cline

http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_shargaa_please_please_people_let_s_put_the_awe_back_in_awesome

Let's see... I lifted on Weds, trained Muay Thai yesterday, lift today (get out of work early! SQUEEE means more time at gym!). Yesterday in Muay Thai we worked the long rhythm from boxing and talked about how it's used in Muay Thai. My partner was just returning to Muay Thai after a long absence (he's majoring in engineering in school and couldn't swing the time away from campus). Luckily, he's super fit (running and swimming). So, while his technique needs a brush up and his kicks are kind of crappy, he's a hard hitter and so we beat on eat other for an hour and then hung out chatting. I was asked to coach at the next smoker. I think it's cause I'm not afraid of blood or spit. LOL.

Bathrooms... gah! The toilet is still not back in and there is still a huge hole in the ceiling. All the electrical is done (including ceiling). I think they put the fixture in today. I suspect toilet will still be sitting in a different room. Grout goes in today. Tiles are amazing. Contractor described them as "sexy". They are imported from Italy. So lovely. Not sure what else gets done today. I'm just so glad I'm not doing it.

That's awesome on your running!!! Stupid knees. nobody needs them. My cats don't have knees and they seem just fine. Scales are .... well... you know. I am back to a hate/hate relationship with mine. *sigh*

shoes are tough. They are really personal. I have do-wins which are not sexy but soooo many people I know lift in them. They are great for a powerlifter. They will not win you style or cool points unless you are training with a very particular crowd. They do not come in pretty colors. I also DL in mine. I was taught to deadlift in them by people who know what they are doing. So again, it's a personal choice. I LOVE DLing in them. I know a lot of people who DL barefoot or in chucks. It's just a choice. Truth be told, I bench in them too. So get a couple pair, knowing you can return them. Try them on and do a few body weight squats. See where they pinch, how the toes, feel, what height you like, etc. People are really different. Also, consider this.... just consider...not changing anything you are doing right now until after your meet. If you are doing really well now.... well... you know the old "rule" in sports about trying new things. As for singlets, I got cheapie inzer brand that looked something like this:

so basically you just want to talk about underwear? Right? ;-) Tighty whiteys will always cause a heated conversation.

Yeah, I think at least one was "winners tested" or record breakers tested or something but nobody was. In reality, there was one bathroom and no cups, no gloves, nothing remotely sterile, etc. Nobody peed in a cup.

There are all sorts of people in all sorts of sports over training and/or doing PEDs. It's hardly unique and they aren't going to be champions. And yeah... it's widely known that PEDs are not a good choice for your body. Then again, neither is swilling 20 beers in a night or gorging on ice cream for 2 weeks straight. We all make a lot of choices. Some good, some bad - but all personal choices. My understanding of the APF is the same as Gainsdalf's. Also, I can tell you a lot of the top guys are clean and they just deal with the competition. PEDs are not a magic bullet. And the meets I lifted in - ain't nobody tested. So yeah.... Nobody bitched about it either. Testing is in the ruies of at the mercy of the judges.

I missed the whole scooby doo fat tirade. Very good. Yeah, who wouldn't freak out if they went up 3 dress sizes in a minute or whatever. Freak out is valid. But a size 8? that's the power of media. The assumption is the average good looking woman is a size 2. People are clueless but also that's what people want, so.... mixed message and not accurate. BUT nonetheless... Your rant was really good. BTW, I just heard someone who really knows what he's talking about say it takes a fit person in pretty good shape 3 mos max to get to bikini comp ready. It's not hard if you really really want it. BUT the most important thing you've said is "washing baby goats". sigh... that is all I can think of right now...

More of this ^^^ for me than anything else. I'm kind of "meh... it happens in every sport" even in the big pro sports. I kind of feel that people will do it no matter what. Doesn't bother me. In the end, in lifting, we are more competing against our last meet than anything else. And for 99.999999% of us... it doesn't matter. We are not elite lifters or competitors so if some dude squatting 700# is using and equipped.... well... whatever. I'm not going to be at that level. It's not condoning. It's just what it is. People use all sorts of drugs in all sorts of ways. Lots of people use sleeping pills and aren't "raw" sleepers. Lots of people use pain pills and Rx off label - they are not "raw". Meh. If people are taking sleeping pills and their spouses' muscle relaxers after a hard day of lifting so they can recover faster, do I really care? In the end, even if the dude is on PEDs, he's still squatting 700#. PEDs will catch up to him. He knows that. It's a choice he's made. I know of a few people using at my gym (and I'm sure there are plenty more I don't know about). Meh. Whatever. It really doesn't bother me. It just (literally) dawned on me why.... You can't PED your way out of lousy programming and no training. I think that's why it doesn't really bother me. Lance Armstrong (I know... whatever get over it) was still, no matter what, an amazing cyclist. Yeah, he cheated. Okay. He did. I would have rather he competed in an untested category and called it a day. But no matter what, cyclist #1000 in the world would have never won the tour. Lance had everything in his corner and PEDs helped (yeah I agree it was cheating) but they didn't make him an exceptional cyclist. Same is true with body building or lifting. You can't just shoot PEDs and become a winner. And I know, personally, plenty of record holders who are natural and unequipped.

found it! My favorite scene from this movie involves a swiss ball... https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tyvcCdiFnYI

I was looking for something else but found this. Aaaaaannnnndddd you are welcome.

