In Depth Study

Bodybuilding is a process of developing the musculature of the body through specific types of diet and physical exercise such as weightlifting. It requires great discipline, but it is not about the goal, but more so about the journey and here I will explain to you different parts of this journey.

Lifestyle

“The lifestyle of a bodybuilder is simple, but it ain’t easy” (YouTube, 2015). You basically do three things; eat, sleep and train. Or rather, that is what you would do, if you were a professional, and even then, this still would not apply to you. The thing is, to be a bodybuilder is surely about these three things: to get enough food for your goals, get enough sleep, and to train hard. However, more than likely it is possible to have a normal life, spend time with your family, have a normal job, going to school if you are still young. Even Ronnie Coleman, one of the biggest bodybuilders of all time, still worked 8 hours a day as a police officer, and still became Mr. Olympia 8 times. This shows that it is possible, even though there are some who have other opinions and choose other routes.

Macros

If you are serious about bodybuilding, it requires discipline, and you have to invest time in your daily routine to make this possible. One of the necessary things is to watch your calories, in other words, start tracking macronutrients, or macros for short. This will enable you to decide what and how much food you can eat, as long as it fits into your caloric number. This is a skill used by a lot of bodybuilders, as well as normal people just trying to lose some weight. You can do so by just measuring how much your food weighs, each part for itself, and you write the numbers into an app, for example “MyFitnessPal”. This app is great to use if you are trying to either gain, lose or even maintain your current weight. Gaining weight is called “bulking”, while losing weight is called “cutting”. The difference is simply the amount of calories you take in, in addition to your exercise level.

Supplements

Another thing bodybuilders use is supplements, some use few, others use a lot. It is not essential to the journey, but it will make it a whole lot easier and faster. As the name suggests, it is to supplement for your lack of something. While nutrition is important, there is a reason supplements were created. For example, how would you like your protein, through 3 stakes a day, or simply 2 scoops of protein powder? It would be ideal to eat as much meat as you would want every day, but your wallet would probably not agree with you. Then there is the time it consumes to make every meal from scratch, as you have to when counting macros. Overall, supplements help you out, but you should not depend on them because you cannot outsmart a bad diet. These are some of the most frequently used supplements.

Protein: Probably the most used supplement ever used in bodybuilding. It is important to get enough protein, since it is what enables your muscle cells to recover and eventually grow. Since it is nearly impossible to get all your protein from food, whey protein was created to enable you to hit your goal without spending too much time and money. There are different types of protein, like whey and casein.

Creatine: The most researched supplement on the market, creatine is believed to make you stronger. This is somewhat true, the function of creatine is to pump water into the muscle cells, engorging them and make them look bigger. This also makes you somewhat stronger, but it does not make a huge difference. It only increases your ATP (energy) levels for the time you are supplementing with it.

PWO: Pre-Workout, more or less like an energy drink, but with more effects. This supplement usually contains beta-alanine (reduces muscle fatigue) and l-arginine (gives you a better pump). None of these effects are necessary, but it is wanted, and who does not want it in their workout. It is more or less like drinking several cups of coffee, since it also contains a huge amount of caffeine.

The forms of Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is considered dangerous by many, even dirty. It is given a bad name, and with all due respect, it deserves it. The art of bodybuilding has changed over the years, from clean, to enhanced, and finally to dangerous and nasty. In social media, bodybuilding is looked upon as dangerous and not impressive, the pure art is forgotten, and all that remains is a twisted image of what bodybuilding once was.

Stage 1: Natural Bodybuilding

Natural bodybuilding or just weightlifting. Utilized by many, this form of bodybuilding is the safest and most widespread. It is also the most accepted. If you want to use supplements then go ahead, they are not considered a cheat, neither are they essential.

Stage 2: Enhanced Bodybuilding

Some consider it the next stage of the journey and that it is inevitable. Considering the facts, the human body has potential, but you can not force the body to produce massive amounts of testosterone naturally, neither can you expect to make the same amount of muscle gains year after year. To take the body to the next level, many bodybuilders start enhancing themselves through the use of steroids. Steroids are anabolic hormones that you inject into your body to enhance muscle growth, or to be exact, increase testosterone production, which again will increase your muscle gains. This process is not healthy, it is actually highly dangerous for the body, and there will be side effects, no matter how you look at it. They still take the risk though, in order to achieve greater bodies and to achieve their goals.

Stage 3: Dangerous Bodybuilding

This version is considered extremely dangerous, and is often associated with the grotesque images you see online. Injecting steroids will make you bigger, but it is when you combine that with medical substances like growth hormone or synthol that it really gets out of hand. Those using growth hormone violate the usage beyond all means, and end up rupturing their body, including their stomach, because the inner walls expand too much, and they end up looking pregnant. In addition, using synthol is more or less the same as pumping coconut oil into your muscles, not very safe!

