eXistenZorcise

This thread seems like such a good idea. My smile is because I am spending time with friends. I'm on the left Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi everyone! Only just discovered this thread. I'm a scouser currently exiled in Manchester. Also consider myself an adopted Yorkshireman as I lived in Leeds for 3 years and my other half is from Halifax. Good thanks! And you? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep. Dangly bit. Does exactly what it says on the tin! That is so true. But also, for an average sized guy, it means everything looks in perfect equilibrium. At least that's what I tell myself.

I'm 5'11. It makes me distinctly average (certainly in the UK). Everything about me is average: weight, height, shoe size, dangly bit size. I love it, I don't care.

Excellent illustration, just how I imagined it haha! If you can't get the attention whilst babysitting, try dogs. In my previous single life, I found that having a dog (alright my parent's dog) is a great ice breaker when you're in the park. Women seem to appreciate a man who is good with animals. Although single guys with cats can be a bit strange (see Quagmire and James). If I was single again and didn't work full time I'd definitely own a dog.

At the moment I'm reading Ron Jeremy's (yes, THAT Ron Jeremy) autobiography and I must admit it's absolutely hilarious. He comes across as a really intelligent, warm, funny bloke (he has a masters degree) who just accidentally fell into the sordid world of adult films thanks to a certain part of his anatomy. Some of the stories are so outrageous that they are barely believable. Three Men in a Boat is one of my favourite books of all time. It never fails to make me laugh and I usually re-read it about once a year.

No time for a stylised update today, quick note of yesterday's workout below. I had my lunch hour so reduced it to the bare essentials. All are 5 reps and weight is in kg Barbell Squat: 20, 50, 60, 60, 70, 90, 90, 90 Bench: 20, 40, 40, 50, 60, 70, 70, 70 Overhead Press (OHP): 20, 20, 30, 30, 37.5, 40, 40, 40 Was really pleased because I managed to equal my PB on the OHP and bench and squeeze the whole thing in about 45 mins!

I don't have kids myself and don't really intend on having them any time soon but I've been told I'm amazing with kids. I've got no idea how or why, but it does seem to be true as my partner's 2 year old nephew absolutely adores me. If we're babysitting him, I'm the main focus of attention. If he starts kicking off, all we have to do is tell him I'm going home and he instantly calms down. Mystified to this day. I also have this effect with dogs.

This has just made me spit tea all over my screen. Guess I picked the wrong week to give up drinking.

I've loved going through this list and trying to tick off as many as I can that I've read and mentally make a note of some of the ones I haven't. I've read loads of books that I've loved and have had a big impact on me and my reading has exploded during the last 2 and a half years since my partner bought me a Kindle (Best. Present. Ever). But there have only been 2 books that I can say genuinely changed your life and both for completely different reasons. The first was The Game by Neil Strauss. It's basically the story of how a boring, average looking journalist becomes the world's greatest pick up artist. Whilst the whole PUA community is a bit weird and freaks me out a bit, Strauss (known by his PUA name Style) is absolutely ruthless in his dedication. He completely changes his whole life in pursuit of it. Its massively inspiring because its the ultimate zero to hero story from a guy who before he began had only ever been with 3 girls and ended dating supermodels and getting Britney Spears' phone number. Strauss became my favourite author after reading this. The other is The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot. This book is the main reason why I became an atheist and completely changed the way I look at existence. It's really difficult to explain what it's about without sounding ridiculous but one bit that stood out to me was the way atoms only look the way they look WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THEM. Mind = blown.

It's something I've always been able to do since I was younger. Can't really recall how I found out I could do it though. My partner loves/hates it in equal measure because we will be sat down on the couch playing videogames or watching tv and I'll do it without warning. Although she does have the option to tickle me, that makes me squirm and flail

Argh. This. Definitely this. Although I had a rather hilarious comment sent my way when out with mates a few weeks ago when we were taking turns to slut-drop in a metal club. Mine was (not judged by me) clearly the best. Mates just stood there and said "Yeah well we'd be that flexible if we squatted too". Also, unrelated to fitness: yes I'm fully aware I have a humorous accent. Yes I'm proud of where I'm from. No that does not mean I'm going to steal the wheels off your car or break into your house or claim benefits. It wasn't funny the first time you said it.

