Gym
November 13, 2008 / Thursday
Neglected Muscle Groups
Yikes, tomorrow is Friday and I haven't written all week. Every day has pretty much been get up, go to work, work, work, leave the office between 8 and 9:30 PM, go to the gym, go home, eat something, go to sleep.
Wednesday was upper body day. I learned two things:
(1) I need to alternate chest presses and flys between sessions, not so much for my pecs, but for my biceps; they're not used to working in a mostly extended position. How can I tell? Because I did flys for the first time in weeks and my biceps were really sore the next day.
I guess it's kind of like how I can do squats and lunges to my heart's content, but swimming tires out my glutes and hamstrings because they're not used to working with my legs extended. That reminds me, I should go swimming again this Saturday. Oh, and I should do more bridges, which I finally did start doing more of this week.
(2) I need to do more rotator cuff exercises. I'm lazy, and do them only when I'm rehabilitating my shoulder(s). I'd actually forgotten all about them until my physical therapist started me on the latest variation of forearm exercises, which involve a goodly amount of elbow rotation. I decided to throw in a set of rotator cuff exercises 'cause they're good for me, and found that my rotator cuffs have gotten weaker, lost range of motion, and now hurt/click through the exercise motion. Crap!
So, not much good news from gym land, but it's definitely a good thing to identify weaknesses so I can work getting rid of them. I'm at least glad that I'm still making it to the gym despite work, work, work. I definitely need it, as I unravel pretty quickly without exercise. I suppose there are worse addictions.
November 09, 2008 / Sunday
ROC'n-IT At The MV24hFSS
I finally made it to the new 24hF in Mountain View yesterday. I'd been meaning to go since it opened, which was long enough ago that I don't actually remember when it happened. Thanks to rain on my one bikable day of the week, I finally had time to go check it out.
First, some blog terminology. New Mountain View 24hf: MV24hFSS. Old Mountain View 24hf, which I set foot in once years ago and swore never to visit again: MV24hF. The old one is going away eventually. Good riddance!
But until then, I get to enjoy the shiny new equipment at the MV24hFSS in peace. No, people, don't upgrade until you absolutely have to. It's totally not worth it. Really, stay right where you are.
Most of the equipment was standard 24hF issue brands and models. They did, however, have a series of Hoist Fitness ROC-IT selectorized weight training machines. Your body position shifts as you perform your reps. Not sure how much more effective this is, but it did at least keep me entertained.
That said, I'm sore this morning, but I think it's mostly because the ROC-ITs were novel and thus had me focusing and pushing myself more than usual.
And now, a quick run-down of everything I used, in order. It happened to be an upper body day for me, which worked out well because the ROC-IT line covers all my UB muscle groups, but not my LB ones.
Shoulder Press - I like this better than most shoulder press machines, but I'm really much more of a fan of an arc motion rather than up-down, as I feel that it gives me a fuller range of motion. Sadly, I have yet to find a machine that moves in an arc that fits me. My preference is free weights, but with my left wrist in a state of rebellion, I have to stick with machines until it starts behaving again.
Seated Mid Row - This was, by far, my favorite ROC-IT of the ones I tried. Maybe it's because I like doing rows anyway, but it was kind of fun having my seat go up and down, up and down. Unfortunately, if I didn't bend my legs enough, the machine would max out against the stopper at the end of the rep. Sad to lose that final inch of squeeeeeze.
Chest Press - This felt okay, although I like other chest press machines better. Really, I'd rather do a bench press with a bar, but as with the shoulder press, I'm stuck on machines until my wrist heals.
Biceps Curl - I did a few reps on this and gave up. I don't like biceps exercises with pulleys. Off to the preacher curl machine I went. They have the model I really like (because it fits me and doesn't hurt my wrists) at this gym. Hooray for that.
Seated Dip - I love seated dips, but this one just didn't feel right. I'll be trying out the other dip machines the next time I visit this gym.
Lat Pulldown - I don't like doing lat pulldowns, but I add them to my workout once in a while because I feel I should. This machine at least made it fun enough that I wouldn't mind doing it again. I'm amused that in their website animation of the machine the guy manages to switch handles mid-exercise.
Well, that wasn't as glowing a review of the ROC-ITs as I thought I'd write. I'm still pretty jazzed about them; I think it's a neat idea. Helps a bit with the monotony of weight training.
Afterward, I walked by the pool and found it empty. I couldn't pass up a chance to swim in an empty pool, so I suited up and jumped in. I hadn't been in the water since March, so I was pleased to find that I was not any more panicky in the water than I used to be. I suck more at swimming than I used to; I suppose that's to be expected. And gosh, swimming is hard! My muscles were definitely not used to working that way. I felt it in my glutes, and a bit in my hamstrings, which means I should do this more, as an extended leg glutes and hams workout is exactly what my physical therapist wants me to do.
There's a swimsuit spinner in this locker room. Hooray! I wish they had one of those at the SR24hF.
Speaking of Super Sports, I noticed they opened one up in San Mateo in the Windy City Pizza mall. I'll have to go check it out before the folks from the old location on El Camino and 5th upgrade their way over there.
October 29, 2008 / Wednesday
Sword-Bearing Grandma
Lots of interesting people in the Group X room at the EA24hF this morning. There was the dancing older Asian lady, which isn't all that unusual; lots of people bring their radio and practice their routines in the nice open space there. She was fun to watch, though. I left to do some sets, then came back to find another older Asian lady in there. This one was standing in the middle of the room waving a sword around. Yes, a sword, complete with golden handle and red tassels. I watched her for a bit, wondered if she was making up those moves on her own, and then was distracted by a guy who came in and started doing yoga. Now, this in itself is nothing special, but he started doing his yoga around the room, step by step, pose by pose. No mat required!
There were other people, too, but they were boring.
Since Ice Oasis is ignoring me, I will not be playing Thursday night hockey tomorrow, and therefore decided to get a nice hard LB workout in today. (Unfortunately, that might hose tomorrow's plans for final-chance-before-we-stop-saving-daylight after-work dirt this year.)
While sitting on the Leg Extension machine, I had an epiphany. There's this feature called ROM, you see, and for years I stared at the sticker on the machine and wondered what the heck it was. As it turns out, I just never took the time to think about it. Today, I took a good hard look at the swinging arm assembly, figured out how it worked, and realized, oh, it's not Read-Only Memory, it's Range Of Motion! For the first time, I used the extension limit, which turned out to be a great idea, because it let me really squeeeeeze my quads without worrying about hyperextension. It burrrned. As it should!
And tomorrow, I won't be able to walk.
October 27, 2008 / Monday
Wrong Side, Wrist!
I thought I was feeling pretty good today, until I went to the gym. There, I felt pain in my:
- right glute
- right shoulder
- right tricep
- right bicep
- right forearm
- ...
- left wrist
Nothing major, just felt off. Lifted a little less than usual. What's up, left wrist? I think it's unhappy from too much hockey in Colorado. The fix is probably to rest it, but I'm finally excited about hockey again and wanting to get more ice time. Maybe it's time to throw the wrist wraps back into my hockey bag.
05:18 PM | Gym:Injuries| Comments (0)
August 01, 2008 / Friday
Everything Feels Wrong, Wrong, Wrong
Went to the gym this afternoon for a UB set. Didn't feel *too* much weaker than usual, and managed not to pull anything. (I'll know for sure when I wake up tomorrow.) Saturday, I'll go for an easy bike ride, followed by a hockey clinic on Sunday. Hoping to feel more in the swing of things after that.
I hate having to take baby steps. I hate losing ground. And feeling out of shape sucks.
This week, everything sucks. Not exercising has me feeling totally off kilter. I'm easily frustrated, and I react to that frustration by wanting to throw things and cry. As if that's gonna solve the problem!
How long before I start feeling useful again?
March 13, 2008 / Thursday
Cramming At The Gym
After doing nothing but work and eat the last four days, I finally made myself go to the gym. I figured since tomorrow's a big meeting day, I wouldn't have time to go again this week, so I did a double. Lower, then upper. If I've done it right, by this time tomorrow I'll be too sore to move.
November 26, 2007 / Monday
Ow, My Butt, And Other Blah Blah
This is pretty lame: I pulled a muscle in my butt on Thanksgiving. I don't recall how exactly I hurt it (I can only assume that it happened during my Mt. Hamilton cheat ride), but it's been slow to heal. No ultimate, no climbing. Boo.
I did, however, decide that my butt was in good enough condition for a visit to the gym. I was immediately proven wrong by an unhappy twinge as I lightly trotted after the basketball during warmups. It made for an interesting session, as today was lower body day, and half the exercises I usually do involve the glutes in one way or another.
I adjusted by lifting lighter weights at slower reps. A five count up, and five more down. It was kind of nice to change things up some; going slow really made me focus on form.
Afterward, I hopped in the pool for a few laps. I shared a lane with a lady doing water aerobics, and we chatted briefly before I left. I'd noticed that she was able to assume a sitting position and keep her entire head out of the water with almost no effort. I asked her how she did it. "I have big boobs," she said, "and they make great flotation devices." Well, that explains a lot!
Finally, I would like to proclaim my extreme dislike for all the women who gab gab GAB on their cell phones in the locker room about he said she said inanity! Today's gabber liked to repeat herself. "Like, OHMIGOD, I was SO LIVID! I was SO MAD! Ugh, I was LIVID!" Livid? I'll show you livid! *smack*
[ Update: Forgot to mention, basketball was awesome; everything went swish! Swimming didn't suck either; I managed to breathe every three strokes, right, left, right, left, and so on... at least until I screwed up, glugged, and had to start over. ]
05:39 PM | Gym:Injuries:Water| Comments (3)
November 15, 2007 / Thursday
Group Lameness
Woke up early (and close) enough to make it up to San Ramon for a 9 AM BOSU class that I've been meaning to check out. I'm not generally a fan of group classes, but I figured this one might be fun since it involves half balance balls. Boy, was I wrong! It sucked just as much as I imagined all those stupid aerobics classes that I've never been able to bring myself to go to would be. Up, down, up, down. 4, 3, 2, 1! Come on, work it! I left after half an hour. I should have left after fifteen minutes, which is when I decided the class was lame. I'm not ever going back to a rah rah group class. Not even for the color changing lights and disco ball.
