Simple Beauty (Sensuality)

This is a subject I've had a mind to write about for a long time, but never got around to it. It may also be a bit controversial, because of  the negative connotations associated with some of the words I used.

So to start things off, let me clarify somethings.

Sensual simply means "pleasing to the senses". So eating your favorite desert, having a relaxing bath, looking at a good picture, listening to your favorite music, all count as sensual. Remember that for when I use this word. Pleasing to the senses.

Simple Beauty means something that is sensual in a more specific way, most typically with sight and hearing.

Both of these things, sensuality and beauty, have been perverted these days. It is now common for "beauty" to be exchangeable with "hot" or "sexy" when talking about women. The word sensual is now often similar in meaning to sexual. Where did all this come from?

That is why I have begun using the term "Simple Beauty". It means something is beautiful, enjoyable, on a very simple level. Think of a sunset, or a smiling face.

Less then 24 hours before typing this, I actually took a camera out to get some shots of things that seem "sensual" to me, pleasing to my senses. Here is an example of the Simple Beauty I enjoy in my life:

An untouched photo I took in the woods

 Just a picture of the ground and some leaves. Nothing special, but I enjoy the way it looks and I enjoyed being out in the forest. I have described the forest as sensual before when talking with my friends. I enjoy the bright, vibrant greens, the lush vegetation, the look of all the trees and being alone in nature. It is a feeling of appreciation and enjoyment I will probably never lose, no matter how I feel at the time or how far in the future my ventures into the forest may be. This is the essence of Simple Beauty, something that you can enjoy unashamed at any time.

Another example is this song I've been listening to non-stop while writing this:




I simply enjoy hearing it. By that definition, it is also sensual. And rather empowering, when you listen to it loud enough.

There are many examples of things I find sensual, but that's not entirely what I'm talking about here.

I'm writing this because I've noticed that these words have become marred, or perverted, as I said above.

One way this has happened, I have found, is that a guy can't simply acknowledge that a girl is beautiful anymore. To do so would suddenly mean that he wants to date her or something. I don't get this. If someone looks good... why not acknowledge this and move on with your life? For instance, when someone says that a sunset looks really good it doesn't mean they want to marry it.

Yet one more example from me. After seeing the movie Hunger Games, I was very impressed with both the performance and looks of Jennifer Lawrence, so I made this my new background on my phone:

 

It's simple. I enjoy it as my background. That and I had been using a picture of wolverine for the past two years, so it was time for a change.

My point is we should enjoy things for their beauty, for the way the please our senses. Not go overboard and lust after them or pervert our feelings or anything. Enjoy a sunset, enjoy a friendly smile. This type of simple pleasure to the eyes is what I mainly call Simple Beauty. The best example for explaining it would be in a girl. A girl who exhibits Simple Beauty is one you just enjoy seeing or being around. Not that you have a crush on her or anything, or that she looks "hot" or "sexy", which seem to be the mainstream ideal these days. She could be a complete stranger, but she lights up your day. You may say "hi", you may not. She may or may not be wearing or doing anything special.

I've encountered this many times so far. The briefest was when I was at the store (buying eggs I think). The cashier had a wonderful smile that lit up my day. When I paid for the eggs, I began walking away, then turned back around and said "oh, that's a nice smile you have" or something to that effect. She exhibited simple beauty. I enjoyed that simple beauty then moved on with my day.

So, enjoy the simple things in life. You don't have to go after every person you think is attractive, but don't feel bad to acknowledge that they are attractive. Don't be ashamed to say that a flower is beautiful or sensual if you enjoy looking at it. Heck, I've even called the eggs I cook myself sensual because they feel so good after I eat them!

Enjoy the Simple Beauty of life.

The Simple Life

So in America today, it is Thanksgiving. People are eating a huge amount of food (and probably getting drunk) while watching the game on big screen tv's, having big family get togethers, and following the tradition of cooking turkey and other various foods, even if no one really like's 'em.

Well I decided to make a short little post about what I am truly thankful for. It's not the food, not the traditions and customs, not even anything specific.

I am just thankful that every night when I go to bed, I can honestly say to myself "today was a good day" no matter what happened. I am thankful that I am contented with the life I have been blessed with. I am thankful for my simple life.

