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Well, I am being asked to shave or trim my beard; my hair is not in question (and I have imposed my point of view in this regard). Here are a few questions (more like a poll):
1. Should I trim my beard?
2. Should I shave my beard (I dislike putting a razor on my face however)?
3. Should I shape my beard into a goatee (see q. 2. re. razor blades)?
4. Should I trim my moustache?
5. Should I shave my moustache (it has been a permanent "fixture" for about 30 years; see also q. 2. re. razor blades)?
6. Should I trim my hair?
7. Should I cut my hair?
8. Should I do something else with my hair (straighten, dye, etc.)?
9. (OT) Should I go on a diet (I do quite a lot of hiking and biking, I lead a fairly active life and otherwise my size doesn't bother me that much)?
A Linux Longhair
Personally I think the beard adds character to you. I would say maybe a slight trim or shape it up a bit if anything. Dont cut your hair is looks great..hell give me some of that..LOl. And as far as the weight thing goes, only bother if your really not happy with yourself or if its for medical reasons but that doesn't seem to be the case but as always it never hurts to drop a few ponds. Best of luck, and awsome hair btw.
I would suggest trimming your beard without shaving so you do not have to put a razor to your face. Keep your hair at its current length. Losing weight could not hurt, and in fact be quite beneficial. Being lighter is better for your knees and other weight bearing joints. Also your risk of developing type 2 diabetes will drop considerably. Your risk of heart and blood vessel disease drops. Your risk of certain types of cancer will decrease too. You will definitely enjoy hiking and biking even more as well. Absalom
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My hair has reached its terminal length of about 25" anyway, so that I can't do anything but to keep it at the current length.
I have no health problems and I am actually quite content with my size; I did a physical check a few months ago and everything came out normal. And my knees and legs can bear much more than my weight without problem. The only real problem is that I can't find clothing that fits me and in the same time has sleeves that can fit my arms without causing me too much discomfort.
A Linux Longhair
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Who is asking you to do these things? "Should" is a word I like to be very careful with. Finally, you are the only one who can decide what you "should" do. Where is the pressure comeing from, to impose another's will on you? Family, work, neighbors?
It's a matter of balancing. What do you give up when you take on someone else's "should"? What do you give up when you refuse to take on their "should"?
Robert
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It is family - I wouldn't do anything in this regard for neighbours or work. Anyway they know that my hair is out of discussion. That has left the beard "issue".
A Linux Longhair
I'm very partial to the hair and beard. I would consider weight loss, but only out of concern for any future health problems, and since you've asked. The hair and beard gives you character. I think you look just fine, as you are! Hagrid rules, though the actor is wearing a wig and fake beard.
Hi friend!
I think you shouldn't change anything! It underlines a very strong personality!
I like the way you look like!
It reminds me of Hagrid from Harry Potter :-)
And if you really want to be thinner do it for yourself and not for anyone else! If you fell good you shouldn't change!
btw. Your Hair looks good and fits well to your appearence!
MMMBOP
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That's what my wife calls me, even if I am shorter than him :-)
A Linux Longhair
I like Hagrid! He's like a rock. And always calm and easy-going.
You also seem to be a very calm person (but I don't know :-) )
So, Hagrid is cool and it's good to look like he does, so don't change!
MMMBOP
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It takes an awful lot of doing for anybody to make me lose my temper... And I am quite easy-going. Having long hair and beard spares me the necessity to always maintain a "neat" appearance by shaving and getting haircuts on a regular basis.
That goes for dieting and otherwise trying to get thinner too - I dislike subjecting myself to restrictions and deprivations just to meet some other peoples' expectations. I am quite happy with my size and I don't have any problems with that, except for the constant pressure from my family to lose weight, and the difficulty to find clothes - especially shirts - that fit me. The later problem is easier to solve - in my easy-going way, of course: either get a sleeveless shirt/vest or cut the sleeves off, and go with bare arms.
