The ancients knew what sexy was
“I want to look good naked”. Kevin Spacey said it in American Beauty… I love that line. Who doesn’t want to look good naked? I think most everyone can sympathize with this statement.
Unfortunately most of us just don’t look good naked. I can remember times when I could put on a set of designer cloths and look pretty “fly” (like my hip lingo?) but I would wear a shirt to the beach or swimming pool because clothes… well clothes hide a lot.
So what is the key to looking good naked? What even is looking good anyways?
Truth be told, we all have different body shapes, body styles, and features. This is a GOOD thing. Maybe everyone wants to look like Brad Pit or Carmen Electra or whoever but really, we wouldn’t want everyone to look exactly the same.
What we really want to do is to look good in OUR body… and I believe that to be 100% possible. The keys to this in my opinion are symmetry, proportion and health.
Health is probably the simplest part of this equation. Eat right avoid trauma and get some exercise. We know this from the Primal Blueprint. Symmetry and proportion are more difficult aspects. Think of the local gym. There is big chest man, big arm man, shoulders chick, good ol’ chicken legs… and any other assortment of moderately healthy and in shape but unsymmetrical people. Symmetry is one of the most coveted things a bodybuilder can possess. Arnold had it, it goes heavily judged at any competition but it proves so hard for most people to achieve. Why is that?
I think it is training methods. The emphasis in conventional wisdom on isolation exercise and training has led us down this path. I still followed the traditional isolation separations “Chest/tri day”, “Back/bi day”, “leg day” etc. even after going primal. I no longer believe this is the way to go. I am now all about full body circuits and compound movements. Train the entire body and let it do the hard work (or easy work when you think about it ) of symmetry and proportion. In my opinion, this is the ultimate way to a balanced, symmetrical, healthy physique.
Some disadvantages of isolation training:
- Sever DOMS (muscle soreness)
- Joint Strain
- Disproportionate muscle mass leading to discomfort and long term posture and pain problems
- Workouts get.. well boring
Advantages of full body exercise and compound movements:
- Athletic build
- Symmetry and proportion
- More entertaining workouts
- Body designed better to natural and functional movement
This is why I am using these types of workouts for both beginners and experts in my fitness programs that will begin to be be available for FREE download here on the site soon. Oh snap… there it is… I let the cat out of the bag. I have been working hard on putting together some SoG fitness programs. The first one I am hoping to have up here on the site within the next couple weeks. You heard right too that they will be available for FREE download.
It is my goal to build a series of programs for people starting from the simplest beginnings for those getting started and expand the collection over time to advanced programs specifically targeted at athletes and the like.
What are your thoughts on training methods? How about the SoG programs? Are you looking forward to them or are you expecting them to be crap?
May 28th, 2009 - 11:16 am
I think this is a great idea! Everyone can benefit from this, I’ve used your workouts before (even though I’ve been a slacker lately) and saw good results. I am badly needing to get back into this, so this will bring some motivation.
May 28th, 2009 - 11:53 am
What’s up Grok Jr.!
I love the site, read all of the posts. I think that your workouts are still primarily geared towards either those new to working out, or those who have been working out the wrong way and are illiterate to the paradigm shift in exercise and health that is firmly underway. This is the way it SHOULD be! There is plenty of info out there for people more informed to look at and incorporate, and they need the least help. I think converting the non-believers is the way to go
May 28th, 2009 - 12:59 pm
Definitely looking forward to the FREE downloads!
May 28th, 2009 - 2:06 pm
I’m expecting them to be crap. Just kidding! I just wanted to say that because it made me laugh
May 28th, 2009 - 2:46 pm
Alright– bring it!
May 28th, 2009 - 5:25 pm
yay! I’m totally excited to check them out!
May 28th, 2009 - 6:54 pm
+1 for anticipating a useful program or two, or…… I’ve been using my own interpretations of exercises from Mtn Athlete.com and Mark Sisson, Crossfit, and right here at SOG Interwebnets HQ for some time. I have gotten good results with quite a bit of useful muscle increases, a big change in body composition, and better agility and endurance and strength in the sports I do. All with no down days from illness or injury.
I’ve got 2 25lb dumbells, a 35lb plate, a pull up bar, and some rugged rocky wooded hillsides in my back yard for my gym. So far so good, hope I don’t need to buy any more equipment than that, as I am a cheapskate. So, yah, free appeals to me!
May 28th, 2009 - 8:11 pm
I am definitely looking forward to them. I want to refer my brother to your website, and I think he will be more likely to check it out if it is both diet-related and fitness-related. He badly needs to start a low-carb diet, and fortunately he is slooowly coming around to realizing that.
