Dispatch #45
How to stay strong as you age, how exercise affects our body, and how the “achievement society” is slowly killing us dead.
Mark Manson is a bright guy. When his book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck was released way back in 2016, I gave it no attention at all because I assumed it was just another silly self-help book with a silly title intended to outrage. And maybe that’s exactly what it is; I wouldn’t know because I haven’t read it. I am, however, currently reading/listening to Manson’s follow-up book, Everything is F*cked and it really is quite good. He does an excellent job of theorizing just why the world is so wacky and why that’s okay. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates pop psychology and big philosophical ideas.
One part of the book that’s really resonated is on finding meaning in our lives. Referring to an idea first put forth by Immanuel Kant way back in the powdered wig days, Manson says that the meaning to life is to give life meaning. Think about that—the only meaning is to give things meaning. And who determines what is meaningful? Who determines what’s important?
Why it’s us, of course.
What an powerful concept! Yes, we each are the captains of our own ship. No one else can tell us what matters unless we acquiesce, and once we start outsourcing our value judgements, well, you might as well stick your head in the oven.
Brain & Body
What’s this all about:
Our bodies are slowly rotting sacks of meat. Existing muscle mass deteriorates as we age, and building new muscle becomes more difficult with each passing year, too. But all is not lost! Resistance training and a protein-rich diet might not turn back the sand of time, but they can reverse some of the negative effects of growing old.
My take:
The majority of the people I’ve worked with during my training career are well past middle-age. Aside from a few modifications here and there, I treat these clients the same as I would a 20-year-old. They do push-ups, deadlifts, squats, and rows; they work on their balance, their agility, their spatial awareness. There really isn’t any reason why older adults should be afraid of strength training. Find yourself a qualified trainer who knows what they’re doing (I know one!!!) and you’ll be amazed at how well your body responds.
What’s this all about:
A large-scale study conducted on adult rats has shown that cardiovascular exercise produces positive molecule changes in pretty much every tissue in the body, even in organ tissues not typically associated with exercise.
My take:
Every exercise study that’s published confirms what we all know to be true: exercise in all of its forms is really, really, good for us! What’s interesting about this particular study is how broad the positive effects of exercise are, how so many of the benefits have nothing to do with aesthetics at all. Exercise because it feels good. Exercise because you can. Consider being happy with how your body looks a side benefit, not a main feature.
Heart & Soul
What’s this all about:
“…contemporary capitalist society has become an ‘achievement society’ and we, as its subjects, have become ‘achievement-subjects’. In the achievement society, we suffer from an internalized pressure to achieve—to do more, to be more, to have more. Whether we are aware of it or not, we have internalised the capitalist work ethic to the degree that our successes and failures weigh heavily on our individual shoulders. The primary result of the achievement society is burnout – the emotional, cognitive and physical exhaustion that comes from the pressure to constantly achieve.”
My take:
Capitalism is the ultimate death cult. We’re programmed to worship the rich and pray for financial windfalls; we trade the only commodity with real value—our time—for meager handouts and a pat on the back, meanwhile the things we need to live grow more expensive by the day. What’s the alternative? The True Believers will try to convince you that there is none, that unless we too devote ourselves to the Dollar democracy will crumble under the heels of jackbooted tyrants. Keen observers will note that this is bullshit. The thugs are the ones already in control. Just look at what’s happening at university campuses across North America.
The only antidote to capitalism’s exhausting demands is to ignore its false promises, either all together or in intermittent bursts of dignified protest. For the record, I don’t recommend anyone turn their back on society. Ugly as this cage may be from time to time, it’s still ours and still worth defending. Instead of apathy, choose empowerment. Start reclaiming your time. Show up to work late. Leave early. Take extended lunch breaks. Nap on the job. Read books instead of emails. Write poems instead of action plans. Take less meeting, take more walks. Be genial, not subservient. In short, do the work that needs to be done to the best of your ability and save the bulk of your mental energy for the things that actually matter.
This Week’s Training Technique
I’ve been messing around with gymnastics rings a lot lately. Much like a TRX or Jungle Gym XT, the unstable nature of gymnastics rings present a unique challenge. You really have to focus your effort, otherwise the straps will swing and sway. The Reverse Row Sit-Back is an introductory rings exercise that teaches us how to control this otherwise unwieldy implement. What I notice most when I practice this movement is how hard my hands, arms and core have to work to stabilize the straps. After only a minute or so my grip begins to fail and my abs begin to cramp.
When it comes to programming the RRSB, because it can take such a toll on your grip and core, I recommend putting it at the beginning of your workouts, while you’re still fresh. This will allow you to practice without any compromises. Don’t worry about reps, just set a timer for 60 seconds and get to work. A few sets should do the trick. As your ability develops, you can increase the difficulty by raising the height of the rings or by throwing on a weighted vest. For a complete breakdown on how to perform the RRSB, click on the link in the title of this entry.
That’s all for this week. As always, I thank you for offering me some time out of your day. I truly appreciate it.
Until next time.
- P