I have been experimenting with altering my body (in societally acceptable ways - isn - in ways that are not considered negative) this past week. It has been empowering. I often feel disconnected from my body. I think that altering it in visible physical fashion (for instance, tattoos) may give me a greater sense of ownership over my body and connection with it. I have been thinking, therefore, a lot about body modifications, body acceptance, and such. A friend said to me that she thinks extreme bodybuilders are just as much body mod-ders as those who get tattoos or piercings. Maybe. I'm not sure on that one. It is also empowering because, although I am currently living at my parents', my actions are not ones my parents would approve of (they do not like my tattoos or facial piercings) but you know what, I don't fucking care, I want to do what makes me happy with me and my body. I think I am finally at the point where I am doing that, I am choosing to alter my body so I feel comfortable in it (AGAIN, this is not in any non-tattoo/pierced-societal-accepted way) and so that I feel it truly is mine, as opposed to just this shell I happen to inhabit and don't feel connected with. (Also, nothing drastic like surgery guys.) I think this is somewhat a releasing of the belief I will live up to certain white upper-middle-class societal expectations for myself as well. I have had a long conversation with a new friend about the choice to be child-free. It was nice to talk to someone who agreed with me on many points. It is nice to commiserate with those who understand how you feel about things. It has been a good, if weird, week. It has been empowering. I have been brave and strong. :) Now I move onward: to better time management! Better time management, ahoy!
I would argue that bodybuilders are actually more extreme than someone with almost every square inch of their body tatted, and every possible piercing. How much time can you really spend in a tattoo parlor before you're out of real estate? If the answer is under 1500 hours (and it probably is), then you lose. In 5 years (far less than the amount of time required to be a "serious" bodybuilder), at only 1 hour a day (again, less than the "serious" amount of time), you're well over 1500 hours. The argument on money expenditure is similar, though slightly more debatable, IMHO: cost of ink vs. cost of protein and caloric intake. And they're not in it for the health benefits. Once you can bench more than ~200% of your bodyweight, and squat more than ~300% of your bodyweight, things just start to get ridiculous. Mainly 'cuz you can't even wipe your own ass anymore, you're so musclebound. Oh, and... 'roids. Anyways, stay healthy, ref!A friend said to me that she thinks extreme bodybuilders are just as much body mod-ders as those who get tattoos or piercings.