So hurry up already!
Oh, I’m interested in seeing your workout plans too.
May 29th, 2009 - 2:18 am
I offer the following suggestions as someone who is frustrated and poorly motivated to exercise (like 90% of all Americans):
Simple, at home, no weights, short but intense workouts would be very nice to see here — especially with a video. For example, the routine at the link below is not bad, but a video would improve this greatly — as would some kind of estimate for calories burned perhaps.
http://www.afromerica.com/knowledge/health/fitness/13tips.php
Please let me emphasis this again: add videos! The world of exercising is *intimidating* to a lot of people because its huge, confusing, and has contradictory advice. Add that to someone being already ill-motivated and chances are they will never exercise at all. Videos make this easier to learn and do, especially for full body workouts.
On the other hand, its also very helpful to have distinct week by week, day by day goals charted out for someone. Example at the link below.
http://www.twohundredsquats.com/week1.html
May 29th, 2009 - 6:43 am
Brilliant!
That sounds awesome, and I have to say the point about the videos is really valid! Seeing how to perform the exercises would help greatly and add to the motivation!
Thanks
May 29th, 2009 - 8:14 am
SOG — I love your idea to post workouts for download. I enjoy your general approach and look forward to seeing how you put your ideas together for broader consumption.
May 29th, 2009 - 8:42 am
Hi SoG!
Long time reader, first time comment. As I was reading your post, I was thinking to myself, “I really need to start doing some primal exercises, where should I start?” and POOF! There it was about your free downloads. Defenitely looking forward to them as I have been following primal blueprint eating for 6+ months ( started for managing type 2 diabetes, which it works great for, but all the other dramatic changes have kept me going strong)but I have yet to start primal moves. I am 10 weeks post rotator cuff repair ( car accident). In your opinion, would it be beneficial to do what I can until my shoulder has healed? Or should I wait until I can perform all the moves?
Keep up the great blog!
May 29th, 2009 - 10:34 am
CAN’T WAIT! Love it!
May 29th, 2009 - 11:25 am
In addition to videos, how about a a chart and program using the exercises in the videos. For example, a beginners workout week one. Have something for each day of the week, even if it is simply to rest.
May 29th, 2009 - 8:44 pm
Awesome! I’m glad you’re more than willing to share. It seems like LOTS of people have found great success with primal living, but everyone is very general with their workouts. I’m sure this is partly because it’s your workout and seems obvious, and partly because you don’t want to get sued (cmon, it’s the net!) or suggest something that might hurt someone.
I was interested in the whole “no grains” crazy idea, but once I tried it, I was hooked. Now, after my second marathon, I’m trying to figure out the long term, stress free workout plan.
I can’t wait either way, you and Mark S are my favorite way to pretend I’m working at work.
May 30th, 2009 - 2:26 pm
In keeping with the vein of things around here, i think it would be pretty cool to include ideas for unique/diy equipment for workouts, or creative ways to use your surroundings.
Things like tree climbing, jumping low walls, tree stump cleans etc. I know you’ve touched on it in the past, but i’m just throwing out ideas…
May 31st, 2009 - 8:01 am
I look forward to your workout ideas,my blog aims to provide ideas for beginners new to working out at present I am posting daily workouts most require no equipment
June 1st, 2009 - 12:45 pm
Cool meeting you guys the other day. Thanks again for showing us around, we managed not to get carjacked at the gas station or anything.
Rayna should have photos coming your way soon.
I agree with most of the ideas about training that you put out there, i.e. staying away from foo-foo isolation movements unless you have a good reason, etc…
I’m not sure about the programs. You know you’re stuff, so I’m sure they’ll be good, but I kind of feel like there is a glut of pre-fab programs out there all with their own strengths and weaknesses. I think what people really need is to take the time an educate themselves enough to design something to meet their own goals.
For the people who don’t seem to be interested in doing that it’ll be a great start though, and it sounds like they’ll be more approachable than most of the other systems.
June 8th, 2009 - 12:28 pm
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August 16th, 2009 - 1:49 am
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April 30th, 2010 - 9:51 pm
Low Carb diet is really the best diet if you want to reduce weight and also to maintain a healthy body.~-`
July 14th, 2010 - 11:26 pm
I really enjoy what you write here, very refreshing and smart. One problem though, I’m running Firefox on Ubuntu and some of your site structure are a little wonky. I know it’s not a common setup, but it is still something to keep an eye on. Just tossing you a heads up.