#a little example of how an injury on land Translates to her other form!

[mg549]

sheala sirene-wishgiving mercreature-2013

[comeonthinkers]

The Constant Struggle of Cuteness

I feel like, this morning, I need to talk about body image. Body image, and the constant barrage of conflicting messages around body image that I, as a midsize woman, receive and dissect every day.

First of all: midsize. Was this even a term five years ago? As “plus size” has become more ubiquitous and more accepted in the past decade, “fat” has been reclaimed, and “curvy” is suddenly more of a feeling than a descriptor, the terms I used to identify with as a teenager now, somehow, no longer apply to me anymore. I’m not sure what happened in the past decade; in high school I distinctly remember almost always being the largest woman in the room. Since then, whether it’s due to perception, self-confidence, age, awareness, or just... overall changes in the population, I now find myself distinctly in the middle. 

Note: I’ve been a size 12-16 my entire post-adolescent life. For one brief stint after college I could fit into a size 10. But before and since, 14 has been the mainstay numeral in my wardrobe. My steady friend and most accurate guesstimate across brands as to what my body may fit.

14, despite being the most (so I’m told) “common” size amongst women, was for many years infamous for being the most left-out, in-between size in clothing stores. In juniors’ stores (marketed toward teens: your Charlotte Russe’s and Forever 21′s), 14 would translate to the non-existent XXL: with “XL” usually falling in the “12″ range. In Plus Size or Women’s stores, 14 is a 0X; 1X is most commonly measured around a “16″ size.

About 5 years ago I found a fashion youtuber who made a video decrying the variation of a size 12 across different brands. And I’ll agree: sizes vary a lot from brand to brand, despite there being a base similarity in most big brand stores. She, like me, found herself living in this dreaded size 12-14 fashion purgatory, this no-womans-land of sizes. And even here! The numbers can’t be trusted!

She called herself “midsize”. She looked a lot like me. And at last, I had a label I could consistently search and see body types that I could identify with. From what I can tell, midsize is the chosen moniker for fashion influencers sizes 8-16, with of course, varying body shapes and compositions. For example, many of the folks I follow on instagram that claim “midsize” wear a VERY different bra size from me- so to find “fashion inspiration” I can actually act upon from midsize influencers, I also have to bring in a few accounts that allow for more top-heavy-friendly designs.

Despite all of the overwhelming positivity and diversity now available to me as a midsize woman (for example, almost all plus-size brands now start at a size 10-12 (00X-0X), and most “regular” retail brands now extend to a XXL), I can’t help but go back to my first observation: I’m no longer the largest woman in the room. While I don’t consider myself particularly unhealthy, I also know I’m not passing any presidential fitness tests any time soon. I find it difficult to run for extended periods of time. My joint strength isn’t nearly what it should be to support my weight. While muscular, I have a lot of extraneous body fat that adds strain to my daily life, and all my body’s systems: skeletal, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular. This isn’t good. I’ve worked for years to try to find ways to get stronger, lose weight, and improve my overall health- in fact, the difficulty I faced when trying to lose weight was what led me to discover that I have PCOS and a few hormonal hurdles to maintaining a healthy body weight.

But when I try to research how best to approach health and weight loss with PCOS, the studies are few and far between- and when available are fairly inconclusive and far from thorough. I’m left to follow MORE accounts of personal success stories, all of which are biased toward one product or another, one lifestyle brand or book tour, all of which are antithetical to every other product, book, or brand I’ve seen before.

On the one hand, I’m grateful to see more body types represented in the media.  It IS helpful to my self-esteem to normalize the bodies of women both my size and larger than me (even if there’s still a prevalence of too-smooth skin and too-round belly buttons). But I also worry about how we tend to conflate feeling good about ourselves to being healthy. They aren’t the same. And we’re letting commercial forces tell us that it’s okay to be unhealthy even when attempting to BE healthy: mentally or physically.

Time to come clean here: for the past year, I’ve been experimenting on and off with a carnivore lifestyle, which, OBVIOUSLY, many people assume is super unhealthy, much like the stigma around Atkins in the early 2000′s. Honestly, it feels a lot like Atkins did back in the day: lots of bacon, burgers, steak, and eggs. Quite literally “zero-carb”, as opposed to just “low-carb”. While low-carb isn’t really new anymore, and many people can see carnivore as a logical step past the surprisingly universally accepted ketogenic diet, I was amazed to discover just how much the “science” of the trendier diets of the past decade (paleo, keto, whole-30) don’t match up to the scientific, accepted nutritional advice of the actual medical community.

Last year I started going to a weight-loss clinic at the behest of my OB-GYN in an attempt to get my PCOS and weight “under control”. I’m gonna spoil most of the rest of this rant by saying this was a pretty dumb idea for someone like me. This clinic was created around those with extreme weight issues, for whom psychological care and bariatric surgery are the most “effective” forms of treatment (again, according to the health care system that seems determined to sell it, but I’ll talk more about THAT another time). The nutritionist I met with gave me the same spiel I’d read time and time again from every weight-loss specialist book I’d bought, despite me relaying to her my decades-long struggle with traditional diets and fat-loss strategies. A ketogenic diet was never recommended to me, nor any kind of actual dietary changes to help with hormone balance/control: I was prescribed metformin (a drug for insulin resistance most commonly prescribed to type 2 diabetics) and told to eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

I didn’t lose any weight. My periods didn’t regulate. I just stopped gaining weight as fast... although I did eventually gain back the 12 pounds I’d lost from my first 2 months on carnivore. 

The truth is, that treatment plan, that clinic... it doesn’t exist for someone who is trying to change their body chemistry. It might work for folks that are so obese that literally ANY form of mindful eating will help them lose 200 pounds. But let’s be real: if I lost 200 pounds, I’d weigh 6 pounds. I’m a tall, muscular woman with some fat that has tried all the recommended diets for fat loss. Through them all, I fight cravings and energy loss, mood swings, and all the symptoms that come with PCOS. The ONLY thing I’ve found in the past 10 years that actually helps with my PCOS? 

Regular exercise, stress management, and a carnivore diet. 

I’ll also point out that when I DID lose a considerable amount of weight after college (due to what I think was a combination of 1. getting enough sleep for once, 2. intermittent fasting, and 3. regular hiking), it was also easier for me to maintain my weight and many of my PCOS symptoms went away. It wasn’t until I switched to a HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL method that I then gained back all of the weight I lost (and then some) and once again began fighting uncontrolled PCOS symptoms. They compounded on each other, and made it harder and harder to get back to any kind of “normal”. 

So, I’m back on carnivore. In addition to more stable energy, noticeable reduction of PCOS symptoms, and slight weight loss, I also just... hurt a lot less on carnivore. Along this journey I’ve finally realized that I do in fact have a chronic pain problem. Whether it’s due to chronic inflammation, past injuries, or food sensitivities, I’m not really sure: but I know when I eat carnivore, my chronic pain all but goes away. Recently, I’ve been recovering from a back injury, so there was of course some pain associated with that (as well as a break from regular exercise, which I plan to get back to once I’m cleared by my chiropractor), but the daily body aches, numbness, and discomfort?