May you be thankful for each day as well. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Cold Steel and Winter's Fury

I wanted to pick a dramatic(ish) title for today. It seems I'm taking a temporary leave from the deep, philosophical stuff for a little while and going onto the simpler stuff.

Winter's coming. My least favorite time of year. Why is that? The cold. I really, really do not like the cold. The part that makes it worse is that I adjusted to the Texas summer a little to well. Anything below 70 degrees felt a little chilly at first, once things began to cool off. It will get much colder now. And since I prefer to sweat as opposed to shiver if I have the choice, this will not be fun or easy.

Oh, but it gets better! I actually mean that too. Bova's back! If you don't know who that is, don't worry. Check out my last post. Anyway, because of this I've been inspired to spend the next little bit of this year getting in tip top shape! That means, however, that not only will I be continuing training during the time of year where most people slack off and when it's coldest, I will actually be training harder and being more strict. I also train in my backyard, which will suck. No heating, just winter's cold bite. So that means if I want to keep warm, I gotta dress it. But I still have to work. And... the barbell will be really freaking cold.

So, that's the reason I named this post "Cold Steel of Winter's Fury". I will be lifting cold steel out in cold of winter's "fury". When pretty much the entire world will be slacking off because of the cold and the holidays, I will be trying to ramp things up. If I can keep it up, New Year's will come around and I'll be in the best shape of my life, and everyone else will be recovering from their holiday binge and starting their New Year's resolutions. From there, I can just sit back and watch everyone else mess around for a few days/weeks/months until they give up.

Beyond that news, about the love/hate relationship I will be having with my weights, there are a couple other things:

One, Bova's back! I'll probably be mentioning him in almost every post from now on as well.

Oh, and Tried and True Fitness has made a new book that I would really like as well: http://www.getaclassicbody.com/ (to a certain few people reading this, that's one of my Christmas wishes ;).

Jackie is coming with a new cd on the 1st, waiting for that. Also listening to a pre-released single from the cd as I work on this post (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwk2lQOdE7I) Can I go a single post without mentioning her?

Skyrim! On the 11th, one of the best games ever will come out. I am also hoping to get in great shape for that so I can take a week off training for "recovery" as I play a barbarian in the snow topped mountains hunting dragons. My plan is to be as muscular as my character.

So, I think that's it for now. One more thing though! Don't slack off on a healthy life style just because it's cold and it's the holidays. Be better then everyone else, and push through. If you don't want to be weak like everyone else, you can't live like everyone else. If you want to be strong and healthy in a way normal people aren't, you can't live like normal people. Want to be better then everyone you know? Live better then everyone you know. Don't want to feel sick this year like everybody else? Don't be like everybody else!

May you join me in feeling the Bite of Cold Steel and Winter's Fury!

"Here's my money. Take it, PLEASE!"

There are times where I wish I had the money to actually say that. That is because, there are times where I know my money will be so well spent, I don't even have to think about it. There are two reasons I'm talking about this right now; two people who sell things that I enjoy and use so much I don't even need to know what it is they are selling. Tell me they're selling something new, and take my money.

Of course, there are many others out there who sell stuff I trust and use, but not quite on this level. So these two people I'm talking about, they are Anthony Bova and Jackie Evancho. The reason I am willing to buy what they sell? I trust them, and know that anything I buy from them will change my life and will be used until the day I die.

Why am I even talking about this? Well, to promote the names (I want people to hear about what they do and sell), and to tell you a bit more about me.

So first off, Anthony Bova. I only know of one, maybe two people who read this blog who might know what that is (Specialist, if you read this, "Remember us", don't let them down ;). For everyone else, Bova is the author of the "Spartan Health Regimen". If I were to describe anything as the "bible" for physical health, this would be it.

What I mean by that, is it teaches you the basic principles of health and how to apply them in such a simple, down to earth way that you can always refer to it. This program doesn't tell you what you should eat for each meal, how many carbs you should have on Tuesday, or how often you should train biceps. It does, however, tell you the simple truths behind health.

After reading it, it became very easy to understand what food is truly healthy. And by healthy, I mean real health. Health that keeps you lean, strong, fast, active, and NOT sick. A healthy that radiates from your skin, eyes, hair, attitude, etc.

Bova tells you what past civilizations did to achieve this type of health, and also some experiments he has done on himself (with real world results) with how foods work and simple, effective ways to stay fit. He tells you some exercises and basic routines that can be used to achieve great strength and power (along with a well chiseled body), and these work too.