The problem with bodybuilding today is that this is what the world want[GML2] s to see, it is by using these classified substances that you win Mr. Olympia. 75 % of bodybuilding contests today are for those “on the gear”, in other words those who use steroids, and other non-natural substances, and it has become the most accepted form of competition in the bodybuilding world. Special classes for “natural” bodybuilders have been created, since it is now obvious than more than half of the competitors use some kind of drugs.

Below is a poll created by Bodybuilding.com in an article about a man talking about his life with steroids. The poll was created for the readers, and the question was if they thought the federations hosting the “all natural” bodybuilding championships and contests really were hosting it for the naturals. The reasoning behind the question is that there have been scams about the competitors, questioning if some of them really were natural or not. As you can see, the results speak for themselves:                         Are the natural federation really natural?

 
In the past, bodybuilding was all about proportions and aesthetics, not like now, where it is all about size. Growth hormone makes everything in your body grow, even your brain and heart. The ones competing in Mr. Olympia at the time looks almost pregnant because their stomachs are so enlarged. Moreover, this is supposed to be a journey, it is supposed to be healthy. It has ended up as a race, a race of who can look the best before their body collapses.

Incorporating the bodybuilding lifestyle into daily life

How does all this fit into a normal life? How is one person able to track his calories, work out, and then maybe get hold of illegal substances, to then become Mr. Olympia and become Arnold Schwarzenegger the 2^nd? How would a bodybuilder’s normal day look like, and how would that effect s/he surroundings? Is it a positive or a negative lifestyle, and would it be healthy for others to do the same? We already know the food is important; it helps with energy and recovery. What if it is taken to a whole other level and it requires an individual to consume about 250 grams of protein every day, alongside a huge amount of carbs and almost no fats. It is usually a problem. Maybe not for a bodybuilder, but for the average man, this would be nearly impossible without the right tools, knowledge, time and dedication a bodybuilder has at s/he disposal. Here are three different scenarios:

College: A young man going to college might not have all the time to prepare all his meals ahead, get enough sleep, training every day and fulfilling his duties as a student. If he pulls this off there will probably be complications with the social network around him. Prepping chicken every day, measuring all your food, and then train one to two times that day. His friends would eventually start wondering what is going on, and it might get complicated.

Relationship: The same young man is now having a relationship with this gorgeous girl, but his bodybuilding career is somewhat getting in the way. His girl starts getting annoyed, because they never can get out to eat because he has to measure everything, and because he does not pay enough attention to her because he is too occupied with himself. In the end, this can cause many complications, and a simple hobby should not do that.

Work: When this young man takes his meal boxes with rice and steak with him to work, his fellow coworkers might start to wonder, in addition to him eating every third hour. His behavior seems strange to them, and it might be difficult to relate to him because he is so self-centered.

These were just different scenarios that might happen, it is not bound to happen, but the possibility should be considered. The behavior of those who commit themselves to this art may be a bit strange for the rest of the world; it shows in a mental way just as much as the physical part. Most people like grilled chicken, but when one meal contains more chicken then the rest of the family’s summed up; people can not just let it slide. When you look three times the size of a normal man, and walk around in a tank top or even shirtless and your six pack is fully revealed just like that, you are bound to get some stares, it is only natural.

Bodybuilding is considered a subculture, since whenever there is a gathering, only people with the mindset and values of bodybuilding are present, you will not find a spectator being there “just because I was curious”, it would be like visiting a Metallica concert just because you were curious, and not because you liked their music.

Bodybuilding as a subculture

Considering bodybuilding as a subculture is not wrong, it is just that here in Norway it is not as common to see ripped or jacked shirtless men, it is a different story at a beach in Los Angeles or California. The mindset of perfection is what drives most bodybuilders, or just to be better than they were yesterday, to see their abdominals(men), or just get bigger buttocks (women). Bodybuilding does not discriminate between men and women, but it is usually the men’s goal to get muscular and the women’s goal to be fit. This does not apply to everyone, since there are women who want to become just as big as men, and there are men who do not train for the purpose of muscle gains.

The art of bodybuilding in itself is not bad, it is some of the individuals that turned it into a grotesque and twisted version, which then became mainstream and is now what most people associate with this sport.

If you want to get into bodybuilding, you do no not have to buy supplements, you do not have to prep your meals or track your calories, and you certainly do not have to meddle with steroids or any other illegal substance. All you have to do is to be dedicated, and have enough willpower to pull through. An individual training at a local gym is not a bodybuilder, but s/he can choose that route and the lifestyle that follows if he or she wants to.

