Its true... I used to work an ungodly amount every day.... just like, two short months ago. I was insanely productive. And now.... well, I am happy to get a decent work-out in and two or three hours of video analysis / paper work.. plus my Spanish when I have homework or class.
I suppose this is why I am blogging now -- to-do-ing. It is hard to get things done without structure. But I think I am also recovering from working too much the past school year. I need to learn to say NO to things I don't need to do or want to do.
But in the moment, I need to get going.
++video analysis
Yupz.
++15 min of accordion / dino a day
See, I think an hour is something that is hard to commit to doing initially. I will work my way up until I am a fully functional / productive person again... I am ashamed to say I have not touched these since I made my initial goal last weekend D:
++Spanish homework
++workout - I was thinking of going extreme here -- like 2 hours of cardio or something, but we'll see.
++drink an insane amt of green tea and water
I had a shit ton of salt the other day at a party, and I am still retaining water, so I am trying to flush that shiz out. I also made / drank my first green smoothie today which was ok. It was:
2 c. of kale and spinach, chopped (well torn)
3/4 c. of pineapple
1/2 of an apple
1/2 c. of frozen raspberries
A bit of lime juice
1/2 c. of of my iced green tea (this one has quite a bit of ginger)
It was EXTREMELY filling. It is about 150 calories. You'd need some kind of protein powder to make it a meal.
Finally got in touch with a personal trainer... should be interesting.
I also want to start getting up earlier. I have kept it to not insane levels of sleeping in / staying up, but I would like to be ready for East Coast time in a week. Plus, it is so much easier to get work done during a normal schedule.
I want to make these:
http://www.refinery29.com/alcoholic-popsicles?page=2
I also made a fucking dinosaur, yo. I need to like submit that shiz all over. Le sighz. Also, need to document my little blown away installation.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
belated thoughts about fat acceptance
So, I forgot to publish this when I wrote it... I summarized these points in another post but oh well.
I have been reading about fat acceptance, mainly because this article compared 'Fat Liberation' to the LGBT movement. I was a bit appalled at that article, mostly because of the attempt to draw very direct parallels between being fat and being gay.
Now, I can see some similarities: the idea of "choice" and the use of 'health' as a motivating factor of discrimination. Also, I do agree that overweight people are unfairly discriminated against, and a lot of it in very cruel, unfair ways.
However, she makes this statement: "Yes, fat people can get married, but many thin people would not consider dating, let alone loving and marrying, someone who is fat." To me, this is undercutting to her argument, and belittling to the struggles of people who were legally and systematically discriminated against in this particular arena.
Dating and love will always, always be unfair in this way, and that goes for attributes beyond just weight. If like in earlier ages, plump women were highly preferred, it would be the thin ones making this complaint. Also, substitute 'HUGE noses' for 'fat' and you can maybe see more easily where I am going.
Also, although the health dangers of being obese and overweight seem to be exaggerated by the medical community, there is a connection between weight and many diseases. Obesity should probably NOT be considered a disease by the AMA but it shouldn't be completely discounted as a risk factor. Being underweight also carries with it many health dangers.
Secondly, absent an actual disorder (and obviously there are many people with these) to claim that the lifestyle of overweight people does not any way contribute to this condition does not seem plausible. The problem is, once people reach obesity, it does seem like it is very hard to lose the weight. Losing weight is hard for me, as a thin person (I know bc I am doing it right now), and the problem is that it is not, by in large, easier for people heavier than me.
But I only have 5-10 pounds I'd prefer, if I could, to lose... it must be infinitely harder to lose more than that. Plus, I've been gaining and losing the same 15 or less pounds all my adult life. Not in a depressing way -- I've found when I go above a ccrtain set point, its because my normal habits have changed and it comes off easily once I've re-adjusted. But anyways, having to lose more than 10 pounds -- and permanently --seems daunting. I'd think you'd really have to devote a lot of your life to that. It'd be similar to being a pro-athlete.
So, both to call being fat a 'choice' AND 'not a choice' seems to the wrong way of looking at it. That sounds like the mushy middle, but oh well. UNLESS, in the instance of a disorder or disease, then obviously it is totally not a choice!!