Gone. 

I’ve got regular periods when I eat this way- like, ACTUALLY one a month like I’m supposed to have. My facial hair growth slows down, even thins out. My focus improves. I sleep better, and actually follow a normal circadian rhythm. What’s total bananas is that I’m not the only one who experiences this: MANY folks who’ve tried this way of eating report daily quality of life improvements.

I’m not going to say everyone should eat this way; I’m not even going to suggest that everyone with PCOS should eat this way. But I WOULD love to see some actual RESEARCH done on this way of eating- or even better research on a ketogenic diet! I’m so frustrated by the lack of medical research on nutrition, and in particular the lack of action to curb the universally-accepted-to-be-unhealthy nutrition standards in America. While I won’t say it’s hard to eat carnivore (cause like, all diets are hard), I have noticed over the years that NO ONE IN OUR COUNTRY IS HEALTHY anymore- except for those whose JOB it is to be healthy. And this isn’t a coincidence!! Almost all cultures that have adopted American corporatized food structures are chronically unhealthy, and much, much more fat than they used to be.

I agree that being fat isn’t always a personal failing, and I’m so, SO glad that more and more figures in our media diets are representing the diverse catalogue of body shapes and sizes reflected in our world. I’m happy that my future daughter won’t be fat-shamed the same way I was as a little girl, and that she likely won’t be told (like I was) that she’s too fat to be what she wants to be when she grows up, despite not actually being all that fat. 

BUT. Fat representation is not the hill I want to literally die on. I’m not willing to throw my health, my comfort, my ability to be active, away for my “right” to eat ice cream every day. I’m sick of being marketed to constantly as a garbage disposal. I’m not just here to eat and diet and wear clothes.

I’m here to LIVE. I’m here to plant gardens and make art and take walks and enjoy the seasons. And I can’t do a lot of those things if I’m constantly sick and in pain. And it’s way harder to enjoy not being sick and not being in pain when all we know to do as a society when spending time together is... eat food. 

What frustrates me is, I think so much of this really comes down to marketing, corporate profit-mongering, and the way our political system is set up to make laws for companies instead of people. I think capitalism is making us fat and unhealthy, to sell us sugar and diets and medicine and surgeries in an endless cycle of crap. I don’t really have much more to say on that, I don’t have sources, except like... well, look around you. Look at the system we have. Look at what we’re told to do to escape it. And look at how many forces are there to take us right back to the beginning of the roller coaster when we have a little success. 

Side note/conspiracy theory time: I actually think liposuction might be a more safe and effective (literally EFFECTIVE not just safe) form of “weight loss surgery” in helping folks with actual, permanent weight loss. Hear me out: while I will fully admit I can’t remember where I read any of this (as I’ve read so many scores of information regarding health and weight loss over my lifetime), I seem to remember body fat working something like this: it’s really easy for your body to make new fat cells, but very difficult for your body to destroy them. So, when you gain fat, it first occurs by your body filling your fat cells with fat, until they can’t hold anymore, and then your body makes new fat cells, which makes it easier for your body to hold onto said fat. The best way to “reset” your body’s fat threshold is to literally destroy or remove the fat cells. And, I assume, if you adopt more healthy habits AFTER having liposuction, your body would be less likely to create more fat cells than it was when you lived an unhealthy lifestyle.

Bariatric surgery is incredibly invasive and dangerous, and almost always ends up reversed by bad habits and your body’s natural ability to STORE FAT AND STRETCH YOUR STOMACH. It’s a temporary solution, and often proves to be ineffective in the long term, and leads to many unfortunate complications over time, not to mention the recovery from that surgery is LONG and TOUGH.

But liposuction (the most COMMON FORM OF PLASTIC SURGERY, I’ll add), is the only “weight loss” procedure (despite not being labeled as such- it’s “cosmetic surgery” even though it most definitely WOULD result in weight loss, right?) that actually removes fat from your body. Literally takes the fat cells away so your body can’t fill them up again, without once again needing to create more.

But bariatric surgery is covered by insurance, and liposuction isn’t... despite the fact that removing weight and fat from the body would be a more instant and potentially effective cure for obesity and its underlying symptoms, and being a simpler procedure overall, as well as extremely common. 

So like... why is being fat something poor people are forced to endure dangerous surgery and super long recoveries and lifetime habit changes to overcome, but rich people just get to have their fat vacuumed away? Sounds sus to me. 

[tipsycad147]

Wolf Gods and Goddesses

Where Did Wolf Gods and Goddesses Originate?

One of the most majestic and cunning of the animal kingdom is the wolf. Dating back thousands of years are stories of wolf gods and goddesses. All over the world, shamans of each culture have revered the wolf for its swiftness, but also for their instinctual abilities and wild freedom. Wolf medicine is strong medicine, or so they say. Unfortunately, in past years wolves were killed off because of superstition, so there aren’t nearly as many wolves as there once was. But wolves endure. And so do the myths of gods and wolves. The wolf gods detailed here are:  Odin, Lycaon, and Mars. And the wolf goddesses:  The Morrighan, Skadi, Artemis, Diana, and Leto.

Gods and goddesses of the ancient world often held a special connection with wolves. Some say this is because the beliefs of our ancestors were animistic – they believed everything in nature had consciousness including animals. Wildlife was thought of as sacred in ancient times, and there are scholars who believe ancient land guardian spirits were worshipped by ancient tribes and would eventually rise to become great gods and goddesses. To find an image of a god or goddess in the likeness of an animal was commonplace. Some of the more obvious animal-god connections can be seen on the ancient temple walls in Egypt. For example, the ibis-headed god Thoth. Or the hawk-headed god Horus. Wolf gods and goddesses were depicted with the heads of wolves, transformed into wolves, or were strongly associated with wolves.

Artemis and Diana have a close connection with Greek wolves.

Artemis & Diana: Wolf Goddesses of the Woods

Artemis is the Greek Goddess of the hunt, the forest, archery, chastity, and the moon. She was also a protector of women and children and was known to heal women’s injuries and disease. When depicted, Artemis was nearly always shown with animals of some kind – most often with dogs or deer. This is because her domain was the forest, and therefore all wildlife within the forest was under her guidance. This would have included wolves.

If you are to research Artemis, you will find mostly references to her link with hunting dogs. The Greek God Pan gave Artemis a pack of hunting dogs of which Artemis takes seven when she goes hunting. Her connection with the moon serves to tell us that any animal with a draw towards the moon would be favored in Artemis’ eyes. Therefore, wolves, the primal original canines who so love to howl at the moon are also Artemis’ animals.

Diana, the Roman Goddess of the Moon, was thought to be Artemis’ Roman equivalent. They had many of the same qualities and attributes including domain over the forest and wildlife therein. Diana was the Roman Goddess of the Moon, just as Artemis was the Greek Goddess of the Moon. She ruled over the woodland creatures, which would include wolves. She was also a protector of women and children. In recent times, wolves have come to be associated with the “primal” or “wild” woman, essentially taking us back to our primitive instincts and intuition. Diana’s inseparable link with women and the fact that she was a wild forest goddess makes her connection with wolves palpable.

