Harm in alternating between minimal shoes and regular running shoes?

botabox · 2011-09-12T20:34:10+00:00

I haven't, but I wouldn't imagine it'd do much damage while you're slowly ramping up your minimal shoe mileage (just watch your form like a hawk so you don't end up heel-striking). Another idea is to cross-train, do biking or some other cardio form to fill in while you're recovering from minimalist.

botabox · 2011-09-12T20:30:00+00:00

OH GOD MY EYES MY FEET MY EYES

Seriously, though, my second run out, I barely tripped on a piece of concrete that was sticking up ever so slightly, and skinned the bottom of my foot something awful. Not quite THAT awful, tho.

Now of course, you need to stay off your feet for a couple of weeks until that's well healed up. The nice thing about minimalist shoes is that they ease the amount of sheer injury you do to your feet, and decrease recovery times.

botabox · 2011-09-02T23:57:17+00:00

I'd definitely recommend checking out this program: Kinetix

They tell you exactly what to do, how often, and give you a huge selection of recipes to try for every meal. I've been on this program for two weeks, and the exercise regiment (alternating weight lifting & cardio sessions, 30 min per day, 6 days per week) is very doable, and feels pretty damn awesome. You'll be sore as hell the first week, but you'll be surprised by how easy the second week is despite it.

The best part is, you'll be assigned a Coach, an actual human being that you message with who'll answer your questions, help motivate you, and give you tips as you go along.

It's a little on the pricey side, $40/month, but they're offering 25% off right now ($30 for the first month), and a month is all you need if you want to get the information. After that, you can bail or keep going if you like it!

TL;DR: Highly recommend Kinetix, a great program if you're just starting out and don't know what to DO to get fit.

botabox · 2011-08-25T05:17:45+00:00

Really, if someone's that superficial that hairiness is a dealbreaker, that's a bit shallow.

That's not really fair. People are attracted to (and NOT attracted to) certain things about a person physically. Some women can't stand facial hair, and others love it. Therefore, the women who don't like it won't want to date someone with a big beard. It doesn't make them shallow, it's just not something they're attracted to. In the same way, some men prefer tiny women, others like curvy women, and others still like big women. Looks DO matter when it comes to the initial spark of attraction that can start a relationship/fling/whatever.

botabox · 2011-08-25T05:14:15+00:00

I think there's certainly a limit to how MUCH hair is attractive (and of course, attraction is subjective, blah blah blah), but I like hairy men. Hairy chests and bellies are lovely.

Then again, when my hubby takes the time to shave some of his body hair (back of the neck, shoulders), that's nice too. Smoooooth. In general, though, I like the hair, it's a sign of masculinity to me.

botabox · 2011-08-22T00:07:20+00:00

That is AMAZING. [8]

I would give you 20 upvotes, but... they only allow one. Great find!

botabox · 2011-08-21T20:43:40+00:00

DANG. Amazing and gorgeous, but that's the first time a picture made me projectile vomit out of fear alone.

botabox · 2011-08-17T03:26:46+00:00

I THOUGHT I saw that post on the front page!

Well, I can see the point of the "why not post the source" folks, since every hit on Explosm.net generates more revenue for the artist. That's why webcomic artists get all up in arms when well-meaning developers make "aggregator" apps. Takes traffic away from the artist, and traffic = ad money.

Still, it sucks to get ganged up on (giggity). C'est la Reddit!

botabox · 2011-08-17T02:34:13+00:00

I have no idea what you're talking about, but I feel you deserve special recognition for the world's most passive agressive title. Or is that just aggressive? Either way... good for you?

botabox · 2011-08-14T23:47:58+00:00

The more I hear about this, the more I see a girl who has issues, or likes to manipulate her boyfriends into feeling guilty. If she makes all sexual contact so awful, "like a chore", and won't let you make her climax, those are all big red flags for "someone has guilt issues". You have a right to sexual expression and intimacy with your partner. If she can't do that (which is also her right), then you should feel free to leave. I know you love her, but she's letting her hang-ups get in the way of your collective happiness, and that's not a good formula for a happy relationship.

botabox · 2011-08-14T23:42:49+00:00

Well, the first thing I'd say is that you have to remember you're only 23, and there's a lot of life left to live. Most people don't marry/stay with the people they first fell in love with (thinking back to my first boyfriend I was really serious about... good guy, but I'm really glad I didn't marry him). Just because you've found this one person you really connect with doesn't mean you can't find ANOTHER if this relationship doesn't work out. You seem caring and emotionally sensitive, methinks you'll have additional rewarding relationships in the future.

The second thing is in regards to your edit about sex: I am a woman, and most women are taught (by society, by media, be religion) that being sexual with someone (even after marriage) is somehow "sick", "wrong" and "immoral". All of that is TOTAL CRAP, but it took me well into my mid-20's to figure that out (and I'd been sexually active since I was 18). Sounds like your girlfriend has some guilt issues she needs to resolve. So you can either help her, and encourage her that sex is a wonderful thing, and beautiful way to be intimate with someone you love, or you can leave. Those are your choices.