November 09, 2007 / Friday
Gym N Swim
Went to the gym for the 5th day in a row this afternoon. I think that's a new record. I guess I've never had enough workout variety to warrant this many consecutive visits until now. That, and I'm trying to make up for a lazy October. I think I gained a pound a week last month. This is what happens when the weather gets cold.
Did an upper body workout, then hopped in the pool for a few laps. That's right, I swam two days in a row. Go me! I brought my Zoomers and hand paddles this time and focused mostly on flutter kicking. I felt a lot more stable with the increased speed, but I still find the air thing distracting. I'm wondering if I should bring a snorkel to get the arms and legs moving properly, then ditch it once the swimming motion becomes second nature. Yes, I dared to say "second nature". Skating was difficult at some point, too. Now I'd rather skate than walk. Someday, I hope to look forward to swimming like I do skating. Ooh, then I could play underwater hockey!
Tomorrow, a rest day. The groin is unhappy. I guess it didn't like all that froggie kicking yesterday. Hurry up and heal! We have a game on Sunday!
05:44 PM | Gym:Water| Comments (2)
November 07, 2007 / Wednesday
Spin Spin, Spin Harder
Went to lunch hour spin class today. I'd tried a spin class once before, but that was years ago, before I was in any sort of aerobic shape, and it made me want to die. Today's class went much better. I brought my cycling shoes, clipped in, and got a pretty good workout climbing imaginary hills. We did a lot of work standing, which was good because I tend not to spend much time out of the saddle on my real bikes -- it hurts! On the spin bike, I didn't fear bonking and falling over, so I just went with it. Push, push, push. Those bikes actually feel pretty good clipped in. I think I've found a good off-ice workout for rainy season. I'm hoping this will keep my knees in cycling shape so they don't hurt from overuse when outdoor riding weather returns in the spring. (Not that it's gone yet, but I know it won't be here forever.) Maybe I'll even be in good enough riding shape for Sea Otter next April...
Another note on the SR24hF: they provide workout and bath towels. While this is common for most gyms, it's almost unheard of at the 24hFs around these parts. Their showers are decent for a 24hF, too. I hope they manage to maintain the place over time. Or at least until I don't work in San Ramon anymore. ;)
01:23 PM | Bicycle:Gym| Comments (0)
October 31, 2007 / Wednesday
Elliptical Schmiptical
Went back to the SR24hF for a lower body workout this afternoon. I usually hop on a cardio machine of some sort for a quick warmup before opening with leg presses, but today I didn't have to. Instead, I warmed up shooting baskets in the courts beyond those machines. Best. Warm-up. Ever. I even remember how to shoot a basketball. Swish? Yesh. Woot.
I remembered to scout the squat racks for BH. I regret to report that they have only two free squat racks, and two Smith machines. Weak, huh?
In happier equipment news, I got to try out a new straight leg calf machine. It's hard to describe the machine; suffice it to say that it was super smooth and gave a great stretch on every rep. A+++!!!!! Would use again!!
Next visit, the pool!
October 30, 2007 / Tuesday
San Ramon 24hF
Visited the 24hF near my new office this afternoon. I'd hoped that my $99 a year all clubs membership would get me into the San Ramon Super Sport uber club, but it was not to be. Given that I tend to work out midafternoon or not at all, I decided to upgrade. The damage: a $40 enrollment fee and about $30 monthly. That's a lot for one gym, given what I'm used to paying for "all" gyms! I have to say, though, that place is pretty nice.
Where do I begin? There's the pool, which is bright, clean, and naturally lit during the day. They have a pretty decent looking spin room, which may come in handy when it gets rainy. There are machines everywhere; more cardio and strength training than I'll ever manage to experience. I'm actually looking forward to an LB day there soon; they have a few calf machines I've never tried, and I love calf exercises. They have what look to be rubberized kettlebells, my favorite ab bench that I haven't used since my last visit to the SM24hF, and bars for me to do oblique twists, which I haven't done since my last visit to the SC24hF. There are two full size basketball courts with plenty of side nets, and they provide the balls. There's a super useful stretching cage that, quite amusingly, looks like a medieval torture device. They have a Jamba bar and a self-serve Starbucks machine that takes credit cards. And, finally (well, not really finally, but I'm about done with today's list of things I found worth mentioning), there is club lighting in their Group X room, complete with disco ball.
I'm going to have to lay out a gym schedule in Outlook. I'm aiming for a day each of UB, LB, and pool. Come to think of it, I should do two pool days a week; I really need the practice. I should also find some time for basketball and spin. Darn, I'm out of weekdays.
September 05, 2007 / Wednesday
Oh, Tasty Toast, I Love You So
Ride to gym.
Lift, lower, repeat.
Ride back to work.
Chug milk.
And then, my favoritest part of the entire afternoon...
Enjoy cinnamon raisin grainy toast with peanut butter and sugar.
04:11 PM | Food:Gym| Comments (3)
August 24, 2007 / Friday
24 Hour Slummin'
Today's brief visit to the Decathlon Club for my body fat test reminded me of the difference between my gym and a nice gym...
Me, before the test: I need a towel to take with me to the dunk tank.
A pile of freshly folded warm towels greets me as I enter the locker room.
Me, getting into the shower: Darn, I forgot to bring shampoo and conditioner.
Wall mounted soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers appear before me.
Me, getting out of shower: My bathing suit's soaking wet.
A swimsuit spinner whirs from the hot tub area adjacent to the showers.
Me, walking out of the shower area with my dry swimsuit: I wish I had a Q-Tip.
A giant jar of Q-Tips sits at the entrance of the next room.
Me, swabbing my ears: Darn, I forgot to bring a brush.
What's this next to the Q-Tips? A jar of combs!
Too bad this place costs as much in a month as I pay in a year.
August 02, 2007 / Thursday
To The Woman On The Scale In The Locker Room...
Pulling your bra up past your boobs isn't going to make you weigh any less.
Angry Supervillain
I'm a lot stronger when I'm mad. Teres major pull be damned.
03:40 PM | Gym:Injuries| Comments (4)
June 26, 2007 / Tuesday
Sitting Is Hard
That is, when the only thing available for sitting is a wall. I seem to have hit something of a wall sit wall. My original intent was to start with a 60 second wall sit and increase that time by about 10 seconds each session. Instead, I find myself waiting for the 60th second and immediately quitting. Quitting, me! Granted, my legs are shaking and burning by then, but stopping at 60 seconds is a conscious decision on my part. It's not that I don't have enough endurance for more; I simply haven't had the willpower.
Next time, 70 seconds. Icandoit!
I considered closing my eyes and holding the position until I physically couldn't do it anymore, but that's probably overkill, and would result in my not being able to do anything useful for a few days. Hrm, scratch that idea.
In happier news, I finally got a 2.5 to 3.5 mm headset adapter that works with my phone so I could use my nice earbuds instead of the crappy sounding, ill fitting ones that came in the box. Much better!
June 14, 2007 / Thursday
Frequent Flyer
At the gym earlier today, my neighbor on the sit up benches looked over and said, "Hey, are you a frequent flyer?"
"Uh, this past month I've been," I replied. I wondered whether I was emitting detectable radiation from my many recent flights.
He went on to ask me a question about carry on bags, something having to do with his friend and some bags he gave her and whether I thought she'd be able to bring both on the plane with her. I answered his questions as best as I could.
"Thanks for having the answer," he finished, "You look like a frequent flyer!"
I do? Me, with my bright orange sneakers, lime green shorts, Flickr T-shirt, fading purple hair, gigantic leg bruise, and forearm scrapes? I must have been emitting radiation!
And he must have had a Geiger counter.
In other wackiness, during my seated calf raises I looked over and saw a woman at a bench with plates on either end of the bar. "Holy crap!" I thought, "That woman could crush me! Where does she hide all that muscle?" Seconds later, she started her next set ... of dumbbell rows. Phew.
Since I hate leg extensions, I traded them for a minute long wall sit. Why a minute? No reason, other than the fact that it seemed like a nice round number to me. My legs were shaking through most of it, but I kept my eye on the clock until I had completed the sit. "Think Cummo! Think Cummo!" I repeated to myself. Ow, that was painful.
But I did it. :)
May 10, 2007 / Thursday
D'oh
The plan: Meet for school, then go to the gym.
What actually happened: Met for school, then ate a pint of ice cream.
Mango Zambeedo, so tasty!
12:59 AM | Gym:Ice Cream:School| Comments (2)
April 23, 2007 / Monday
Turbulence
Today is sucking in every possible way, and right now I want nothing more than to beat the crap out of something. I went to the gym just now and set a couple new lifting records, but left feeling no better.
Why doesn't my gym have punching bags?
[ Deleted: Detailed rant about today's multifaceted suckage. ]
I realize it's all about perception, but my glass half full abilities seem to be MIA today.
April 17, 2007 / Tuesday
Make That Three Cookies
SoopahViv: i'm so bummed. i had a 3pm meeting
BH: why bummed?
SoopahViv: 'cause now i don't want to go to the gym
SoopahViv: gets crowded starting at 4
SoopahViv: i'm gonna eat a cookie instead
04:27 PM | Food:Gym| Comments (0)
April 07, 2007 / Saturday
Pink Camo Girl To The Rescue!