Leto: The Original Greek Wolf Goddess

It’s no wonder Artemis is thought to have wolves in her compendium of animal guardians and helpers, as Artemis’ mother in Greek mythology was Leto. Leto was born on the island of Kos and her parents were Titans. Leto had relations with Zeus and gave birth to Artemis and Apollo. She was a goddess of womanhood and motherhood, and thus the birth of Apollo and Artemis are significant to the Leto myth. The legend says that Leto laboured for days to deliver the twins Artemis and Apollo – this is related to wolves’ difficult delivery of their young. The journey that Leto took from the Hyperboreoi to Delos took twelve days, which is the time it took for wolves to deliver their young in Greek mythology. This made her one of the Greek wolf goddesses. She might have been the original Greek wolf goddess!

Leto was also believed to have had the ability to shift into the form of a wolf. Sometimes she was said to have been a she-wolf and so is linked to Lycia a.k.a. wolf-country. Leto honoured and adored wolves because they were thought to have provided her assistance in her times of need.

Leto was always depicted and worshipped as an important Mother Goddess, and her cult stretched from Greece to Crete to Egypt. She is sometimes depicted with a golden spindle, which mirrors many of the other ancient goddesses across the continent of Europe. A spindle points to the idea of the goddess spinning our fate, as in the Greek myth of the Fates or the Norse Norns.

Skadi is a Norse Wolf Goddess of the Winter and a Giantess.

The Morrighan: Celtic Wolf Goddess

The Morrighan is an ancient Irish (Celtic) goddess of life and death, wisdom, magic, shapeshifting, and war and also one of the Celtic wolf goddesses. She might have originally been three separate goddesses that eventually were merged into a triple-goddess. The Morrighan in her three aspects include Badh, Macha, and Nemain. The Morrighan is almost always seen as a fierce, aggressive goddess with a yearning for blood on the battlefield. She takes no prisoners, and shows little mercy to those who are her enemies. For those she loves – she will do whatever it takes to help them, including shapeshifting into various forms. One of those forms is in the shape of a large grey-red wolf, making her an ancient wolf goddess.

In the Irish epic tale The Cattle Raid of Cooley, the Morrighan takes on many forms in the presence of Cu Chulainn. She trips him while in the form of an eel, then runs all over the cattle in the form of a great wolf. Because the Morrighan is seen as a wild, liberated and independent goddess, it only makes sense that the wolf is one of her animal associations.

Skadi: Goddess of Winter & Wolves

A favorite of the wolf goddesses in ancient Scandinavia was Skadi. Skadi is a Norse Goddess of the Winter and a Giantess. Her plight for revenge against the gods for her father’s death was met with a trick – Odin tricked her into marrying Njord, a god of the sea, instead of Odin’s son, Baldur, of whom Skadi was determined to marry. The two lived together for a short time but the marriage was doomed, as Skadi’s heart was in the mountains and Njord’s was in the sea. Eventually Skadi fell in love with Ulle and they lived in the snowy mountains together.

Skadi often has wolves at her sides, as the Poetic Edda shows. Njord, after returning to the sea from his stay in the mountains with Skadi, mentions how the howling of the wolves kept him awake at night. But Skadi doesn’t mind the howls, she welcomes them. She is one of the wolf pack, and she will forever guard the mountains as her sacred home.

Lycaon: Wolf-Man of Myth

Lycaon, also known as Arcadia, was a mythological king of Arcadia. There were many Greek myths surrounding Lycaon’s life, but the most popular tells of Zeus turning Lycaon into a wolf after Lycaon tried to trick Zeus. Here again we see the “trickster” archetype alive in the myth of Lycaon who is then turned into the trickster-creature – the wolf. The term lycanthropy is directly related to the name Lycaon, and is a disorder in which a person believes he or she is actually a wolf.

There are many versions of the Lycaon myth, but all tell of the king being transformed into a wolf.

Mars, the Wolf Brothers, and Lupercalia Festival

In ancient Rome, there was a wild fertility festival that happened every year on February 15th called Lupercalia. This festival involved a number of bawdy and lascivious acts, including men running around naked chasing women, beating women with sticks to ensure fertility throughout the year, and animal sacrifices of goats and a dog. The priesthood known as the Luperci (brothers of the wolf) were to perform these rites. This festival was put on every year until approximately the fifth century AD, when all pagan holidays and celebrations were outlawed by the Church. What does this have to do with a god and his association to wolves?

If we identify the term Lupercalia, we find that luper translates roughly to wolf. The ancient Romans and Greeks held wolves in high honour and regard, and so the war and agriculture god would come to be associated with the wolves. Romulus and Remus, twin brothers associated with the founding of Rome, were said to have been orphaned by Mars and their orphan mother then suckled by a large she-wolf in a cave known as Lupercal. Fun Harry Potter fact: there is a professor known as Remus Lupin who makes a debut appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Where do you think JK Rowling thought up his name?

Odin and His Wolves

Often we see Odin, the all-father of Norse mythology, shown with two ravens; however, when Odin is not accompanied by his large corvid friends he is flanked by two great wolves named Geri and Freki. The mention of Odin’s wolves comes from the Prose and Poetic Edda. Their characters in the Poetic and Prose Edda demonstrate a warrior quality, in particular a greed for blood and corpses. The names Geri and Freki are translated to be “greedy” and “the ravenous one”. They are destruction that makes way for creation.

Odin has been associated with the Greek God Apollo, who also has an evident connection with wolves and ravens. The Ulfednar in Norse Mythology are wolf-warriors and are referred to as Odin’s fighters. They always wore the pelts of wolves when going into battle.

Odin can come through to his followers as a trickster god (though Loki is known specifically for being THE Norse trickster god) and therefore another connection with wolves is demonstrated. Wolves are thought to be tricksters in many ancient cultures, including in some Native American cultures. Not only are they tricksters, they run in packs, and are ferocious, all qualities shown through the Ulfednar and in Odin, the all-father.

https://otherworldlyoracle.com/wolf-gods-wolf-goddesses/

[northshorehealthandfitness]

[caption id="attachment_63915" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Pond5[/caption] Now that all the big fall races are over and the weather is getting colder, most people are ready to pack away their sneakers and hibernate. While some consider the winter an off-season, it’s definitely not the time to slack off from training. “Many runners simply take the winter off, but this is a huge mistake,” says Jason Fitzgerald, USATF-certified running coach. “Taking a season off — or barely running at all — prevents most runners from progressing.” Take elite Saucony-sponsored runner Tina Muir, for example. After running the Chicago Marathon in October 2014, Muir has spent time working on the little things to make her a stronger runner like building strength, improving her form, and practicing yoga. “This downtime between racing is the best time to do it,” says Muir. “You can’t throw a lot of this work in when you’re training hard since your muscles are already fatigued. And, this way, you don’t have to spend half the spring and summer getting back into shape.” RELATED: Hate Running? 25 Ways to Learn to Love It In fact, the winter is the perfect time to build a solid foundation for running. “Figure out what your weak links are and to focus on those things,” says Jay Dicharry, director of the REP Biomechanics Lab, author of Anatomy for Runners and USATF-certified coach. “It’s not good enough to just have a strong engine. You need to have a strong chassis too — mobility, stability and strength. That will give you a better body to run with.” So, what’s a runner to do when the temps start dropping and workouts get moved indoors? For starters, focus on these seven key areas this winter. These exercises will help you figure out the right way to move so that you’ll be ready for a strong season of running once the weather warms back up. RELATED: 3 Running Drills from Olympic Sprinter Tori Bowie

