Swimming In The Wild Seas

Life is like a box of chocolates...
I‘m sure that everyone is familiar with that quote. I think it may be a little too Hollywood. (i.e. not based in reality).
I say this because I am currently in the firing line of a business restructuring process. This is a fancy way to say that they want to cut employee numbers. Even a chocolate with orange centre (yuk!) is better than losing your job.
I think life is more like the end-result of a collision between a hardware truck and a confectionery van. Then you really wouldn‘t know what you‘re going to get.
And exercise is very similar. You can train with the best plan, and put in all the effort only to discover that you chose the wrong parents for your goals. Or that you can get sweet rewards from little effort.
The problem is you can‘t be sure your results (or lack thereof) are the result of genetics or effort, until you have really given every option a fair chance. That could take years.
So its better to enjoy both the journey and the destination, otherwise you might never look at what you have as a chocolate and not a screw...

What Is Awesome?

The goal with my current training is to be awesome. Or, in my case, MORE Awesome!
But, what is awesome?
For some it is defined by the size of the biceps. “Sun‘s out, guns out!“ But, to others it is defined by weight lifted from the floor. To still others it revolves around GPP abilities (read Crossfit). That is the difficulty with awesomeness. It is defined in the eye of the beholder. To me “Chuck Norris“ might be the epitome of awesome, but to you he might just be some idiot who went “Missing In Action“ (several times!).
So, I have defined my criteria for awesome, and will measure myself against that. The goal is to narrow the gap between where I am now and “Awesome“.
I invite you to do the same. Choose a level of awesome that is within you to achieve. No point trying to be an Awesome Bodybuilder if you are a skinny-fat hardgainer. That will only lead to disappointment. You have to take your limits into account, but don‘t pander to weakness. EG: Oscar Pistorius made it to the Olympics. Awesome. He did not try to take on Usain Bolt in the 100m. That is beyond his actual limitations.
Be realistic, but don‘t be a pansy.
Awesomeness is within reach of us all. It just takes some dedication, hard work, persistance and cojones (metaphorical ones for ladies).
Become Awesome!

Cruel Eld Doth Encroach Upon me

Yep, I am getting older. One of these days I might actually grow up. Maybe.
When you are young and fresh [16~23] its easy to recover from just about anything that you can throw at your body.
You are pliable. You may not be flexible, but generally your muscles and sinew are unscarred and have little damage. But this changes as you get older. You lose it little by little. Pretty soon you're a brittle old codger. (Metaphorically speaking. You might only be 30). You realise that you actually have to work at your mobility, flexibilty and structural qualities.
I used to do the splits. No more. All the desk work has made me tight.
But, its never too late. So, a much as I hate it, I need to start doing foam-rolling and mobility work.
I cant bring myself to spend my training time doing it, as I only have 3 hours a week as it is. So, my solution is to create a pre-bed routine. 15-20min of rolling and mobility every day.
Soon I will return to my youthful vigour. Or, at the very least, stop doddering around like a rusty old robot.
The other side-effect I would like is to be a little more injury-proof again.
Let the test begin...

Superhero Or Supervillain

If you suddenly received cosmic power, what would you do with it?
Your first thought may be in the "do-gooder" direction. But is that really your inclination? Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
What may happen is that you mete out some well-deserved punishment to some bad guys. Then you will start to mete out what you feel is right. Eventually you will do what is right for you. You will "deserve" what you take. Any who disagree will be enemies of right (and might).
This is why we like superheroes to be fictional. They don't get corrupted. And if they do, well at least it's fiction. In real life it would be scary. Who wants an unstoppable bad guy flying around doing whatever he wants?
So as much as I would like to be a superhero, I think it may be better for me to simply try to be awesome. Awesome people are cool. They do things that ordinary folks can't. And they live a life that amounts to something. But, if the awesomeness affects them and they go off the rails, there are ways to deal with them. You don't have to worry that a superstrong, invulnerable criminal is rampaging maniacally in the streets. And that is the way it should be.
So, don't dream of being super, just work hard to become awesome. You may not fly, or catch speeding bullets, but you can break records and smash limitations. And that, actually, can be pretty heroic.