It was rainy and sad out, so instead of riding my bike I went to the gym.
The gym was gloomy and sad, too. I think they replaced all their lightbulbs with fluorescents.
I haven't done military presses since I tweaked my shoulder a couple Fridays ago. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I don't want to do too much before I'm sure it's fully healed. I've been doing front raises and upright rows instead; bailing on those seems a lot less dangerous than bailing on a military press. Today, however, I decided to return to presses, and did just under three full sets of them with a barbell. I started off with just the bar, added 5 pounds, and then another 5 to do my 3rd set at 55 pounds. I completed only 8 reps of my usual 10, but given that 55 divides into more than 25 pounds per side (my dumbbell high), I'm fairly satisfied.
I did my 3rd set of dips at 70 pounds, a 10 pound increase. This may be due to to equipment variation, though, since I was at the Sv24hF today. I usually go to the one near work.
Slight progress on bicep curls. Did an initial set of 8 at 22.5 pounds. Every 2.5 pounds counts! Every rep, too. Eight is better than zero.
And now, a recount of a funny little incident for those of you who have bothered to read this far.
I rescued a guy who got stuck under a bench press bar today. Remember how I said I try to leave guys in the weight room alone because it's ego deflating to get gym advice or help from a girl? Well not today. This guy there was squeezing out bench presses, tried for one more, and just couldn't make it back up to peg level. I was doing bench presses of my own nearby and had kind of expected that to happen, so by the time he looked at me in desperation with the bar on his chest, I was already halfway over to help. He seemed all embarrassed afterward. I guess I would be too, if I were a guy who had just been rescued by a girl wearing pink camo. Hey, at least it wasn't pink ponies!
Why did I expect him to need rescue? Because aside from the fact that he kept pushing for one more rep (which I find admirable), I noticed that the benches at the Sv24hF don't have lower pegs, so if you can't bring the bar all the way back up, you're out of luck.
I was weak on the bench press and pushing for one more rep several times today, too. I'm glad I didn't need rescue. Given karma and all, help would probably have come in the form of a displaced Marina Girl.
April 04, 2007 / Wednesday
Will I Be Able To Bend My Arms If This Continues?
I can do a set of dips at ~60 pounds now. Biceps still curling their usual 20.
Yay, darn, and gah.
April 03, 2007 / Tuesday
Lots Of Little Things
Lots of little things in terms of progress at the gym. Not really in a writing mood, so you'll have to deal with the clunky paragraphs.
Squats: Finished my 3rd set of squats at my previous high of 90 pounds, then threw on another 10 and did 5 more reps at 105. They were difficult, but solid.
Deadlifts: Did my 3rd set of deadlifts at 90 pounds, 5 more than last time. They were also difficult, but I managed to keep form. Well, except on the last rep, when I snuck a sideways peek at the mirror to make sure I was keeping form. The only thing that broke form was my neck, though, so hooray for me.
Leg curls: Added leg curls to make sure I cover the full range of hamstring-related motion. I love deadlifts, but I felt it was incomplete to be working my hamstrings only with legs extended.
Hamstring flexibility: My hamstrings are more flexible now than they've ever been. It's still not much compared to what a lot of other people can do, but the few inches of progress I've made were hard-earned, and have made a big difference in how my legs feel overall.
I'm most happy about the flexibility. Lifting is easy compared to finding the patience, both immediate and ongoing, to stretch as much as I need to.
Off to drink some milk. I hear it's good for me.
March 25, 2007 / Sunday
Sunday Night Gymming
Went to the Sv24hF for a rare Sunday night session. (No hockey, might as well work the legs.) Did a set of squats at 95 pounds that felt balanced and controlled. Better than last time, which felt less smooth than I wanted it to. Also did a set of deadlifts at 85 pounds that felt pretty good. Progress, and progress!
Tried a "lower myself with one leg from a bench" move, described here as "Single-Leg Squat". I could barely do one. I guess that gives me something to work on.
Speaking of which, what exactly am I working toward? Am I lifting simply to see how much I can lift? I used to, but these days I'm working to strenghten my aching knees, to ride faster, higher, and farther, and, of course, to reach the puck before you do.
Yes, you. You, and the four other yous who want the puck too. ;)
March 21, 2007 / Wednesday
Losing Track
Okay, maybe I do need a spreadsheet or notebook to keep track of what I'm lifting these days. Back when I used the same amount of weight every session it was easy to remember, but now, not so easy. I accidentally started my squats too light and got tired before I could work my way up to last week's high. Woops. At least I remembered that I wanted to increase the weight on deadlifts. Did my final set at 80 pounds, which felt surprisingly good.
Another reason to keep track of what I'm lifting in a different (and preferably portable) format: I had intended to try for 75 pounds today, not 80.
Next week, I intend do a set of deadlifts at 85 pounds. Don't be surprised if I come back and report 90.
March 20, 2007 / Tuesday
Arm Imbalance
I've long known about my left-right arm imbalance (my right arm is noticably larger and stronger), but it looks like I'm about to add bicep-tricep imbalance to the list. Made more progress today on assisted dips, adding another 10 pounds for ~50 total (it's my weight minus 70, so it's not exact). I did only one set at the new high and found it difficult enough to oomph the last few reps, so I'll probably stay at that high for at least another session or two. As usual, made no progress on bicep curls, not because my biceps couldn't do it, but because my wrists can't support any more weight without pain. If this trend continues my arms are going to be all out of whack. What to do? Is there a bicep exercise that doesn't involve the wrists? I'm all ears (and, if this continues, triceps).
March 14, 2007 / Wednesday
So I Went To The Gym Today
Yup, another boring gym post. You won't miss anything if you stop reading now.
Went to the gym for some UB exercises. Warmed up, headed for the dumbbells, and didn't see a single 15 or 20 pound weight on the rack. Saw a pair of 25 pounders, figured I could probably manage a set with them, and did so. Cool, I'm back up to my previous consistent (as opposed to all-time) high ... sort of. A pair of 20 pounders then appeared and I did my 2nd and 3rd sets with those.
Bumped up the bench presses by another 5 pounds to a whopping 75 total pounds, and that was for only one of my sets. I'm over the whole bar dropping on my head, neck, and chest thing, but now I find myself worrying about my shoulders ripping out of their sockets. Yes, strange, I know.
Added another 10 pounds to my assisted dips and actually did a really good set at the new weight. If I feel good enough next time I'll start 10 pounds heavier and creep up to another 10 past today's high.
I told you it was boring.
March 13, 2007 / Tuesday
Wimpy Gimpy Cure
Dear Guy at the Gym Doing Lopsided Bench Presses,
If you take a moment to look at the bar you're lifting, you'll notice it has several symmetrical smooth grooves between the crosshatched grippable areas. Use these as guides for hand placement. That way, people won't look at your imbalanced bar and think you have a wimpy gimpy arm.
I'd have told you this in person, but since you're a guy it probably would have been a crushing blow to your ego, so I'm posting it here for you to find when you finally tire of that not-so-fresh unbalanced feeling and decide to search the internet for "lopsided bench press" or "wimpy gimpy arm".
A touch OCD when it comes to balance in the weight room,
Viv
• • •
In other news, I'm back up to 95 pounds on the squat (yay, quarters, way less silly looking than dimes on the squat bar), although I can't remember whether I was squatting 95 or 115 when I stopped. 105, maybe? In any case, I'll need at least another session at that weight to make sure it's not too heavy for me to do properly. In better news, I'm back up to my previous high of 70 lbs on the deadlift. It felt pretty good, so I think I'll go for 75 next time.
Perhaps it'd be better to track these numbers in a spreadsheet instead. Then again, I'm not really serious about being able to lift a lot, and I expect these numbers to level off in the near future. I guess the blog's as good a place as any to record progress if it's just for a few weeks.
Tomorrow, UB!
04:34 PM | Gym:PSA/NTS| Comments (0)
March 09, 2007 / Friday
Gym Omm
At the height of my gym laziness, I could finish my workouts in well under an hour. Now that I'm doing things properly and stretching afterward, my gym visits take almost an hour an a half. The additional time is worth it, though. I know that I'm getting more out of my exercises, and the forced downtime when I stretch is really good for my head. There's not much else that can get me to stop, calm down, relax, and just ... chill.
March 08, 2007 / Thursday
DOMS
Yesterday:
SoopahViv: dude my legs KILL
SoopahViv: KILL
SoopahViv: gonna DIE
BH: the worst part's over
BH: or is it ..
BH: DOMS!
BH: sometimes it's more sore on day 2
SoopahViv: nah for me it gets really sore and then subsides
SoopahViv: standard is 24h
SoopahViv: but if it's bad it's like 12h
Today:
SoopahViv: omg doms OW
SoopahViv: OWOWOW
SoopahViv: saaave me
It hurts to be wrong.
March 07, 2007 / Wednesday
Rotator Cuffs and Screaming Pain
Fortunately, the two are not related.
Went to the gym to do some rotator cuff exercises this afternoon. Mainly, it was an excuse to get myself there so I could stretch my legs. Somehow, stretching just doesn't warrant its own trip. I finished my sets and began my stretches. My calves felt sore. Strange, why didn't I notice that earlier? Oh, I know. It was masked by the screaming pain in my quads, glutes, and hamstrings. I guess yesterday's workout was a success.
The tradeoff? No pedaling to work today, and no badminton tonight. Waah.
March 06, 2007 / Tuesday
Squats and Deadlifts
After a succesful switch to free weights for my upper body exercises, I decided to do the same with some of my lower body exercises as well.
