From the posts thus far, it's not difficult to appreciate the specific demographics of the general participants on the forum. But text can only convey so much- since many of us have discussed the obesity epidemic and its prevalence: how do you rate your fitness and what do you do about it?
I'll kick off- I exercise obsessively simply by virtue of being generally hyperactive. Being of a chinese ethnicity, however, my parents were (fairly typically) of the academic bias and thus while I was not unduly restricted, sports was not really at the fore of my priorities (though I was an avid soccer and basketball player). Throughout primary school, I struggled to shake the often misappropriated label of unco-ordinated (because I am generally poorer with the sports played with bats- namely cricket, baseball, and of course because I was a nerd). Through high school, my physical fitness profile was usually dismissed and I was placed in the bottom group for everything (largely due to absence from part of the fitness assessments thanks to music commitments).
It wasn't until I moved out to go to college that things changed significantly. I used to be "comfortably average" but eagerly dropped that and became a bit of a fitness nut until I found I was becoming anorexic. I always had a love of martial arts and acrobatic stunts, and so I started training more rigorously there- but because I am specifically interested in what is best described as free-running and tricking (as well as breakdancing), I have as of yet no formal training, and progress is sporadic but thankfully discernible. (Note: I'm always looking for people who are into the tricking etc. scene which is a big part of the reason I'm writing this post!)
My current routine goes along the lines of going to the gym for weights training once per week, almost without fail. Having a training partner really helps (but also hinders as working out common times is tricky even if we're doing the same course). So long as I'm in any condition to, I will spend some of my free time tricking (with the dreams of becoming actually some good at it one day), and high-risk behavior comes natural to me, so I will spend more time with my feet off the floor where it should be than with them planted on the ground as means of incidental activity and simply getting around. Also being a university student, I walk most everywhere I go, and when I'm alone, I spend most time on my hands or balancing on fences- if people are around I usually attract strange looks.
The limiting factors to this are not surprisingly injury- of which I commonly recieve ankle sprains and the usual sore muscles, but more surprisingly other people. I can't shake the feeling that my indulgence is construed as exhibitionism especially as the purpose of what I do is undeniably aesthetic and often extraneous. But like (not that I'm even close to the level) say, the Shaolin monks, it is part of a lifestyle that helps me sort my time, elevate my motivation, and in the (painful) process of mastery, learn the aspects of control, discipline and balance that I'd wish to integrate into my life.
I'll kick off- I exercise obsessively simply by virtue of being generally hyperactive. Being of a chinese ethnicity, however, my parents were (fairly typically) of the academic bias and thus while I was not unduly restricted, sports was not really at the fore of my priorities (though I was an avid soccer and basketball player). Throughout primary school, I struggled to shake the often misappropriated label of unco-ordinated (because I am generally poorer with the sports played with bats- namely cricket, baseball, and of course because I was a nerd). Through high school, my physical fitness profile was usually dismissed and I was placed in the bottom group for everything (largely due to absence from part of the fitness assessments thanks to music commitments).
It wasn't until I moved out to go to college that things changed significantly. I used to be "comfortably average" but eagerly dropped that and became a bit of a fitness nut until I found I was becoming anorexic. I always had a love of martial arts and acrobatic stunts, and so I started training more rigorously there- but because I am specifically interested in what is best described as free-running and tricking (as well as breakdancing), I have as of yet no formal training, and progress is sporadic but thankfully discernible. (Note: I'm always looking for people who are into the tricking etc. scene which is a big part of the reason I'm writing this post!)
My current routine goes along the lines of going to the gym for weights training once per week, almost without fail. Having a training partner really helps (but also hinders as working out common times is tricky even if we're doing the same course). So long as I'm in any condition to, I will spend some of my free time tricking (with the dreams of becoming actually some good at it one day), and high-risk behavior comes natural to me, so I will spend more time with my feet off the floor where it should be than with them planted on the ground as means of incidental activity and simply getting around. Also being a university student, I walk most everywhere I go, and when I'm alone, I spend most time on my hands or balancing on fences- if people are around I usually attract strange looks.
The limiting factors to this are not surprisingly injury- of which I commonly recieve ankle sprains and the usual sore muscles, but more surprisingly other people. I can't shake the feeling that my indulgence is construed as exhibitionism especially as the purpose of what I do is undeniably aesthetic and often extraneous. But like (not that I'm even close to the level) say, the Shaolin monks, it is part of a lifestyle that helps me sort my time, elevate my motivation, and in the (painful) process of mastery, learn the aspects of control, discipline and balance that I'd wish to integrate into my life.