But of course, it's the principles he teaches that are most important. The recipes, exercises, etc. he outlines are just examples of how to apply these principles (examples that, in many cases, he has spent years refining). After getting his Spartan Health Regimen for my 15th birthday, I've been healthier and stronger then I ever have been (and healthier then probably everyone else I know). The only times I've gotten "sick" at all has been when I walk off the Spartan "path" and eat normal food. After seeing, and experiencing, the effectiveness of his program, I wouldn't have a problem shelling out money for anything new he has to sell.

To be honest, the entire reason I'm writing this article is because he recently sent out an email saying he's back into action and promoting his stuff again (along with making new programs, answering emails, etc.) I was so excited when I got his email that my first two responses were "BOVA'S BACK!" and "If only I had some money". That last response, of course, would have been "Here's my money. Take it, PLEASE!" if I had actually had any cash to spare. But alas, the world is a cruel place.

___________________________________________________________________

Now, Jackie Evancho. Take one click glance at my blog and you will see numerous articles about her. It's pretty obvious I enjoy her music. I believe I have even stated on here that she is my favorite artists. If I haven't before, I have now! Even my last post before this one was about her. In that post I talked about her Christmas cd being released. As has become my custom with any of her music, my reaction when I heard about it was "take my money". But once again, actually having money to hand over is a problem, but for 10 bucks, I think I'll manage.

This post is already probably long enough, and I've spoken so much about Jackie before, I don't believe I need to say much. So now I have a little question for you all. Are there any people out there who sell stuff you like and trust so much that when you hear they are selling something new, your reacting is "Here's my money!"? Tell me in the comments! Also tell me if you have ever bought any of Jackie's or Bova's stuff, and what you thought of it!

Questions to ponder

So the name of this blog is "De' Tinker's Thoughts" which is slang (or whatever the term is) for "The Thinker's Thoughts". And since I'm De' Tinker, it naturally implies I do some thinking. I have many posts already on here about my thoughts on matters. But this post will be different. I will simply ask you some of the questions I've been asking myself, and see what kind of answer you have; or just let you continue to think about them. I will also have a couple of statements in here, please tell me your response to those as well.

The borrower is slave to the lender. And America is called the "Land of the Free". So why is America over 14 trillion dollars in debt?

Why is it that someone who kills a pregnant woman can be convicted of double murder, but if that same woman has an abortion she was just exercising her rights over her body and did not commit murder?

Evolutionists say that they don't allow religion to effect science. Science, real science, the type of science that allowed us to walk on the moon, go to the bottom of the sea (parts of it), fly around the world in a single day, and so much more, is all observable and repeatable. Evolution involves something in the past that can't be repeated or observed, but instead have faith in their beliefs of the past. Does that sound like a religion to you?

Many Christians put so much effort into the latest health fads or whatever the worlds says is the right way to become healthy. Why do they try to use man's methods to achieve a God given potential for health? Why not use the Creator's methods to achieve the potential for health He gave us?

People who don't believe in a higher authority often talk about morals. Without a higher authority, there is no absolute for morals. So why do they punish people for what they believe to be wrong?

Why can kids no longer play games like tag or hide and seek (amongst many others)? These were staple games amongst kids when I was younger. Are they really "unsafe", or have the kids and their parents just become to soft?

In Evolution, it is said there's a chance for anything to happen given enough time and chance. I have come to realize that Time and Chance are the chief gods of Evolution. The third being, Imagination.

There is a multi-million (probably billion) dollar industry in health and fitness. They try to sell you all these fancy equipments, meals, and routines. However, it doesn't matter how fancy, simple, cheap, expensive, complicated, well thought out, easy, hard, etc your routine/diet/or whatever is. If you don't do you or use it, it just plain sucks. It's even worse when you use it/do it and it sets you back.

Why is it that decades before steroids people were setting verifiable strength records that have gone unbroken today with all of our "knew knowledge" in techniques and technology today? Some of these even being from the late 1800's.

If the Old Testament takes up over three quarters of the Bible, why do so many people talk about it less then one fourth of the time?

If mankind truly started out dumb and has gotten smarter, as atheists and evolutionists like to believe, then why have we found batteries several thousand years old? Or temples designed to have their own natural air conditioning requiring no power or maintenance for several millennium? Or pyramids that are thousands of years old yet built in such an advanced way that we couldn't repeat it today?

