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S
I don't think I've been accused of being "high maintenance," primarily because that seems to be a term that is far more commonly used toward women. (That's not to say that it can't be applied to men; it can, but it doesn't seem to be applied to men as often as women.) I have, however, been accused of being conceited, pretentious, and vain. This is, of course, pretense...and I can only offer my defence to those willing to listen.
I am a gym rat because:
--My grandfather died of heart failure literally days after holding me as an infant
--My oldest uncle became morbidly obese before cancer and pneumonia executed him
--My next oldest uncle has had a triple bypass after several heart attacks
--My father has fought obesity after retiring from the USAF, and has had heart attacks resuting in stents
--Next oldest uncle grew morbidly obese, but has dodged the family heart attack by becoming a marathon runner. He's unrecognizable now.
--After my father's heart attack, I figured that the best way I can NOT follow family tradition of ballooning up and then having some kind of heart surgery is to make fitness a lifestyle NOW instead of waiting until AFTER the fact.
--By working hard under the barbell, I can cheat a couple times a week and eat something terrible for me.
Is a side effect of weight training a better than average physique? Sure. But I don't even like to take my shirt off at Sclitterbahn, and you can't REALLY see my handiwork because I wear relaxed-fit pants and jeans. Even at the beach, I don't care to go shirtless. The OTHER side effects are far more pleasant: I don't get winded when I have to move 200 chairs across the building, and carrying the 5-gallon bottle from my car to the band room doesn't even make me flinch. Who cares what's in the mirror, I just feel good, yo.
I eat clean and healthy 80% because:
--See above
Look, our bodies are temples, right? I'm not worshipping my body, I'm just keeping it in good repair. Everyone's temple requires some upkeep, that doesn't make you high maintenance.
I "dress-up" for work (cuffs and tie, fitted and pressed) because:
--I'm a professional, and I want to look professional
--Students and parents actually DO respond differently to me based on how I am dressed
--When I dress-down, it's jeans and a tee, or athletic pants and dri-weave tee
Vanity has nothing to do with it; I don't have time to check the mirror during the day. I just want to make sure my students can take one glance at me from all the way down the hall, and know that I mean business even before they've gotten to my room.
As far as things like showering, washing your face, exfoliating...I mean, that's just good hygiene, yo. That's not vanity or conceit, that's just COURTESY. You're gonna be around people, make yourself bearable to be around. Tonight (and most Wednesday nights), I go to Bible study directly from the gym. While the drive gives me time to dry off (yay, desert air!), I still sit far away from everyone else so they don't have to smell me, you know? Being clean and hygenic is just being courteous to the people around you, is all.
I use prolific language and five-dollar words because:
--Well, I consider myself a well-educa...eh, okay, maybe I'm a little pretentious.
I am a gym rat because:
--My grandfather died of heart failure literally days after holding me as an infant
--My oldest uncle became morbidly obese before cancer and pneumonia executed him
--My next oldest uncle has had a triple bypass after several heart attacks
--My father has fought obesity after retiring from the USAF, and has had heart attacks resuting in stents
--Next oldest uncle grew morbidly obese, but has dodged the family heart attack by becoming a marathon runner. He's unrecognizable now.
--After my father's heart attack, I figured that the best way I can NOT follow family tradition of ballooning up and then having some kind of heart surgery is to make fitness a lifestyle NOW instead of waiting until AFTER the fact.
--By working hard under the barbell, I can cheat a couple times a week and eat something terrible for me.
Is a side effect of weight training a better than average physique? Sure. But I don't even like to take my shirt off at Sclitterbahn, and you can't REALLY see my handiwork because I wear relaxed-fit pants and jeans. Even at the beach, I don't care to go shirtless. The OTHER side effects are far more pleasant: I don't get winded when I have to move 200 chairs across the building, and carrying the 5-gallon bottle from my car to the band room doesn't even make me flinch. Who cares what's in the mirror, I just feel good, yo.
I eat clean and healthy 80% because:
--See above
Look, our bodies are temples, right? I'm not worshipping my body, I'm just keeping it in good repair. Everyone's temple requires some upkeep, that doesn't make you high maintenance.
I "dress-up" for work (cuffs and tie, fitted and pressed) because:
--I'm a professional, and I want to look professional
--Students and parents actually DO respond differently to me based on how I am dressed
--When I dress-down, it's jeans and a tee, or athletic pants and dri-weave tee
Vanity has nothing to do with it; I don't have time to check the mirror during the day. I just want to make sure my students can take one glance at me from all the way down the hall, and know that I mean business even before they've gotten to my room.
