magicicada

i don't normally get major boosts from my non-academic profs, but my Weight Training prof did a good thing today. now, this is an obvious good thing which was in the syllabus and everything, but it helped me feel better by reminding me about something i should have known - when you start weight training, your weight goes up but your shape gets better. i knew this, but my weight had been going down slowly, but steadily before spring break. in fact it had been just on the teetering edge of a short-term low. i know that i did not eat well on break, but there was also little snacking and, you know, spring break - woo-hoo! however, i did not expect a weight gain of 5 pounds. i had been on schedule to break the 200 lb barrier downwards, and now... i don't think i have enough semester left to do this. i figured it was a bit aided by water retention, but that just meant that when i 'lost' the weight it would just be water and i'd be right back where i started in another few weeks.

well, today we measured ourselves again: biceps, chest, abdomen, hip (or as my partner liked to say, the 'butt measurement'). i lost at least an inch everywhere, with one measurement being down an inch and half. this is why i like weight training, and running, and getting in shape in general. these are gains (or losses) that are more permanent than the odd pizza (or two) can sabotage.

this was also a morale booster, because i once again failed to run the distance that i had been running before i got the flu. i was up to 2.25 mi and today, i just had to stop at 1 mile. a certain amount of perseverance is necessary for running, but i could tell that i was really done. however, after 5 min walking, i did a .25 mile sprint so there is still hope.

also, i had not bench pressed in quite a while due to the vagaries of getting in time with equipment in class, partners whims, etc. therefore, i was not entirely sure that the weights i had listed were correct. i went ahead and had my somewhat skeptical partner help me load the weights and they did look right once they were on there. she helped me get them off the rack and i could just tell it was the right weight - 45 + 15 for each side = 75. i'm sure it's not much by many people's standards, but just doing the bar was hard the first time. and, the prof said 'good form' when i was done which means a lot to me. i don't know how much i will end up lifting, but my hope is to have impeccable form all the way.

i had a female partner today because we were doing measurements, but i have often had a male partner with the lifts. i am just not as 'cliquey' and tend to be 'odd man out' regardless of the context. because of this, i have noticed that i really do fall right in the middle weight wise. all of the guys that i have lifted with can do more - significantly more, especially on upper body work. however, i do a little bit better than most of the ladies on lower body and MUCH better on arms. it's nice. i don't mind being the poky one, but it's nice to feel strong sometimes too.