A discussion yesterday with BH reminded me of the existence of the Smith machine, which I used for a while after I got too lazy to do real squats, and before I got lazy enough to switch completely to leg press machines. The last time I did real squats on a regular basis, I was probably still in college.
Today, I headed to the gym intending to do Smith machine squats. When I got there, however, I decided I might as well do them right, with a barbell. I started with a slow and controlled set with just the bar. It felt all right, so I did two more sets the same way, adding 20 pounds each time. I could easily handle the weight, and when I finished I figured I'd let today stand as a gentle return to squatting and add more weight the next time. I racked the weights and walked to the next station.
Once there, I almost collapsed into a heap of twitching rubbery leg. Holy crap, my quads were totally wigging out! (Wig wig wig wig wig ...) I guess all that slow and controlled lifting wasn't so easy after all.
I stretched a little, did the rest of my leg exercises, and finished with some deadlifts. I'd been doing deadlifts on and off for the last few years, but not in the last few months. I wondered how they would feel with my hamstrings as tight as they are these days. The verdict: not wonderful, but not terrible, either. I should alternate these with leg curls from now on.
I spent a lot of time stretching my legs afterward, paying extra attention to my twitchy quads and tight hamstrings. Also, since I've been having some recent trouble with adductor (okay, fine, groin) strains playing hockey, I spent some time doing seated V stretches. A groin and hamstring two-for-one. Double the pain! I know you're jealous.
I hope I'm not too sore to pedal to work tomorrow.
March 05, 2007 / Monday
Preacher Curls
It's been a while.
They still hurt my wrist.
Oh well.
March 01, 2007 / Thursday
Little Girly Bench Presses
I can barely remember the last time I did a bench press. It feels like it's been years. I'm sure I've done a few here and there since college, but the last place I can picture hoisting a barbell above me was at the Cal RSF. RSF. Recreational Sports Facility. It took me a little while to remember what it was called.
I never really liked bench presses. The bar always felt awkward, and I didn't like the thought of having that bar crush my chest, head, or windpipe (eek!) if anything went wrong. I liked the extra stretch I got from dumbbells and machines, so I stuck mainly with those instead.
Since I'm now abstaining from machines, my press options have mostly been eliminated. I did dumbbell presses last week, but I get bored easily, and I didn't want to do them again this week.
That left me with bench presses. I hopped on, warmed up with an empty bar, and found the bar to be much heavier than I remember. Great, I'm a bench press weakling now. I did my sets at 55 pounds, which equates to little 5 pounders on each side. Look at me, with my little girly weights! The last time I remember benching I was lifting 85 or 90. I was working my way toward a quarter on each side. What happened? Why did I stop? I got a job. I changed gyms, and with it, my routine.
Wait, what was the point of this post? I guess I'm shocked at how much bench strength I've lost. It's not as if I've been sitting on my ass the last few years. Bah!
February 23, 2007 / Friday
Dumbbells Are My Friend
Given that my disappointing upper body workout on Tuesday resulted in half a day of mild pain while my much more satisfying lower body workout on Wednesday has left me in 2 days (and counting) now of severe pain, I decided that the Tuesday upper body workout was of unacceptable quality. I returned to the gym this afternoon to do it right: No weight machines, free weights only, and a pulley station for seated rows.
I'd switched to machines out of laziness sometime last year, which made things worse because it allowed me to relax on form. Machines allow you to shove and yank on handles without paying attention to what you're really doing. Do that with free weights, and you'll likely hurt yourself.
And so, with the threat of hurting myself with poor form, lack of focus, or the selection of too heavy a weight, I gave this week's upper body workout another go. One set of military presses later, I realized why weight training has recently become so boring for me: Pushing and pulling on machines is for zombies! It requires no skill, coordination, or focus whatsoever. I'd forgotten how much balance is required to properly lift a pair of dumbbells; those hunks of metal sure don't balance on their own.
As an added perk, I got to stare at myself in the mirror instead of at people on exercise bikes smearing snot on themselves. Me, not smearing snot. I'd much rather look at that. Hello, me.
Hooray, it's the weekend. What better way to start it than with every muscle group sore?
February 22, 2007 / Thursday
Walking Funny
I hereby declare last night's lower body workout a success. Ow.
Skip The Kleenex, Save A Tree?
For two nights in a row, I've made it to the gym during prime evening hours. (Go me!) Tonight, I was treated to a show of vigorous nose rubbing. "What is that guy doing?" I wondered, until I figured out that he was smearing snot all over his hand and face. Gross.
Just wanted to share. You're welcome.
February 20, 2007 / Tuesday
Just Call Me Weakling
Since December 5th, I've been to the gym to do my usual routine a whopping 2 times, including tonight. Both times, it was to squeeze in a quick set of upper body exercises. This pathetic gym schedule has not served me well; I noticed a significant decrease in strength tonight. I know that sometimes the body just feels off and can't lift as much, but I was a full machine plate down on every exercise. Yuck.
Do I blame school, or do I blame me?
I will blame neither. I'll simply try to make time to go a little more often. Say, twice a week: once for upper body and once for lower body exercises.
Speaking of lower body exercises, I have a not-so-sneaky suspicion that my mysterious cycling and scuba knee pain is due to the fact that I have not done a lower body workout since December 2nd, and my now-weaker leg muscles simply don't like having to kick and pedal so damned much.
I should probably stretch more, too. My hamstrings always feel tight these days.
Here's something of note: I actually made myself go to the gym after my school meeting tonight, during prime time/crazy crowd hours. I braved the crowds for you, body! Now be grateful and stop hurting.
January 31, 2007 / Wednesday
Mmm ... Gymmm
First time in over 8 weeks!
My upper body is going to be very sore tomorrow.
Whoo, that's gonna feel good.
November 28, 2006 / Tuesday
Aquatic Beefcake
Sounds like a good name for a band.
Went to the gym for a late Monday night swim. It was emptier than usual; perhaps people prefer to wait until after the Tuesday morning cleaning. Personally, I like the week-old (yeah, probably not really but you know what I mean) water. It's a lot less cloudy than the freshly cleaned stuff.
I tried out my new hand paddles today. They really make me slow down so that I'm pushing water for propulsion instead of just pulling my hand through it. I likes. The guy in the lane next to mine asked about them, so I let him try them out for a couple laps. He likes too.
I finally worked a bit on breathing on my left side. I know I'm doing it wrong because I find myself too deep in the water afterward. On the other hand, I'm at least able to get a left sided breath in here and there, which is progress since the last time I tried.
At around 11:45, Mr. Perfectly Sculpted Beefcake (WfB, where were yoU?) strutted in in a Speedo. He hopped into the pool wearing weighted shoes, holding water resistance "dumbbells" in his hands, and started jogging up and down one of the lanes. Huh, interesting.
After completing my 200 yards, I tried some treading in the whoppingly deep 4 1/2 foot section of the pool. Still bobbing. Gosh, that's hard work! I eventually tired of it and got out.
I'd been avoiding eye contact with Mr. Beefcake while I was in the water because I didn't want to get distracted and drown. He'd been trying to catch my attention since his grand entrance, so I glanced in his direction as I headed toward the women's locker room. Sure enough, he was watching, and flashed a "Hey baby, how you doin'?" smile my way.
For the record, it doesn't suck to get smiled at by a beefcake in a Speedo.
I have to say, though, it was a little disconcerting. I expect to see that stuff in calendars and muscle mags. 3D? Real life? Hello? Are you real? Maybe I should have gone over and checked.
*poke*
12:08 AM | Gym:Water| Comments (4)
November 22, 2006 / Wednesday
Crap, That Was Muscle Weight
Boo. Went to the gym and did my first lower body work in almost two months. My legs are definitely weaker than they were the last time I tried to run through these exercises. I've been really bad about weight training since then, mainly because I have so many other activities (swimming, scuba, etc.) going on. The few times I've made it to the gym, I've worked upper body muscles; I reasoned that my lower body does more work on a day to day basis, and has to work harder than my upper body when I play hockey. Different kind of hard, I know, and this sure is evidence of such.
I'm pretty sure that my reduced ice cream intake is a factor in my recent mass reduction, but I wonder how much of it is due to lost leg muscle. Probably a lot, since leg muscles are big and heavy. Now that my swimming and scuba lessons are over, I should have time to work on strengthening them again.
Speaking of swimming, I hopped in the pool after hitting the weights and swam 200 yards, mostly freestyle. I was able to complete each length without touching pool bottom, even though I had to flip and/or switch to breaststroke on a few of them. Phew, what a workout!
10:13 AM | Gym:Water| Comments (0)
September 27, 2006 / Wednesday
Buck-ack?
It's been a while since my last public service announcement ...
If you're looking to hide and/or draw attention away from your scrawny little chicken legs, pulling your extra long white tube socks up to your knees isn't a very good way to do it.
You can thank the guy I saw at the gym today for this.
05:56 PM | Gym:PSA/NTS| Comments (0)
September 14, 2006 / Thursday
Membership Membership
My gym membership card has been missing for a week. I've spent the last few days looking in all reasonable places for it: my gym bag, my gym clothes, my car, the floor of my room. No luck.
I went to the gym this afternoon and asked if anyone had turned in my card. No luck there, either. I asked for a replacement card, knowing full well that I'd find my missing card as soon as I replaced it. I paid a $10 replacement fee and continued to the locker room.
I changed, took a couple steps, and wondered what was wrong with my shoe. Nothing, of course, aside from the fact that my old membership card was inside.
My theory that the quickest way to reappear a disappeared item is to replace it continues to hold.
