George and Frenchie, thanks for telling me what the cool kids in the over-35 crowd are doing.
DCA, always good to see you here.
theBird, thanks for saying hi. Since I think my body is perfect as it is, I decline all offers of sammiches.
alexus, I really have no overarching aim for my military presses. I think my main goal with them is to increase the weight I’m able to press overhead one time. Thus, the starting position for this is really coming out of the rack anyways. The issue of how low to bring the bar is just an issue for reps. Reps are nice, but not the main course.
About body image, I think I’ve written before that when I was younger I was much more uncomfortable with getting attention for my body. I found the checking-out and the looks and the come-ons to be threatening in some way, and I’d avoid such attention. Now, I think its wildly entertaining. I think this change in attitude has everything to do with my feeling comfortable in my own skin and confident of who I am as a person utterly independent of anyone else’s opinions. This makes me look at the objectification of my body as an amusement and not as a judgment.
Charlie, aren’t you sweet! My hammies were pretty worked after the RDLs, so I think the way we do them is beneficial. Keep on keepin’ on!
Betty, I’m not sure even with lighter weight I can “take it to da flo”. I’m up for the challenge though.
Nadia, thanks. It really helps me to have a bunch of rabbits to chase. Can’t get all happy about a measly 205 and not even from the floor when the crew here can and does pull way more.
I completely blew off Sunday’s training to go to the beach. Four hours total riding, maybe 45 min. actual sunning. Its the best feeling to zoom by the stopped beach traffic and say “suckers!” Another benefit to riding to the beach is that the fried fisherman’s plate (with onion rings instead of fries) doesn’t register on the scale the next day.
So far today I’ve done 6 chinups. I had figured doing them first thing in the AM at my lightest weight and naked (every oz. counts when you are me) would result in more reps, but I was disappointed. Not training these consistently means I’ve lost the ability to rep out 10 like last summer. I’ll plan several more sets throughout the day, seeing how I did no upper body work yesterday.
thanks very much for that. i think you are indeed onto something. i’m noticing now that i’m feeling all fat (baggy layers since it is winter and i’m also trying to bulk and have gained a couple kilos) that i’m feeling much more self conscious in the gym. because i’m feeling a bit insecure i suspect that people are judging me harshly - even though they probably aren’t. we really can be our own worst enemies. you really are my hero for saying of yourself right now ‘i’m happy with my body just the way i am’. and of course objectively - you deserve to be!! if it takes me 10 years to get to that point with myself i’ll be very happy indeed.