Why in America is it okay to question the government but not Darwin, when in many other countries you can question Darwin but not the government?

Why does America believe that teaching people to rely on the government will make them more productive and boost the economy?

Why is it people used to care for each other, help the sick, and feed the poor because they wanted to help, and now that the government is in charge of all that, no one helps (for the most part)?

The majority of people's food comes from some kind of grain (I won't even talk about all the processing). However, our digestion system isn't designed to digest grains and such, nor I body to process it. Our digestive tract is of more a medium length, suited more towards meat or ideally fruit (and vegetables). Our teeth range from blunt molars to sharp canines. We are omnivores, and are best suited for a majority fruit diet. I wonder why people are fat these days...

When America was founded, it was believed that the more kids you had the better off financially you would be. Why has that belief been reversed? Why do people assume that the more kids you have means the less money you will get?

In a letter penned by Thomas Jefferson was the famous quote "separation of church and state". What people don't realize is that it is often misquoted. In context, Jefferson was saying that the Constitution had built that wall of separation by saying that the government could not declare an official religion, therefore protecting people's right to freedom of religion. People now use the quote to get prayer out of schools.

The only type of person who is completely safe to pick on (the list is building) is a Christian adult white heterosexual male with no deformities or mental problems. If you choose to pick on anyone else, you are either a racist, sexist, bully, heartless, homophobic, non tolerant, or are discriminating in some other way. Why is this?

Praying in schools has been banned in schools and the workplace because it is considered unconstitutional and offensive, yet it is still just fine to curse in those same places? Cursing is offensive, but still part of our right to free speech all the same as praying.

It is taught these days that fat is bad. However, it is also taught that without fat we would die. How is this?

It is considered conventional wisdom or whatever that eating raw meat is bad (and will kill you). Show me a lion, bear, ape, shark, eagle, maggot, or any number of other animals that get sick from eating raw meat.

That's all for now, I may write another post like this sometime or write posts about one of these questions/statements. Please tell me your thoughts on these, even if you pick one and say a quick one sentence reply (I would like a lot more though).

Man's "Perfection"

The name of this post might imply another rant, but that's not what it's actually about. Here I'm just talking (or thinking aloud) about the closest to perfection that man (as in, mankind) can reach, and my experiences in that. I once heard a quote to the effect of "perfection is right in front of us, yet always out of reach". Basically that means we can always find something to do/add/remove/change/etc to improve something, make it a little closer to perfect, but it will never achieve that perfection. This is the only way man can move towards perfection. And this is what I'm doing.

I've been doing just that with my workouts. I remove some stuff, add others, and am otherwise refining it. I keep on taking steps to make my workouts, and there for myself, a little more perfect, even though I will never actually get there on my own. This will be a continuation, in a way, of a previous post, "The perfect workout".

The basic premise I outlined in that post for making the perfect workout was:

1) make it simple and

2) DO IT!

Just those two steps. It may sound simple, and that's because... it is. I don't want to repeat that post, so if you want more info read it yourself. I will just be explaining how I have been "perfecting" my own personal routine.

Right now the routine I'm trying to work with (meaning use and refine) is in two parts, routine A and routine B, used on alternate workout days. I workout Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and alternating between A and B would look like this over two weeks:

Monday: A, Wednesday: B, Friday: A
Monday: B, Wednesday: A: Friday: B

This allows me to work very hard on the selected exercises, lift heavy weights, workout the entire body throughout the week, and exercise three times a week, while still getting plenty of rest. Now to tell you what each routine actually is (mind you, I'm still refining it).

Routine A:
Moderate weight (enough for at least 5 reps) cleans
Heavy weight (enough for about 3 reps) power cleans
Light (enough for usually 8-12 or more reps) overhead press
Moderate-light behind the neck press
Heavy Dumbbell overhead press
Light Barbell curl
Light Good morning

Routine B (this is the one that's really under construction):
Light weight Front squat
Light weight Overhead squat
Light weight bench press
Light (might try moderate) weight incline dumbbell bench press
Light weight squat

So in theory, I should have plenty of time to recover so I can always see improvement without risking over training. This has gone through some work, for instance I was originally planning on one routine I did three times a week, but some of the exercises (mainly the cleans) required more resting time. I also have taken out a couple exercises I didn't enjoy (therefore wasn't putting lots of effort into, wasted energy on, and might have one day made me not do the workout), mainly the bent over row (barbell).

