ERIC hand mall

Strive to *Lose* Weight, Not *Gain* Weight

Weight reduction (for sports cars), and also fitness (better to lose body fat than to add muscle mass).

What do guys want?

It seems the bias for men is this:

Gain weight (a shortcut for body size and mass) above all.

A lot of guys go through ‘bulking’ phases, then strive to ‘cut’ later, to obtain their best physique.

However the problem:

If you make the purpose of your life and fitness to just keep gaining weight … there are a lot of downsides.

For example, force-feeding yourself food (not fun). Or seeing your ego as dependent on the number on the scale (not good, as you can be gaining body fat not muscle mass yet not know the difference).

Don’t focus on weight, focus on strength.

I say–

Better to just focus on powerlifting (to ultimately increase your ‘one rep max’ for any given lift) than to track your muscular mass growth, weight growth, etc.

Why? The secrets of augmenting muscle mass still seem like a bit like witchcraft (too many competing theories), but increasing your one rep max in powerlifting is far simpler (just add 2.5 pounds to each side of the barbell, once a week).

Gaining weight towards what ends?

ERIC KIM selfie topless muscle flex

Why do we care for our physique and gaining ‘weight’? It seems in order to gain a *more beautiful* physique.

And this is a genuine deep philosophy:

Having less fat (superfluous elements) is more beautiful than having more mass (at the expense of being fatter).

For example, it just comes as a design philosophy and ethos as well.

I find cars which are smaller, more compact, and lighter as more aesthetically beautiful than cars which are bigger, more powerful, etc.

Weight saving benefits

Then it seems our life goal should be to *LOSE* weight, rather than add weight.

For example, with travel — strive to LOSE WEIGHT (lose weight in your backpack, tools, equipment, shoes, clothes, etc) than to have ‘better’ things. And what is the benefit of traveling uber-light? Simple — you can do more, explore more, photograph more, with less fatigue.

Optimize for lightness?

The only brand I know which does this is probably montbell, and to a degree Uniqlo.

For example montbell’s website is the only website I’ve seen in which there is a filter for lightness. And as my backpacking mom (umma) knows, hardcore backpackers are willing to spend thousands of dollars just to reduce the weight of their bag by a few ounces. Montbell’s design philosophy of ‘light and fast’ is a good one, because the lighter your stuff, the faster you can go (the ultimate goal).

Conclusion

  1. With products, optimize for lightness not ‘power’ (air over pro)
  2. When packing for travel, think that it is better to be ‘under-equipped’ (but lighter), than to have all the stuff and be heavy.
  3. With clothes, optimize for lightness. For example, UNIQLO ultralight down jackets, merino wool t-shirts, and lightweight merino wool leggings.
  4. Perhaps mentally, also optimize your mind for lightness?