Amateur vs Professional

There is a great deal to be said for having an amateur mindset. That is probably the opposite of what the current socio-educational-secular environment encourages. We are encouraged to pursue activities in order to be rewarded for them.
A child does well at school? Good work, keep it up and you can get a high-paying job.
A child does well at sport? Good work, keep it up and you can get a lucrative sports deal.
Sportsmen and women pursue the biggest pay and best offers. Business people look for the highest-paying job.
This is the professional mindset.
What if someone plays a sport for the pure joy they get out of it? What if they sign with a certain club because they actually want to play there, and salary comes second to that.
What if a person pursues a job that they love, even if it doesn't pay much?
That is the amateur mindset.
The professional mindset lends itself to superficial partnerships (founded on money) and unhealthy competition. It leads to a lack of loyalty in business relationships because everybody knows you are there only while the money is "good". And one often grows tired of a job when you don't actually like it.
The amateur mindset lends itself to special friendships (united by common goals) and healthy competition. Business relationships are stable because people know you are there because you want to do the job.
So, although the world is becoming more and more entrapped by the professional mentality, I think a lot is being lost. You can still find some amateurs among us, even in the professional fields. Often they are extremely successful. The success is a by-product of their amateur mindset. People are willing to pay when they know that you are dedicated to the job, and will stick it out in the long run. Others will support you simply because they can identify with the amateur ideals.
I just don't know what will happen when the current young people move into the world at large. They have grown up being told/shown that the professional mentality is the best...

The Good Old Days

The world has become a sad overly pompous boring version of itself. I'm not exactly an old man, but I find myself thinking about the good old days every now and again.
The Rugby World Cup is on the go currently. (for those who have no idea, you can look it up on wikipedia). There has been some controversy, some of which I can understand.
But, one player was fined $6000 for jumping off a ferry and swimming to shore. From my point of view, that is horseplay. When I was 22 that meant you would be wrapped over the knuckles about it. You were still young enough to be caned if it was serious enough. But $6000? Please, I'd rather be caned and ge it over with.
Ditto the young men who went out drinking before a big game. Stern disapproval from all parties. Seems that young men are not allowed to beyoung men anymore. From birth you are expected to be dull. Shame on all those boring fuddy-duddies who make these silly rules. I think they are overly-impressed by their own ego. They were probably not "in" when they were young, and took it personally.
I long for the times when you were expected to be a bit naughty while you were still a young man. When all you risked was a smack on the rump with a cane. Now you can expect lawsuits and fines just for a bit of mischief.
Fooey!

I'm Alive!

The news of my demise has been greatly exaggerated. (If you didn't hear about it, no matter).
I have been ill... I know that may come as a shock given my near invulnerable semi-superhuman constitution, but it has happened. The germs of my new country have been having a field day with my immune system. I've never been so sick in my life. Anyway, I'm confident that I will return to full vigour soon enough.
For those in Malaysia, USA, Germany, RSA, NZ who have read posts in the past keep tuning in for the continuing adventures.
Feel free to leave a comment, or just tick one of the boxes under my posts.
I will try to keep it interesting and upbeat, wacky and yet intellectual.

It's almost time to get back on the exercise wagon as well, but I have to make sure that the illnesses have passed first. I still have some way to go on the convict conditioning plan. I will also try to get back to the Adventures of Mr Caldragin, because we can't leave him running around on a roof forever!
All in all, my positivity is coming back, and hopefully that will channel into some more entertaining times here on the basics blog. Keep tuning in...

Chivalry

Is there still a place in the world for manners and etiquette? Have we moved beyond the times where people lived by moral codes that influenced their interactions with one another.
Many will say that we have. The vast majority will agree that we should forget things like that in the modern world. Women seem affronted when a man insists that they should be treated differently. After all, nowadays we are all "equal".
Well I have news for you: Men and Women are not equal. You cannot say air and water are equal. Both are vital to life, but have very different functions and makeups.
Women are not men, and men are not women. Are they of equal value? There we can say 'yes'. Men are different to women, they have different strengths and weaknesses. The same goes for women. Would it be wrong to have a code to guide men in their interactions with women? Actions that are deemed appropriate and respectful? I think not.
So, if I hold open a door for a women, and let her go through first, it's not that I don't think she can do it herself. It's just a way to show courtesy. Take it at face value.
I've thought long and hard about the 'changing roles of modern men and women' and have decided to reject the majority view.
In my book courtesy and respect will be the guide for interactions with the fairer (gasp!) sex. If you don't like it, get away from the door before I get there...