And, to tell you the truth, I was FAR more appalled at the horrible fat-shaming comments to this article than the article's actual comparison to the LGBT movement. Being anonymous really gives people free reign to be nasty.
Also, judging someone based on their weight is an INCORRECT way of assessing people anyways. It is not just nasty: it leads to false conclusions.
I have been reading about fat acceptance, mainly because this article compared 'Fat Liberation' to the LGBT movement. I was a bit appalled at that article, mostly because of the attempt to draw very direct parallels between being fat and being gay.
Now, I can see some similarities: the idea of "choice" and the use of 'health' as a motivating factor of discrimination. Also, I do agree that overweight people are unfairly discriminated against, and a lot of it in very cruel, unfair ways.
However, she makes this statement: "Yes, fat people can get married, but many thin people would not consider dating, let alone loving and marrying, someone who is fat." To me, this is undercutting to her argument, and belittling to the struggles of people who were legally and systematically discriminated against in this particular arena.
Dating and love will always, always be unfair in this way, and that goes for attributes beyond just weight. If like in earlier ages, plump women were highly preferred, it would be the thin ones making this complaint. Also, substitute 'HUGE noses' for 'fat' and you can maybe see more easily where I am going.
Also, although the health dangers of being obese and overweight seem to be exaggerated by the medical community, there is a connection between weight and many diseases. Obesity should probably NOT be considered a disease by the AMA but it shouldn't be completely discounted as a risk factor. Being underweight also carries with it many health dangers.
Secondly, absent an actual disorder (and obviously there are many people with these) to claim that the lifestyle of overweight people does not any way contribute to this condition does not seem plausible. The problem is, once people reach obesity, it does seem like it is very hard to lose the weight. Losing weight is hard for me, as a thin person (I know bc I am doing it right now), and the problem is that it is not, by in large, easier for people heavier than me.
But I only have 5-10 pounds I'd prefer, if I could, to lose... it must be infinitely harder to lose more than that. Plus, I've been gaining and losing the same 15 or less pounds all my adult life. Not in a depressing way -- I've found when I go above a ccrtain set point, its because my normal habits have changed and it comes off easily once I've re-adjusted. But anyways, having to lose more than 10 pounds -- and permanently --seems daunting. I'd think you'd really have to devote a lot of your life to that. It'd be similar to being a pro-athlete.
So, both to call being fat a 'choice' AND 'not a choice' seems to the wrong way of looking at it. That sounds like the mushy middle, but oh well. UNLESS, in the instance of a disorder or disease, then obviously it is totally not a choice!!
And, to tell you the truth, I was FAR more appalled at the horrible fat-shaming comments to this article than the article's actual comparison to the LGBT movement. Being anonymous really gives people free reign to be nasty.
Also, judging someone based on their weight is an INCORRECT way of assessing people anyways. It is not just nasty: it leads to false conclusions.
saturday, mo' workin' out, mo' workz
So, I've been thinking how much easier it is to diet and workout compared to make time for working on music. I guess I got really burnt-out last semester. Plus, in terms of accordion, it like, let's be HONEST -- fucking sucks when you return to your instrument after a couple months hiatus. Plus, picking up the instrument inches me into a mini-existential crisis: its been THIS LONG since I played?? Who am I?! And then your hands are all like blah blah I'm all over the place you are NOT one with the music, girl.
But.
Ahem.
I have decided that I will do at least:
1 hr. of accordion
1 hr. of dinosaur-playing
a day. and not like, serious practicing. But, at least, I will be on it. Then, after fooling around and getting my groove back, I will actually start real practicing.
I also want to start practicing the adv. rhythm stuff. Maybe I will do that on my instruments, instead of takedimis.
I will have to look at renting an accordion in Roanoke.
During the school year, I will reduce it to 1/2 hr. Maybe every other day, but I will try to keep up.
So, today I will try and do those things as well as:
++Finish video analysis on the first video. OMFG, so close to this.
++Work out in the gym!
Umm, well it is a weekend day so I think that is enough.
