Breakme

@sourpussoctopus I'm pretty fortunate that she lives around a 40min drive from me. Tomorrow will be #4 from her.

Awesome tattoos!

Day one finished with Emily Rose Murray. Back tomorrow to do the other thigh.

Love the colours in that sleeve.

You aren't alone @polliwog, I had something really similar when I got my first big piece on my outer thigh, I actually had a small anxiety attack and wondered what I had done. I'm pleased to say that the feeling passed in a couple of days, and then I just fell in love with it and started thinking about what I wanted next.

I always thought of it as Neo-traditional as well, or even modern traditional. I have no idea where these people are based compared to where you are, but have a look at these IG accounts (sorry I can't link them here as IG is blocked at my work): Eilotatoo Justinhartmanart - Justin Hartman Thedrowntown - Mike Moses Deadmeat - Nick Keiser Scragpie - Sam Smith Have a bunch of others, but they are based in Australia so probably no good to you.

@sophistre looking really good! Will Greg be doing the rest of your arm also?

Can we perhaps cease with the derogatory tattoo terms?

@SeeSea looking so good!

@soraya I hear you, it would be really nice to have someone/s to be able to talk to about recent tattoos without the usual questions from non-tattooed people like "so why did you get a ....... tattooed on you?" or "so you must really love ........ aye!" We never know who may come into our lives in the future, hopefully we get what we wish for one day :-)

@sophistre the forearms are a bitch aren't they. Don't let it put you off leg tattoos, the swelling and throbbing is so worth it. Yeah, I know how that sounds, and I'm gonna leave it there anyway ;-)

This has been such an interesting read. I feel for everyone who has faced issues with their parents over their tattoos. Some very sound advice in this thread. I feel pretty lucky that my parents have been so great about my tattoos. My stepmum and dad love them, my mum took a bit to come around in the beginning. She told me she didn't know how she felt about the big lady head on my thigh. I explained to her that it was a symbol of my struggle with mental illness and I think she was able to see it in a different light. I also told her that I would be getting more, and that she needed to tell me if she wanted me to let her know about them or not. She took a while to respond to my email, but in the end she came around and is pretty positive towards them. I really thought I'd be having issues with Dad about them, but he's been so good. My mum hasn't seen my arms yet (apart from pics on email) as we live in different countries, so it will be interesting how she reacts in person the next time I go back home.

First training session this morning before work, after having two weeks off due to illness and tattoos. Decided to go hard or go home and smashed out a leg session with some plyometrics thrown in at the end. Ralph almost made an appearance, it was a very close thing. Looking forward to walking tomorrow.

I don't know, but if you find out let me know. My next appointments aren't until mid feb and early march next year and my fiancé called me obsessed when he found out.

Little quacker from Clare Hampshire, pic stolen from her IG. Wraps around to outer forearm.

@Patrick Bateman, cheers for the link, will have a good look at it over the weekend and will take this conversation to the fitness thread. Off to get tattooed!

I wanna know why he can't get tattoos.

I've never even thought about doing them pre gym session. Might give that a go as I get so tight and achy through my hips and quads. I think I almost cried when I first did my IT band, but I really love it now. Feels so good afterwards. Sorry for thread derail!

I love the wipe down with water as well. Never had any issue with the dry wipe either. Had a great foam roller session last night, slept really well and feeling a lot better today.

@SStu it's essentially a self-administered deep tissue massage using a cylindrical piece of firm foam. The foam roller is placed on the floor and you place yourself on it in a variety of positions to target certain muscles and roll back and forth. Hurts like hell at first but over time it hurts less as the deep knots get worked out.

I have another session this Friday, and I'm really hoping it's not going to be the struggle that I think it is. I'm not quite 100% after being so sick last week and am still feeling a bit fatigued. I think I'll do a good foam roller session tonight to help ease my aches.

Wow! Great start @CaitlinBurnett10, good luck with today's session, I'm sure you'll smash it.

I came down with a virus after my last session and have been off work sick the last 4 days, haven't been this sick in years. My last session was a breeze which is weird. I guess it's just one of those things.

I'm going for work by a couple of different tattooers at the moment and have a couple more on my list of who I'd like to get tattooed by, however I like to give them a specific body part on both sides of my body as I have this weird thing for symmetry.

@Raven the only thing I wouldn't recommend to wear is a sports crop, the ones that don't have hooks that are basically one piece of fabric. I stupidly wore a racerback one when getting my shoulder and arm lined, and while it was perfect for the session, getting if off afterwards was another story.