Beyond a pleasing demeanor

A curious thought has been running through my head lately…

We strive all of us free or slave to be pleasing (within each of our status) to the men we interact with… we don’t always succeed of course J , but we try.

We watch what we say… how we act… what we write etc…

But what about physically?

I can already hear the "it’s not about looks" "looks don’t matter" and all that, but why ever not? Are looks to be pushed into the background… they are not the basis for any relationship… but looks are part of an overall package especially for a slave.

Of course I’m not talking about things you can’t change… like your nose, big ears etc… but about the things that can be improved…

Upon reading the books, I’ve noticed that slaves in general were very conscious of their looks. May be due to the fact that they walked around next to naked most of the time J, but mainly it seems to attract and please visually the men. Free women while hiding under their veils, although described as "sour, dour" and such adjectives seemed once unveiled to be beautiful also "I had seen more beautiful women then her, but she was indeed a beauty" seems to be one of Tarl’s favorite phrases.

I remember touching on this subject once before and the one answer I recall getting was along the line that the beauty talked about in the books was the allure of slavery "the more slave a girl became, the more beautiful she seemed".

While it’s true that, the more pleasing a woman is the more inner beauty she radiates… physical beauty counts for something also. And by physical beauty I don’t mean traits, but in the sense of physical fitness, shape and condition.

Slaves in the books, watched their diets (or it was watched for them), exercised daily, took great care of their bodies. And free women were graceful.

When I’ve breached this subject with women online, I hear a lot of excuses "I don’t have time" "I’m too old" "I’d rather be online with Master" "looks don’t matter" "it’s not about looks" "it’s what’s inside that counts" "they should love me for who I am".

I would ask… is it easier to pretend looks don’t matter online?

Why do we describe ourselves in the best light possible if looks don’t matter?

I think it’s a bit much to bemoan the fact, that after seeing your picture a man sort of withdrew… while it’s true that women care less what a man looks like, it’s also a fact that men are more visually oriented.

It’s easy to hide behind the screen, with either nice descriptions or no descriptions at all and walk around naked or in beautiful robes gracefully… it’s a tad harder to do it when the day comes that we meet someone offline…

A pleasing attitude is the core of Gorean women

A pleasing appearance is a bonus for the Gorean men.

Dietary advice

I cannot give you an example of a diet, for I do not happen to believe in diets… what I can give you are some tips on how to eat.

People have told me, that mostly they do not exercise because they don’t have the energy to exercise… they feel lethargic and heavy and can’t get enough energy to work out. From personal experience I can tell you that once you alter your eating habits you will find the energy you need to work out and the more you get in shape the more energy you will have…

Things that weigh you down: Carbohydrates… (Pasta, rice, bread etc…) if you are going to eat carbohydrates do so early in the day… noon latest 2 pm. That way whether you work out in the mornings or in the evenings it would long have been absorbed by your system.

Cut down on sugar and oil. You can do this gradually if you take 3 spoons of sugar with your coffee / tea… put 2 once you get use to that cut it down to 1 etc.

Try to eliminate fried food… broil meat instead or roast them in your oven. Instead of frying them…

Take smaller helpings that way if you clean your plate you don’t feel guilty J.

Chew slowly… savor each bite. I don’t know about others… but I myself find it’s easier to NOT concentrate on the amount of food on my plate if I’m doing something else while eating… if I have company. Chatting… if I’m eating alone. Reading. It also helps with the slow chewing J

Liquids… contrary to popular belief 8 glasses of water a day do not have to be water…unsweetened natural fruit juices are just as good.

Do not eat after 6 pm. If you have a craving and simply can’t resist… grab a handful of dry corn flakes (low fat kind if possible). Eat it flake by flake… fruits are good as long as you don’t eat something like a banana, which is heavy.

Eat more salad and greens than carbos and meat.

This is not a diet, just my way of eating that keeps me in shape and has done so for the last 5 years, since I started following these simple guidelines. Of course this is combined with exercising.

all the info in the charts comes from the encarta 2000. Dont' want to take credit for something that's not mine.

The following link, offers great and simple ways to calculate your weight and body mass and has lots more of helpful hints and tips on health and fitness.

     http://adam.excite.com/calculator/?calc=calneed&sys=ushttp://adam.excite.com/calculator/?calc=calneed&sys=us

A simple workout at home

30 to 35 minutes tops.