Value of Time

It seems incredible that we sell our time for amounts of money far below it's actual value. You have a limited number of hours to live, is it really only worth the amount you get per hour?
I don't think so. I doubt you do either. Keep that in mind when you feel tempted to measure a person by the car they drive or house they live in. Those are side-effects of how they sell their time, not measures of a person's worth.
It's ok to work for less, but it's not ok when you use the payment a person receives to rate that person.
Just as you are worth more than what you wear, so is everybody else.
So if you can't measure people by money any more, what will you use?
Time to develop a real set of values, grasshopper...

Inner Superhero

The problem with superheroes is their lack of all-round ability and fortitude. I mean, if you're going to be a super, why not be 100% super?
Superman: Strong. Fast. Resilient. Often touted to be the best of the best. One word: Kryptonite.
The Hulk: Strong. Resilient. Gets more powerful as his anger grows. Two Words: Bruce Banner.
Spiderman: Strong. Agile. Spider sense. Two Words: Not Resilient.
The list goes on. Every hero has an achilles heel (ha!), a weakness that can be exploited. An enemy just has to strike the weakpoint, and its tickets. (although, for some reason the bad guys never really try to kill the hero. There are only botched attempts to exploit the weakness. Maybe it's because bad guys are not allowed to win by the laws of the universe). Perhaps this is an attempt to make ordinary people feel better about their own weakpoints.
It sucks. I want a superhero that is actually super. No weakpoints, no secret allergic reactions to allicin. A true honest-to-goodness invulnerability (including psychic power invulnerability).
Throw in super-speed, super-strength, flight and you have the makings of a superhero that will kick every other superheroes butt. There are several other powers that can be thrown in for good measure.
I don't think this hero will find much support. Why? Because we actually want to see the hero overcome the weakness, or win in spite of having it. We need to see him do it so that we might feel, even for a second, that no matter how big our issues, we can also overcome if we use our inner hero.
I think deep down we all want to be a superhero. Not because we want to be more powerful than a steaming locomotive (some of us do), but because we want to believe we have the power to overcome our limits.
Our limits seem so rigid, so set in stone that it would take a super-power to break through them. In reality the only power usually required is willpower.
If you knuckle down, believe in yourself and simply hang in there when the going gets tough, you can overcome those limits. So, you can be a superhero. You can overcome your limits. All you have to do is apply your super-power (aka willpower).
Break through those limits.

Passion

Every little boy and girl in the world can probably tell you in one sentence what their passion is in life. Do you remember when your goals in life were wrapped up in a single mission statement? "I want to be a fireman", or "I want to be a vet". Those were the days of simplicity. You were naive to the realities of life.
You were also without all the anxieties and fears that prevent you from achieving. While the grown-up version of you looks at the reasons why something is "impossible", the little version sees only "possible".
Now, it's seldom possible, or realistic, to be like a child again. We do have bills to pay, mouths to feed, and responsibilities to live up to. That doesn't mean we can't recapture some of the wide-eyed simple joy and zest for achieving our "dreams".
We may need to simplify our dreams, realising that the opportunity to be a spaceman has passed us. But, when it comes to our goals, do we find goals that reignite that childhood passion?
There is no point in setting a goal of being "bikini-ready" if you have no drive to wear a bikini, or to feel the thrill of achieving a particular look. You can't fake passion. If it's not there to drive you when the chips are down, you aren't going to succeed. You may be able to get some of the way, but to get to the endpoint you will need passion and drive.

Does this mean you shouldn't set a goal of bikini-ready?
Do so only if it is right for you. Perhaps your passion is more along the lines of being a healthy and thin-ish wife/girlfriend. That is a different goal, with different plans. (note: I hope you girls go for "bikini"-ready, as I feel the world could do with more bikini bods!).
The main point here is to aim at what you really really want to hit. That gives you the greatest chance of success. And success leads to more success.
If you really really want to be a fireman, get off your butt and go sign up. Don't sit around and live with a regret. If you want to be a powerlifter, get on the right program and stick with it. If you want to be a Victoria's Secret Model, do what you have to do to get there.
If your passion calls, only a fool refuses to listen.

Oh no!