Bodybuilding is defined by the strive for physique perfection. Discipline, dedication and willpower are elements practiced and preached at a daily basis.. The mindset of people following this way of life might differ from others, and they might be looked upon with skepticism and aw. But they follow through, because it is their dream!

Freedom through Race

Each and every person has their own reason for becoming immigrants. It can be because they are being threatened by the authorities in their country, or simply because they need work. The word immigrant applies both to people becoming new citizens in a new country and people already in the country for generations, trying to become a part of society without getting killed.

In the novel Honour, we get introduced to a nameplate. The nameplate is presented through many lines, and it shows us that the protagonists sister would want all the family member's names on it. The protagonist on the other hand, would want nothing on it, because his opinion was that they didn't really live there, they were only passers-by in the wrong end of London. He also mentions his nationality; half Kurdish | half Turkish. And also were they live; London. This should give us enough hints that they are immigrants.

In the movie Freedom Writers, the setting are a little bit different. We are introduced to a class of college students. These college students have many different nationalities; Black, Latino, Asian, Cambodian etc. With so many nationalities, there's bound to be some sort of fight, for example casual racism or whatnot. This is much worse though. gangs has been created, and their are in a war, with guns and all. Casualties are nothing new, almost every one of them have seen one or more of their friends die. In other words, it's a conflict between a generation of immigrants, or rather, it's a conflict between the tribes which were made of the late immigrants. They fight each other for territory, pride but most of all respect. One look into the movie, and we need no more explanation that this is about immigration, but not in the same way as in Honour. It's about immigration into their own society.

In the novel Honour, there are clear signs that the theme is immigration. As I mentioned before, the nameplate and their location. The sister wants the names of everyone in the family, her brother clearly does not. He's older, and it seems that he knows more about reality. We get an explanation of their breakfast, and it isn't much to brag about, another clear signs that they might be immigrants.

Later on in the movie Freedom Writers, it is shown that the theme isn't immigration, but more so war, war in the street. But that can also be a form of immigration. One example is Ben, the only white kid in the class. One can say that he's an immigrant in the social
network in that class. Another example is the tribes, When a black man walks through the Latino's territory, he immediately becomes an immigrant into their own social network. An outsider wouldn't see it, but they can, and they react.

The conclusion for both Honour and Freedom Writers is that they both show a viewpoint of what immigration is. One of them are regular immigrants, that doesn't quit fit in in London, while the others are kids, more or less forced to become street soldiers, to fight for their survival in the social network built around what colour your skin is and which tribe you belong to.

Force of example or Protest?

Task 3b 159

I thinks the force of example is the most effective way, because it makes a dramatic change that someone has to notice. And setting an example can also eager others to help out or even join you.
When setting an example through force, you show that this.is.it, which simple means that you are not satisfied with how things are going, and you choose to take matters into your own hands, which really isn't any different than protesting. But forcing through with your view clearly makes much more impact than just standing and protesting for days. I am not saying you should blow up stuff to show that you are the boss and not afraid or whatnot, but let's keep it real, it is more dramatic, and calls for more change eventually. Violence is not the way, but you see greater results than just standing with a poster and screaming no.

Has the Global Economic Recession Ended?

Task 4a & 4b p.157

Has the Global Economic Recession Ended?

  September 6^th the G-20 Economic Conference were concluded in St.Petersburg, and they delivered     a message: The global economy is getting better. USA announced that their economy had grow by    1% through 2013, while China said their economy had grown by more than 7%.

       

 The World Bank projected an expansion of the world economy in 2013 with 2.4%. This was      different from their statement in June, when they projected an expansion of about 3%, and that it  would contine to expand until it reached 3.3% in 2015. But reports showed that in 2012, 4 years after  the financial meltdown on Wall Street, there is no end in sight for the economic recession.

   

            Even  though economic growth has stalled or turned negative in much of the world since the bank  relased its previous report in June, stock prices have actually soared in the so-called “developing  countries”. Stock markets were up by 12.6% , and the equity markets in the high-income economies  in North-America, Europe and Japan have risen by 10.7%

 But then, The World Bank cuts its projected growth again, and comes out with a statement for the  next year, just like they did in June (2013) only this time, the numbers are even lower. From the  projected 3.3% in 2015, down to 3%, and the growth for Japan’s economic is halved.


All this is examples of what happened in the time period between the fall of Wall Street and now. In present time, the economic recession in the USA has gone for the better, but South and East Europe is still struggling. They are to this day battling depression-era levels of unemployment. But not only them. The growing economic countries like China have had a halt in their growth to, they went down with at least 3%.

The highest estimated % of unemployed people are found in Liberia

Youth unemployment is highest in Greece by 55.3 %

Most of the working people that has an income that falls between the poverty line lives in the USA, but it should be noted that most people that do not work and still are poor lives in Ireland.