July 12, 2006 / Wednesday
Gym Squid
As I pulled into the parking lot at the gym this afternoon, I saw a guy tentatively ride up on a new used 929 (it still had a dealer plate) wearing nothing but shorts, a tank top, sneakers, and a helmet. He parked by the door, and as I approached he was dismounting and getting his wallet out of the rear seat. He kept looking at me with an expression that screamed, "Acknowledge me and my cool guy sportbike, pleeeeease!" At first, I purposely didn't, because I think n00bs riding liter bikes with no gear are big fat stupidos (he kinda looked like one anyway), but then I felt bad for him and gave him a smile, which resulted in a glowingly happy look of, "Oh my god I'm so cool she loves me and my bike yesssss!" But then he wouldn't stop staring at me in the gym, which kind of made me ew, so maybe I should frown instead of smile at icky squids from now on.
04:53 PM | Gym:Motorcycle| Comments (2)
June 16, 2006 / Friday
(Gym Day == Car Day) No More!
Riding my bicycle between work and the gym seems to be a great way to save gas, burn a few extra calories, and eliminate my usual snoring boring warmup on the elliptical. Plus, with my new curb-hopping skillz (LOL!) I can cut through parking lot barriers on the ride back and return to work in just about the same amount of time as it takes in my car.
I think this just might stick ...
05:02 PM | Bicycle:Gym| Comments (0)
June 13, 2006 / Tuesday
Gym Therapy
After a 3 week hiatus, I finally returned to the gym this afternoon. Getting there wasn't easy. It's always when I need it most that I have the most trouble motivating myself to do it. I almost turned back on my way there, and it's only a few blocks from work. Yes, I've headed for the gym and turned back before, more times than I'd like to admit. I've even set out for the gym and ended up detouring for food instead.
But today I made it. And it helped. A lot. And not just because I was feeling like a lardball.
It helped because I'm stressed about school, and exercise gives me a physical outlet for that stress. It helped because I'm overthinking myself today, and lifting makes me calmly focus on something else. It helped because I'm not feeling so hot right now, and being on the receiving end of a few smiles from the gym hottie of the day made me feel a little better.
All of that doesn't mean that in my post-gym state I'm now instantly less lardy, that I have any less schoolwork, that my mind is now clear, or that I look any different. But I sure did enjoy that reprieve.
April 21, 2006 / Friday
Magenta Man Returns
Only this time he wasn't wearing magenta. Today's leotard sported 8" wide orange-red (think Crayola) and white stripes.
April 14, 2006 / Friday
Wimpy Left Bicep
Despite the big (and somewhat painful) bruise on my right bicep, it still outcurls the left one.
What do you have to say for yourself, left bicep?
Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!
April 13, 2006 / Thursday
Magenta Leotard
There was a guy at the gym today wearing nude pantyhose and a magenta leotard.
Yes, you read that correctly. Guy. Nude pantyhose. Magenta leotard.
It actually took me a little while to confirm the nude pantyhose. At first I just thought he had really smooth legs.
Pantyhose confirmed, I started to wonder how he was actually pulling off the leotard thing in public, since, as we know, men and spandex don't mix.
I glanced over, but didn't see anything. Puzzling. Did he have everything tucked back??
He moved on to bench presses. I found myself across from him on the seated calf raise machine. (NOT on purpose, I'd like to note. I just do my routine in a certain order.) He was busy pressing, so instead of just glancing I took a good look. Nothing. Smoother than smooth. Whoa.
A little while later I saw him leave. He had taken a shower and changed back into his work clothes. Slacks and a button down shirt. He looked like any other guy you'd see at the office.
Now I'm going to wonder about every other guy I see at the office.
February 14, 2006 / Tuesday
Weeknight Workout at the Sv24hF
Yes, I'm sick, but I felt pretty decent just after 10PM, and since I was antsy from being at home all day I decided to stop being a sniffly lardass and go to the gym. Off to the Sunnyvale 24hF (henceforth referred to as the Sv24hF) I went.
Usually, people at the Sv24hF just do their thing and leave. This may be because I usually go during less crowded times ... so I can do my thing and leave.
It wasn't super busy tonight, but still busier than usual. Someone from work who recognized me came up and introduced himself. He looked familiar. Turns out he works in the building I go to for lunch every day. Cool.
Less cool was the guy who came up and introduced himself right after that. Who works out with business cards in their pocket? And hangs out near the water fountain to say goodbye every time I go to get a drink? Yes, I'll remember you, all right. You're the overenthusiastically creepy guy whom I'll probably have to see the next time I decide to work out at this hour on a weeknight.
Please, work, be less busy so I can go to the gym in the afternoons again.
Also tonight, I saw someone who looked like one of Aaron's friends from dinner last week. I didn't sit very close to him at dinner, though, so I wasn't sure if it was really him. I thought about asking if he was so-and-so, but I didn't want to be "that girl who approaches random people with that lame \"Don't I know you?\" line" if it turned out he wasn't who I thought he was.
Re: \" ... Yeah, I'm a dork. Just be glad I didn't use %22. Or ".
January 18, 2006 / Wednesday
Strange-ish Day at the Gym
Went to the EA24hF this afternoon, and was handed a bottle of Black Cherry POWERade OPTION upon check-in. I put my stuff in a locker, and when I came back out, this oldish guy who's there every time I am and whom I've only ever seen using stacked weight machines was struggling to remove a plate from the leg press machine. I got some water, saw him still struggling, and went over to help him. He looked confused, like I shouldn't be able to lift plates or something. Later, when I needed to use the leg extension machine, there was a guy sitting on it with a cell phone to his ear and his trainer standing next to him, watching him gab. I rearranged my workout, did some dead lifts, and when I returned he was still sitting there, phone to his ear, trainer by his side. I went off to do some ab work, and when I returned again, same thing. Who has money to waste like that? Finally, he finished his conversation, did one lame set, and left. I hopped on the gab station leg extension machine, started my sets, and had my Depeche Mode interrupted by a loud repetitive booming sound. I looked up and there were big speakers and a portable cheesy karaoke machine fifteen feet away, blasting what turned out to be that annoying Hollaback song. This - is - bananas! B-a-n-a-n-a-s! I finished my set, did a little stretching, got my stuff, and headed out. When I left, the karaoke screen read, "Rapper's (Something-or-other)", and there were these two guys there with mics in their hands and silly grins on their faces. One of them started rapping to some dancey non-rap tune as I walked out the door. I felt bad for the people still in the gym. Perhaps today would have been a good day to take the hamster exercises outside.
05:44 PM | Gym:Music| Comments (0)
January 02, 2006 / Monday
There Was No Line Dancing
Or maybe there was and I missed it. In any case, bowl season is good for me; I managed a good half hour on the hamster bike thanks to the ND/Ohio State game.
December 01, 2005 / Thursday
2 More Weeks!
2 more weeks until the semester ends and I get to go to the gym again.
*moos impatiently*
10:08 AM | Gym:School| Comments (0)
October 18, 2005 / Tuesday
EA24hF
Everyone at work says the East Arques 24hF (henceforth referred to as EA24hF) is ghetto.
It's way less ghetto than the Daly City and Ocean 24hFs.
Spoiled Decathlon Clubbers.
June 20, 2005 / Monday
I'm A Weakling
But at least I made it back to the gym.
The SM24hF has new equipment! I really miss going there. DC, Pac, and Ocean suck by comparison.
Good news: my wrists feel a little better. Only minor pain in the right wrist during my bicep curls. I'm thinking I should get weight training gloves with wrist support.
Not so good news: my left shoulder feels weird. It doesn't hurt, but it's not happy. Boo.
If I'm sufficiently motivated I might try to do adductor-free LB tomorrow. We'll see.
01:41 PM | Gym:Injuries| Comments (4)
Bye Bye, Muscle
I haven't done anything really active in over a week, but my legs are sore.
Maybe that's how muscles feel when they atrophy.
June 12, 2005 / Sunday
Wasting Away
I haven't been weight training, I've been eating more than I should, my pants aren't any looser, and I'm a few pounds lighter than I'd expect.
This can mean only one thing: I'm losing muscle mass.
*#&$(*&@)(!!!
I haven't been to the gym in so long that I dread going. I'm *really* going to hurt afterward.
April 04, 2005 / Monday
Work Sleep Hockey PT ... Fiiight!
Walk in the door, get scanned in, warm up, do PT exercises, do abbreviated regular exercises, walk out the door.
Total elapsed time: 90 minutes. My gym visits used to last only 45.
Every week, I get more PT exercises and stretches to do.
Gym visits that long mean the only time I can go is after work. I can't get up early enough to go before work, and I can't take 2 hour lunches once I get to work.
Subtract hockey nights, add in the fact that I'm *supposed* to be doing my PT exercises every day, and that leaves me with ... enough time to watch people fight on TV, at least.
:)
March 19, 2005 / Saturday
Gym Blurb 1: I Might As Well Move In
Now that I have 30+ minutes of PT exercises to do every day, my gym visits are getting lonnng. By the time I've finished my shoulder and wrist sets, I'm sweating, and I still have my usual abs + UB/LB sets to do! Then, when I get home, I have to ice my shoulder and wrist for 20 minutes. I left for the gym at 8:30 today, and I'm still icing right now. Sheesh.
Gym Blurb 2: Tree Trunk Legs
There was this guy at the gym today with calves the size of my thighs. Pure muscle, right up to the waist. Upper body, no muscle, just filler fat. Guess what ethnicity he was. What's up with that?
March 10, 2005 / Thursday
Effort Gauge
I resurrected the gym lunch today, 'cause I haven't exercised all week and that's just no good for my state of mind. I noticed something funny during my seated flys: The color of my face is a good indication of whether I'm pushing myself hard enough through a set. With my new hair color, I can easily gauge whether I'm putting a lot of effort into my reps; if I am, my face will match the tips of my hair by rep 5. If I haven't reached hair tip pink by rep 8, I'll know to bump up the weight. :)
02:00 PM | Gym:Hair| Comments (0)
February 25, 2005 / Friday
Ow. Ooh!