7 Tips on How to Run Faster by Spring

1. Maintain Your Base

No matter the season, you want to maintain some level of base fitness. Ideally, you’ll want to keep logging the same amount of miles you’re used to. “If that’s not possible, reduce mileage by 10 to 20 percent. It’s a good way to stay in shape while being on a mental break from harder training,” says Fitzgerald. Reducing intensity is fine, too, just remember: “These aren’t junk miles,” says Dicharry. There are three important things that happen in your body when you train at approximately 60 percent of your maximum heart rate, he says. First, you build capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your body. More capillaries means more efficient blood flow to your muscles and greater surface area for oxygen to transfer from your bloodstream into your tissues. Second, you build more mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of your cells. More mitochondria means more energy you can use, Dicharry explains. Third, you teach your body to regulate its blood sugar levels better so that you use your energy stores more efficiently. RELATED: 7 Expert Tips for Pacing Yourself on the Run

2. Build a Strong Behind

Many runners are plagued with inactive glutes and weak hips. Due to the inordinate amount of sitting we do in our daily lives, our behinds tend to be unresponsive, compromising their ability to do their job when we need them, like during a race. In fact, research shows that weak hip and bum muscles are often to blame for running injuries. In terms of mechanics, strong glutes help you drive off the ground in order to run more efficiently. Single-leg glute bridges are a great way to strengthen this area. During the exercise, “Ask yourself, ‘What muscles do I feel working?’ Most people will feel it in their lower back, or their hamstring will cramp,” says Dicharry, which isn’t good. “You want to learn how to move and drive from your hips to lift and stabilize the pelvis. If you’re having trouble isolating your glutes, Dicharry suggests imagining that you are squeezing a quarter between your butt cheeks as you raise your hips off the floor. “It seems like a simple exercise, but if you can’t master the basic bridge, you’re going to do everything else incorrectly,” says Dicharry. Add in clam shells, hip hikes and lateral leg raises and you’ll be on your way to building a strong bum. RELATED: 6 Butt Exercises Every Runner Should Be Doing

3. Improve Your Posture

Your mother was right: Good posture does matter. According to Dicharry, balance, alignment and posture all directly impact our running ability and form. “Most of us stand back on our heels and lock out our knees. We just ‘hang out’ in our posture,” says Dicharry. “When you stand like this all day, you’ll start to run like this, too. And, poor posture can inhibit your hip strength by half.” In order to stand up tall, you first need to find a neutral position in your spine. Stand and become aware of where the weight is in your feet. “Then, drop your breastbone and the front of your ribs down and you should feel the weight shift off your heels to the other parts of your feet,” says Dicharry. “Most people will feel like their muscles must work to maintain this position.” Practice proper posture all day — when standing, sitting, walking and running — so that it becomes second nature and you can maintain this position even during a hard workout. Muir also suggests doing drills to help you concentrate on your form, which translates to more efficient and faster running. Muir’s favorites include high knees, butt kicks and side shuffles. RELATED: 6 Exercises That'll Seriously Improve Your Posture [caption id="attachment_63916" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Pond5[/caption]

4. Build a Strong Core

Having a sturdy center helps improve stabilization and allows your lower body and upper body to communicate more effectively. “The runners I’ve trained who have focused on this have performed much better,” says Cheri Paige Fogleman, trainer for Daily Burn 365. “A strong core gives runners an advantage in that your form doesn’t break down when you get tired.” Fitzgerald’s “bread and butter” core workout includes everything from planks and side planks to modified bicycles and bird-dog exercises. He recommends doing a routine like this two to three times a week. RELATED: 6 Core Exercises to Make You a Stronger, Faster Runner

5. Practice Toe Yoga

Your feet play an important role in running. Not only do they absorb the impact upon landing, they also help generate the force required to propel you forward when you run. Yet, according to Dicharry, many runners have weak feet and poor foot coordination. How can you make your feet more resilient? Practice toe yoga! What exactly is toe yoga? It’s learning how to move your big toe and little piggies independently of each other. Keeping the ball of your foot on the ground, lift up just your big toe while your little toes remain on the floor and hold. Then, drive your big toe down into the ground while you lift up your little toes and hold. “One of the most helpful things to do is to learn how to use your big toe,” Dicharry says. “Being able to drive your big toe down is a critical skill. You’re isolating the muscle in the arch of your foot. Its only job is to stabilize the arch.” RELATED: How to Score Perfect Running Form Like the Pros

6. Try Something New

Aqua jogging, stair mill, spin class… “There are so many other modalities that can support running,” says Fogleman. If you’re not training for a race, it’s a great time to switch things up. “The more things you do that are different, the better athlete you become,” says Dicharry. If some form of cross-training isn’t already in your weekly routine, mix in your favorite low-impact activity (or try something new!). Just one hour a week can pay dividends come spring.

7. Hit the ‘Mill!

Don’t want to run outside? No problem. Try the treadmill hill workout, featured below, from CLAY Health Club + Spa. It will build glute and leg strength as well as increase fast-twitch muscle fibers. The result: You're able to run farther, better, faster and stronger. RELATED: 20-Minute HIIT Treadmill Workout to Get Fit, Fast

Your Winter Treadmill Workout

Before you start, you’ll need to determine your speed and incline for the workout. Find your goal pace-per-mile for the desired incline — six percent for this workout — and corresponding treadmill mph setting. After you finish your warm-up, step off the treadmill belt and bring your speed up to your hill sprint speed and your desired incline. Step back onto the belt to begin your hill intervals. [caption id="attachment_63922" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20[/caption] Originally published December 2014. Updated December 2017. Read More Why I Started Running — And Never Stopped 9 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Running 50 Running Resources for Speed, Strength and Nutrition

The post Winter Running Guide: How to Run Faster by Spring appeared first on Life by Daily Burn.

via Fitness – Life by Daily Burn

[princess-zzuko]

The Fall

I could not think of a clever word play that would combine the idea of film adaptation with the actual film itself, but that’s okay because I love this movie so much I don’t care.

The Fall

Director: Tarsem Singh

After a young immigrant worker (Alexandria) and stunt double (Roy) take a fall that land them hospitalized, they form a bond through Roy’s storytelling skills.

Before I get into why I love this film and why no one else’s opinions matter (lol just kidding), we talked about some things in class.

