Mitch’s goof off space

… is to incorrectly figure the bar’s weight.  I was under the impression that the bars at the gym were 30 pounds, but Wikipedia says a normal Olympic 7′ bar is 20kg/44.1lbs.  If so I guess I just upped my bench by 15lbs.  Whoops.

Another user’s recent blog post got me thinking about ‘passion’.  It’s something that I think really hurts me where my personality is concerned.  I don’t know how and when to show passion; I’m a quiet guy by nature, and I think how my social personality evolved discourages showing a lot of emotion.  I am one to arbitrate between people, or achieve what I want through subtle (almost always beneficial) manipulation.  ‘Tipping your hat’ with emotions and bold statements opens yourself up later for attack, at least that’s how my mind functions I think.

But this has really been hurting me, most recently in the romantic department.  I’m afraid I do not know when to be bold and take something when it is ready - both the need to be polite, and the fear of rejection and mistepping keep me from doing some things that I think are necessary for a fun and active relationship.  I suppose only continued experience will help guide me to what role I should be in, but I wish the steps leading there weren’t so painful…

Life’s general unease has kept me from the gym for a bit, but a previous roommate has signed back up with my gym so I’m obliged to go tonight.  Can he help get me out of my funk?  I do look forward to it because, of the people I have worked out with, he is the only one both markedly stronger and willing to push and be pushed.  I am a person who, while being a natural leader, responds well to instruction.  If someone tells me to do two more, I will try without hesitation.  It is much harder for me to tell myself to do two more.

I know this isn’t really the place for this kind of thing, but my girlfriend has basically shut me out which has killed my ability to sleep, eat or work out.  I’ve just been beside myself for a few days without any answers.  You’ve probably been there so you can sympathize.

Note for dieters: sadness and anxiety make great appetite supressants.

I think I’ve come to accept that 155lbs is where my weight is pretty much going to be staying.  I seem to not be able to fluctuate more than a pound in either direction, no matter how lean or much I eat.  I’d like to be bigger but I’m just not up to committing to eating to be bigger.  I am lucky though, that for the most part I’m happy with the progress I have made and wouldn’t be upset if this is where I’m peaking.

I wonder about how to best introduce someone to fitness in general.  I think, before anything else, you have to examine attitude.  Because with the right attitude, you can summon the will and discipline to make a fitness decision a success.  I believe that’s where most people get turned off - the initial reaction for so many people is negative when they think of ‘the gym’ or ‘working out’.  And it’s unreasonably so, in my opinion.  Where do they get it from?  I think a lot of it has to do with self image and guilt.  Defeating the idea before they give it a real chance.

Have you ever gotten someone to embrace fitness like you have?  How did you bring them into it?

As requested, Gym All-star ‘Naked Estonian Man’.  Maybe not from Estonia, but perhaps an Eastern Bloc country?  He likes to hang out in the locker rooms with nothing on his fifty year old body.  What’s he doing?  I’m not sure, because as I round the corner I get an eyeful then avert my gaze and get my business in there done.  Put a towel on if you’re going to be more than a minute, dude!