Day 1 Part 1: This morning began strangely. Was it the knowledge that below us, beneath our feet, on this very ground, that the Earth was spinning at an incomprehensible speed? Hurtling through space? Only those at the Miskatonic University could tell us that. No. It was the thought of pounding the pavement. I knew from looking at my partner straight away that this would be a trial for both of us. And a trial it was. We should have ran yesterday. But after a night haunted by the Old Ones (ed - the hot weather in the UK), Monday morning proved to be impossible. Barely had we broke a sweat when an unexpected creeping dread began to descend on us. Through our mind's eye we could see the Ancient Old Ones breathing down our necks. This continued for a whole 17 minutes and 23 seconds as we alternated between a fast walk and a slow jog, all the while in sheer outright terror until we reached our goal of exactly 2km. We both knew that this was not the end... (points if you get the style I attempted to write in)

Hope you got a licence for them guns. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How's this for you? Admittedly form isn't brilliant though :s Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aforementioned shoulders whilst walking with the nephew And eyes Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OMG yes final fantasy. I'm obsessed with VII to the stage where I play through it at least once a year. And love your avatar there Reala! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Kristen/Rinn! Good luck with all your goals from another longtime lurker turned Rebel!

What is this I don't even....

I've had my bright blue eyes described in a few ways. Piercing seems to be a really common one. And deep. I'll post a picture when I get in from work. Also whilst the front of my torso (well my chest and stomach) doesn't seem to have changed much, my back is all kinds of awesome these days. Just a shame I only see it when someone else takes a photo!

I've been lifting for about 18 months on and off. I'll go through a period of say 3-4 weeks of doing some consistent lifting and starting to rack up the weight and then start to lose interest, not go for say 2 weeks and then start the cycle all over again. I started doing SL 5x5 and I have to say it's brilliant because it's so simple. I can't stick to it though due to gym/work time constraints so have to improvise. At the moment I try to ensure I squat at least twice a week, bench at least twice a week, DL at least once and then work in OHPs, pull ups, dips, push ups and other full body exercises like one arm dumbbell snatches. I actually have done a 5k in the past. Dressed as Santa Claus. I was at my lowest weight too at 12st 6lb (not sure what this is in kg, maybe about 80?). We're doing the couch to 5k because it worked for me. After the race in July I'll see if I want to continue it. How long have you been doing SL?

Accountability is a massive thing for me. I have all the will in the world to go and do something and get really good at it, but unless I have somewhere to write it down and someone to tell me what I'm doing is useless, or that I'm doing really well, then inevitably I stop and fall into old habits. Exercise is no different. Over the last 18 months my weight has yo-yoed, my lifts have increased and stalled and I've varied wildly in my body image. No more! By making myself accountable to you lot here, I will ensure that I stick at it. But to try and make it interesting for you too, I will write each of my entries in a different writing style! I'll try my best to include everything that's relevant to where I am and where I want to be with regards to food and exercise To start with, some info about where I am at the moment: BW: 90kg (14st 4lb/200lb) Height: 5ft 11 Squat PB: 110kg (May 2013), Deadlift PB: 130kg (June 2013) Bench PB: 70kg (September 2013) Where I want to be: BW: Don't care. Squat: 2x BW (so 180kg), Deadlift: 200kg, Bench 1x BW (90kg) Also, my OH is currently training to do her 1st 5k in July so I am training with her. I've never done much running before but I'm enjoying the different challenge it is bringing! I'll be writing the first full entry tomorrow (in an as yet undetermined style) but if there is anything you'd like me to mention please let me know!

I can't see anyone else has mentioned it, but if you're looking at survivalism, try reading Emergency! by Neil Strauss. I tend to think that living in the UK we would be even more stuffed come the Zompocalypse because the country is smaller and not to mention there aren't many guns*. But then I suppose they survived the end of 28 Days Later by hiding in the Lake District so maybe there's hope for us yet. *I'm 100% pro gun control

We took my OH's 2 year old nephew to a place called Hollingworth Lake near Manchester on Saturday. It's absolutely stunning and so close to the city. He loved it and made sure to say hello to every dog that we passed and chased every butterfly. Definitely a novel way to stay fit, I might have to try it! I'll post some pics later

Hi everyone, long time lurker first time poster so a tiny bit nervous! Where to start? I discovered lifting and strength exercises about 18 months ago after years of being physically inept and fell in love with it. My quest to do a pull up (achieved 18/05/2013) led me to one of my favourite ever NF articles and I've been hooked evern since. Now trying to push myself a step further and lift BIGGER!!! Current PBs are 105kg Squat, 130kg DL, 70kg bench. Out of lifting I'm obsessed with Videogames and music. My degree is in music and I wrote my dissertation on the evolution of it in videogames! Much interesting! Very Synthesis! I'm also a massive bookworm and will read absolutely anything. Currently in the middle of Jenna Jameson's autobiography which is co-written by Neil Strauss, one of my favourite authors. So excited to get down to business here finally, NICE TO MEET YOU ALL!!