PEDs are rampant in a lot of sports. They might not be "legal" but it's easy to get around testing.

again, last night MUAY THAI! SQUEEEE great partner (Finnish dude!). Exhausting class. We knew we were in for a rough ride when we started doing a hip opener flexibility drill .... that usually means a ton of kicking. In Muay Thai kicking, you have to get your leg turned over so foot is turned in 90 deg from where it would be if you just put your leg straight out in front. On your back leg, if you are leg kicking, you are stepping out. If you are body or head kicking, you are up on your toes. Here's a nice picture of a head kick - note the legs on the kicker - hip turned over and up on his back toes... his opponent clearly started to block for a body kick (that's why his leg is up) and then got the block for the head kick Last night we continued a series on power hooks and setting up power hook combos. SQUEEEE I love me some power hooks. The first combo included a power hook to a head kick. GAH! All the head kicking. At one point I caught the bottom of the pads - YEOWCH! Foot is a little banged up. Second combo included this amazing finish of an inside leg kick to a cut kick. It was so much fun. BUT we were exhausted because we each had 2x5 mins rounds of pad work with only a short break. This is after some dutch sparring and other stuff. GAH! We finished with a horrid finisher of leg kicks. My legs are a bit banged up today. Oh yeah and we opened with a punch sprint ladder incorporating bw dips and gloved pushups. GAH! So much freaking fun. That coach is a blast. I love the guys there. Tonight is back to the regular gym for training and then on to baseball!!! SQUEEE! and tonight, the Phillies are honoring the Taney Dragons - the first Philly little league team to make it to the big games. They did so well and they are all so adorable. They are getting a city parade today and the Phillies are honoring them tonight. They are amazing kids. They all get to throw out the first pitch tonight. It will be too too cute. Other than that... bathroom renovations in full swing. Big giant hole in the ceiling, no toilet, and tonight/tomorrow no shower! Boo. Gym shower... blech. But we should be back in business with the shower and toilet by Friday. Kittehs are not feeling the love for the noise and mess.

The federations are weird. But in the end, nobody is making anybody do this.... so...... we are choosing to participate. And in the end, buying one pair of underwear to compete is hardly a big deal. Silly... yeah. But let's face it, so is the singlet. And cheaters cheat and will always cheat and if the federation does something... anything... to try to control it for those of us who don't cheat.. well... meh. I agree with Sundae - sports have rules about gear and equipment and if you don't like it, don't play. I do another sport and we have rules about what gear we can bring just to train. There's a reason and people can gripe, but there's a reason. And when people don't bring the right gear, they aren't allowed to play. I think we should start a singlet thread.... lol.

so damn jealous. Of the Pig! I'm jealous of the pig! PIC PIC PIC

closer This but with swiss ball - you can do curls or hold in the up position and pump. Swiss ball instead of dumbbell b/c you need to squeeze - so adductors too! Bonus.

those back bend ^^^^ are aWESOME btw. You can also do hamstring curls w swiss ball. For the life of me I can't find the ones I told you about. Maybe the person who taught me made them up. LOL. (i'm a sucker) But these really suck if you want something tough: Not hard enough? (ha ha ha) do one leg.

Make sure your singlet is not supportive. I ordered the cheapie version from Inzer. I don't see it on their website now. But the one they have listed should be fine. I have the version that looks like a wrestling singlet. By shirt, they probably mean t shirt but one meet I did let us lift in tanks. So if you are a tank top lifter, bring a t shirt in case and practice in a t shirt just in case. Also, wear a plain old cotton t shirt. No support. Briefs - that's why I said check. A lot of guys like those long thingies that have some spandex in them. You know those longish underwear things that go under long man shorts. I don't know what you call them, but they are a no go. A definite nope. Knee socks or tube socks or whatever the kids are calling them these days. As for wrist wraps - be careful. Not all wraps are legit. Also, if you don't lift in them now, no reason to start. Knee sleeves = non supportive knee sleeves - like neoprene ones. Again, if you don't already use them, no need to start. Belts are usually okay. Some federations have size limitations (how wide they can be). Chucks should be fine. Just plain chucks - nothing on the inside (added height, etc.). Chucks + socks + singlet and briefs + t shirt = WINNING!