This film has allegory and connections to history. The epic portion of it mirrors the Wizard of Oz as it features a group of misfit bandits on their journey to find someone. In the film’s case it’s “the evil governor Odious”. It’s an extravagant and visually stunning film. Even more (and my favorite element of the film) is that Alexandria becomes a part of Roy’s story. She adds the childlike, whimsical, and comedic elements of this epic story.

When it comes to films this large, and with so many stories to tell we wondered who is the author? Or who gets authorship. As far as the film goes, there is a diverse cast. But the white hero is the one who not only tells the story, but the only one of the bandits to survive by the end of it. So is it just diversity for diversity sake? Or does the diversity of the movie lead to a greater connection of the film and audience?

We also discussed an essay by Shelly Cobb, “Adaptation, Fidelity, and Gendered Discourses,” Adaptation. Cobb claimed that the language used to discuss film adaptation is culturally constructed and biased. And it is biased particularly against femininity. For instance, films that are considered cliché, or overdramatic are associated with women. Such as movies from the Lifetime channel, or drama movies in general. When we think of cliché films, we think of middle aged stay at home moms, because that’s the audience they gear towards. These films are considered low class and of no value. Oh and they are super formulaic (which adds to the no value meter). But films with a heavy male authorship rarely get coded as such, even if they are just as formulaic as Lifetime films.

For instance, Marvel movies. A fellow student even said that Marvel films are just as formulaic as Lifetime films but Lifetime films actually give their female characters agency.

And films geared towards women are less likely to get awards, whether or not they stood up against the competition in the box office.

Even the language we use to describe people who obsess over a film or figure gendered.

Fan girl

Over emotional

Low class

And that’s not to say that films by men can’t be considered low class either, we’ve just noticed a correlation between how films with female authorship are treated versus films with male authorship as a whole.

Cobb also analyzed the morality of adaptation critiques. A good, pure film is one that stays loyal to the original text. A cheap, low quality film adaptation is unfaithful. And this is what we believe today. Take Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and Avatar the Last Airbender for example. Those two film adaptations are considered lowly, cheap, terrible. Fans of the original text spit on these movies. Even the author of Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan, hates the film adaptations of his book series.

Which makes me wonder if it’s possible for an adaptation to be good, even if it’s disloyal to the original?

We also discussed authorship and how males tend have authorship over films and females have authorship over books.

Men worked back in the day and women weren’t really allowed to do much but they could read and write and that is what they did and that is how they made it through the day. At least that’s how I imagined it to be like back then. And by back then I mean Charlotte Brontë back then.

Then film came about and that had technological aspects to it so that quickly became a men’s world, and still is today.

And what about the idea of the auteur? How these male filmmakers will adapt films from novels by female authors, yet the male will get the credit for being an auteur because he revitalized it into a work of moving genius?

Then there’s the idea that you can’t love something and be a critic. Your love for that film will filter what you say about it, and your critique is not valid. I don’t agree. I think it’s important to see a film through an objective and subjective lens. It is difficult, but very possible.

Now back to the greatest film I’ve watched all year, The Fall.

This film has two voices, Alexandria and Roy. Our professor asked us if we thought it did a good job at telling multiple stories. I think it does a wonderful job of telling both of the main character’s stories, and it does it so masterfully too.

The movie begins with a slow motion, black and white sequence detailing the event that leads Roy into the hospital. I liked it because it showed but didn’t tell. Even the movie doesn’t explicitly state his injuries in the beginning but leads you to certain clues through clever dialogue that flows with the story.

The same is for Alexandria’s story. One of my favorite scenes in the film is when she (a five-year-old girl) translates for her mother, who only speaks Spanish. Here we not only get a glimpse of how grown up she has to be even for her tender age, but the difference between how others treat her versus how Roy treats her (and btw he treats her like she’s her age).

And here is my other favorite scene.

Then there’s the spectacular of Roy’s story. We deep dive into an adventure tale mirroring that of a historic epic. This features an ex-slave, an Italian explosive expert, a dude named Darwin with a monkey, Roy as a mask wearing bandit, and a mystic. Oh and a female love interest.

This is where the storytelling gets spotty for me. Although diversity of the bandits is very cool and I love diversity and want more of it in media, I’m not sure what it’s connection is to the story. I’m not sure if it’s trying to make a statement or if it’s just being a great movie with great actors and a great plot. Although we learn about the bandits’ origins we don’t hear much from them afterwards. Then it appears that their stories are being filtered through the white male point of view. And that their stories have little to no use to the overall plot except for the fact that they were all wronged by governor Odious.

And then there’s the female love interest. 

She’s literally so useless I forgot she was in the movie at all. And this says a lot about the male perspective as well. I couldn’t tell if her character was supposed to be a satire on how women are treated as props in the film industry. Because she is literally used as a prop the entire time, and dressed like one too.

Okay but also props to the costume designer for this movie, Eiko Ishioka. What an excellent job seriously. I love the costumes of this film. 

 But back to the princess. She’s surrounded by all these female conventions:

Soft spoken

Good with nature

Pretty

Doesn’t talk much

Is kidnapped

But falls in love with the kidnapper

Passes out

They use her to get to governor Odious

Turns out she ain’t loyal

It’s fine we didn’t need her anyway

She does nothing omg

It’s actually hilarious how useless she is.

That was my biggest problem with the movie. The use or lack thereof of its ONE older female character.

Lol, but I still love it.

In fact, I was more so connected to the main plot than the epic story. Roy and Alexandria formed a beautiful connection in the film mirroring that of a father and daughter.

 I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry when Alexandria fell while attempting to retrieve morphine for Roy (not knowing he was trying to kill himself), hit her head and was rushed into surgery. Upon waking up she sees a tear-ridden Roy, and she apologizes for failing her mission. Then he tells her the truth and tries to end the story with the death of his comrades and himself until Alexandria says it’s her story too and that Roy’s character will live. The despair and triumph of that scene messed me up man.

Lol, but my classmates didn’t like the movie.

Thank you for reading.

 Pictures used: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/

http://www.itsmugambi.com/blog/44filmsday14

https://www.tor.com/2018/06/01/ten-years-later-theres-still-nothing-like-tarsem-singhs-the-fall/

http://sanchezmaddie.weebly.com/blog/the-fall-roy

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/327777679105397729/?lp=true

[rodrigohyde]

How young is too young to start lifting weights?

If you want to really rile up some parents, just ask them when they think a kid is old enough to safely start strength training.

Talk to someone vehemently against putting “dumbbells” and “children” in the same sentence, and their argument against youth training likely centers around one of two things: the idea that lifting weights can damage kids’ growth plates, thereby stunting their growth, and/or that weight training can increase their kids’ risk of a bone fracture.

Sounds scary, right? But here’s the thing: Both arguments are completely unfounded. There’s no truth to either of them.

“I have no idea where these myths started, but the evidence is clear: It is absolutely safe for kids to start lifting weights early in life, provided they do so under a well-designed, supervised program,” says Gregory Myer, Ph.D., director of research and The Human Performance Laboratory for the Division of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Myer and Avery Faigenbaum, Ed.D., C.S.C.S., professor of health and exercise science at the College of New Jersey, are two of the foremost researchers in the field of adolescent fitness and strength training. Both say there is almost zero downside to strength training for children, as long as they’re doing a sound program and under proper instruction. What’s more, both argue teaching our kids to squat and press early in life is one of the best things we can do for them.