From distant shore over tempest sea
Came the great one, Khan Khari.
Heard, he had, of a great beauty
Fairest of maidens, Mara Talsee.

I thought it was about time to throw in a bit of poetry, lest my audience mistake me for a common man. An Uncommon man is what I am!
Why is it that we seek to be greater than the average? What moves us to rise above what we discern as the inadequacy of the masses? Life is easier when little is expected of one. If you just coast along, never straining, never pushing yourself what do you actually miss out on?
You won't waste time on exercise, leaving more time for relaxation or entertainment. You won't stress over what you eat. You'll enjoy more tasty foods and worry less about it's impact on your body. Wouldn't that be more fun! ? ?
NO.
Life without striving after something has no direction, and no achievement. You cannot see the value in pursuing health and fitness until you start to achieve something.
For someone looking to lose weight, just a few kilograms off feels terrific. Getting around is easier. Clothing fits better, and self-esteem grows. And a sense of achievement starts to develop. Believe me when I tell you that achieving a difficult goal feels a million times better than a truckload of chocolate ever will.
Often weight-loss goals change into performance goals, and this is where the real joy starts. Ask anyone who has trained for and succeeded with something (it could be a marathon or a PR lift). They gain a new attitude and approach that makes their whole life better.
But everything starts with the first step. And in order to make that step you need a decision. A decision is when you bend your entire will towards achieving the goal. And then you follow the decision with a plan, plenty of perseverance, and patience to stay the course.
Then your life becomes much better than that of the "average". Then you become "super".
I want to be "super". How about you?

I am not a Man

I have been emasculated. My manhood has been removed.
Let me explain...
Yesterday on the train (this train is becoming regular feature!) there were two drunk-and-disorderlies being, well, drunk and disorderly. They were pretty close to where I was, and one of the passengers had already crossed verbal swords with them. I had already started preparing myself to unleash my "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" on them.
Long story short, the rail staff took them off the train. No action.
Late on I told my significant other about the ruckus. What did she say? Not "what would you have done", no. She said I mustn't get involved, because I'm not "prepared" for it. Shlop! Is that my manhood lying on the ground? If in her eyes I'm not prepared to deal with drunk-and-disorderlies, what does that say about her view of my ability to protect her from a real threat? I might as well just hire a personal bodyguard to keep us safe.
Say what you like about the modern world no longer requiring men to fight off threats to his family, or hunting for food. But, as any man worth his testosterone will tell you, there is a deep-seated need to know that you can protect your family, and to know that they trust you can.
My tactic for self-defense has always been "hit first, hit fast, and keep on hitting!" I will not start a fight, but you better believe that I will finish it if you bring it to me. So, could I have dealt with the drunk-and-disorderlies on the train? I am confident I could have. I may not have done any martial arts training for a couple of years, but I still have the knowledge, and I still have the attributes required: strength, speed, timing. I know about angles of attack and vectors. I know I can.
Now I just need a way to convince the little woman...

Where is a Super when you need one?

There are times when you shake your head and say "If only I had [Insert Superhero]'s power".
I was standing on the platform waiting for the train to arrive. After nearly 20min of standing around trying not to look anybody in the eye, (why are there such weird people around nowadays?), we were boarded onto a different train that had been standing around sheepishly all the time. Well, I assume it was feeling sheepish because that's how I would've felt if I was in that position.
It took 20min to figure out that we could just use a different train? I will assume that lateral thinking is not the railway speciality.
Anyway, the reason I mentioned Superhero Powers is for the dramatically simple solution they would provide to everyday issues.
Train late? I'll fly home. Or run home like The Flash.
Lawn not mown? I'll use my laser vision to give it a trim.
Low on cash? I'll just pull a cash disenser from the wall... Um, ok, maybe super powers won't be the greatest idea. Power corrupts as they say.
So, I suppose I'll just have to deal with annoyances and setbacks. Dang it! If only I could control the thoughts of other people to get things to work more smoothly. But then, how would I refrain from making everyone obey my every command? Guess being "normal" is safer for everybody...