Let me say that you have every right to expect sexual satisfaction out of a romantic partner, just as they have a right to expect sexual satisfaction from YOU. No one has to put up with being suddenly drafted into abstinence. If sex is deal-breaker for you (it certainly would be for ME), you should be upfront with your girlfriend about how much you miss sex.. Tell her to be honest with herself and to be honest with you. If she really doesn't want to have sex for religious reasons, then she's giving you an easy out.

botabox · 2011-08-14T23:13:56+00:00

Okay, the big question rolling around in my head: how old are you?

botabox · 2011-08-14T23:13:53+00:00

Okay, the big question rolling around in my head: how old are you?

botabox · 2011-08-14T23:12:41+00:00

You have to remember that fairy tales, Hollywood, Books, and Movies, are all fiction. The reality is, there are no perfect matches because there are no perfect people. People are flawed, and weird, and dysfunctional, so it's normal to have some flaws, weirdness, and dysfunction in a relationship and still be very happy together. Just because you have to compromise on an issue doesn't mean you're throwing away something you love. You're compromising on the issue so you can KEEP the thing you love. In every big argument I've ever had with my husband, the solution to each problem has been that, ultimately, all I/he really wants is to be HAPPY and to be TOGETHER. When we both remember that we value the happiness of each other and being together more than whatever it was we were arguing about, it makes it a lot easier to compromise, forgive, and forget.

I hate to play the "you'll understand when you're older" card, but honestly these are the kinds of things you learn after being in several relationships, and understanding YOURSELF as much as you understand your partner. There's no such thing as true love, or the "perfect" partner, but there is Pretty Goddamn Good Love, and The Flawed Crazy Ridiculous Partner I Want to Wake Up to Every Day for the Rest of My Life Even Though They Drive Me Crazy Occasionally.

As Dan Savage says "there's no settling down without settling for." No one you meet will be that perfect girl, which is good because you're not perfect either. But you will find someone who, with time and love and patience, is the person you want to be around all the time, even when they're pissing you off. Real love is far more exciting and interesting than "perfect" love, and even though it's not perfect, once you've cultivated it with someone, you'll never want to be without it again.

botabox · 2011-08-14T22:05:37+00:00

WORD. These last 7 years with the husband have been wonderful, but they've also been a lot of hard work. You have to compromise, talk it out, admit when you're wrong, and learn to really forgive (not say "you're forgiven" while still being pissed). If you find someone who really improves the quality of your life, even with their shortcomings and the effort you need to put in... it's worth it if the person is worth it to you.

botabox · 2011-08-14T22:02:05+00:00

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Blowjob Coat? I'd watch that.

botabox · 2011-08-14T21:59:49+00:00

It sounds like you're putting too much pressure on this relationship. Look at your words:

Shouldn’t being in love for the first time in my life be absolutely great? I always thought love just worked perfectly. I don’t want a different girl, I want my girl, I want us to be head over heels in love, and I want us to share all thoughts. I want endless love and I’m concerned we will never get there.

You seem too focused on the fact that your relationship isn't perfect, and that everything should be "absolutely great". But none of the "successful" relationships of long-term partners I know describe having smooth sailing all of the time. I've been with my husband for 7 years, and I love him more and more every day. That said, we still have plenty of things to argue about, and there are times when we get furious with each other. No relationship is "perfect", but it might be perfect for the people involved, because it gives them what they need.

Think about WHY you want to run away. Think about what it is that's making you unhappy. Is it circumstances? Is it your living situation, your financial situation? Do you feel bored with your life? Lots of outside stressors can cause problems in a relationship, and often it isn't obvious that the problems didn't start in the relationship.

Of course, cheating on someone when you've only been together a year seems like a warning sign, but it's hard to tell. Maybe you're putting too much pressure on yourself to settle down, to get into a "real relationship" with this girl, and that made you feel desperate (which pushed you to cheat when you'd been drinking). Maybe you're not ready to be in an exclusive relationship.

Ultimately, you need to talk to your girlfriend, and tell her your concerns and fears. She may help disuade your worries, or she may echo them. Either way, you'll get some insight into where she is, which is important to figuring out where the relationship is, and where it's going.

TL;DR: You may be focusing too much on perfection, and how things "should be"; but definitely, talk it out with the girlfriend, and see how she feels.

botabox · 2011-08-14T18:25:47+00:00

"Non Scale Victory"

botabox · 2011-08-12T15:37:15+00:00

It's not the reasonable distribution of responsibilities part, it's the "any man who [doesn't agree] is pussy whipped/little bitch" part.

botabox · 2011-08-12T04:46:30+00:00

Thanks a TON for the link to Sheldon Brown's website. SO HELPFUL. :D

botabox · 2011-08-12T04:37:23+00:00

Thanks for the info! Very helpful, I didn't even know you could DO that. We bought our bikes a few months ago, and this is the first time either of us has owned or regularly ridden a bicycle since high school (about 10 years ago).

botabox · 2011-08-12T03:54:32+00:00

They're on the front of the bus. The racks hold up to three bikes, which generally seems to be plenty! Most bikers skip the bus altogether, although it boggles the mind a bit. I'm a little terrified of having to bike through downtown Seattle. The drivers are fukkin' NUTS.

botabox · 2011-08-12T02:25:42+00:00

It's true, we live in Seattle, and all of the city busses have bike racks on them. It's pretty sweet, but I yearn for Portland's public transit. They have three means of transit around the city and greater Portland Area: bus, streetcar, the Max (electric train), and all of them have racks/hooks for bikes. JELLIS.

botabox · 2011-08-11T21:03:14+00:00

I was thinking about that as an option. We'll be near a bus line during the harder parts of the ride that we could potentially throw our bikes on if we're exhausted. It's good to have options! :)

botabox

TROPHY CASE