marycrawford (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
marycrawford) wrote2003-09-12 02:09 pm
marycrawford) wrote2003-09-12 02:09 pm
Gym rant
I went to the gym at work today, after a month's absence. A good workout, and I feel great, but all the same I have to rant.
10. Yes, I would like a spotter when I bench press my pathetic amount of weight (even 20 kilos can hurt when smashed into your chest). However, I would not like you to row all the weight off me and tell me "It's all you!" No. Really. Maybe your buddies like it like that, but count me out. Put your hands under the bar, hold it as you would a three-week old kitten, and let me do the work.
9. Don't do biceps curls in the Smith machine or in the squat cage. There's only one squat cage, and there are mirrors everywhere for you to admire yourself in.
8. Don't tell me to use the Smith machine for classic free weight exercises like bench presses and squats. The Smith machine has caused more injuries than free weights handled with proper caution ever will.
7. Don't tell me to stand on a piece of wood for squats and deadlifts. That's for people who can't squat with their heels flat on the floor, and even they would do better to just stretch carefully until they can.
6. I'm happy to talk to you about weightlifting, questions of form, how many sets I have left, etcetera. But not while I'm in the middle of a set, you freaking yahoo.
5. When I ask you nicely how many sets you have left, don't say "3" and neglect to mention that those sets are 30 reps each. Or just let me work in already.
4. Don't ask me "Why do you want to work with those scary weights, anyway?" in a dubious tone of voice. (Yes, this question is only ever asked by women.) Because it feels good. Why do you want to sit on a stationary bike for an hour, when you could cycle in fresh air for free?
3. Use a towel. It's one of the house rules, and I don't want to sit in your sweat.
2. Finished with the squat bar? Put the weights back. I'm short. If you leave four 20-kilo plates on the bar, and you rack it at your height, that means it's way above my head. Try it yourself sometime.
1. Do not assume that because I'm the only woman in the free weights area, I must be looking for attention. Also, "Will you spot me for this exercise, please?" is not the exact equivalent of "Will you be my boyfriend, you big hunk of man, you?"
Ahh. I feel even better now.
If you've made it to the end of this and wonder what the hell I'm talking about, check out Krista's site for women who work out - best fitness site ever, in my opinion.
I'll return to fandom subjects next time, promise. :-)
10. Yes, I would like a spotter when I bench press my pathetic amount of weight (even 20 kilos can hurt when smashed into your chest). However, I would not like you to row all the weight off me and tell me "It's all you!" No. Really. Maybe your buddies like it like that, but count me out. Put your hands under the bar, hold it as you would a three-week old kitten, and let me do the work.
9. Don't do biceps curls in the Smith machine or in the squat cage. There's only one squat cage, and there are mirrors everywhere for you to admire yourself in.
8. Don't tell me to use the Smith machine for classic free weight exercises like bench presses and squats. The Smith machine has caused more injuries than free weights handled with proper caution ever will.
7. Don't tell me to stand on a piece of wood for squats and deadlifts. That's for people who can't squat with their heels flat on the floor, and even they would do better to just stretch carefully until they can.
6. I'm happy to talk to you about weightlifting, questions of form, how many sets I have left, etcetera. But not while I'm in the middle of a set, you freaking yahoo.
5. When I ask you nicely how many sets you have left, don't say "3" and neglect to mention that those sets are 30 reps each. Or just let me work in already.
4. Don't ask me "Why do you want to work with those scary weights, anyway?" in a dubious tone of voice. (Yes, this question is only ever asked by women.) Because it feels good. Why do you want to sit on a stationary bike for an hour, when you could cycle in fresh air for free?
3. Use a towel. It's one of the house rules, and I don't want to sit in your sweat.
2. Finished with the squat bar? Put the weights back. I'm short. If you leave four 20-kilo plates on the bar, and you rack it at your height, that means it's way above my head. Try it yourself sometime.
1. Do not assume that because I'm the only woman in the free weights area, I must be looking for attention. Also, "Will you spot me for this exercise, please?" is not the exact equivalent of "Will you be my boyfriend, you big hunk of man, you?"
Ahh. I feel even better now.
If you've made it to the end of this and wonder what the hell I'm talking about, check out Krista's site for women who work out - best fitness site ever, in my opinion.
I'll return to fandom subjects next time, promise. :-)
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Someone recently suggested that a fannish gym would be nice. With television sets looping our favorite shows and with zines in the lounge area, that sort of thing. Nice full size pics of Hercules and Iolaus on the wall might be really inspiring, what do you think? ;)
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The fannish gym idea sounds great, especially if there was a free weight area. (What am I talking about? It's a fantasy gym, of course there's a free weight area. With three squat cages and a deadlift platform. Woo, baby.)
And fannish beefcake posters, yay! What a brilliant idea. I'll take full-size versions of Posing!Herc (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/chimera/Admin/imagesh.cmdx?action=buildURL&name=35) and Shirtless!Iolaus (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/chimera/Admin/imagesi.cmdx?action=buildURL&name=54), please. :-)
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And you would still get work done? ::admires Mary's willpower::
::goes back to admiring other things::
You are a woman of exquisite taste, BTW. I can't stop staring...!
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Hee! You make me crack up.
And you would still get work done? Lift weights? Hell yeah. Write reports, not so much. But you need to rest at least a minute between sets, and it's nice to have something to stare at then, too. :-)
You are a woman of exquisite taste, BTW. I can't stop staring...!
Thanks! I know the feeling. Esp. when it comes to Shirtless!Iolaus. (Am I a bad person for ogling a wounded man? No, don't answer that.)
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The Standing Shoulder Press (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/chimera/Admin/images.cmdx?action=buildURL&name=30)
Lunges (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/chimera/Admin/images.cmdx?action=buildURL&name=42) (sword optional)
The Deadlift (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/chimera/Admin/imagesi.cmdx?action=buildURL&name=23) (Keep your heels on the ground!)
Mary, indulging herself
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This one is one of my favorites: Sword not optional (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/chimera/Admin/images.cmdx?action=buildURL&name=23)
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