Bench: 95lbs.</div>
<div>
Upright Row: 50lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;">Day 2 : B</span></div>
<div>
<div>
Squat: 100lbs.</div>
<div>
Press: 50lbs.</div>
<div>
Deadlift: 95lbs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: 16px;">Day 3 : A</span></div>
<div>
<div>
Squat: 105lbs.</div>
<div>
Bench: 100lbs.</div>
<div>
Upright Row: 55lbs.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Five sets, five reps. I'll see you in 12 weeks.</div>Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-37716291695019175632012-03-02T11:43:00.003-08:002012-03-02T11:59:22.721-08:00Religion & Politics<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I do my best to keep my religious views to myself. Mostly because I simply don't have the stomach for religious debate. I'm an atheist. I was for a long time an </span>Agnostic<span style="font-size: 100%;">, in so much that I didn't know, or really care, one way or the other. However recent changes, recent shifts in the socio-political climate have forced me to re-evaluate my position.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I guess I don't have to be PC, so I'll be blunt. Religion is a disease. Not belief, not faith. Faith is a good thing, believing in something is a good thing. Religion is terrifying.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Years ago a group of fairly smart guys got together and decided to make a country. They decided to do something that was </span>unprecedented<span style="font-size: 100%;"> at the time. They built a country on a foundation that the church, and the state, should be </span>separate<span style="font-size: 100%;"> entities. They did not say that there could be no church, only that the government and the church should be wholly </span>separate<span style="font-size: 100%;"> entities. Over the years this belief has grown, and has been </span>interpreted<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to mean not just a freedom to practice any religion as you see fit, and to worship, within reason, where, and how you please but that you can be free from religion.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I'd like to stress that point, we as Americans have a constitutional right of freedom </span><b style="font-size: 100%; ">FROM</b><span style="font-size: 100%;"> religion. Yet in many places being an Atheist, or Agnostic is looked down upon, you're shunned, and reviled, for not believing in God. Furthermore, over the years the line between church and state has blurred. "Under God" entered the pledge of </span>Allegiance<span style="font-size: 100%;">. Prayer enter public school, "In god we trust" is on every bill printed. Presidential </span>candidates<span style="font-size: 100%;"> stand and proclaim their religious fervor, and arrange photo opportunities in church on Sunday.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I have no issue with faith, belief, or the practice of your faith. I have an issue with religion, especially when religion influences politics. Once particular point that has been particularly troublesome for me in recent months is how </span>religious<span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span>belief<span style="font-size: 100%;"> is impacting modern medicine.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">1) If a pharmacist doesn't believe in contraception he, or she, should not be able to refuse to dispense medicine to a patient with a valid </span>prescription<span style="font-size: 100%;">. If they do refuse they should be stripped of their license.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">2) A doctor, should not lecture, or attempt to influence a patient based on his, or her, </span>religious <span style="font-size: 100%;">beliefs. If a woman comes to you for birth control, an abortion, or any family planning service you leave your religious views at the door. If you cannot then you shouldn't be a doctor. If a doctor attempts to influence a patient based on his or her </span>religious<span style="font-size: 100%;"> views they should lose their license. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">3) Any individual who attempts to mandate a doctors behavior based on their </span>religious<span style="font-size: 100%;"> views is no more fit for politics then my dog.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I guess, in short, I'm tired of religion running politics, </span>influencing<span style="font-size: 100%;"> medicine, and public policy. I'm tired of my country falling apart because we're too busy arguing about abortion, and birth control, as opposed to worrying about economic policy, poverty, warmongering, graft, theft, fraud, and a dozen other issues that have crippled this country yet they get no more then a soundbite sandwiched between Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News's latest "reporting".</span></span></div>Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-26550558062307633112012-01-31T14:38:00.000-08:002012-01-31T15:39:31.345-08:00Blue and Yellow and Purple PillsI tend to avoid questioning people, at least those I'm not close to. I try to avoid shoving my views, my morality, down other people throats. However, there are days, and topics, that just piss me off.