ERIC


PHILOSOPHY by KIM

Philosophical Essays

  1. DIABLO II ANALOGIES FOR REAL LIFE.
  2. If You Know Your *WHY* You Can Discover Any *HOW*
  3. Life is Too Short to Be Miserable
  4. What Consumption Takes Skill?
  5. OFF THE GRID.
  6. REALITY IS CRUEL.
  7. Pain is Information
  8. WHY REMOVE VULGARITY AND DISORDER FROM OUR EYES?
  9. AUTOTELIC.
  10. UNPLUG.
  11. How to Become a Philosopher
  12. SUBOPTIMAL IS OPTIMAL
  13. THE LUST FOR MORE.
  14. TO DO IS TO BECOME.
  15. IN PRAISE OF AGGRESSIVE.
  16. THE PHILOSOPHY OF OPTIMISM
  17. OUR PHILOSOPHICAL WILL TO EXISTENCE
  18. Is Hope a Vice?
  19. MOVE MEAN
  20. Carte Blanche Ideals
  21. One Interesting Thought
  22. What Lasts? What Doesn’t Last?
  23. A WOUND STIMULATES THE RECUPERATIVE POWERS
  24. Children & Purpose
  25. Thoughts on Becoming a Parent
  26. Where Does Our Desire to Upgrade Come From?
  27. WE ALWAYS NEED SOMETHING FURTHER TO ASPIRE TO.
  28. Self-Task Yourself an Awesome Mission in Life
  29. Differentiation vs Equalization
  30. My Passion to *Become* Something More
  31. No Aesthetic or Ethos is Forever
  32. What is Your Higher Purpose in Life?
  33. IT WILL NEVER SATISFY YOU.
  34. How to Decide
  35. Things You *Want* to Do vs Things You *MUST* Do
  36. Towards a More Beautiful Mode of Existence and Future
  37. EXTREME GRATITUDE.
  38. AMAP (As Much as Possible) or None.
  39. Why or How Does it Matter?
  40. The Philosophy of Time and Events
  41. How *Not* to Resent
  42. FORWARD LOOKING
  43. DOMAIN FLEXIBILITY.
  44. The Miracle of Human Growth
  45. EXTREME ADAPTATION.
  46. Why Plan?
  47. You Don’t Need to Justify Yourself
  48. The Philosophy of Ego
  49. True vs False Passions
  50. How to Achieve Tranquility
  51. On Making Your Own Philosophy
  52. The Purpose of Life is to Create New Life
  53. Think On!
  54. The Wisdom of Doing Nothing
  55. Congruency
  56. My Thoughts on Meditation
  57. The Philosophy of Purpose
  58. Emulate Yourself
  59. Good Fear, Bad Fear
  60. For the Betterment of Humanity or Just Yourself?
  61. What you *really* believe in and care for is manifested through your actions (or non-actions)
  62. Why Culture is Your Enemy
  63. YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE KING.
  64. LIFE IS INHERENTLY GOOD.
  65. Artistic, Physical, and Philosophical Muscles
  66. All New Experiences are Good Experiences
  67. What is the Purpose of X?
  68. UTILITY.
  69. Philosophy is a Luxury
  70. The Attempt is More Interesting than the Result
  71. Joyfulness vs “Happiness”
  72. Effectiveness Over Happiness
  73. Self Actualization
  74. MAXIMAL ENGAGEMENT
  75. Life & Pain
  76. On Living Every Day with No Regret
  77. Learn as if you’re going to live forever, live as if you’re going to die tomorrow
  78. Live Every Day Like it Were the Last Day of Your Life
  79. Self-Determination
  80. FALSE GRATITUDE vs REAL GRATITUDE
  81. HOW TO LIVE MORE
  82. THE UPSIDE OF TRAGEDY
  83. Satisfaction is a Sucker’s Game
  84. Supreme Repose
  85. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE? According to ERIC KIM
  86. STUBBORN, FLEXIBLE
  87. EVERYTHING HAPPENS AS IT *SHOULD* HAVE HAD HAPPENED
  88. Good Addiction, Bad Addiction?
  89. What is the Best Life?
  90. The Philosophy of Thinking
  91. The Philosophy of Conspiracies
  92. Conspiracies
  93. Growth
  94. Skepticism.
  95. What Do You Really Want Out of Life?
  96. Seem or Be?
  97. Learn Through Pain
  98. Respect Yourself
  99. In Praise of Elitism
  100. Why Independent Thinking?
  101. I Will Never Die
  102. Bitter is Better
  103. The Genesis of Nihilism and Existential Dread
  104. The Ethics of Personal Enrichment
  105. Good vs Not Good
  106. Punished by Privilege
  107. Abstinence Over Moderation
  108. Just Leave Others Alone
  109. You Can Only Critique that Which You Truly Understand and Love
  110. ERIC KIM Critique of Metaphysics
  111. Only Trust Philosophers Who Deadlift
  112. Heuristic: If Someone Talks Shit About Others Behind Their Back, Most Likely They’re Also Talking Shit About You Behind Your Back
  113. Virtue is a Privilege
  114. What Are Your Life Goals?
  115. Honesty
  116. Why I’m Anti Moderation
  117. No Spite, No Malice.
  118. Ascending Life or Descending Life?
  119. Double Edged Sword
  120. Ignorance.
