I disagree with those who say that alcoholic beverages consumed in moderation can be beneficial to one's health. Alcohol is poison, and it is not good for us. Any "health benefits" that come from drinking, say, red wine, can be realized through other, non-alcoholic means. Maybe some people like to be told that there are "health benefits" so they feel better about drinking, I dunno. I don't attempt to justify alcohol consumption in any way. It's an unhealthy indulgence, pure and simple.
I abstain from alcohol almost completely whenever I'm cutting or bulking, and I believe that doing so makes a big difference in my progress.
Right now (and for the next 3 months) I'm maintaining and enjoying the fruits of my labor a bit. My diet is slightly relaxed, and I can enjoy a drink or two a couple times a week. Is this optimal for my training? No, but I'm not training for the Olympics, nor do I have any health problems. It's not a big deal.
Yes.
Moreover, studies that have found that alcohol consumption, in moderation, leads to increased life expectancy likely didn't control for other variables. For instance, a plausible alternative hypothesis could be that people who drink in moderation also use moderation in consupmtion of other "bad" things/foods.
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
I had a great leg workout this afternoon, and I've got some pictures... but they are not of my legs.
First, a little background.
A mockingbird was singing his songs in my backyard all throughout the spring. He finally got lucky and met the bird of his dreams. They built a nest in the Nellie Stevens Holly in our backyard, and a week or so ago we noticed four little eggs in their nest.
When I do my cardio in the morning, I always open the blinds and watch all the critters in my backyard. Yesterday morning when I was doing my cardio, I noticed a lot of activity by the two mockingbirds. They were flying in and out of the holly every few minutes. I knew something was up, so after my cardio I decided to sneak out back...
Sure enough, all the eggs had hatched! There were four little baby mockingbirds in the nest with their mouths wide open. I'd only just manged to glimpse the four babies when suddenly I heard a crazy screech just above me: the momma was on the roof, freaking out and about to dive-bomb me. Mockingbirds are very territorial. I didn't like upsetting her, so I hustled inside.
I watched them all day today while I worked, and both the mom and the dad have been shuttling food to the babies all day long. It's been amazing watching them! They each have their own distinct method of entering the bush. The mom is the more timid of the two: she'll land on my patio furniture and plot a trajectory in to the bush after carefully looking around to make sure no one is watching. The dad is the exact opposite: he flies directly into the bush from all kinds of different angles at top speed! It's been so cool watching these two go about their business the past couple of days.
Tonight, as quietly as possible, I went out back and got some pictures. I got caught. Mom and dad are never far away!
Here's mom:
Here's dad with some food!
These were very tough pictures to get: the babies! There are four of them, but I was only able capture two of them on film before mom and dad starting freaking out. I didn't want to stress them out, so I called it quits after these two photos:
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darvonia
Awwww....I enjoyed that story and the pictures! Thanks for sharing that....it was nice.
You're welcome, my pleasure!
I've always been a huge animal lover, so even "mundane" events like these parents tending to their offspring have given me quite a thrill these past few days.
What type of camera are you using? The pictures turned out so clear and crisp. Is it just a point and shoot? I love how the birds made their nest out of sticks. I'm use to seeing nests out of grass and mud. Neat shots. Keep us posted.
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caruthias
I don't know what it is about baby birds that allows them to be so ugly yet so cute.
I have no idea, either.
Part of me is thinking, "Man, those are some ugly little birds!", but at the same time they are sort of cute, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kree-kree
What type of camera are you using? The pictures turned out so clear and crisp. Is it just a point and shoot?
My current camera is the Canon Powershot A710. It's a great little camera. It takes awesome point/shoot photos, and has lots of manual controls if you want them. Good price, too.
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Quote:
Originally Posted by mustbesix
Have you ever made your own pizza? I think it tastes great and it has to be better for you than delivery.
I've tried, but it's tough to make a pizza the way I like it here at home. I managed a small delivery/carry out pizza joint for about a year when I was 19 years old, and hand-tossed pizzas cooked in those old brick ovens were just awesome. Even conveyor ovens do a better job than a household oven.
There was a little family-owned Italian joint around the corner that delivered the best pizzas ever, but they went out of business.
What I do like a lot, and what I could easily make here at home instead of pizza, is bruschetta.
John, I appreciate your update today. You are correct, willpower is merely an extension of desire. It is as simple as that, though we often make it out to be so much more. I know I have certainly been one of those people in awe of your "willpower." I guess, moreso, I'm in awe of your desire to be better. It's inspiring, and one of the main reasons I visit this site every day. Thank you for being inspiring.
__________________
"If you wake up on leg day and don't feel a little scared, then you're just not working hard enough!" -Johnny Fitness
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Quote:
Originally Posted by carddante
John, I appreciate your update today. You are correct, willpower is merely an extension of desire.
Well put. I wish I'd said that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by carddante
It is as simple as that, though we often make it out to be so much more. I know I have certainly been one of those people in awe of your "willpower." I guess, moreso, I'm in awe of your desire to be better. It's inspiring, and one of the main reasons I visit this site every day. Thank you for being inspiring.
Thank you.
Today's update has generated a lot of feedback, and I'm happy to report that so far it's all been good. I really hope to get some more good feedback in a few months from those who were not just momentarilly inspired, but actually followed through. Then I'll feel like I have done my job.
While I don't share your annoyance, I'm glad you enjoyed the article!
the only reason I find it annoying is cuz sometimes I'll spend an hour or more explaining to someone exactly what they need to do and sometimes even go as far as design a meal plan around foods they actually like eating and yet when I follow up on how they are doing a couple weeks later they have already given up..
it actually has gotten to the point where I have wasted so much time that I now tell ppl if they want my advice they can take me out for dinner/lunch and they can ask me any questions they want then.. I wouldnt be surprised if I have spent over 100 hours in the past year helping ppl and maybe 4 or 5 of the ppl I've helped have actually followed through with the plan I laid out .. those 4 or 5 ppl have also gotten results that even surprised me... I guess those 4 or 5 ppl sorta make it worth it but in the other 90+ hours that I spent trying to help someone I could have done other stuff and learned alot more..
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Quote:
Originally Posted by lil_dave
the only reason I find it annoying is cuz sometimes I'll spend an hour or more explaining to someone exactly what they need to do and sometimes even go as far as design a meal plan around foods they actually like eating and yet when I follow up on how they are doing a couple weeks later they have already given up..
Try doing that a few hundred times and then get back to me.
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
OK, after years of nothing but shreding, here's my first attempt at slide guitar. It's a video of me playing an abridged version of Ry Cooder's "Feelin' Bad Blues".
I know I suck, but I'm enjoying this new style and I'm going to keep practicing.
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