One thing I have been working on in my diet is reducing sodium. I am not a chocoholic nor am I into sweets or anything. But, BOY do I love salty, crunchy things. Boy, do I love salt. While I've mostly stayed away from chips, etc -- usually not a normal part of my diet so that's not hard. But I lovesz the salt. Trying to curb it!
I am also drinking a lot of green tea. I mean, burns almost 100 cal a day if you drink at least 4 cups a day. Which isn't TOOO bad. Esp. since the iced version subs for water pretty well.
But.
Ahem.
I have decided that I will do at least:
1 hr. of accordion
1 hr. of dinosaur-playing
a day. and not like, serious practicing. But, at least, I will be on it. Then, after fooling around and getting my groove back, I will actually start real practicing.
I also want to start practicing the adv. rhythm stuff. Maybe I will do that on my instruments, instead of takedimis.
I will have to look at renting an accordion in Roanoke.
During the school year, I will reduce it to 1/2 hr. Maybe every other day, but I will try to keep up.
So, today I will try and do those things as well as:
++Finish video analysis on the first video. OMFG, so close to this.
++Work out in the gym!
Umm, well it is a weekend day so I think that is enough.
One thing I have been working on in my diet is reducing sodium. I am not a chocoholic nor am I into sweets or anything. But, BOY do I love salty, crunchy things. Boy, do I love salt. While I've mostly stayed away from chips, etc -- usually not a normal part of my diet so that's not hard. But I lovesz the salt. Trying to curb it!
I am also drinking a lot of green tea. I mean, burns almost 100 cal a day if you drink at least 4 cups a day. Which isn't TOOO bad. Esp. since the iced version subs for water pretty well.
Friday, July 5, 2013
things for Friday TODAY
++workout -- some weight-training, some cardio
I have been encouraged that although I have not lost that much weight, I have lost at least 1/2" off my waist... plus, obv. I should know this, but being relatively low in BMI (not underweight, but low-ish) it takes longer for me to lose weight, etc.
++wake-up at 10a tomorrow
Must start getting into Eastern time somehow so that I can spend time with my family. We may go to a museum in order to motivate. Or working out.
++more video analysis
I have been analyzing 9 points on every other frame of video by hand. This is madness, and I have already spent over 10 hrs on this task, for 87s of video. I am going to try sampling every 4 frames instead.
Had a good 4th of July with our neighbors. Played beer pong for the 1st time again in years! I think the last time was in Jersey City after a poetry slam. Man! I am old person living like I am 23 all the time. I become worried that I am somehow horribly immature, sometimes. Though, went to a tango party last week where most were older than me, so maybe I am just open-minded. But being a grad student PLUS in the arts keeps you in this oddly young place all the timez, no matter the age.
++jesus I need to start on music shiz. start iiiiiiittttttttt. at the same time, this damn em paper must take priority.
I became interested in the Fat Acceptance movement.. I have some mixed feelings about some of this.
++health concerns seem to be underestimated in this community -- obesity is at least correlated strongly with diabetes, breast cancer, other diseasess
++obesity should not be designated a disease... it is a risk factor not a disease, itself.
++related: medical community does seem to overemphasize the health dangers of obesity(as part of stigmatizing)
++being fat is not a choice, BUT I do NOT believe that that it is unrelated to lifestyle unless the symptom/result of a disease/disorder (eg, thyroid disorder)
++it is much easier to become obese than to lose weight... our bodies want to hold on to that weight after a while. This doesn't necessarily mean there is a predetermined *genetic* set-point, irrespective of lifestyle, etc. Indeed, data points to this being false -- the rapid rise of overweight people.
++obese people are horribly discriminated against and this is *wrong*. Look, shaming doesn't help people lose weight and it is frankly, rude and disgusting to treat people badly because of their weight.
I have been encouraged that although I have not lost that much weight, I have lost at least 1/2" off my waist... plus, obv. I should know this, but being relatively low in BMI (not underweight, but low-ish) it takes longer for me to lose weight, etc.
++wake-up at 10a tomorrow
Must start getting into Eastern time somehow so that I can spend time with my family. We may go to a museum in order to motivate. Or working out.