I'm sore. I like that.
No, not like *that*.
Lifting sore means I got a good workout in yesterday. :)
February 24, 2005 / Thursday
24hEw
Okay, I know I swore never to go back to the DC24hF, but it's sooo much more convenient for me to go to that one during lunch hour.
More importantly, despite their grody locker rooms, they have the best assortment of exercise equipment, which I kind of have to use now, because I can't do much on free weights with my various injured joints.
So, hello again, 24 Hour Nastiness, and ew.
February 02, 2005 / Wednesday
Bye Bye, Social Lunches
I'm turning into a fatty. I think it's time to start spending lunch hour at the gym again.
January 24, 2005 / Monday
The Secret To Lifting More
It seems that I make the biggest gains in how much I can lift (or, in today's case, squat) when I work out a muscle group spordically (i.e. every 7-14 days) and do nothing but eat too much the days in between.
So my motorcycle pants must be feeling tighter 'cause I have more muscle.
Right.
January 01, 2005 / Saturday
Ow, My Hamstrings
Went to the gym today, and, for the first time in ...
Hrmm ...
For the first time in longer than I can remember, I hopped on the treadmill and ran a mile. Even more amazing is that I ran it in under 10 minutes, which is slow for most people, but blazingly fast for me.
I topped off my UB workout with some deadlifts, since I didn't do them with my LB sets yesterday. I beat my heaviest ever deadlift weight by 20 pounds. How on earth did I manage that, after such a (relatively) lardass month?
Or course, after my final set, my hamstrings decided to cramp. Oops.
November 17, 2004 / Wednesday
I Might Survive This Cold After All
Actually, the cold hasn't been all that bad. It's mainly just annoying. It feels like it's starting to clear today. I've managed to go to the gym twice this week and get some good workouts in. Been eating pretty well, too. Maybe that's the secret.
Or maybe I'm speaking too soon, and tonight the coughing fits will start.
November 03, 2004 / Wednesday
Midweeknight Gym Blurb
7:15 PM - Ack, icky burly man trying to make eye contact with me.
7:30 PM - The icky burly man who was looking at me has a big butt and ugly sweatpants.
7:40 PM - Holy shit, it's a woman!
OOOOO-ah!
The last 5 days:
- Saturday: gym/LB
- Sunday: gym/UB & hockey (PPG!)
- Monday: hockey (A-Team II)
- Tuesday: gym/LB
- Wednesday: gym/UB
I've been eating better, too. Amazingly, I've managed to pace myself with my Halloween candy stash at work. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. I think riding my motorcycle to work also helps.
The next 8 days (you don't need to know but I do):
- Thursday: hockey (clinic)*
- Friday: hockey (scrimmage vs. Seals B)
- Saturday: gym/LB*
- Sunday: hockey (A-Team II at the Shark Tank)
- Monday: gym/UB*
- Tuesday: goalie
- Wednesday: gym/LB*
- Thursday: gym/UB* & maybe hockey (clinic)
I get Friday the 12th off. Who's up for a Friday/Saturday snowboarding trip?
* I hope.
October 26, 2004 / Tuesday
Hamstring And Water Waah
My hamstrings are *still* sore from my workout last Thursday. It's been 5 days! What did I do to them? I guess after not working them for weeks, it was not a brilliant idea to do hamstring curls, dead lifts, and lower back extensions all in one session. Oops.
I'm so thirsty I think I'm going to fall over. I'm bringing a big bottle of juice with me to the doctor's so I can chug it right after they take my blood.
Blood, what blood? I have no liquid in me!
September 24, 2004 / Friday
More Gym For Me
Today, Teddio looked at my arm and made a comment about how I haven't been working out as much. Darnit, I've lost that much definition?!
Well, at least I'm back at it now. Been to the gym twice this week, and hope to make it tomorrow (technically today), too.
On the upside, he bought me a pretzel. Thanks, Teddio!
Also good was that the pretzel stayed down during my Belmont clinic shortly afterward.
In another stroke of good food fortune, Wendy brought to the clinic a bag of congratulatory Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for making Maroon. She remembered that I'm a chocolate and peanut butter addict. That is most awesome of you, Wendy. Thank you!
And finally, Kevin (my Red Division coach for the past year) was at the clinic tonight, and gave me some great tips on how to not fall over while trying to skate backward. So, if you see me going backward on the ice holding my stick up high like a large platter, don't laugh. I'm practicing!
12:34 AM | Gym:Hockey| Comments (0)
August 28, 2004 / Saturday
I'm A Weakling!
Made my completely untriumphant return to the gym tonight with a lower body workout. I was sick of feeling like an invalid, and, as of Thursday night when I once again became able to consume way too many brownies and greasy ground beef burritos, a lardass.
There's bad news, and there's good news. Yes, in that order.
The bad news is, I can lift between 50-70% of what I used to. (Naomi, you were sooo right on that one.)
The good news is, that drove me to do every rep with (near) perfect form and control. I went through every exercise and completed all my sets. I lifted until my muscles burned, so much that I thought they were going to cramp. My legs shook between sets. In the past, on a day like this, I would have lowered the weight (even more), done two half-assed sets of each exercise, and gone home. Not tonight. I'm determined to get back into pre-surgery shape, and soon.
Brownie bite eating lardass no more! I'm having tuna for dinner. 32.5 grams of very lean protein per can.
I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow, am I?
• • •
In related news, the holes in the back of my mouth throbbed, but fortunately not with pain. It just felt like having an extra pulse point or two in there. Weird, but certainly not unbearable.
Also, the hole on the right side is still bleeding. It's a trivial amount of blood compared to the gushing earlier in the week, but still, it's a tad disturbing knowing that I still have an open wound in there. On the other hand, it means wet socket, not dry. I'll take a little blood over excruciating pain any day.
And finally, this may be a bit of oversharing, but blood and canned tuna taste a lot alike.
08:55 PM | Gym:Wisdom Teeth| Comments (0)
August 09, 2004 / Monday
Public Service Announcement
If you use free weights at the gym, please select your weights and take them someplace away from the rack to do your set, because if you pick up your weights and just stand there, 2 feet from all the other weights, while you do whatever the hell exercise you're doing, you're going to piss off all the other people who want to use the weights that you're blocking.
Don't make me kick the back of your knee in the middle of your set.
Okay, I wouldn't really do that.
In happier gym news, they had the X Games on, and I saw the raddest baddest Moto X jump ever: a full handlebar release 360 sideways body (not bike) rotation in midair. Personally, I like that a lot better than Brian Deegan's trademark something of a double axis 360 jump.
I had something else to say, about various undergarments, but maybe I'll exercise a little restraint today and just leave it at that.
01:24 PM | Gym:PSA/NTS| Comments (0)
July 29, 2004 / Thursday
Shoulders Still There? Check!
Hooray, my shoulders didn't lose any strength, despite my having worked them all of 3 times this month, today included. Actually, I think having lots of recovery time has been good for them. I managed a full set of military presses with 30 pound dumbbells. 30 pound sets are rare for me. Know what I have to say to that?
Hooah! 
June 15, 2004 / Tuesday
The San Carlos Gym Doesn't Suck Either
Went to the SC24hF at lunch. Drove the extra miles 'cause I wanted to pick up the new Beastie Boys CD from Best Buy. That, plus I like the overhead barbell tricep bench they have there. Anyway, given my last gym post, I think you know where this is going. No, the cute buff guy who made me crunch my finger wasn't there (he's at the San Mateo gym). There was, however, an edgy looking fairly ripped dude with a shaved head and goatee who seemed to be diggin' the pufferfish 'do. Even better, he didn't have a workout buddy tagging along. Mmm, hot. And I don't mean the weather.
June 10, 2004 / Thursday
I Didn't Crunch Anything This Time
Took advantage of my small window of opportunity to do LB between hockey games and made it to the gym at lunch. The cute guy who made me crunch my finger was there. I suddenly had this realization that he's not off limits anymore. Whoa.
May 14, 2004 / Friday
Gym Blurb 1: Fingers Intact!
Today, as I was adjusting the arm on the fly machine, I made sure to keep my fingers out of the crunch zone, even though there was a hot guy nearby.
The trick is to get the initial exchange out of the way before you start adjusting the machine. 
Gym Blurb 2: Good Basketball On TV!
Yesterday, on the Pac24hF TV, I got to watch Kobe's tough shot with 8 seconds left, Tim Duncan's near miracle shot with 4 seconds left, and Derek Fisher's absolute miracle shot with 0.4 seconds left.
Today, thinking that the Nets had all but won the game with a 3 point lead and seconds left on the regulation clock, I watched, on that same TV, Chauncey Billups launch and sink a 3 pointer from waaay behind the line as time ran out.
I think I've found a new viewing spot for the NBA playoffs.
May 06, 2004 / Thursday
Thursday Cantonese Haiku
I almost forgot to write my Thursday Cantonese Haiku again!
wai, lang tsai. deem ah?
gnoh tai doh lay mong jue gnoh
lay do gay ho tai
lay gong mut yeah wah?
ai-yah! gaep tsun gnoh tsaegh sau!
ho toong! ho toong ah!
Gotta thank the cute guy at the gym for this one ...
hey cute boy. what's up?
i see you lookin' at me
you look pretty good too
what did you say?
ai-yah! crunched my finger!
it hurts! it hurrrts!
07:22 PM | Gym:Haikus| Comments (0)
Ow, My Finger
At the gym earlier, I was adjusting one of the arms on the fly machine, and I looked up and there was a cute guy looking at me from the machine next to mine, and he said, "Hi," and I got distracted and crunched my finger.