Here’s our deep dive on the science of weight training for kids and adolescents.

[RELATED1]

For starters, let’s define “lifting weights”

For the record: We’re not exactly talking about a 7-year-old pressing a 200-lb barbell above her head. In essence, we’re talking about training kids like adult athletes, with the goal of simply getting stronger, preventing injuries, and facilitating performance both on and off the field.

“Strength training broadly defines the method of conditioning that makes muscles stronger,” Faigenbaum explains. “One extreme is a bodybuilder mentality, where the goal is focused on aesthetics—that’s an adult goal. We’re talking about the other end of the spectrum, which is building completely functional strength.”

So no, little Sally won’t look like a bodybuilder—but she will be stronger than the other girls on her soccer team.

Resistance training can improve a young athlete's potential by preparing him to learn complex movements, master sports tactics, and step up to the demands of training and competition, according to a 2016 study analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Furthermore, strength training actually reduces the chances of a kid getting injured playing a sport, according to a meta-analysis in Current Sports Medicine Reports. In fact, mere sports training isn't enough for kids to make the neuromuscular gains they need to prevent injury and promote lifelong health, that same analysis found. Kids actually need additional activity.

Also: Stop imagining Billy pumping iron a la vintage Schwarzenegger. “Just as with an adult, kids work at bodyweight until they can perfect their form,” Faigenbaum says. “Once a child can perform the basic movement of a bench, squat, or lift correctly, he earns the right to progress to adding weights to it. We certainly have teens in our programs who can squat double their bodyweight, but they’ve built up to that weight over time.”

And for helicopter parents concerned about their kids handling added weight, consider this: When kids run and jump and play, they land and hit the ground with an impulse load of 2–10 times their bodyweight going through their bones and joints, Myer says. That means a healthy 10-year-old boy can be looking at some 1,000lbs on his joints—which is way more than anyone’s suggesting he squat. Without learning the proper way to jump and land—and without building a strong foundation to absorb that impact—that 10-year-old boy is at a much higher risk of injury absorbing that impact without any training under his belt. In fact, resistance training can protect against injury and help nonathletic kids develop "physical literacy" to offset their sedentary lifestyles, according to a 2017 study published in Sports Health.

[RELATED2]

So how young is too young?

Most kids are ready to start intentionally building strength by 7 or 8 years old, both experts agree. The only real concern? Whether a child is emotionally ready for training. “Kids have to be able to follow instructions to stay safe, so when they have the maturity to listen and follow instructions, they’re ready for some sort of strength program,” Faigenbaum says.

Obviously some kids aren’t quite ready at age 8, but Faigenbaum’s team does strength programs with kids as young as kindergarten. At that age, strength training looks like frog squats, bunny hops, hermit crab touches, and bear crawls across the yard or gymnasium—moves that are fun and solely intended to get kids moving in all different directions, starting to build up muscle naturally.

Another gauge: If your tyke is ready for sports, he’s certainly ready for strength training, Faigenbaum adds. If your kid is already past 8, get him or her in now. Here’s why.

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Why earlier is better

“Strength training trains the muscles and the underlying neuromuscular system to enhance a child’s ability to run, jump, hop, and skip,” says Faigenbaum. “Strength matters in every sport—not just football or wrestling. Jumping, throwing, kicking—strength is a prerequisite for every movement.”

Beyond setting young athletes up for success, though, strength training has a long-term effect on a kid’s development—inactive kids become inactive teens, and then inactive adults, research also shows. And since kids today are weaker than their peers were a few decades ago, the earlier they become active, the better.

“Starting strength building in high school is 10 years too late,” Faigenbaum says. “Our interventions need to start during primary school years. It seems there is a window of opportunity early in life to develop habits and train your systems in a way that propels you into more physical success for the future.”

[RELATED4]

The musculoskeletal benefits of weight training for kids

Another concept to learn: training age. Training age is a measure of how long someone has been strength training, and it’s especially important for kids as they develop and grow.

“If you start at 10, by the time you’re 16 you can handle a much higher load than another 16-year-old who has a training age of 0 rather than 6,” Myer explains.

As with adults, the earlier you start working out, the sooner you’ll see changes. But maximizing training age is more impactful in kids because they have more adaptive processes to capitalize on, Myer says. “At 14, 15, 16 years old, you have hormonal and neuromuscular factors converging, and if you have a higher training age at this point, it’s much more advantageous for yielding higher adaptations.”

If kids can build strength pre-puberty, then they’ll have that solid foundation to explode off of when their legs and arms lengthen, center of gravity changes, and hormones settle in. “The goal is to give kids a bigger engine to power their newly bigger cars,” Myer says. Girls in particular are ripe with potential because their injury risk explodes at maturation (thanks to hormones), he adds.

Plus, while you can increase bone strength as an adult, the gains you get during childhood are much greater, Faigenbaum adds. “The data says under the age of 12 seems to be the ideal time to expose the bones of boys and girls to weight-bearing physical activity, like running, jumping, hopping, skipping, playing soccer, playing tag, for optimal health later in life.”

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Neurological benefits of weight training for kids

“Our brains continue to learn and evolve and become more connected until the age of 20, but this lead-up period is where our motor control becomes hardwired,” Myer explains.

For example: As an adult, agility work seriously taxes your nervous system—but over time, you adapt, and your reflexes become faster. When you’re a kid, that happens at a much faster rate: “We can adapt and alter after 20, but those growing years of peak neuroplasticity are really when we’re primed to take in motor loads and respond and adapt at a very high rate.”

The earlier you start, the more fine-tuned your neuromuscular system will be by 20.

[RELATED6]

Psychological benefits of weight training for children

“When kids are young, they all run around together. But around 6, 7, 8 years old, some start to physically change and suddenly they’re moving differently from their peers,” Myer says. Adults know not all bodies are built for speed and agility, but when kids can’t keep up with their peers, they start turning away from the things they’re not good at. That leads them down the trajectory of exercise deficit disorder, which will eventually lead to obesity, he explains.

However, if you can get those outlier kids into strength training around this time, they not only start developing their training age but also have the crucial thrill of becoming good at something. “They may be the worst at running and playing, but in strength training they can succeed, and the psychological effects of finding success compared to their peers can go a long way,” Myer adds. In fact, a 2017 study in Translational Pediatrics found in addition to reduced injury risk and increased bone strength, resistance training helped improve self-esteem in children and adolescents.

[RELATED7]

Back to those risks

When it comes to all the factors swirling around a growing body—growth plates, muscle plasticity, fluctuating hormones—strength training doesn’t affect any growth or development, both experts agree.

Of course, there are risks associated with all types of physical activity. But research shows well-devised and supervised strength training programs actually cause fewer injuries than general sports, Faigenbaum says. What’s more, the most common injuries happen to kids’ hands and feet, says a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research—the products of, say, dropping weights or catching fingers on dumbbells. “In a well-designed program, training two to three days per week, focusing on form and progression, injuries are minimal,” Fagenbam reassures.