  121. Why I Don’t Trust “Nice Guys”
  122. Why You Must Share Your Opinion
  123. Selfish Isn’t Evil
  124. Wisdom is the Goal
  125. YOU ARE KING.
  126. MASTER YOURSELF
  127. What is “Good” for You is Often what is Bad for You
  128. Care.
  129. BITTERSWEET
  130. ONE REP MAX
  131. Morality and Ethics is the Snare
  132. BY HELPING YOURSELF, YOU BEST HELP OTHERS
  133. Insanity is Good.
  134. Think Deep.
  135. PHILOSOPHY IS THE FUTURE.
  136. Open Mind vs Closed Mind
  137. ENTHUSIASM IS GENIUS
  138. Towards a More Critical and Rigorous Line of Thinking
  139. How to Encourage and a Foster Independent and Free Thinking
  140. What is the Purpose of Life?
  141. WHY PHILOSOPHY IS SUPREME.
  142. Elitism.
  143. I Cannot Form an Opinion About Somebody Until I’ve Met Them in the Flesh
  144. ALL GENETICS ARE GOOD GENETICS.
  145. Happiness vs Freedom
  146. The Birth of a Hater
  147. My Way Isn’t the Right Way
  148. Walking as an Existential Thing
  149. Why I’m So Tolerant
  150. Mortal Gods
  151. THE HUMAN SPECIES
  152. Why I’m So Skeptical
  153. Just Follow the Money
  154. Why Selfish?
  155. WHY WE CANNOT BLAME OTHERS
  156. Why Are We So Anti Elitism?
  157. What Actually Interests You?
  158. How to Become Yourself
  159. SELF HATE
  160. Optimistic Fatalism
  161. Death is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
  162. FLUX.
  163. How to Think for Yourself
  164. FLESH
  165. How to Live the Best Life
  166. Why Live a Life Without Regrets?
  167. Why Plato Ruined Art and Aesthetics for Us
  168. Self Respect
  169. Hypocrite vs Contradict
  170. Ideals vs Reality
  171. Spaceship Philosophy
  172. What is Your Ideal Life?
  173. MY EXTREME GRATITUDE TOWARDS LIFE AND BEING ALIVE!
  174. Critique of Utilitarianism
  175. Don’t Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
  176. The Eternal Recurrence of Tragedy and Joy in Life
  177. Elite Asceticism
  178. Why I Don’t Like Numbers
  179. Action and Reaction, Cause and Effect
  180. The Antidote to Nihilism: The Philosophy of Nothingness
  181. ERIC KIM Notes on Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
  182. EXPLOIT CHAOS.
  183. WHY I DON’T BELIEVE IN GENETICS
  184. Self-Wisdom
  185. The Future Belongs to the Fearless
  186. INDIVIDUALISM
  187. Why Live Forever?
  188. THIS TOO WILL PASS.
  189. Why Education?
  190. How to Become Yourself
  191. Things Shouldn’t Go Back to the Way They Used to Be
  192. Why Am I So Cruel?
  193. The Great Joy of Existence
  194. Virtue for the Sake of Virtue
  195. NO DISDAIN.
  196. INTELLIGENT IGNORANCE
  197. A LIFE WITHOUT PAIN, DIFFICULTY OR TRAGEDY ISN’T A LIFE WORTH LIVING
  198. BITTER IS BETTER.
  199. EXPLOIT THE BEST FROM TRAGEDY AND LIFE 
  200. DISREGARD FOR SELF-PRESERVATION
  201. PAIN.
  202. WHAT IF EVERYTHING IS NOT GONNA BE ALRIGHT?
  203. Tomorrow is Never
  204. Life is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
  205. EMBODIED REALITY
  206. BLACK SWAN
  207. THINGS WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE
  208. What are you *really* afraid of?
  209. HAPPINESS ISN’T THE GOAL
  210. Philosophy is King
  211. Why is Selfish Evil?
  212. YOU’RE CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF BECOMING
  213. ENTITLEMENT A SIN?
  214. NARCISSISM
  215. BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF
  216. WHY FREE WILL?
  217. OBEY YOUR OPINION
  218. EGO IS GOOD.
  219. WHY IT IS GOOD TO BE INTO YOURSELF
  220. Seek the Good Pain
  221. Anti-Perfection in Photography, Art, and Life
  222. Can You Become an End into Yourself?
  223. WHY I LIVE
  224. Why I Hate Decline
  225. Why I Eat
  226. Why am I So Positive and Optimistic?
  227. EFFORT IS ENJOYMENT
  228. Never Stop Gaining
  229. TRUST YOURSELF
  230. A Life of Maximal Personal Independence
  231. What Do You Desire to Become?
  232. What Do I Want from Technology?
  233. Stratified Society
  234. Do You Love or Hate Reality?
  235. On the Brian, Body and Mind
  236. I’m Maximally Happy, Now What?
  237. Care over Fame
  238. ACTIVE NIHILISM
  239. Never Stop Subtracting
  240. How to Live a Happier and More Epic Life
  241. A Risker Life is a Better Life
  242. Only Work on Things You Can Imagine Doing for Eternity
  243. How to Maximize Your Happiness
  244. Influence
  245. The Gladiator Makes His Plans once He Enters the Ring