I don't mind looking like him, and my wife is a big Harry Potter fan, so go figure :-)
A Linux Longhair
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Keep the hair because long hair is the way to go but as for facial hair perhaps try shaving it to just a mustache that grows down over the corners of your mouth, but stops there like an inverted U. Then underneat do a "soul patch" but have it pointed downward like an inverted ^. I will attach a picture of what I mean.
i say don't cut anything!! Do you _want_ to do anything to your beard or hair? I mean if it bothers you maybe cut it a bit and remove some length, but otherwise it certainly depends on who asks you to cut your beard, and why....
As for the last question, base your alimentation on raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. There is no need for any diet.
An openbsd longhair
Re: beard
Trim the beard only if it is getting uncomfortable for you. Personally, I think it looks fantastic!
Re: hair
Again, it really is your call. If it is annoying you, a trim to shoulder length would suit you very well also. I would advise against straightening, colouring etc.
Re: weight
Being active and eating a healthy (ideally vegetarian whole food) diet is more important that the numbers on a scale.
Let us know what you decide.
Huey
OK, here's my answers, with the implicit understanding that you should do what you want to do, not what some oppressor is telling you to do... unless it's your wife. They have absolute power. :)
In other words, should you modify your beard to please (whoever). It depends--would you interpret this as an entree for them to start making more demands on you? Are they really trying to get rid of you? If you don't take it that way, and it were me, I would have trimmed or shaved a while ago. I got tired of looking like a Taliban, and the Summer heat and humidity in Washington DC was a bit much.
If I were you I would have done that a long time ago. Moustache in my food is really annoying, but
No. You'll feel naked without it, and you'll miss the added pleasure of slurbing excess beverage from it after taking a drink. Also, cold drinks will make your upper lip unpleasantly cold. Also, the shape of your mouth may not be attractive to you--I think my mouth looks too small without a 'stache.
No.
No
Don't go on a diet. Instead, modify your lifestyle in a way that is comfortable to live, yet still results in slow, steady weight loss. Remember--you probably didn't gain all the weight in 6 months, it's ridiculous to expect you'd lose it in the same ammount of time. Nobody should ever care about their absolute weight. Instead, they should care about their rate of change. I got nervous when I shot through the 170s real quick. I reversed course at 180, got down to 160 and slowly stabilized at 170. I would like to get back down to 160, but all of my changes occured as a result of changing occupation and lifestyle.
Step on the scale once a month or less. Daily changes are meaningless.
Appearance is not important. At 180 I looked fine to most people--thin even. Yet I was gaining all the weight around my middle and getting close to needing new pants. I stand 6'1".
It is entirely possible for you to be the same height and not be overweight at 200 lbs if you have a broader, "endomorph" body type.
Standard disclaimer: IANAMD
A BSD Longhair. :)
Should I trim/shave my beard?
I hope not. In addition to long hair, I wish more people would let their beard grow long.
If the 9 choices you listed on the only options you are considering, then I guess #9 would be best choice because that is the only one of the 9 choices where your hair or beard isn't cut or trimed or shaved. If you choose a healthy diet it can always help. I don't need to lose weight but I'm wanting to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet because I tend to feel better when I eat better. But, I find it difficult to change my eating habits.
If it has to be one of the other eight choices, then I like choice #6 is best, because you can trim the tip of ONLY ONE hair and leave each of all the other hairs and beard hairs long. This way the hair style wouldn't have any noticeable change.
I forgot to mention that the idea of cutting only one hair and keeping the rest of the hairs the same is so you can tell who ever's pressuring you to get a haircut that you got a haircut. If they ask about the hair style still being the same you can say that you only cut ONE hair so you can keep the same hair style.
If you are not wanting to keep the same hair style, then maybe try http://beardcommunity.com/php/phorum/ to look at pictures of many beard and hair styles. When looking at pictures you can find which ideas and styles you like. Choosing a hair style you like is what is most important.
As for a diet, I'm a strong advocate of overall fitness, including diet and exercise. If you do not eat a healthy diet already, I strongly suggest you try, or at least improving your current however you can. Stay away from fads, weight loss only, focus on making changes to your overall habits that you can sustain (cutting out some snacks, eating more vegetables, or wherever you may be lacking). If you're pretty active already with no problems, I'd say don't worry too much about the weight, although most people could stand to lose some.
That's the only opinion I'll voice. As for the hair related questions; it's really up to you.