As far as things like showering, washing your face, exfoliating...I mean, that's just good hygiene, yo. That's not vanity or conceit, that's just COURTESY. You're gonna be around people, make yourself bearable to be around. Tonight (and most Wednesday nights), I go to Bible study directly from the gym. While the drive gives me time to dry off (yay, desert air!), I still sit far away from everyone else so they don't have to smell me, you know? Being clean and hygenic is just being courteous to the people around you, is all.
I use prolific language and five-dollar words because:
--Well, I consider myself a well-educa...eh, okay, maybe I'm a little pretentious.
I agree that this body is only temporary. I agree that spending obscene amount of time before the mirror is vanity. But like what a few others have pointed out, there is a fine line between maintaining the body and paying excessive attention to it. For me, it is important that a woman likes herself and pays attention to her body. It tells me that she is capable of paying attention to me and the kids.
I keep myself healthy and fit and I pay attention to myself. Here are the things I do -
- I stay clear of junk foods and limit the amount of fried items I eat. I permit myself to order a pizza maybe once in two weeks. The same applies for any sugar-based items (including soft drinks). The only exceptions are ice creams and chocolates which I have twice or thrice in a week.
- I used to work out at the gym to improve my shape and to keep myself fit.
- I dress well. I pay attention to what I wear and I decide my outfit depending on the event, the crowd and the location.
- I go for a haircut every month. I get a head massage and a back massage at least once every couple of months.
- I wear coloured denims on Fridays or when I am hanging out in the mall with friends. If it is too hot I would go out in shorts and flip-flops.
- I wear hats and sunglasses.
All these don't constitute vanity. You can even own a BMW or a Mercedes or a Jaguar. It is not vanity. What is vanity is taking pride in how you look or what you own or what you have achieved. Whether I own a Jaguar XF or a TATA Nano (which is the world's cheapest car, see pic below), if I boast of my car then it is vanity in the sight of God.
I keep myself healthy and fit and I pay attention to myself. Here are the things I do -
- I stay clear of junk foods and limit the amount of fried items I eat. I permit myself to order a pizza maybe once in two weeks. The same applies for any sugar-based items (including soft drinks). The only exceptions are ice creams and chocolates which I have twice or thrice in a week.
- I used to work out at the gym to improve my shape and to keep myself fit.
- I dress well. I pay attention to what I wear and I decide my outfit depending on the event, the crowd and the location.
- I go for a haircut every month. I get a head massage and a back massage at least once every couple of months.
- I wear coloured denims on Fridays or when I am hanging out in the mall with friends. If it is too hot I would go out in shorts and flip-flops.
- I wear hats and sunglasses.
All these don't constitute vanity. You can even own a BMW or a Mercedes or a Jaguar. It is not vanity. What is vanity is taking pride in how you look or what you own or what you have achieved. Whether I own a Jaguar XF or a TATA Nano (which is the world's cheapest car, see pic below), if I boast of my car then it is vanity in the sight of God.
A
I apply 2 kinds of facial toner, 2 facial creams, and an under eye lightener before going to bed. I am very much conscious of my skin because I have acne. I wear make-up each time I'm out, no fail. I take 3 kinds of supplements. As much as I could I avoid dairy products to prevent my acne problem. I pluck my brows religiously. Recently, I have stopped working out. I'm not a fan of body lotions. I find nerdy guys cute. Did I just say that? Hehehe.
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J
J
P.S. -
If you try any of the skin related treatments (or any sort of treatments you get at a drugstore for dark spots/under eye treatments/age defying creams/etc) be patient. Give it at least 6 weeks to work, as I understand that this is how long it takes for new skin cells to make it through the old layers.
The lemon sugar skin scrub works very quickly though.
If you try any of the skin related treatments (or any sort of treatments you get at a drugstore for dark spots/under eye treatments/age defying creams/etc) be patient. Give it at least 6 weeks to work, as I understand that this is how long it takes for new skin cells to make it through the old layers.
The lemon sugar skin scrub works very quickly though.
J
A lot of people in this forum suffer from depression. Since 2012, several studies have linked depression to fast food. I'm not saying that it's responsible for your depression if you suffer with it, but I can't imagine it to be helpful.
So....if you are going to go for the fast foods, why not go for better ones?
Egg white McMuffin @ McD's is only 250 calories
Breakfast burrito at McD's is only 300 calories
The grilled chicken snack wrap is only around 300 calories
I can't remember the calorie count on Wendy's chili, but it's not bad.
So....if you are going to go for the fast foods, why not go for better ones?
Egg white McMuffin @ McD's is only 250 calories
Breakfast burrito at McD's is only 300 calories
The grilled chicken snack wrap is only around 300 calories
I can't remember the calorie count on Wendy's chili, but it's not bad.