I didn't even flinch, but not because I wasn't injured. It crunched deep enough to not hurt for a good minute. And then, in the middle of my set, Yee-OW!
April 19, 2004 / Monday
Ocean Idiot
To the guy at the gym this afternoon who cut into my tricep pulldown sets without asking, did a few half-assed reps with the worst possible form, asked me what they were for, then tried to tell me that dumbbells were more effective and "not as hard", you are (1) weird and (2) a freakin' idiot.
I'm glad I was able to convey those two thoughts and send you away with my angry glare.
March 29, 2004 / Monday
Hoo-AH!
Woke up at ... 4:57 AM and decided I wouldn't get much sleep out of the hour before my alarm was set to go off. Had a somewhat leisurely morning at home and got to the Pac24hF just before 6, only to find out that they don't open until 6. Yes, I got to the gym before it opened. Who woulda thunk it?
My shoulder felt good today, and I did all of my usual UB exercises at 95%. I gave myself 5% so I could slow it down and work on form. Ooh, and I even did some cardio. It's not so bad when you can watch (and listen to ... hooray for my mp3 player) the news on TV while you put your legs on cruise control.
When I got dressed afterward, I put on a t-shirt that I hadn't worn in a while and the sleeves felt tight around my arms. I thought to myself, "Huh, my arms got bigger!" followed by, "I feel like BH!" I realized later it was just 'cause I was pumped from my workout.
Workout done, no traffic, and no line at the espresso machine. Whoo.
March 26, 2004 / Friday
I Feel So Lopsided
My right shoulder & arm are noticably larger than my left. I don't play tennis anymore, and I try to lift equal amounts of weight at the gym, so what gives? I just want to be balanced. Is that so much to ask?
I'm particularly aware of it this week because my right shoulder's screwed up and I periodically reach with my left hand to squeeze it, followed by the same on my left shoulder with my right hand, at which point I think to myself, huh, there's quite a size difference between the two.
March 24, 2004 / Wednesday
Hoo-OW!
My little motorcycle flop is screwing up my weight training routine. I tried to do my usual UB exercises at the gym just now and couldn't. No military presses 'cause my right shoulder's messed up. I could do my flys and rows and reverse flys, but I had to do them at 80% weight 'cause, well, everything ties into the shoulder, doesn't it? Then on to biceps. I tried to use the shoulder-friendly bicep machine, but I tweaked my left wrist during my flop, too, and my wrist didn't like the machine. I tried to do wrist-friendly free standing W-barbell curls, but my shoulder didn't like supporting that kind of weight. I finally settled on W-barbell preacher curls at, you guess it, 80% weight. I was thoroughly screwed up by the end of my session. I did some lazy tricep sets and headed back to work.
Next up is rotator cuff day. I have a feeling I'll be skipping that this week.
01:53 PM | Gym:Injuries| Comments (0)
March 22, 2004 / Monday
Gym Lunch Blurb 1: Hottie At The Gym!
I'd forgotten about the lunchtime SM gym hottie! Good thing I drove down there for my workout today. He's got more hair on his head these days. I'm not sure if I like that, but he's stareworthy nonetheless. I even got to talk to him ... so what if it was because he was waiting to use the machine I was on?
Gym Lunch Blurb 2: It's Actually Nice Out Today
It's warm and sunny out today ... just not in South San Francisco. Five minutes south of where I work, it's beach weather. Where I work, it's overcast and cold. What gives?
Gym Lunch Blurb 3: Mystery Meat Katsu Curry
I stopped at Kaz after the gym to pick up a chicken katsu curry. All this time I thought that their chicken cutlets were breaded cuts of chicken. Not so! Remember those old McDonald's Chicken McNuggets? The Kaz cutlet is like a big one of those. So exactly what part of the chicken am I eating?
March 16, 2004 / Tuesday
Wow, Even Earlier
I woke up so early I left for the gym before my alarm even went off.
On a related note, the Ocean24hF is crowded at 6 AM! There was no parking in the covered lot, and only a couple free spaces outside. I actually had shuffle my routine around just to minimize wait time on the machines! At least I got my twisty oblique machine sets in. That's why I went there, after all. Too bad the Pac24hF doesn't have one of those thingers.
Thingers. I like that word. I learned it some years ago from some NASA dude at a gravitational biology conference.
Huh, that was random.
March 09, 2004 / Tuesday
24 Hour Nastiness
Just paid my first visit to the Daly City 24 Hour Fitness. That place is close to work, but totally gross. The locker room was cramped and dank. I think I might have to drive to San Mateo from now on. No more DC24hF for me!
February 23, 2004 / Monday
A Blurb From My SCitness Visit
Some guy was in the corner doing all sorts of ab exercises. When he did his balance ball side crunches, he put one hand behind his head, and with his other hand lifted up his shirt so he could see his fantabulous abs in the mirror. Now, I will fully admit to being a gym narcissist, but please, don't make it that obvious! Anyway, Mr. Fantabulous Abs must have been paying too much attention to his reflection and not to the task at hand, because he fell off the balance ball and landed on his ass.
February 15, 2004 / Sunday
Gym Blurb 1: Someplace New!
Went to a new 24h Fitness today! Doug the runner and Viv the gym rat both wanted to do their usual workouts, so we decided to pick a gym that Doug the runner could run to and meet up with Viv the gym rat at the end of her session. I'd wanted to check out the Pacifica gym (to be referred to as the Pac24hF from now on) for a while, and finally got to do so today. It's small, but nice! Waaay nicer than the stuffy Ocean gym (to be referred to as the Ocean24hF from now on, but I don't plan on going back so it doesn't really matter). I think it's time for a gym swap. The locker room and showers at the Pac24hF are nice, too. It may well become my pre-work hangout come March.
Gym Blurb 2: Small World
I ran into someone from almost 5 years ago at the gym today. I was her biochem tutor for a summer course through UC Extension. The last time I saw her she was studying for finals and I was about a week into my new job. How fitting that I run into her again a week away from leaving that same job. She's had quite a work history: paramedic, firefighter, police officer, and now, if things go as planned, nurse/physician's assistant. She's just finished up school and is job hunting. I'm surprised I didn't run into her sooner, as she's a bit of a gym rat herself.
Gym Blurb 3: Chocolate Cherry Jamba Reward
I've been meaning to try the new Chocolate Covered Cherry smoothie at Jamba Juice for about a week now. I finally got one today! My favorite Jamba Juice special yet. I hope they turn it into a regular item when cherry month is over.
02:23 PM | Drinks:Gym| Comments (0)
January 28, 2004 / Wednesday
Notes From the SM24hF
Went to the gym this afternoon. Saw a few things worth mentioning.
1. They have a new leg press machine. It's big. And heavy. Yeah, I know, duh.
2. There was a funny looking guy there. He was of regular height, had a narrow frame, no leg muscle to speak of, and an out of shape upper body. Guys with narrow frames, don't let yourself get out of shape, or you will look funny! Guys with broad shoulders, you'd just go from buff to beefy. As long as you don't wind up sporting chicken legs, no big deal.
3. As I walked back down to the first floor after my workout, I passed by three C-cup girls, each wearing a black or grey spaghetti strap tank top and a neon colored non-sports bra underneath. I wondered if they'd coordinated their gym outfits.
4. Back in the women's locker room, some close-to-elderly lady was wandering around looking for her locker. She'd locked her clothes in "one of the small ones" and couldn't remember which one it was.
January 21, 2004 / Wednesday
Meat Market Hour At The Gym
Went to the gym at 5 PM today. I never go at that time. Turns out that's meat market hour. Creepy guys, please stop staring at me. Hottie guys, you are welcome to stare all you want.
Lucky me, the hot Asian guy who used to work out at 11 PM back when I did was there today. What hot Asian guy? The one who stands 6'2" and looks to be about 200 lbs of pure muscle. He got rid of the glasses and seems to have leaned down some too. Always nice to have someone pretty to stare at when you're at the gym.
But now the question is, am I welcome to stare?
November 24, 2003 / Monday
Boo Ya! Hooray For Monday!
Well, this Monday, at least. No weekly status meeting!
Boo for Tuesday. That's when we're holding it instead.
Also a good Monday 'cause I started it off with a rockin' LB session at the gym. I'm so glad I've rediscovered the San Carlos 24h Fitness.
From now on, I'm going to abbreviate. San Carlos 24h Fitness -> SC.
Acronyms rock.
Man, I'm in a good mood.
La la la. Whoo.
• • •
One more reason why today rocks:
h------: the phone number rule is in effect!
SoopahViv: yeah!
SoopahViv: i was gonna blog that
SoopahViv: and i forgot
h------: what are u gonna do? :)
SoopahViv: hrmm
SoopahViv: i'm going to update my latest post
SoopahViv:
November 22, 2003 / Saturday
Hottie At The Gym!
Finally, a hottie at the gym! I had been debating whether to go, since today is rotator cuff day and I never give my r.c.'s their fair share of gym time. But I was good and I went, and boy was I glad I did. Hellooo intimidatingly sexy European guy! He looked at me and smiled, and since he was hot, I smiled back. Actually, I was feeling it today, so I wasn't intimidated ... until he parked himself in front of me to stretch and gave me the most lascivious gaze I've ever been given in my life. How lascivious? So lascivious that only a tall, dark, and handsome European hottie could give it.
Dammit! I say this for two reasons:
1: You're hot, and I can't touch you. That means lascivious gazes are all I'll get, and that's just torture, though I guess torture is not always a bad thing.
2: I have to do my set, and if I stare at you staring at me I'm not going to be able to concentrate to do it properly and my shoulder's going to fall off.
At the time, it was more of an "Eeek!" than a "Dammit!". In any case, I did my set, did a few more sets of other things, exchanged goodbyes with Mr. Eurohottie, and headed for my car.
