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Game recognize game

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Hormesis is a generally underappreciated concept. The body needs a certain degree of stress to push against, in order to grow. Lacking this stimulus, it withers. The same is true of the mind and soul.

Creating a hormetically sterile environment has been the single most destructive unintended consequence of industrial civilization. In ages past, unless he was extremely privileged, the Ellwangers of this world - and most adopt his basic stance, although generally without bothering to intellectualize it - got everything they needed from the rigors of daily life. We are not so fortunate as they, and must do these things intentionally.

As an epilogue, Ellwanger has responded graciously to the strong response he has received (me, Raw Egg Nationalist, and another substacker writing under the name Chivalry Guild who looks quite interesting, who published his response in IM1776), and has agreed to undertake a program of vigorous resistance training in the summer. Perhaps we'll make a man of him yet.

https://im1776.com/2023/02/17/the-barbell-and-its-discontents/

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Feb 19, 2023Liked by Grant Smith

Nice analysis Grant.

I especially liked this: "What Adam is trying to do is break the rules. By articulating his preference for sloth and sauce while tearing down a straw man conception of the utility of resistance training, he thinks he can subvert reality. He can’t."

Glad you mentioned John Carter's Just Fucking Lift, Bro. Sent that one to my strength coach.

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Excellent, agree entirely.

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I'm trying to imagine saying to God, hey buddy, thanks for the body, I'm just not that into it...

As opposed to maximizing the potential of the body, which is vastly greater than any of us assume...glorifying the creator...

(What's RDL?)

Thanks also for the shout out!

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That point about magnanimity is an interesting one. I am going to have think about that more, and how much is attributable to relative vs absolute strength, for instance.

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Feb 19, 2023Liked by Grant Smith

Stretching is important though.

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Feb 20, 2023Liked by Grant Smith

💬 one of the things with the largest magnitude return on investment is resistance training.

Would it be such a big stretch to surmise that the persistent resistance to resistance training rumbles presactly *because of* its effectiveness in unlocking the overwhelming benefits you so adroitly surveyed? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Feb 20, 2023·edited Feb 20, 2023Liked by Grant Smith

🗨 a war is indeed coming… A war to defend the Normal from the Lie. A war for the freedom to remain human. A war that can and will be won only by Men with Chests. ~~NS Lyons

🗨 Peace is no virtue if you, the pacifist, are incapable of war. Peace is a virtue if you, the warrior, decide it isn’t necessary.

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