Funny how the three muscles you decided on, would be the last on my list. I really should work on better MMC. Oh and hope the improv went well, I am sure you would make a perfectly good penguin.
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Three days this week so far. What do I take away from the last 3-4 chapters of John? Nicodemus gets a bad rap by people of certain religious persuasions. Everyone (In John) is running for cover after the crucifixion and he (Nicodemus) is with Joseph of Arimathea preparing the body. Just a thought on that.
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I kind of agree! My list would’ve been a little different if my shoulder hadn’t been so ticked off. Even deadlifts felt like a risk.
I knew that if I could place a deep enough focus on a muscle or two, it would take my mind off other stuff and give me a sense of accomplishment. And the butt pump that happened as a result really did the trick. 
Thanks so much! It did. It occurred to me recently that I get more satisfaction from the friendship than from the improv itself. So having this unique experience with people who light me up was the biggest blessing.
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Nice job! I almost skipped today but then thought of your awesome comment. So thank you for sharing it here because I did end up getting a few chapters in this morning.
That’s really cool. You’re making me excited to get back into the NT!
I appreciate your thoughts! I’m too shy to share what I read out of fear of misinterpreting it or saying something stupid. But one of the things I’ve been doing to keep my mind sharp is to pray the parts of Psalms that are applicable. And the parts that aren’t applicable actually put things into perspective… we have it so good compared to what people went through historically.
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Today’s Session
Dips
I thought these would be hard on my shoulder but they were okay! I’ve got some work to do though. My strength and nervous system prevented me from getting more than 5 good reps on each set. Grr.
Machine Chest Press
Had to adjust this so that the range of motion didn’t place stress on the shoulder. But the machine really felt good once that tweak was made. I didn’t get a deep stretch at the bottom of the movement but that’s fine.
Seated Cable Row
The neutral narrow grip was great for shifting tension away from the rear delts and placing it on the lats. This felt so good.
Tricep Pulldowns
Kinda tricky. I got an okay mind muscle connection but it did not feel great on the shoulder.
EZ Bar Curls
Went lighter, upped the reps, slowed the tempo.
Abs
Super short session. I hit them for about the length of a song, but they were on fire (briefly).
Zone-2 Cardio… brought to me by late 90s/early 2000’s alternative, which was peak alternative.
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I am not a Biblical scholar, nor am I religious (anymore). I got to the end of John by just opening my Bible the other day after your post on mental health and reading the Bible 4 days a week. I just recall when I was a regular church attendee, and we would hit the New Testament, Nicodemus seemed to get dogged because of his late night questioning of Jesus. I am sure, if the text can be trusted, Nicodemus took a big chance being involved with Joseph of Arimathea and Jesus’ burial preparation. I do appreciate your post which got me reading again (the Bible).
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Me neither.
You know what? Religious is somewhat of a contentious word these days… so I’m not sure I am either.
Several months ago I had a conversation with our pastor and he said something that really stuck with me. The gist was that being religious isn’t the goal; because it can end up becoming a sanctimonious form of virtue signaling. But what we really need is Jesus. Pursuing His peace and presence makes all the difference in the world.
You know a lot more than I do, my friend.
It’s mutual. Thanks for dropping in!
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“Dani’s a Great Host!”
— parasites probably
Is it just my algorithm or is anyone else seeing tons of stuff about parasites lately? It’s either the latest faux boogeyman, or parasites are literally the cause of everything bad.
So far they’ve been linked to:
- Inflammation
- Gut problems
- Brain fog
- Insomnia
- Iron deficiency/anemia
- Joint pain
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Teeth grinding
- Cancer
- Government agencies
It’s weird because half of the people talking about them seem normal and the other half seem super woo-woo. Like, “your parasites will get meaner during a full moon” type stuff.
So, keep an eye out, and let me know what you think. Apparently EVERYONE is at risk too. Experts say that if you have pets, you’re at risk. If you eat sushi, you’re at risk. If you’ve swam in a lake, risk. If you’ve gone camping, risk. If you’ve licked a turd, risk.
See? You basically can’t do any normal, everyday-life-stuff without the risk of having parasites. And I hope you can tell by now when I’m being facetious. Because I never swim in lakes. Ew gross.
Anyway, let me know if you might be full of parasites! Maybe we can all do some sort of cleanse on the same week and have massive diarrhea together. #Community #BestFriendsForever #Bonding
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Yeah, there’s all sorts of “parasite cleanse” nonsense going on right now with crap supplements being sold to “detox”. It hasn’t been on my feed but I overhear my wife’s clock app talking about it all the time.
These kind of faux boogeymen have taken over the MLM fad.
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Okay good to know I’m not the only one seeing this stuff. At first I was intrigued by it. But then it blew up to the point that it seems bogus now.
However, if people are suffering with a gurgley stomach and an itchy ass… and then they do some type of cleanse and get rid of those problems, then who am I to criticize? Good for them!
I think my skepticism really kicked in when “parasites” was suddenly the number one culprit for every minor thing including teeth grinding and waking up at 3 am. Hmmm.
