The Abs Diet

6 week plan to great abs?

I started implementing this initially to the "rules" I had been following since last summer. I saw immediate results, as posted in my previous post. I just have not gotten around to actually putting my thoughts down.

Its light reading, and significantly appealing. The author is pretty straight forward, however, I found his consistent harping on the Atkins diet and other diet plans versus his to be a bit overwhelming. I am reading the book to get information not to learn the propaganda. Anyway its one of those highly recommended books- from Mens Health, to references elsewhere, as well from specific people- I thought it was well worth it to sit down and see what the guy had to say.

Many of the things Zinczenko talks about as far as studies and research is quite interesting. I found it to be motivation for myself to keep on getting my ass off the couch and to actively do something about my weight.

I will write more specifics about his Power Foods, some research to keep me going and some other key components of his plan.

Preceptions, Its all 'bout Preceptions

The battle wages on

Week 9
Weight: 178.3lbs
BMI: 28.54
WHR: 0.8875
Body Fat: 27.7%

Having lost a good 7 lbs in about two weeks, I felt pretty good about myself. Now I am trying to maintain that weight. And it fluctuates, while my heart flutters, and I begin loosing hope. I wish it were faster, but I am apprieciating each step on this million step journey I have embarked on. What I realize is that its all about perception. That is the key to success.

When I felt like the guys in that billboard after my 7lbs. lose, it made me feel good. I put on a few pair of pants I have not worn for a few months- well a year now. I started having these wild dreams of mad sex with a rugged and hard body like the one mine was slowly becoming. But then this stagnation happened. I gained a pound, lost it again, gained three, lost three. The fluctuation of weight began to change my perceptions, as if I have reached a ceiling made of glass and my fat just cant seep out of it.

Now I feel like this picture below. I feel like jello and I feel like fat, and I feel fat, and I feel my self-esteem just plummeting. So its all about perception. I know I can hit the 175 mark, and my goal was to do that before the end of the month, well its not the end and its only three pounds away.

So its funny that at 178 I feel like I was when I weighed 190 lbs. I should be happy, because its a motivation factor to get me to the 160 goal and 12% body fat ideal. Just have to keep chugging it through. Add some more extensive working out. FOCUS is the key to this.

"300" A Man's Man Movie

I went to go watch this movie. It was spectacular! The blood, gore and killing really exemplified what it meant to "be a man" at one point in human history, and now how pitiful the situation. Alas, however, if you are interested in a nice cultural/historical critique of the movie, read here.

People are blasting Iran and others for being to strung up about a "comic strip rendition" of a movie. We should all know it isn't a documentary. However, I would say at one point it was culturally allowable to portray blacks in a certain fashion, or Jews in a certain way or for that matter any other minority. So its important to use these sorts of moments to really understand the historical context of things. The battle itself really did not occur as portrayed, nor was Sparta so democratic, liberal and free as constantly emphasized in the dialogue. So I encourage all to read up on it.

However, do enjoy the movie if you are into blood, gore and great action. The style of the movie is quite exquisite, its like resurrecting Gladiator after the disaster the Troy, Alexander and the crusading movie were- however its resurrected using speed or some other drug!

With that said lets focus on how this movie is "resurrecting" an old concept of "manliness"

Well actually I lie. See the common man were represented in the Arcadian, those half-wit artistic brood who came to "fight" with the Spartans. Spartans, well, they were the epitome of what it was to be a man. With their well groomed hair, finely tanned and oiled body. chiseled from marble itself every Spartan was the physical specimen of "man". Looking at them and then comparing them to the Persians or to the Arcadian, well they were more then mere mortals. But see beyond their physic and their finely groomed, mannequin like bodies they were principled men.

They combined modern metro sexuality with that concept of John Wayne and Marlane Brando "manliness" and portrayed it in terms of principles. But there are specific lessons we can learn, for example King Leonidas is an example of the conceptual "300" man as told by the remaining survivor of the 300 Spartans that fought Xerxes Persian horde.

Take Leonidas and the result is quite a resolute husband, the fearless leader, the straight yet distantly loving father, the idealized citizen who put state above tradition so a practical man and finally the obedient son.

Some select quotes from Leonidas

Spartan King Leonidas: We Spartans have descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life. Spartans: the finest soldiers the world has ever known.

Spartan King Leonidas: A new age has come, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it

Spartan King Leonidas: Give them nothing! But take from them everything!

See the idea being presented is quite interesting. A man is brave, unwavering on his convicitions, represents himself in a resolute manner, never admits defeat...etc. All admirable characteristics.

The sad thing is that they are presented in such a ridiculously historically false way. As for the representation of the Persians, I can care less, it really was probably just as bad- I mean did you watch Alexander? Anyway, these cultures were pre-Islam, so really what do you expect?