Varieties of English

Different countries teach English in different manners. Some are naturally good at it, while other just can’t get the hang of it for various reasons. There are also discussions in the different countries about the treat of English itself. They question themselves if the English language is threatening their own native language.¨

Japan: Japanese are not exactly known for being pros at speaking English, for various reasons. But what exactly are these reasons. Surely it’s not the grammar, or volume for that matter. Japanese people have a wide vocabulary, probably wider than most other non-englishspeaking countries, and for one good reason. They have 6 years of education, which means, a lot of volume. Even the old generation knows enough English to keep a conversation, or to ask for directions. Now, there will always be faults, and as a country that speaks another main language than English, their skills will almost never be as good as a native Englishman, but there are exceptions. Anyways, what is it that makes Japan to such a poor English speaking country?

-        No “real life” accomplishment: Japanese students take their lessons, and then … it stops there. There’s no programs to help them, no further studies being taken, unless you want to study abroad. And there’s no one to practice with. A Japanese student have almost no freetime, and it’s certainly not in their nature to sit down and watch a English movie. When learning a language you have to abide by one rule, and that is to use it. Language = Oral. You.have.to.use.it.orally.

-        Culture: Japan is a country that has very few immigrants, and they don’t need to import so much from the outside. In other words, there is no reason to communicate in English, no reason to really speak it fluently. And really, who could you practice with. There are almost no immigrants, and immigrants, or gaijin as they are called, are in most cases looked upon as strangers, and unless you are on their good side, you shouldn’t interact with them

-        Japanese itself: The language is built up very different then English. Let me give an example:  (…) As u heard, there are no similarities between English and Japanese whatsoever.

France on the other hand, is no stranger to English. The thing is, they hate it, and they hate it with a passion. Now, that escalated quite a bit, but hear me out, and you will understand what I mean.

Frenchmen are good people, they are really concerned about manners. That really plays down when it comes to the language. Seriously. They are so goddamn proud! Frenchmen goes around with a stupid mentality that goes like this: 

Français est le meilleur, si vous ne le connaissez pas, allez vous faire foutre

“French is best, if you don’t know it, fuck off”.

They do not give a rats ass if their visitors don’t know how to speak English, if they can’t then that’s too bad for them, suit yourself. The reason for this is that they, alongside japan, simply suck at speaking English. But instead of trying to improve themselves, they spit at it, and maintain their stupid pride. Now, don’t misunderstand me, the pride in itself is a very good thing, and you should not discard it. Setting your natural language first is best, but its wise to try and learn one of the most spoken languages in the world though.

Russia has a bit of a strained relationship to English, mainly because they are the “rulers” of the east, and would like to be separated from the west in all aspects, especially when it comes to culture and language. The grammar of these two languages also differs greatly, so Russians have great difficulty learning English simply because of the difference. There really is not much more to say about Russia, they have a bit of the same complex as the Frenchmen, about not they being better than England/USA. Small countries, like for example Norway or Alaska, gladly learns English because they know very well that their language ain’t superior. But when Russia or France, to countries that greatly influence the world, they support the mentality of not wanting to easily bow down to the English language

Åpen Dag Speech

This is more or less what i told the 10th graders at "åpen dag". I told them in norwegian, and hopefully they got the hang on it.

Hello

I am a representative for the 2nd graders that has chosen the subject International English, and I will tell you a little bit about what we do, how we do things, and why you should choose this in your second year.

After your first year, you don’t need to learn English any further, but if you still want to, this is the subject to chose. Here in International English we do a variety of things, from reading, to listening, and also play games like the kahoot you just witnessed. We also dramatized for a little bit. On top of that it is required that we use a computer, so it will not be like the subjects you are used to, where you sit and take notes in your book.  

We work individually, but also in groups. But the most important thing is the blog, yes guys and gals, the blog! That’s the way we do it here. It’s like this subject’s base. Our teacher has her own blog, and from there she notifies us if there’s homework, or other things for the next lessons. You can always count on her to keep us updated.

If this didn’t convince you, than listen to this: we also watch movies, not every week, but from time to time, we find ourselves watching some kind of movie, which is funny and entertaining, but also educational.

It’s an entertaining subject, and I highly recommend you to chose it.

Thank you for listening.

Task 2 p.178

a) Malin makes use of petitions (5), and influence the authorities + using the social media (2)

b) I don't think this statement is wrong, but it has flaws.  Young people in norway are very occupied with their social network these days, and it takes a lot of their time. But when we become 17 years or older, it is expected that we start to follow what's going on in the rest of the world. And many of us do just that. But we probably don't have it as our top priority, but we do care, we really do.