  246. Meditations on Meaning in Life
  247. There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings
  248. Is Hope a Vice?
  249. EGO
  250. Why Be Unique?
  251. Happiness is Metabolism Health and Strength
  252. You’re the Hero
  253. Is Productivity a Virtue or Vice?
  254. Why Do We Prize the Rare?
  255. The Joy of Uncertainty
  256. How Should I Best Use My Time and Life?
  257. A Life Without Pain or Suffering Isn’t a Life Worth Living
  258. Free or Unfree?
  259. What Do You Really Care For in Life?
  260. Anti-Satisfaction in Life
  261. Why Think?
  262. The Eternal Return
  263. Only Do What is Best for You!
  264. Truthiness
  265. Why Be Happy?
  266. Permissionless Living
  267. In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom
  268. Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World
  269. Happiness
  270. Beyond Freedom
  271. Idolize People, Not Stuff
  272. What Makes You Stronger? What Makes You Weaker?
  273. Why Hate?
  274. The Secret of Happiness
  275. You’re Constantly in a State of Becoming
  276. Life is about Choices, Not Obligations
  277. Anti-Nihilism
  278. First, Do What is Best for You.
  279. Live Dynamic
  280. How to Prosper
  281. Is the Point of Life to Be Satisfied?
  282. SUPREME EFFORT OF WILL.
  283. How to Become more Idealistic
  284. Thrivival 101
  285. Create Yourself
  286. Non-Small
  287. Inspiration
  288. How to Live a Heroic Life: Dare the Heights!
  289. Human Augmentation
  290. Prune
  291. Happiness: Do What You Want to Do (And Don’t Do What You Don’t Want to Do)
  292. Avoid Vain (Empty) Pursuits in Life
  293. Modern Slavery
  294. Kill the Leeches
  295. Wisdom Augmentation
  296. Why We Need Friction in Life
  297. Straight Line Philosophy
  298. What’s Your End-Game in Life?
  299. Create Your Own Happiness Today
  300. Desire Both Pain and Pleasure in Life
  301. Try the Impossible
  302. SELF-RESPECT
  303. Anti-Social Extrovert
  304. Never Blame Anybody But Yourself
  305. Human Flourishing
  306. Simpler, Not Better.
  307. How to be Free
  308. Embrace the Extremes
  309. Cultivate Your Own Culture
  310. COURAGE.
  311. Thrivival
  312. Inner Power
  313. How to Live a Purposeful Life
  314. My Definition of Happiness
  315. Why Change is Good
  316. Why Work?
  317. How to Live the Happiest Possible Life
  318. The Two-Pronged Approach to Maximize Joy in Your Life
  319. You Always Have Another Option!
  320. INFINITISM
  321. Never Stop!
  322. What is Your Self-Directed Purpose in Life?
  323. Live Today Like it Were Your Last
  324. Do You Photograph to Live, or Live to Photograph?
  325. ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER
  326. Live Life to the Fullest!
  327. In Praise of Selfishness
  328. Why You Must Be a YAY-SAYER to Succeed in Entrepreneurship and Life
  329. Why I Love Walking
  330. Live Life Like a Video Game!
  331. Simple Luxuries in Life
  332. Treat Your Life Like a Fun Experiment!
  333. Only Prove it to Yourself
  334. You Don’t Always Need to Feel Joyful to Live a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
  335. Life is Too Short to Be Bored!
  336. Money Cannot Destroy Boredom
  337. How to Find Inspiration in Life
  338. Why You Must Ignore Haters to Succeed and Win in Life
  339. An Active Life is a Happy Life
  340. My Simple Joys in Life
  341. Never Stop Striving
  342. How to Motivate Yourself in Life
  343. How to Be Optimistic in Life
  344. How to Dictate Your Purpose in Life
  345. In Praise of a Dynamic Life
  346. PURPOSE.
  347. How to Enjoy Life
  348. Photography Therapy
  349. How to Conquer Regret
  350. Take Your Play Very Seriously.
  351. How to Prosper
  352. Memento Vivere
  353. Destroy in Order to CREATE
  354. Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind
  355. Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life
  356. Seek Knowledge, Not Information
  357. The Purpose of Human Life
  358. How to Overcome Impedence
  359. Why I Love Death
  360. How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now
  361. How to Be Happy
  362. Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?
  363. Why I’m Happy
  364. Why?
  365. Why I’m So Prolific
  366. How to Reduce LAG in Life

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