I Kinda Miss the Gym

Miss like I want to go.

So for the past few weeks (and 2-3 months) off and on, I’ve been doing the P90x/Insanity hybrid. More recently, since my knee and back issues have healed, I’ve been going back at it hardcore. For those of you who don’t know, the P90x and Insanity programs are home based workouts. I go downstairs, pop in the DVDs and go for it.

Coinciding with the workout program is the fact that my latest project at work has me working from home majority of the time. (Now I’m definitely not complaining about that).

The problem is I don’t leave the house!

I’m like a hermit man. I get up, go downstairs workout, go back upstairs shower, then do work. Rinse and repeat.

I miss the buff dude lifting weights grunting like he’s about to bust a nut.

I miss the fly girl on the treadmill, booty jiggling.

I miss the other fly girl on the elliptical going reeeeaaall sloooooooow while she’s talking on her cell phone (and who looks like she’s going straight clubbin’ after leaving)

I miss the eye candy.

I miss the dude that went up to everyone giving them instructions on how to do an exercise like he made every piece of equipment.

Yeah I miss all of those characters but I’ll tell you two things I don’t miss. Waiting for a machine/treadmill and the monthly payments. Now that I think about it. I’m good – at least until I finish these programs.

Maybe I’ll workout one day and do a drive by just cause.

You Phat or Fat?

There was an interesting article in the Washington Post today.

You can read it here.

The title: Black women heavier and happier with their bodies than white women, poll finds

I won’t explain all of the details of the article. It’s a pretty decent read so please check it out yourselves. It basically says exactly what the title suggests – that black women, although heavier, are happier with their bodies than white women. Both women have societal pressures but they’re different. Some white women have this skinny or bust motive while black women will get chastised if they become skin and bones.

Although I’m a dude, I’m sure one of the hardest battles a woman has to endure is acceptance of her body. There’s just so much external pressure. Dudes. Another women. Family. Magazines. TV. Videos. Social Media. You name it. 

But I think the bigger issue is what’s going on in the inside; not how they look on the outside. The bottom line is are you healthy?

What’s your blood pressure? Are you on medication? What’s your cholesterol? Does your family have a history of medical issues? When’s the last time you went to the doctor? What are your glucose levels?

Again, are you healthy?

People automatically make assumptions that skinny is healthy. In some cases, it’s not. People also seemed to get confused between phat and fat. While I’m all for appreciating your curves, I don’t want you getting tired walking down the block or up a flight of steps or you telling me to stop after my first ten pumps when we doing the grown-up (wait…let me think about that).

Seriously though. Love your body. Stand in the mirror and look at yourself. No spanx. No clothes. Nothing. Learn to appreciate what you have and do what you have to do to be healthy.