Off Topic

Every now and then I may fall off the rails and post something that has nothing to do with exercise. (gasp!).
I've been pondering superhero status today. I know, I should get over this obsession with impossibility. But I've been thinking more along the lines of Captain America ("possible"), rather than Superman ("impossible").
Being a son of Krypton is simply beyond what a human being can accomplish, and is reserved for movies, comics and boyhood fantasy.
Cap, on the other hand, is pretty normal. He's just a guy pimped out with some cool gear and pumped up by some funky drugs. This is at least within the realms of possibility.
So after much soul-searching and day-dreaming, I've finally accepted that Cap is the superhero to try duplicate as my uber achievement. (I draw the line at running around in a silly blue and red outfit however).
What this means is that I will break the Cap's superhero makeup into attributes, and work on those in my training.
Cap Attribute 1: Strength. Wow, amazing how that works out. That just happens to be my current goal. What symmetry! (I accept that my strength will be less due to my desire to achieve without steroids).
More thoughts on achievable superhero-ness to follow... And workout 3.
Yeah, yeah in the end the post is still about exercise. I'm not perfect. I'm not even Captain MDV yet. Get over it.
Early days, but the plan is starting to take shape...

Strength, Power and Muscle

Ever since starting on CC, I'm continually plagued by my aspirations of muscular bodacity. Since time immemorial (well... 20 years at least) I've wanted to be big. I wanted to be a superhero. Or at least a reasonable facsimile.
Problem 1: I chose the wrong parents. My genetic construction is not tall, or muscular. These are 2 pivotal qualities in being super-heroic.
Problem 2: I'm actually rather lazy. I look for shortcuts and easy fixes. I like immediate gratification. This lends itself very easily to getting on some type of gear. But...
Problem 3: I'm convinced I need to do it "naturally". Sheesh, what a combination!
Anyway, all is not lost. After years of living in denial I've decided to finally get on with it. Either that, or I've developed a fear of my own mortality and am trying to wind back the clock. So, true reasons notwithstanding, here are the decisions:
1: Pick a goal. Ultimate bodacity is not a goal, it's a state. Defined by qualities. I will simply develop some of those qualities.
2: Pick a plan. I've done it all. HIT, Super Slow, Split Routine, Full-body. I've done high volume and high intensity. But for a long time I had ADD. I jumped around so many times I was the training equivalent of a junkie.
I made good progress on 531. A solid plan. I have just moved country, and my equipment is currently occupying space in a 3rd world shipping facility. I have no idea when I'll see it. Which led me to CC. Achieve goals, make progress, and no need for equipment. The CC train, however, will not allow me to disembark until it is done.
Patience. Perseverance. These will be my guiding thoughts.
Will I get back to lifting iron again? For sure. But only after I wring all the juice out of my current program. As long as that might take.

What is The Goal?

A goal. That is very important apparently.
I read it somewhere.

So, what's the goal? ... Awesomeness!
I wanna be: Superman. Thor. Spiderman. Name a superhero...
But, realistically I must be SMART about these things.
Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Realistic. Timed.
[What a bummer that I can't just order a batch of gamma radiation or my own mjolnir ]
[Hell, I'll even take some Super-Serum ]
Specific: I want to achieve a 1-arm pullup.
Measurable: Errr.. When I do a 1-arm pullup?
Achievable: Is this possible? [Uh... Apparently it's not that hard!]
Realistic: Ah, well, this one is always open to debate. I vote for "Yes".
Timed: Well, this one will take as long as it takes. So all the in-between steps will be short-term goals.

In order to be successful, I will need one or two other vital achievements:
1. Lower body fat. Somewhere around 10% will be ok. Currently? 14%. [fatty! ;p]
2. Progressing on all Bodyweight Exercises. [No 1 will help here]
   The exercises?
   [1-arm pushup, Handstand pushup, 1-leg Squat, Hanging Leg Raise, Pullup]
3. Guts. Tenacity. Perseverance etc...

Where is that gamma radiation when you need it?

A long post. Sorry. You can wake up now! I'll keep them shorter from now on (probably).
Tune in for Workout 2... Next!
[And perhaps a bit more clarity on short-term goals...]

Why Blog Now?

Have you ever stopped for a moment and thought: "I'm not all that I can be?"
And had the followup thought: "But it's ok because ... [insert numerous reasons here]"

Well, it happened to me. And I decided that it was just an easy way to accept mediocrity.
I will no longer 'go gently into that good night.'
I've decided to fight.
It may be in one small area at a time. It may take years.
But, this blog is the gauntlet. It has been thrown. It cannot be retracted.
So, it begins...