++more video analysis
I have been analyzing 9 points on every other frame of video by hand. This is madness, and I have already spent over 10 hrs on this task, for 87s of video. I am going to try sampling every 4 frames instead.
Had a good 4th of July with our neighbors. Played beer pong for the 1st time again in years! I think the last time was in Jersey City after a poetry slam. Man! I am old person living like I am 23 all the time. I become worried that I am somehow horribly immature, sometimes. Though, went to a tango party last week where most were older than me, so maybe I am just open-minded. But being a grad student PLUS in the arts keeps you in this oddly young place all the timez, no matter the age.
++jesus I need to start on music shiz. start iiiiiiittttttttt. at the same time, this damn em paper must take priority.
I became interested in the Fat Acceptance movement.. I have some mixed feelings about some of this.
++health concerns seem to be underestimated in this community -- obesity is at least correlated strongly with diabetes, breast cancer, other diseasess
++obesity should not be designated a disease... it is a risk factor not a disease, itself.
++related: medical community does seem to overemphasize the health dangers of obesity(as part of stigmatizing)
++being fat is not a choice, BUT I do NOT believe that that it is unrelated to lifestyle unless the symptom/result of a disease/disorder (eg, thyroid disorder)
++it is much easier to become obese than to lose weight... our bodies want to hold on to that weight after a while. This doesn't necessarily mean there is a predetermined *genetic* set-point, irrespective of lifestyle, etc. Indeed, data points to this being false -- the rapid rise of overweight people.
++obese people are horribly discriminated against and this is *wrong*. Look, shaming doesn't help people lose weight and it is frankly, rude and disgusting to treat people badly because of their weight.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
thingsz to do to-day
++write back some olde friends!!!
++video analysis -- at LEAST 2 hours... AT LEAST
++strength-training... must do BEFORE cardio because I tend to just do more cardio instead and call it a day
++some music shiz, ya
++review some Spanish shiz
++apply for residence status in AZ
++do not fall down the rabbit hole of reading so much nutrition/food/weight loss blogs / articles, etc.
Also, I just read a blog entry on reducing unnecessary uses of self-discipline. I think I should maybe think about this... although, for me, I am more inertia than anything else. If I start the day productive... then I will be productive the rest of the day. So maybe I should use a lot of self-discipline in the morning... hmmm....
PS. I am still installing the art work. Yes yes yes I am. LOL. However yesterday I mostly finished and I couldn't completely finish since techs were all sick and I didn't have access to equipment.
PPS. Since I started cooking more and caring about my diet, and reducing grains, etc. as a staple in my diet, my grocery bill started going through the roof...even though my caloric intake has reduced AND my restaurant going has reduced. Like not eating as much grains is expensive, yo. Thinking of a Costco membership, and perhaps other ways of cutting costs. There must be a cheaper way of getting fresh fruits & veggies, for instance.
http://www.costco.com/.product.3164.html
PPPS. makes your computer mimic times of day better so you don't stay up for foreverz.
http://justgetflux.com/
Progress ETA 7:45p:
DONE:
++emails
++video analysis (2 hrs)
++strength training
TO-DO:
++Residency status
++review Spanish shiz
++some music shiz (probz should start on new piece)
++video analysis -- at LEAST 2 hours... AT LEAST
++strength-training... must do BEFORE cardio because I tend to just do more cardio instead and call it a day
++some music shiz, ya
++review some Spanish shiz
++apply for residence status in AZ
++do not fall down the rabbit hole of reading so much nutrition/food/weight loss blogs / articles, etc.
Also, I just read a blog entry on reducing unnecessary uses of self-discipline. I think I should maybe think about this... although, for me, I am more inertia than anything else. If I start the day productive... then I will be productive the rest of the day. So maybe I should use a lot of self-discipline in the morning... hmmm....
PS. I am still installing the art work. Yes yes yes I am. LOL. However yesterday I mostly finished and I couldn't completely finish since techs were all sick and I didn't have access to equipment.