I decided to do the two alternating routines after I had done the first part (A) and was very sore on the next workout day. I had still wanted to workout, but I knew if I did it would be over training. So instead I did different exercises that for the most part left alone the muscles that had been heavily stressed before.

Now I have in set up so that routine A hits mainly the arms, shoulders and back while routine B hits mainly legs, chest and core. Of course since these are compound movements, every exercise uses nearly every muscles, but only certain ones are stressed heavily enough to worry about. I don't know how much this routine of mine will change, but I will be sticking with it for at least this month. Who knows what it will be like next month?

Anyway, this is just me learning and gaining experience. This is how man's "perfection" works in everything. Adding, removing, changing things to try and (hopefully) improve them and move towards perfection. And for right now, this workout routine is pretty close to perfect as far as I'm concerned.

The perfect workout

I haven't talked much about my interest in bodybuilding, but here's a little lesson I learned just the day before writing this regarding it. Now quickly let me explain what I mean by "bodybuilding". To me, bodybuilding is building a strong, healthy and attractive body inside and out that can function fully as a whole. And by inside and out, I mean mind, body and soul.

Anyway, I have recently narrowed my workout down to just three exercises. The squat, overhead press and weighted chinup. In no particular order, just whatever order I feel like that day. However, because I don't have lots of weight (125lbs at most) I have to do very high reps (repetitions) for squats. I usually load the barbell up to approximately half my bodyweight and squat it as many times as I can, taking all the breaths I need between reps. This takes a lot of energy and concentration though. So much, in fact, that it caused me to not workout for nearly two weeks in a row because I knew what would come. So instead, I dropped the squats and just did overhead press and chins.

Recently though, I decided to incorporate additional bodyweight exercises into my lifestyle. So I have it out that I do either some Hindu squats and pushups everyday or some ab exercises, along with the days that I weight train.

Many people, including possibly most of those who are reading this, have heard that keeping in shape has to be complicated and maybe even boring. I call whoever says that either stupid or ignorant, depending. It is completely untrue. I also see lots of advertisements for the "perfect" workout and all that crap. Well, let me tell you the two steps to the most perfect workout that man can make.

Step 1: make is simple, after all, "Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away" That is way I brought my workout down to three, and now two, exercises. I picked those I needed the most, and the ones that would benefit me the most. That way I can go all out on those two.

Step 2: make it something you will do. This is the most important step. It doesn't matter how great, long, short, easy, hard, complicated, simple, fat burning, muscle building, cheap, expensive, elaborate, boring, entertaining, or whatever type of workout you have. If you will not do it, the workout sucks. The perfect workout, for whoever's doing it, is the one that is as simple as possible and one they will do. It should be a given that it works to, therefore put together smart and done properly (with intensity and intelligence).

So for me, right now, I have found the perfect workout. Just two exercises, and I do them. I do them hard, with proper form, and I go all out. Hopefully when summer is done, and I have grown stronger and accustomed to more heavy lifting (and maybe have more equipment) I can gradually move up to six exercises, overhead press, bench press, deadlift, squat, weighted dips, and weighted chins. These are all big, compound movements. They will allow me to build strength, size and speed. But right now, I'm sticking to my "perfect" workout. One day this six-exercise workout may be perfect, but not right now. It's still plenty simple, but I wouldn't do it. That screws over step two, the most important step in my book (which I should probably write).

And I still train my legs because of the bodyweight Hindu squats I do, I just don't hit them nearly as hard as I did with the rest/pause weighted squats I did before. I also don't have quite as much testosterone and growth hormone flowing through my veins... but that's my choice for being a wimp. And I'll still be a bit of a wimp until I can be doing all six of those exercises at full intensity, meaning to where I push myself so hard that I possibly even throwup in the middle of a workout.

So, once again, how to achieve the perfect workout. It first must have the base of being put together smartly and you (or whoever's doing it) being willing to actually do it, with proper intensity and form, but that's all wrapped up in step one. To make any workout perfect for the person working it, you must:

1) make it simple and

2) DO IT!

I think this was one of my most simple posts yet. So by definition... or at least the one I'm using... this is nearly a perfect post!