The one peripheral factor worth mentioning: Endless studies show anabolic steroids are particularly harmful for adolescents because they freeze the growth plates in bones, stunting height. It’s reasonable to think that starting a kid down the path of weight lifting early might drive him toward anabolic steroid use early on.

But, as Myer points out, anabolic steroid use is not about the activity (weight lifting) but instead about the environment. “If a kid is going to a bodybuilding gym, maybe they’ll be exposed to steroids as acceptable, but that’s clearly not a good environment for them to be in,” he adds.

By exposing kids to strength training via gym class, YMCA programs, or organized sports, parents can steer them away from the dark side of muscle building.

[RELATED8]

Ready to get your kid lifting?

If your child is ready to start strength training, look for an after-school, technique-based YMCA program, or ask a local PE teacher—they know about the sport and know your community, Faigenbaum suggests.

It’s especially important to get them started before sports, he adds. “You can’t go from the couch to high school cross-country team, training five days a week. I think all boys and girls should perform six weeks of conditioning before they start playing a sport.”

Weights

from Men's Fitness https://www.mensfitness.com/training/build-muscle/how-young-too-young-start-lifting-weights

[theochelpsquad]

Indigo Terzi (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OC)

#OhGodIReallyHopeI'mNotAnnoyingAnyone

H: You’re not, don’t worry!

Hi, I’m Fable (pseudonym, obviously). Before I get into this, I want to apologize if you’re flooded with stuff and I’m annoying you, but if you could read Indie’s profile and offer criticism, it’d be really appreciated. (Art Credit to Rinmaru Games). Firstly, yes, this is a world cross OC. I’m sorry if you don’t like those. Also, Indie is paired with Ed. I’m also sorry if you don’t like that.

H: Hi! We didn’t get your art, for some reason. In my opinion, world-cross OCs and OC/Canon pairings aren’t an automatic fail, if they’re done in a way that makes sense. For example, add some backstory to how the world cross happened, or show your OC and the canon character eventually falling in love.

E:  Ok, let me tell you, it’s always okay to pair your characters with actual characters in the show, for the most part! But that depends on how close you want to stick to canon (considering the character may already have a love interest in canon). So it’s your decision.

H: Alright, under the cut, because this is a little long!

Name:  Indigo Arianna Terzi

Meaning:  Blue purple, prophet

Nickname(s): Indie, IAT

Alias:  N/A

Age:  14/15 (changes through story)

Race:  Greek

E: You might want to change Race to Nationality, and considering the fact that her name is Terzi, you should add that she’s (possibly) Italian.

Gender:  Female

Date of Birth:  

Birthstone:  

H: I’m not sure if this was accidentally not included for some reason, but if you’re looking for a birthday that has some sort of meaning, I’d recommend a date in January (which represents doorways in change, referencing her world cross).

Birth Place:  Chicago, IL, USA

Current Location:  Somewhere in Amestris probably

H: If you want to add a more specific location, I added a map of Amestris below.

Goal(s):  Live…? Master her alchemy

H: What type of alchemy does she have? Does she need gloves like Roy or a transmutation circle to do it? Maybe try to link her form of alchemy to her life back at home or her childhood if you can.

Like(s):  Musical theatre/acting/singing/dancing, books, learning new things, comfy chair, hot chocolate, puns, playing with people’s hair, being alone with her thoughts, listening to other people talk/sing, bay windows, patterns and symmetry, logic, romance, history, studying how things work, pretty colors, pasta, dogs, children, hugs and human warmth, going shopping

Dislike(s):  Being bored, people mocking people for things they like, homophobes, unprovoked violence, needles/doctors, unfamiliar people, being without her phone and bag, conflicting patterns/colors, asymmetry, complicated math, silence, loneliness

Hobbies/Habits:  Hobbies: Writing, reading, singing, dancing, playing with hair, taking pictures, keeping a journal/Habits: Biting nails, twirling hair, licks lips

Flaws:  Sarcastic, comes off as cold/indifferent/annoying, has little self confidence, over thinks

E: I think that you might want to add a couple more flaws, some that will make her a bit more realistic. Maybe she’s a compulsive liar, maybe she often has tunnel vision with regards to others’ feelings and emotions, maybe she has a really short temper.

H: I really like how complicated and realistic these traits make her together!

Fears:  Needles/doctors, being abandoned

Personality:  Comes off as very cold and emotionless, guarded until she knows someone, awkward when flustered, passionate, can act childish, self depreciating, stressed, sarcastic, tries to be humorous and relate to people, intelligent, confused (not about anything in particular, just confused), aware of the world and it’s dangers, over thinks things, often daydreaming/lost in thought, true to herself

H: To me, she sounds like a character who prefers to be self-reliant. If you want to humanize her and her relationship with other characters, you can add some problems she faces trying to express her feelings to them freely.

Status:  Alive

Appearance

Skin Color:  Olive

Body Build:  Slight, petite

Eye Color:  Indigo (hence name)

H: How does she have indigo eyes? Did she live in an AU where purple, red, and other unusual eye colors were considered normal? Did she live in regular Chicago, but her eyes looked indigo in a certain light?

E: Indigo eyes are very rare. In fact, I think it may be one of the rarest eye colors in humans. But I’m sure she could have dark blue eyes!

H: Dark blue eyes could definitely work, and they do look indigo sometimes.

EDIT-

H: Then again, some characters from FMA have unrealistic hair and eye colors, like Rose Thomas, so it’s not a big deal.

Hair Color:  Dark brown

Hair Style: Down to ribs when down, but usually looks shorter because it’s in a high ponytail atop her head

Height:  5’

Weight:  88 lbs

H: Considering her age, she would normally be around 5′4″ and 105 pounds. If you want to keep your current measurements, you should consider adding a reason for them. Maybe Indigo has a sort of nutritional deficiency that stunts her growth? I know somebody who struggles with that, and they have to eat sugary things constantly to keep themselves healthy. That deficiency could make her story more interesting, as she now needs to concentrate on what she needs to eat, too, while also surviving in a different world.

Automail:  None

Other: Scar under right eye from falling down stairs as a kid

E: To be honest, I think that any falling injuries that would give her a cut under her eyes would also (in most cases) damage the bone in her face around her eyes.

H: If you want to keep the scar, burns, car crashes, and bike accidents are all common childhood injuries and could all cause a scar. However, falling down the stairs could also cut her without damaging her bone structure if she landed on something sharp, like a vase.

Clothing of Choice:  Black leggings, black combat boots, gray undershirt, dark green hooded jacket, brown messenger bag

Abilities

Occupation: None at the moment

Alchemic Element or Transmutation Specialty:  All

State Alchemist?  No

   State Alchemist Name:  N/A

Weapon of Choice:  Preferably no weapon, but fists if needed

Fighting Style:  Aikido

   [Scale 1-10, 1 = lowest, 10 = highest]

Alchemy Usage:  8/10 (eventually)

Swordsman and/or Gunmanship:  2/10

Martial Arts Skill:  9/10

Defense:  8/10

Offense:  4/10

Teamwork:  6/10

H: These statistics seem to really fit her character, down to her guarded nature being translated to high defense stats! I’d try not to change these if possible.