PPS. Since I started cooking more and caring about my diet, and reducing grains, etc. as a staple in my diet, my grocery bill started going through the roof...even though my caloric intake has reduced AND my restaurant going has reduced. Like not eating as much grains is expensive, yo. Thinking of a Costco membership, and perhaps other ways of cutting costs. There must be a cheaper way of getting fresh fruits & veggies, for instance.
http://www.costco.com/.product.3164.html
PPPS. makes your computer mimic times of day better so you don't stay up for foreverz.
http://justgetflux.com/
Progress ETA 7:45p:
DONE:
++emails
++video analysis (2 hrs)
++strength training
TO-DO:
++Residency status
++review Spanish shiz
++some music shiz (probz should start on new piece)
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
things you learn whilst researching health and weight loss
1. Almost all weight loss studies and for that matter, websites, are devoted to people who have quite a bit of weight to lose.
Ex. Common in tips for losing weight is shiz like: "Cut out soda from your diet", "Substitute fruit for dessert", etc. And then at the end of this list, I'm like: but I never had any of these horrible eating habits and yet I would still like to lose 5-10lbs thxxx.
Solution: Google 'how to lose the LAST ten pounds, etc.' and that will be mildly helpful.
2. No one really knows anything at all about nutrition, and yet people treat particular diets like religion.
Veganism seems to be the worst, probably because it is mostly about an ethical stance. And yet, denying that there are some dangerous vitamin deficiencies on this diet seems pretty common... it doesn't seem rational, since the ethical stance does not require non-supplementation (as long as with non-animal-based products) or the belief that humans were not evolved to eat animals (this claim unsupported by evidence/research). Raw food veganism seems largely, in the long run, unsustainable for 95% of people. But it is not the worst by far, some flavors of paleo and low-carb also seem militant. Reading about the perfect health of 'Grok' made my eyes roll. However, there are reasonable people in all these competing camps....
Anyways, so any life-changing diet, I'd be skeptical of.
3. No one knows anything about nutrition, Part 2. USDA guidelines are pretty fucked by special interests and weak research, particularly the high requirements for grains. It is hard to find any large, comprehensive study without a significant number of confounding factors, or else something that could really be applied to one's diet without caveats.
4. Keep a food journal. This is practically the only way to lose weight that is universally supported by scientific studies.
5. Again, medical/scientific studies usually study overweight people trying to lose weight, not average-sized people trying to lose weight. Its hard to say whether the difficulties or strategies are exactly the same for different situations.
6. Despite some studies being skeptical for exercise for weight loss, it pretty much works. The key is to at least monitor your food intake so it doesn't increase to much after exercise. If you eat enough to make up for the calorie deficit you've created by exercise then you've negated the weight loss effects. This is a fairly common thing to happen. Cutting calories and exercising is the best way to lose weight.
You should basically exercise anyways. It is pretty much always good for you. Except if you do crazy endurance sports, apparently. Which sucks since I always wanted to run a marathon.
Ex. Common in tips for losing weight is shiz like: "Cut out soda from your diet", "Substitute fruit for dessert", etc. And then at the end of this list, I'm like: but I never had any of these horrible eating habits and yet I would still like to lose 5-10lbs thxxx.
Solution: Google 'how to lose the LAST ten pounds, etc.' and that will be mildly helpful.
2. No one really knows anything at all about nutrition, and yet people treat particular diets like religion.
Veganism seems to be the worst, probably because it is mostly about an ethical stance. And yet, denying that there are some dangerous vitamin deficiencies on this diet seems pretty common... it doesn't seem rational, since the ethical stance does not require non-supplementation (as long as with non-animal-based products) or the belief that humans were not evolved to eat animals (this claim unsupported by evidence/research). Raw food veganism seems largely, in the long run, unsustainable for 95% of people. But it is not the worst by far, some flavors of paleo and low-carb also seem militant. Reading about the perfect health of 'Grok' made my eyes roll. However, there are reasonable people in all these competing camps....
Anyways, so any life-changing diet, I'd be skeptical of.
3. No one knows anything about nutrition, Part 2. USDA guidelines are pretty fucked by special interests and weak research, particularly the high requirements for grains. It is hard to find any large, comprehensive study without a significant number of confounding factors, or else something that could really be applied to one's diet without caveats.
