"sculpting" your body to feel more like "yourself"

I've never really been that interested in my body...the shape or size of it. I know some people (particullary females) obsess over little things to do with their bodies, but I never have. However, recently I've started to want to change my body to make it feel more like "me". I don't mean I want cosmetic surgery or to get skinny or anything like that. Instead I want to "sculpt" (I use the word because for me it is like creating a work of art) my body to feel more myself. I know this would make me feel sexier, not because I want to conform to an idealised image of sexyness, but because I want my body to be more what *I* feel is sexy and like me.

This is a process that will take maybe six months to a year. I want to tone my muscles - I like the look of people with really fit bodies and toned muscles. I'm thinking of taking up Capoeira (a brazillian martial art that's somewhat like a dance, it involves lots of acrobatic-type moves) and maybe yoga. I want to get a few tattoos of symbols that are important to me. I want to get a few more piercings, and try some different things with my hair - and paint my nails more. I want to feel more ME.

Does this make sense to anyone here? Has anyone ever tried a project like this...and how did it work out? I don't just mean "has anyone here ever tried to get really fit and muscular?", because I know some people feel more themselves when they are fatter and more cuddly - and I'm not suggesting for a minute that that's a bad thing! I'm more asking who here has tried to make their body to feel more like themselves. Not because they were conforming to an external pressure, but because they wanted to feel more true to who they are. I'd love to hear some stories of what you did, how it worked - or didn't work - or even maybe what you want to do now or in the future.

 

Yes, and I think you have a great idea and a great dream. Go for it! Toned women are sexy.

 

Yeah I do a lot of martial arts and weight training and stuff.

I think the trick is to keep it balanced and put in a long term effort rather than bursts and then not training for a while.

Its worth reading some books as what u might think is logical in your training might actually be very counter productive.

I used to weight train in a certain way , then gym professionals said "no thats all wrong"
Then I thought well maybe the gym pros were wrong- as Id reached a "plateau" in my training.

I found a book that agreed with what I thought , so I changed back - and now my trainings much more effective.

To me , the golden rule is "Do what u enjoy".

To answer your question , yes I always saw myself in a certain way , like a martial artists or a sprinters physique even when I wasnt in perfect shape.
If u want it , u can have it.!

Good luck.
Why dont u post your program here or IM it to me , and we can compare ideas.

 

I used to be fat and it sucked.

So now I'm not so fat anymore.

I suppose if I were very slender I'd feel odd.

 

I can dig it.

 

pilates are great for body toning and sculpting

 

I enjoy looking good for my own reasons more then anyone elses. I exercise a lot, I run every day, I do hundreds of situps, I get a lot of exercise at work, and I do Aikijutsu twice a week, and bag work twice a week.

Capoeira is very fun. I'd love to know it in case I ever want to pick a fight in a nightclub. That might be the coolest thing ever.

 

I thought you said "Pirates were great for..."

You and I must know diffrent pirates KJ.

 

Yar!

A nicely sculpted body has always been my ideal self image. To have enough cushion that I'm curvy but when I flex you can see the cut.

I have a hard time doing the gym thing. I've tried. Hobbies is where I have to go. At my best weight and healthiest, I was neck deep in Kendo. Now I'm finding my new hobby of poi to be absolutely fabulous for upper body tone and it's fun enough that it's something I want to do all the time and I can even make it aerobic if I wish. Then I toss in some yoga or Tai chi every few days.

Now if only I could stop eating crap....

 

I think it's a great ideal that you want to work on your body and look and you want to do it for YOU and to make YOU feel good. Not because of something you read in Cosmo or People Magazine on how your body should be, look, and feel.

I often say that I want to start working out more and all that, but have been so busy with work that I never quite get around to it. And yes, I have really been busy with work. LOL. But, your thread makes me think to myself, Maybe I should take some time out and get it done. LOL. Stop putting it off. I already know that I will feel much better in the long run, as I have done it before, about 6 years ago, and felt better while I was doing it.

Anyway, I really liked reading your post and wish you luck on your project. You sound determined to complete your goals and I am sure you will succeed. I wish you the best of luck.