November 19, 2003 / Wednesday
Lighting Is Everything
I like the lighting at the San Carlos 24h Fitness way better than the lighting at the other 24h Fitness gyms I frequent. Makes me look all cut and stuff so I can pretend I'm more fit than I really am. Hooah.
November 14, 2003 / Friday
Lower Body Weight Room Equipment Blurb 1
More equipment happiness at the 24h Fitness in San Carlos. They have a new hamstring machine that actually fits me. That, plus their FreeMotion Lift, means I should have hammies* of steel by summer.
* Roh, I like the word "hammies". "Hamstrings of steel" just sounds stupid! I promise not to ie-ify any other words, mmmkay?
Lower Body Weight Room Equipment Blurb 2
It seems that the folks in charge of the 24h Fitness chain don't think lower body work is important. The upper body machines are divided into three colors: black for chest and shoulders, grey for back, and plum for arms. The lower body machines, however, are all the same color: teal, for quads and hams and glutes and adductors and abductors and calves.
That's the kind of attitude that's created weight rooms full of funny looking men with huge upper bodies and scrawny legs. It's such a tragedy. Do you know how disappointing it is to spot eye candy arms and shoulders and pecs, only to look down and see skinny chicken legs?
Maybe they're afraid that having bulky legs will make their penis look smaller. Well, dude, if you have laughable chicken legs we'll never get to your penis, will we?
Sorry, that was a little lewd.
November 13, 2003 / Thursday
Fellow Traffic Offenders At The Gym
So I'm at the gym, and I hear someone say, "Excuse me." I turn around and it's someone from traffic school a couple months back. Back then she worked at the 24h Fitness in Pacifica, but has since transferred to the San Mateo gym. That's the gym where the traffic school teacher works out, too. Huh, we should just hold class in there. Group X Comedy Traffic School. Laugh and sweat and keep those pesky points off your driving record. The ultimate in multitasking.
November 10, 2003 / Monday
The San Carlos 24h Fitness Sucks Less Now (1 of 5)
New lockers! They're wide enough to fit my motorcycle helmet! I'm very excited about that. Plus, the lock loops now stick out and are much easier to use than those stupid recessed ones they had on the old lockers that required skillful wrist angling to work.
<>The San Carlos 24h Fitness Sucks Less Now (2 of 5)
A new FreeMotion Calf machine! It replaced the standing machine that squished and burst capillaries in my shoulder. I'm very happy about this new one. I can isolate and do one leg at a time, and, more importantly, work on ankle strength because the footpad swivels. This machine alone is enough for me to switch my lower body workouts over to SC.
The San Carlos 24h Fitness Sucks Less Now (3 of 5)
A new FreeMotion Lift machine that lets me do dead lifts. I like it a lot better than using a barbell. Nothing super fancy, but it'll encourage me to do them more often. Good for my lower back and hammies.
The San Carlos 24h Fitness Sucks Less Now (4 of 5)
A new leg extension machine. They replaced two of their old crappy ones that hurt my legs with a nice new one that fits me much better. Happy quads and happy knees make for a happy me.
The San Carlos 24h Fitness Sucks Less Now (5 of 5)
They were playing Ludacris's "What's Your Fantasy" when I walked in. I haven't heard that song in ages! It totally made my day.
That last verse is the best. 
October 28, 2003 / Tuesday
Gym Blurb 1: Hooah!
Lower body today. It's been about a week! Lifted more than I have in many moons. Hooray for rest. Hooray for Ripped Fuel, though I think it might all be in my head.
Gym Blurb 2: Knee Surgery
Some guy asked about my knee. I told him I gave myself knee surgery on a rock. I think he believed me. Ha!
Turns out he's got a titanium right knee. I didn't know there were such things as total knee replacements. They cut the bone above and below and slap a titanium one in there. They last 5 years, and you lose some range of motion each time. I guess that means at some point you wind up with a stiff titanium knee? Huh.
April 29, 2003 / Tuesday
Not My Problem!
I missed a meeting with my new boss today. I left to go to the gym, the meeting time got moved up, I came back from the gym, it was past the rescheduled meeting time.
Oh well. He shouldn't be last minute rescheduling anyway.
Had an awesome workout at the gym. Whoo.
April 01, 2003 / Tuesday
Ow! Yes!
I made it to the gym for the first time in about 2 weeks today. I'm going to be really sore tomorrow. Coooool ...
February 26, 2003 / Wednesday
Mooah!
gym + 1/2 a big juicy steak leftover from dinner last night = mooah!
03:48 PM | Food:Gym| Comments (0)
December 31, 2002 / Tuesday
Gym Realization
Hi. It's Tuesday. I meant to write this Monday night but time flies when you're surfing the net. I went to the gym today a little bit after 8 PM. I had a realization while I was there. I always think there's no one worth meeting at the gym, but looking around today I think it's because I tend to go at the wrong times. If you go after work you actually see the employed people who keep in shape but aren't totally high on how good they look. So that's when they all go to the gym! Ineresting.
The other thing I realized is that I haven't walked into the gym looking respectable in a while. I'm always showing up looking scrubby or in my gym clothes already. Today I walked in looking halfway decent. People pay a lot more attention to you when you look good (and somewhat important). Hrmm ...
No no. Hang on a minute here. Repeat after me:
The gym is not my pickup spot.
The gym is not my pickup spot.
The gym is not my pickup spot.
It's not not no it's not.
Oh dammit.
September 13, 2002 / Friday
Stones
I'm told that in Canterbury gyms the dumbbells are these round spherical lumps of weight with bars in between them, measured not in pounds, not in kilograms, but in stones.
Yeah man, I benched ten stones the other day! Hooah!
July 29, 2002 / Monday
Ow, My Forehead
I ran my head into a plate at the gym this afternoon. Now there's this curvy red bump on my forehead that matches the edge of a 45 pound slab of iron. It's kinda cool, actually. It's all poofy and stuff. Gives my forehead character.
July 17, 2002 / Wednesday
So tonight I went to
So tonight I went to the gym to be all healthy and stuff, and on my way home I got really hungry and had this massive craving for cow. I pulled into the Jack In The Box parking lot after I got off the freeway 'cause their red and blue neon sign said "DRIVE THRU OPEN". I was looking at their menu when a car pulled up behind me. So then I had to pull up to the speaker. I was hoping for more time but the person inside the speaker box immediately asked if they could help me. I hadn't had time to decide yet so I got the default, a Sourdough Jack meal. They charged me $5.51 and gave me a steamy translucent bag of fresh cow and crunchy potatoes and a nice strong cup of iced tea. It was so good I ate it all. And now I'm fat. All 'cause I went to the gym. Moo.
Moral of the story: Don't go to the gym. It makes you fat.
July 08, 2002 / Monday
That's More Like It!
I feel better now. I went to the gym this afternoon and got some much welcomed attention from a decent looking male member of our species. No not an old guy, no not an ugly guy, and yes a guy not a woman. Ahh ...
June 27, 2002 / Thursday
Early Schmearly
Went to the gym at 11:30 PM. So much for the early schedule.
June 07, 2002 / Friday
Beautiful Guy
Your gym guy reminds me of someone I once followed / stalked / observed at the gym back when I was at Cal. He was the finest specimen I'd seen in my life. Perfectly dressed, perfectly tanned, and perfectly toned. I referred to him as beautiful guy. I'd stop and stare in awe when he walked by. Droooool ...
But then as the months wore on I started noticing his quirks. Beautiful guy was not, shall we say, normal. The more I watched him the stranger he got.
Of course, I kept watching.
And then one hot summer day he walked by me with his hot summer bod ...
His hot summer bod was in desperate need of deodorant.
That was the end of my obsession with beautiful guy.
April 05, 2002 / Friday
Went to the gym twice
Went to the gym twice today worked out every possible muscle.
I feel goooood !!
February 28, 2002 / Thursday
Walrus, Elmer Fudd Style
I made it to the climbing gym for the first time in, oh, 8 months. Hooray for me, I didn't break anything except the tip of one of the nails I'm growing out for guitar. I'm sad, though. I've lost what little hard-earned fearlessness I had on the wall. Back to square one. Siiiiigh.
February 17, 2002 / Sunday
Thingamabobber of the Day
maggot abs
Here's how to get 'em:
1. Go to your local gym.
2. Go to the pulley weight stack station.
3. Set the pulley to about chest level.
4. Attach a rope to the pulley.
5. Get on your knees and put your hands on the rope.
6. Crunch down and work those abs.
7. Crunch left and right to target the obliques.
8. Left right left right. Crunch crunch squirm squirm.
You look like a maggot!
Nice abs, maggot.
04:59 PM | Gym:Thingamabobber| Comments (0)
January 29, 2002 / Tuesday
Phrase of the Day
cute guy trapped in a small body
Kinda like that guy Ted was spotting at the gym today. Cute face, great shape, but he looked like a little guy trying too hard to be all buff and tough. Too bad.
04:14 PM | Gym:Phrase| Comments (0)
January 22, 2002 / Tuesday
Excuse Me Sir, Can You Practice Having Sex Somewhere Else?
So today at the gym there was this guy on a mat by the decline situp benches. He was on his hands and toes and at first I thought he was doing pushups. But then I realized his arms weren't moving. He was sort of bobbing his hips up and down. He kind of looked like he was trying to have sex with an imaginary person on the mat. Maybe he was practicing? Well if he was then he wasn't doing a very good job. At least put some effort into it, will ya? Come on! If you're going to have imaginary mat sex at the gym then I want to see a little more oompf!
January 18, 2002 / Friday
Gym Gym Gym
1 : Cute guys in the weight room always get eye contact and a smile from me. Today I started to smile at this one guy and then all of a sudden I realized he was