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I wonder about this too. Like, a few years ago, it was phone radiation causing every problem, and then hidden black mold. And some things are problematic, but the rhetoric starts to get crazy.
Anyway, I ran this question through SuperGrock A.I. and here’s what our robot overlords had to say:
The idea that parasites might be linked to a wide range of health issues has indeed been gaining traction in some health and wellness circles lately. It’s a topic that blends genuine science with a fair bit of hype, so let’s break it down.
There’s solid evidence that parasites can cause health problems—some more obvious than others. Globally, parasitic infections are a massive burden, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The World Health Organization estimates that billions of people are affected by parasites like helminths (worms) and protozoa. Ascaris lumbricoides, a common intestinal worm, infects around 800 million people worldwide, often causing malnutrition, fatigue, and digestive issues. Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasite, racks up over 200 million cases annually, leading to fever, organ damage, and death in severe cases. Toxoplasma gondii, which you can pick up from undercooked meat or cat litter, is linked to neurological issues in some studies, especially in immunocompromised folks—like those with AIDS, where it can cause encephalitis. Cryptosporidium, often spread through contaminated water, is a top cause of diarrhea outbreaks, even in developed countries. These are real, documented effects, backed by decades of research in parasitology and epidemiology.
Now, the trend you’re seeing in the wellness community often goes broader—claiming parasites could be behind everything from bloating and brain fog to anxiety and chronic fatigue. Here’s where it gets murky. Some of these symptoms can tie back to parasites. Giardia, for instance, can linger in your gut and cause bloating, diarrhea, and tiredness that drags on. Studies in places like Kenya have shown intestinal parasites in food handlers correlate with chronic digestive complaints. And there’s emerging research—like papers from the last decade in Parasitology Research—suggesting Toxoplasma might subtly alter behavior or mood in otherwise healthy people, possibly by messing with dopamine levels in the brain. But the leap from “can happen” to “explains your every woe” is a big one. Most of these broader claims lack large-scale, controlled studies to back them up. Fatigue and anxiety, for example, have dozens of potential causes—thyroid issues, stress, poor sleep—and pinning them on parasites without evidence is a stretch.
The skeptic says this smells like a sales pitch, and there’s reason to suspect that. The wellness industry has a history of latching onto scary-sounding culprits—candida overgrowth, “toxins,” now parasites—to push cleanses or detox kits. Posts on platforms like X have called out companies for misrepresenting shed intestinal lining or mucus as “rope worms” during cleanses, when lab tests show it’s human tissue, not parasites. That’s not to say all parasite cleanses are bunk—antiparasitic herbs like wormwood or drugs like ivermectin can treat real infections—but the blanket “everyone’s infested” narrative is overblown. In the U.S., the CDC says parasitic infections are underdiagnosed, but millions affected doesn’t mean everyone is walking around with worms. Modern sanitation and food safety cut down on exposure compared to developing nations.
So, is it a new boogeyman? Partly, yes. The kernel of truth—parasites can mess you up—gets inflated into a catch-all villain to sell products. But it’s not pure fiction. If you’ve got persistent, unexplained symptoms, especially after travel or eating questionable food, a parasite could be worth checking out with a proper stool test, not just a hunch or a cleanse. The trick is separating legit science from the wellness grift. What’s driving this trend is a mix of real health concerns and a distrust in mainstream medicine, amplified by social media echo chambers. It’s not all nonsense, but it’s not all truth either—caveat emptor.
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That’s a lot of reading for a log. The last paragraph kinda did the trick for me. 
Just ask Brian Alsruhe and I am pretty sure he will confirm this.
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Oh dang! I hadn’t heard of this. But here’s the story for anyone swinging by:
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It is a fascinating story and makes what Brian was able to do in training and life over that time even more impressive. Now you have me thinking about what things are living in me Yuk!
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Yeah, I’m getting paranoid now too. I’m watching these videos saying, “I do get a gurgley tummy after meals! I do wake up at 3 every morning! I do have dogs that actively try to lick my mouth every time I sit down to put shoes on!”
Wanna do a “cleanse” with me? As the saying goes, friends who poop worms together stick together… or something like that.
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What is involved in the cleanse ?
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No idea. LOL. Maybe we shouldn’t commit to that just yet.
But I did buy some organic pumpkin seeds because I hear that it’s a healthy parasite-killing food. Also, when I was a kid, my best friend’s nana would make pepitas and they were ADDICTIVE. So, win-win.
EDIT: Do not buy these organic pumpkin seeds. The bag is tiny, and not worth $8 unless you’re rich. They’re good, but nothing like my best friend’s nana’s pepitas.
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If it involves just eating some seeds and nuts then I am deff in. LOL
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Yeah that’s what I don’t get. There’s a lot of seemingly innocuous things that fight them, like foods, herbs, and spices… or you can do a whole poo-protocol, or you can overhaul your diet, or if you’re in deep trouble, you can get help from a doc the way Alsruhe (thankfully) did.
It’s all over my head, but pepitas are delicious.
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