Music : Mood is essential J choose a cd or cassette of music that you enjoy.

Accessories : Chair, cans, broom or mop handle and a table

Start : warm up… stretch.

Tips :

1. Remember to breath correctly. Inhale through nostrils… exhale through the lips
2. You inhale before doing a movement and exhale during the movement letting the breath out slowly. (Almost as if you were pushing or pulling with your breath).

Stretch : 0-5 minutes

1. Reach overhead with both arms stretching up, raising on tiptoes as you pretend to try to reach the ceiling.
2. Now reach to the side, pretending to reach for the side wall
3. Reach on the opposite side for that wall
4. Bend backwards reaching for back wall
5. Do 1-3 again
6. Bend forwards reaching for your toes.
7. Twist, both hands on hips twist to the left and to the right as far as you can, several times.

Arms : 5-8 minutes

1. Place both hand on the edge of the table (you can use your dresser also), slanting your body, standing on your toes… and do push ups (easy style). Do 3 sets of 15-25 each. (Number of repeats increasing as you become more accustomed to exercising).
2. Hold cans (or something with a little weight) in your hands… stand up straight feet slightly parted… raise first one arm (straight) in front of you until it’s aligned with your shoulder, lower then raise other arm… 3 sets of 15-25.
3. Bring elbows in, stuck to your sides then raise your forearm only until touching (or almost) your shoulder… each side 3 sets of 25.

Chest : 8-10 minutes

1. Still holding the cans bring your hands together in front of your stomach… then raise them TOGETHER up and outwards until you are in a cross like position. 3 sets of 15-25.

Waist : 10-13

1. Place handle (broom/mop or any long stick) on your shoulder holding hands aligned with your shoulders. Tilt to the side end of stick touching or reaching for your knee. Both sides 3 sets of 25
2. Spread your hands a bit wider on the handle… and twist (your hips and buttocks should not move) only your waist. You can do this 2 ways a) just twisting from side to side as far as you can go… b) twisting and lowering at the same time end of the stick aiming for the back of your knee. 3 sets of 25.

Hips : 13-15

1. Stand next to the chair; place one hand on the top of the chair. Body straight, the side next to the chair should be almost touching it… feet together flat on the ground… raise your free leg upwards NOT all the way up… lower it but do NOT let it touch the ground again. 30 times. 3 sets each side 30 repeats
2. Lay back on the floor… knees drawn up parted V. raise your back and buttocks (hands flat alongside your body) tightened your buttocks and open and close your knees 30 times. 3 sets.

Lower Abs : 15-20

1. Keep your position, place your hand beneath your head and look up at the ceiling straight up at the ceiling, raise you upper body upwards chin aiming for the ceiling. 30 times. 3 – 4 sets.
2. Same exercise instead your chin tries to reach your knees. (The crunch). 30 times. 3-4 sets

Upper Abs : 20-25

1. Still in position, raise and turn (hands locked behind your head) until your elbow connects with your knee. Each side 3 sets 25-30.
2. Place your hands beneath your lower back (just over your buttocks) straighten both legs flat on the ground… raise one leg ¾ of the way up… lower. Do not let it touch the ground… 30 times… 3 sets both legs. And then 3 sets of 15-25 BOTH legs together

Thighs Inner : 25-27

1. Lay on your side… bring one leg over the other knee raised, other leg flat (sticking trough it) on the ground. (Support your head with your hand). Raise the leg that’s flat on the ground upwards and lower do not let it touch the ground coming down… 3 sets of 30 each leg.

Thighs Outer : 27-29

1. Lay on your side both legs straightened out, upper body slightly leaning towards the ground and pelvic thrown back legs leaning a bit towards the ground in your back… raise the upper leg ¾ of the way up and lower don’t let it touch the leg on the floor…each leg 3 sets of 25-30.

End of workout : 30 minutes.

Relaxation, remember to breath nice and slow… inhale exhale… clear your mind and focus on nothing…

1. Stretch both arms over your head as you lay on the floor… and stretch your toes outwards…
2. Place both arms out palms flat on the ground, raise your knees… keeping your back on the ground twist lower body until knees touch the ground… do other side… hold for 10 seconds on each side…

I wish you all well

Rakella

Rakella@usa.netRakella@usa.net