I want goats. For reals. When I had my hateful job and spent a lot of time in the bad place (literally... it was bad), I had a running dream of just quitting to go run my goat farm. Goats for hair (yarn), dairy, and meat. And goat babies. Except I really just wanted to feed and play with them. I didn't want to pick up goat poo or help birth goat babies. I'd wash goats maybe but I don't want to wrestle them into a goat bath... basically, I wanted to play with goats.

Damn. Sorry about that. Gainsdalf posted and I got a double. post fail.

First, before you buy anything, check your federation and meet equipment rules. They vary. In some federations, knee wraps put you in a different division, etc. It doesn't really matter, but you want to know now and not later. For example, if you want to compete raw and the federation calls knee wraps equipment, you'll be in for an ugly surprise when you get there. So, do your homework. The equipment and divisions should be easy to find. Second, if you buy equipment, start using it NOW! Again, no surprises on lift day. Actually, at my last meet, there were lots of folks there lifting in regular flat sneakers and with no belt. Go with what you are happy with. If you currently lift in chucks with no belt, you don't need to change that for a meet. Change equipment b/c you want to or are ready. But you don't NEED any of the equipment for a meet (unless a singlet is specified, or a t shirt... or socks). I lift in lifting shoes b/c that's how I started. I wear them for all my lifts. I have do-wins. If you lift barefoot now, invest either in slippers or some type of footwear that meets federation/meet requirements and start lifting that way now. Otherwise, you don't need shoes. That's a training issue. I like my lifting shoes very much. wrist wraps are also a training issue. I don't use them. Meet requirements vary. Wraps vary. Be VERY careful about what you buy. You do not have to lift in a belt. That's also a training issue. If you decide to train now, buy the belt yesterday. They are not comfortable and take a loooong time to break in. You will also need to make sure you are using it correctly. You can go low to high end on belts. There are many great companies. Buckle mechanism is personal preference. They are all fine. Also, again check the rules to ensure your belt is the right size. Some federations care. Singlet - this IS probably something you'll need. Check requirements. There are also often rules about your... ahem... undergarments for males. I would recommend one full lifting session in your singlet. You'll feel utterly stupid. It gets it over with and gets you used to the stupid thing. Order in enough time and order the right size. A singlet forbids pride so make sure the sucker fits. Also make sure you can get a t shirt under it. AND check the rules to see if you have to wear a t shirt. Also check the rules to see if you have to wear socks for deadlifting (it's considered appropriate to do so). In all honesty, unless you NEED the equipment now, I wouldn't stress over it too much. You're lifting strong and lifting well... just enjoy the meet. Chat up lifters to figure out what you might want to buy. Not everyone lifts in fancy shoes or with fancy belts. Like I said, last meet - lots of guys in just sneaks and no belt. You will want to buy some food and water for the day of the meet.

Reason 1: When I had my bf tested at a research lab (not a bod pod), they weighed me and it matched my scale. I have very little daily fluctuation in weight. So, we all agreed, my scale could be considered accurate for bw. Reason 2: the fighters at my gym have to make weight. It's a serious business. So they keep the scale calibrated. My scale at home matches that scale. Reason 3: three other lifters knew their weights on scales they trust. We were all exactly the same amount heavier on the meet scale. Coincidence is unlikely. We all did early weigh ins and we'd been monitoring our weight at the end of the day (not first thing). In reality, it's 3# and for most lifters, whatever. BUT if you are really on the edge of a weight class, that could mean something very different. It really mattered for two of us and didn't matter much for the other person.

Weekend training recap: Saturday - heavy bench and oodles of assistance work at my out of town gym Sunday - heavy bench, heavy deads, oodles of assistance work at out of town gym They had the jacob's ladder thing there and I wanted to get on but was too knackered after long sessions so I didn't do it. Opted instead for beach walking. Our beach has very little hard sand, it's almost all soft (even in the surf), so beach walking can be tough after a while. But it's beach...so yea! Monday I went to advance Muay Thai again! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Coach had us working feints to power combos based on a big winning combo in a fight this weekend. I had a fantastic partner who worked me hard. It was so great. First combo focused on a jab, cross to the body (to set up the feint and power combo), 1, feint 2 to the body, and immediately power into a hook combo of left, right, left hooks, finish with a cut kick to the lead lead. BAM! Second combo reversed this to a cross, jab to the body, cross, feint jab, and immediately into right, left, right hooks, finishing with a fade away inside leg kick. BAM! We worked those combos and then finished with 3x3 min rounds of nonstop pad work. I was exhausted. Hot mess. Then I got to chatting about lifting with one coach, books with two other coaches, and then I went home to a shower. Finished the long weekend off with a trip to the other pub and watching baseball on the patio there. Nice. Beer! Booo.... gotta stop the beers. Got contractors at the house today working on my new bathroom floor! Huzzah! But it means gym showers some time this week. Boooo. Tonight... because my schedule is weird again... MUAY THAI!!!!!!!!!!!! Cannot wait.