4. Keep a food journal. This is practically the only way to lose weight that is universally supported by scientific studies.
5. Again, medical/scientific studies usually study overweight people trying to lose weight, not average-sized people trying to lose weight. Its hard to say whether the difficulties or strategies are exactly the same for different situations.
6. Despite some studies being skeptical for exercise for weight loss, it pretty much works. The key is to at least monitor your food intake so it doesn't increase to much after exercise. If you eat enough to make up for the calorie deficit you've created by exercise then you've negated the weight loss effects. This is a fairly common thing to happen. Cutting calories and exercising is the best way to lose weight.
You should basically exercise anyways. It is pretty much always good for you. Except if you do crazy endurance sports, apparently. Which sucks since I always wanted to run a marathon.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
no I haven't finished the installation and other troubling news
But first! good news! I did my taxes and got a huge refund coming my way! Yes, for 2012. LOL. Also, I finally confirmed yes I was going to be a TA this fall, sent the invoice for my dino shiz to my grant disbursement -- the parts it pays for at least, and a few other paperwork thingies. Yes, 30 min of work today and I felt AWESOMELY productive. I suppose this is both good and bad.
I also went to the gym, and did some light cardio. My real goal was to sign up for a personal trainer but they told me to wait more to see if I get a reply from my Internet form inquiry. Apparently, that IS the correct way to do it, and it just takesz foreverz.
Been reading the hell out of food blogs. Well, that China Study book seems biased as hell is what I'm reading:
http://rawfoodsos.com/the-china-study/
Through that debunking came into a lot of paleo-diet blogs. Well, I have to admit that my impression of the paleo diet was liiiiiike very very poor. Mostly because I have been reading up on and researching a lot about that time period... however, it seems as if there are actually quite a number of sensible people associated with this diet who do not believe in the 'Grok' story per se (the bizarre idea that paleolithic humans enjoyed this like near awesomez state of health). The more one delves into diet and nutrition the more deflection, ideology, and non-answers one finds, I think.
In the shower, I started thinking about ideologies in general and how in some ways they can be so destructive. But then, in moderation, I think they can be helpful.
Then, I started thinking about the worship of rationality and science can also be similar. Mostly because I was thinking how much easier if there were a clearer metric of 'good work' in my life. But then, I started thinking that in practice (not in ideal) I had seen several scientists struggle with artist-like uncertainty about the value of their work and career. Still, grass is greener. Also, I started thinking about the critique of rational thinking, which is quite meta. Anyways, I'm convinced that our Western society, in general, overvalues this. Of course, certain sections of the population severely undervalue science (though probably not rationality in the same way)....
More later I have to give someone a ride...
I also went to the gym, and did some light cardio. My real goal was to sign up for a personal trainer but they told me to wait more to see if I get a reply from my Internet form inquiry. Apparently, that IS the correct way to do it, and it just takesz foreverz.
Been reading the hell out of food blogs. Well, that China Study book seems biased as hell is what I'm reading:
http://rawfoodsos.com/the-china-study/
Through that debunking came into a lot of paleo-diet blogs. Well, I have to admit that my impression of the paleo diet was liiiiiike very very poor. Mostly because I have been reading up on and researching a lot about that time period... however, it seems as if there are actually quite a number of sensible people associated with this diet who do not believe in the 'Grok' story per se (the bizarre idea that paleolithic humans enjoyed this like near awesomez state of health). The more one delves into diet and nutrition the more deflection, ideology, and non-answers one finds, I think.
In the shower, I started thinking about ideologies in general and how in some ways they can be so destructive. But then, in moderation, I think they can be helpful.
Then, I started thinking about the worship of rationality and science can also be similar. Mostly because I was thinking how much easier if there were a clearer metric of 'good work' in my life. But then, I started thinking that in practice (not in ideal) I had seen several scientists struggle with artist-like uncertainty about the value of their work and career. Still, grass is greener. Also, I started thinking about the critique of rational thinking, which is quite meta. Anyways, I'm convinced that our Western society, in general, overvalues this. Of course, certain sections of the population severely undervalue science (though probably not rationality in the same way)....
More later I have to give someone a ride...
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