As seems to be the trend with the last few features, this one requires some background information as well. You see kids, I used to be fat. Not as in "I gained a little weight on my mission and had to lose 20 pounds after I got home." I mean fat. In fact I actually managed to lose weight on my mission, but not without a concerted degree of effort (and a generous helping of divine assistance I suspect) to combat the effects of deliciously corrupting Southern cooking. I was what one could only call girthy. Observe:
No, I am not allergic to bee stings, that really is me in 2002, just minus about 3" and plus 60~ pounds. Thanks to Dragonball Z (yes, really) and a healthy dosage of self-loathing, I managed to get it together and shape up, but it was during my mission that I discovered the true joys of vigorous physical exercise——a few of my former companions have various pieces of exercise equipment to thank for their lives. Ever since, exercise has been a key component for me in leading a balanced and happy life, plus it's been kind of fun to see how different I can make myself look from the visage of corpulence that was my high school sophomore portrait. Handstand pushups are the greatest exercise ever. You work your core, your back, your arms, chest, neck, shoulders——everything from the waist up (and a few below). But the best part of all? There are few things more satisfying than hoisting yourself up from the ground and holding a handstand, except perhaps lowering down and hoisting up again repeatedly! Gaze with wonder as veins that you didn't even know you had start popping up and laugh with invigorated amusement at the healthy, deep red color your skin has taken on after 15 reps.
If you've already left the keyboard and tried giving the handstand pushup a shot, chances are good that you failed. Do not despair. Handstands alone are hard enough, but maintaining that kind of balance while exerting the power necessary to do the pushup is quite difficult. As such, walls are your friends. Use them for balance assistance and don't be afraid to lightly rest your heels against a wall when the going gets tough. Though it takes time and practice, if you can make the handstand pushup yours, you'll notice a significant increase in strength, balance, and general feelings of awesomeness. If that doesn't do it for you, allow me to utilize Legally Blonde for the only legitimate point to be culled from the movie: "Exercise produces endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands [wives, roommates, friends, family, pets, etc.]"...
0 comments:
Post a Comment