You're So Vain...

I'm large...and for the most part, I like it. It's a bit of a disadvantage in large crowds and in European clothing stores, but I'm still pretty comfortable being the Hulk in the group. I work to maintain the size/shape I have. My priority, at least what I tell myself, is that my priority is maintaining my health, with the muscles and mass as a desirable bi-product.

Today is like a many other days where I'm leaving work an hour later than I hoped and know that if I go to the gym, I won't be able to make it home in time to do certain things: clean (eh, not so bad), cook, catch up on personal emails, etc. And in trying to find a compromise, I run into my conscience giving me an ice grill for THINKING about skipping the gym. There's another mean mug though, it's my conscience, with a look that sings "you're so vain".

It's vanity because even though my general health is supposedly the reason for going to the gym, I also know that my GENERAL health will suffer from a few nights of truancy. And what's more, the health of my lifestyle might benefit from it. Word up! Since I got home, I've taken a writing break and did the following:

-Washed the dishes
-paid some bills
-sent approximately 10 emails
-finalized a bachelor party
-sent a wedding schedule
-perused NY Mag
- FB-friended all of my favorite teachers and professors
-made a salad
-updated my Netflix queue
-called Ralphie

...So, it comes down to having thick biceps, or taking care of business. Imagine what else I can accomplish if I didn't go the the gym again tonight...or ever?! I can't change the fact that my work schedule cuts into most of my life (economic crisis, duh!)

It seems like a clear choice that any of in today's modern, work-loaded world might have to make. With a good diet, I'm pretty sure you can maintain your basic health with 30-40 mins of good cardio 2 or 3 days a week. But, especially in NY, that's not enough for us, hence NYSC, hence Equinox and if you're gay, hence David Barton. It's not reeeeaallly a "healthy" lifestyle we're all concerned about, it's a healthy self-esteem, with a physical payoff. If it was reaaaaally a health thing, we might not work out, to look good in the clothes, to wear it at the club, to drink it all away. Just saying (JS).

I could use my commute home as my weekly cardio and walk home. That would take almost an hour and would still leave enough time to do my thang. That would be pretty healthy.

Unfortunately, I'm more comfortable with my vanity than most people and will probably continue to have my post-work life be a workout and my post-workout life consist of dinners at 10:30. But it ain't all bad. Vanity's gotten a bad wrap due to it's younger brother, conceit. I'm not saying we should all have Muhammed Ali braggadocio, but what's wrong with wanting to look/feel/be as good as you decide. Whether that means having the slimmest waist and fattest ass, or having the most coveted concert tee and craziest hair, your conception of "best" is up to you- and it's OK to try to own that. The alternative is that obligatory insecurity we're supposed to have in order to be cordial. Eff that, if you're smart BE smart. If you're witty, BE witty. Try not to put anyone off, but don't deny yourself either. And on that note, I'll be going to the abs clinic tonight and maybe reading Jane Jacobs after and having protein powder for din (gotta choose- read or eat).

But then again, this could just be my vanity speaking.