Relationships

Parents:  Helena Pallas-Terzi, Dion Terzi

Sibling(s):  N/A

Other Relative(s):  Petros Pallas (maternal grandfather), Elaine Galanis-Pallas (maternal grandmother), Markos Terzi (paternal grandfather), Tessa Elias-Terzi (paternal grandmother)

Love Interest(s):  Edward Elric

Best Friends: Li Shan/Sean Lee, Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric

Friends:  Winry Rockbell, Ling Yao/Greed, Lan Fan, May Chang/Xiao May, chimeras, Paninya

Enemy(ies):  Father Cornello, Father, Pride, Lust, Envy, Wrath

Hero(es):  Helena Passas-Terzi, Riza Hawkeye, Izumi Curtis

Rival(s):  (Jokingly) Edward Elric, Roy Mustang

H: Though you didn’t have much room to do so here, I’d expand on her relationships and how they formed. Maybe Ed took her in when she appeared in Amestris? That would explain most of these relationships, seeing as Ed knows all of these people, but how would she know Cornello and the homunculi? Does she appear in the show’s timeline? Alternatively, does this happen after the show, but do these enemies come back? This could be a great opportunity for some incredible word building.

Quote(s):  “This-this automail, this body, doesn’t define who you are.” “I don’t really do ‘healthy’ amounts of sleep when there’s work to be done.”

History/Backstory:  

Indie was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is the only child of Helena and Dion Terzi, and was named after her dark blue eyes. She grew up in a cozy apartment in the city, always healthy and happy. Both of her parents were artists (Helena was a painter while Dion was a composer), and they heavily encouraged creativity in their daughter.

Indie was always drawn to creative outlets, and was frequently doodling, writing, and humming. However, she also knew that her parents wouldn’t tolerate failure (or perhaps, she realized later in life, it was her who wouldn’t accept it), and therefore did very well in school. Though she wasn’t disliked, per se, her classmates found her a bit strange, given her unusual intellect and shy tendencies.

Helena, a long time Chicago resident, knew how dangerous the city could be. She signed Indie up for aikido so that she could learn self defense. Indie was decent. She wasn’t a top-notch, best in the country student, but she knew enough to the point that she could defend herself without harming her attacker.

While in elementary school, Indie’s nose was always buried in a book or notebook. She was fascinated by higher level education and entertained herself by doing things like memorizing the periodic table. It wasn’t because she wanted to show off. She simply enjoyed memorizing and trying out new things. She didn’t know that it would annoy her classmates to the point where they would tease her viciously, picking away at her insecurities. The teasing eventually got so bad that Indie would claim to be sick to get out of school. This happened so often that Dion took Indie to the doctor, who said nothing was wrong.

E: Does she have another mental illness? Some illnesses can give people a wider memory and an aptitude with higher level thinking. (What was described seems a bit unnatural for a neurotypical person of that age.)

As a result, Helena and Dion became worried and took Indie to a psychologist, who diagnosed her with social anxiety and depression. Indie was put on medication and moved schools to a private school for her middle school and high school years.

It was here that Indie flourished. She was still quiet, but, with encouragement from Dion, tried out for the musical in sixth grade, and, to her surprise, was cast. It was a small chorus role, but a role nonetheless. And thus Indie’s passion was discovered. Musical theatre became a second home for Indie, and she came out of her shell when she went onstage. She gained self-confidence as she moved up the ranks of the cast. She became very close to a stage manager named Sean Lee (birth name Li Shan), but no, they do not date, they’re just close friends.

Overall, Indie’s life was looking up. And then she saw that damn red stone.

Trivia/Fun Facts:

Indie’s blue eyes were inherited from her maternal grandfather, Petros

Indie’s father, Dion, came from Greece to Chicago to study, where he met Helena. His parents still remain in Greece and visit every few years

Her first leading role was Elphaba in Wicked

Lola played Glinda

Indie’s favorite color is actually purple

The reason Indie was able to pass through the Gate and not give up any limbs or her voice is that she had a necklace containing a Philosopher’s Stone that her grandmother had sent from Greece for her 14th birthday

H: I think this is a really important fact that should be expanded upon. Did her grandmother know about the stone or did she not know about its power? How did she come across it?

Indie is allergic to bee stings

Helena and Dion actually were going to have a child before Indie, but Helena suffered a miscarriage, meaning that Indie was a miracle and a blessing to both of them

Indie practically generates warmth, and is often hugged by Sean, who is perpetually cold

Indie’s favorite book (besides Fullmetal Alchemist) is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

H: Unless I’m reading into this wrong, Indigo comes from a world that knows about FMA into the actual FMA universe. Does this mean that FMA was based off of a real story/universe? Or did someone create an alternate universe based on the FMA story? To keep your story from getting too complicated, I wouldn’t make FMA exist as a story in her universe, but Indigo isn’t my OC, after all!

E: (THE GOBLET OF FIRE WAS BETTER INDIE CAN MEET ME IN THE PIT!!!!)

Indie’s fear of needles came from when she was about 6 and was given an antibiotic for an infection. The antibiotic had a side effect of delirium, and, when the doctors came to draw blood, Indie saw nothing but the needles and though she was going to be stabbed

The total number of notebooks that Indie has filled with stories, notes, personal poems and songs, or choreography throughout her life is around 25-30

Indie loves games involving memorization, like Memory and recreating sequences

Indie’s brown messenger bag is like a safety blanket, and she never leaves anywhere without it

It was a gift from her parents for Christmas when she was 11

H: I really like these small tidbits, even if they don’t contribute to her story! They make Indigo seem very real and imperfect.

Template by germanshepardluv426 on Deviantart

E:  You write really well! Keep up the good work! I love your character. She’s very fleshed-out and realistic (to the point where I think she’s based off of someone real!) and with any free time you have, I think it’d be ideal that you pursue her story!

Also, on an ending note, you can also have fun bending canon if you want! Sure, Winry might end up with Edward at the end, but if you want her to fall in love with Paninya (for whatever reason,,, ;O ) you can!

But with OCs, usually the problem lies in the power that you give them. Remember, even though the content is free for examination and recreation, if you want a realistic (ha ha, realistic, it’s anime, but you get what I mean) character, you need to make sure you don’t give them a god-like ability and a perfect life. Mistakes happen. One day, in a tragic accident, a character might lose a leg halfway through the story.

(That’s confusingly worded, but to put it in simpler terms, every character messes up. Also, to keep the story realistic, not every character has to emerge in one piece.)

 H: Overall, I also really liked Indigo. I feel that she’s very realistic, and I don’t see many things you could change with her character that would improve her. The worldbuilding can be explored a little, but I think you’ve already created an interesting beginning that could make an awesome story. There’s a lot of great potential in this, and I encourage you to keep working on it!