<div><br /></div><div>It's irrational, I know, it doesn't make anything better, but some days I simply have to say what's in my head to stay sane. I hate pills. I frankly hate modern medicine.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been depressed, on and off for years. I've even been called "clinically depressed" whatever the hell that means. I'm still not sure. I've had anger issues, and I've most certainly got a temper. However, the one thing I've avoided, that holy grail of modern medicine, pills.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sure, I'll take an Advil, and I've taken antibiotics, I'm not against curing disease, I'm against the all out crusade to "fix" everyone. No, your child does not have ADHD, your child is a normal kid who doesn't get enough exercise between school, and coming home to sit in front of the TV. No, your child is not autistic, and most likely doesn't have Asperger's either. You've just neglected to tell them it's not ok to act out in public, or you've ignored them to the point where they will do anything for attention, even negative attention.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, you're depressed, that's great, stop taking pills, and go for a run. Get in shape, move, lift something heavy, put it down, rinse and repeat. If you can't sleep then make sure you're plenty tired, get up the same time every day, establish a rhythm, and stick to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not rocket science.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, let's be clear, I'm not saying there is never a call for a pill, or a medical treatment. However, there doesn't need to be a pill for everything. Something not right? I'd bet good money it's diet, or lifestyle that at the least aggravates the problem, and fixing that would fix whatever issue you're choking down pills to repress.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's the big issue, in my mind. A pill doesn't fix, at least not usually, a pill represses, controls, manages. Pills don't fix. If you got fixed by a pill, then you wouldn't still need the pill, and that's bad for business. It's one of the reasons I don't ever think we will find a cure for cancer, or the common cold, or AIDS. Not for a lack of desire, but simply because treating is so much more profitable then curing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to me. I've been having a bad time, depression, lack of motivation, the usual. Guess what? I got up, and dragged my ass to the gym, and I lifted heavy things, then went home. It took me roughly half an hour from changing into my shorts, to being back in my car. Now, a week and three workouts later, I feel much better, I'm sleeping better, I'm feeling better, and I'm eating better.</div><div><br /></div><div>Guess what I'm not doing? I didn't take one single pill.</div>Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2154519022840141197.post-47320982395593310972012-01-16T14:03:00.000-08:002012-01-16T14:16:33.496-08:00It's a "Holiday"No, I don't have work off.<div><br /></div><div>It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There's an image floating around, with a number of flesh-tone crayons, of all the usual colors, pink, cream, tan, brown, etc. with the caption "Not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"</div><div><br /></div><div>At first I thought it was a cute, if somewhat cliched picture. All the colors of human skin, represented by crayons, all with the title "flesh" as if to say we're all human. Which, I guess we are.</div><div><br /></div><div>But as the picture kept popping up on my news feed, over and over, I realized that it bothered me. It wasn't the image that bothered me, it was the fact that the subtext at least in my mind was that we're all the same, and that if everybody would just get along everything would be just fine. That bothers me, because, if we look at the quote in it's entirety Martin Luther King Jr. stressed that people should be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their <b>character</b>. Emphasis mine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet this image, that keeps being shared on Facebook gets it wrong. Nothing in the image mentions, or evokes a feeling of character. It simply mentions the color or skin, or crayon, in this metaphor. The issue is that we haven't yet gotten over the issue of color.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been called racist, and maybe I am. But I'm willing to look past color, creed, religion, orientation, and culture. I'm willing to see past the clothes, and the skin, and the materialistic trappings, if the character is there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't care if you're black, white, or blue. I care that you're a decent human being and no spread of crayons with a cute caption is going to change the fact that if you're weak morally, if you lack the force of character, then nobody has anything to judge you on then the color of your skin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's see if by next year at this time we can find an image macro for that.</div>Christopher Myerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.com1