This is the end of my eighth week of cower in place. As Dave Ramsey might say, I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have plenty of criticisms of my governor, his orders, and our destroyed economy that I have vented here and in comments. But this week I am moving on. I have to. It’s become a contest between my hatred of statist errors and my sanity. I’m choosing my sanity.
The lemonade I’ve made of these lemons is working out regularly. The quality of my workouts has not been as high as the before times. Not having access to the gym is a problem. So I have substituted endurance and persistence for intensity.
At the start of the lockdown, my weight had been creeping up ever so slightly. I was unhappy and knew I could do better. So, I have taken this as an opportunity to make better food choices, prepare more of my own meals, and concentrate on getting enough protein.
In March I started tracking and recording my weight. I do a weekly weigh in that comes with a little nervous anticipation. I started at 182. I’m down to 177. It has not been a straight line and I have had some frustration given the amount of conditioning I’ve added to my routine. Still, it is progress on the way to my interim goal of 175. In these frustrating times, every week I have dropped half a pound or a pound, I have gotten a boost of pride and some sense of control over my situation.
Another area in which I focused some attention are my lats. They are easily my weakest area and have been my downfall when testing in my AthleanX program. Tejicano posted a helpful article on pullups that struck a chord with me. I decided it was time to directly take on the challenge.
I chose to incorporate pullups into my strength workouts no matter how bad I was at them. And I was bad. When I started, I could only do 2 and I’m being a bit generous calling the second one a completed pull up. The only pull up bar available to me is one mounted in a doorway. I don’t like it because it’s lower than I like. But it had to do.
So, every strength workout of every week has included pullups. Slowly, I have added more reps and more sets. Yesterday was a personal best of 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 2. These are not perfect pullups. I don’t have the wingspan of a bat. I still have a long way to go. I’m not sure I’m going full Goggins but hot damn I have been persistent, and it is paying off.
This is really nothing more than The Slight Edge principle at work. I’m not sure if I have recommended that book in the past. If not, that’s my oversight. It is a great book that applies to just about any area of life. I highly recommend it.
Here are a few songs to get you to drop that doughnut and get moving. Uncredited Ozzy backing vocal. The only French rock song I ever liked. Sometimes a supergroup really is super.
I started at 182. I’m down to 177.
Progress. Excellent.
Here are a few songs to get you to drop that doughnut and get moving.
uhh…..
shit
Yeah, I ate the last of those doughnuts from Sunday River Brewing.
I’ve also been drinking ever since I finished mowing the lawn.
/empties recycling bin of beer cans
With things opening back up this week, I’m planning on starting to get back into the swing of things on Tuesday (which happens to coincide with when gyms are allowed to open). I was able to get a 24 mile ride in yesterday, letting the burn fade a bit before getting back out into the sun.
On the bad side, no e-mails from the spin studio I was going to as to if they’re reopening or not. At least the weather may finally be breaking to where I can get real rides in with planned rest stops.
Good work getting back to it Neph.
A bit too early to be congratulatory yet. Yesterday was the second day of patio seating allowed at locations. It was also the first clear and sunny day with decent temperatures (mid-70’s) in a long time. But as things start opening up, I feel like I can start ramping down the eating out to support local businesses and get back to a better diet. Of course, rain is predicted for 6 of the next 10 days… but at least it’s supposed to be clear next weekend. I’ve got some 40 mile rides planned, but I don’t think I’m there yet. Hit some leg cramps on the way home yesterday, but nothing that reached bonking level.
Chafed
I appreciate your upbeat/can-do attitude.
Keep up the good work.
Does muscle really weigh more than fat? How much more?
Muscle is more dense than fat.
Okay, poorly phrased question.
I trying to figure out why my pants still fit but my weight is up.
And be nice, I am a delicate flower prone to wilting.
Because everyone stores weight differently. All my weight goes to my gut. Some guys just put on weight evenly all over.
Gut and face for me, with a side-order of kidney rolls. Sadly, even when I’m at fighting trim weight, the kidney rolls simply refuse to disappear. Been an annoyance all of my life.
DEG is correct and that’s part of the answer. If you have put on some muscle while also losing some fat, your weight may be the same.
Whoops. If in the same volume you have more muscle than fat, compared to whenever you started measuring, then your weight would be up while your pants still fit.
So my pants are a measurement of volume. Let’s pretend that the weight I’ve gained is muscle, then the “muscle weight” takes up less volume than “fat weight.” Mostly I would like to tell myself that the increase in weight is an increase in muscle and not fat.
If your pants fit better, it is almost absolutely certain that it’s an increase in muscle.
tl;dr muscle takes up less space than fat.
Think of it like…decluttering your CD collection.
You take all your CDs out of their jewel cases, put them into slipcovers, and tuck them away in a small box. All of them together are heavy as hell, but they take up less room.
I would happily weigh 20 pounds more than I do now, if it was all muscle. If your pants fit and your weight goes up, that’s almost certainly a good thing, because it means more muscle (unless you store fat in weird places).
a pound of muscles weighs about as much as a pound of feathers
the question is what takes up all the space inside your belt
I don’t science too well.
I’ve found pants that fit better, so I don’t need to wear my belt anymore.
Then where do you wear your onion?
Inquiring minds want to know.
With a little care, it can replace/stand in for a man bun.
This much.
Disclaimer: I’m not familiar with the source so they could totes be making shit up.
It’s not about weight. It’s a matter of volume.
My upper body muscle mass is really suffering because most of my exercise is walking and mowing the lawn. I need to force myself to do more better workouts.
Just finished mowing my back yard. OMG am I deconditioned. Sadly, I did not mark how much time it took nor how many breaks I took, but my goal is to be able to do it faster and with no breaks by the end of the summer (if we’re here that long).
And in case anyone is wondering why XY isn’t doing it, it’s because he is now banned from touching the lawnmower because reasons. Also, I like mowing and I missed it.
Don’t stress about the speed. You get a better cut if you do a slower pace.
Sorry about the XY; that’s got to be frustrating.
Glad you like mowing, though. I find it peaceful and relaxing in an OCD sense.
I’ll second everything Tonio said.
Very meditative, yes. Better than yoga. Not as good as a massage.
Have you tried a hot stone home massage? I’m not generally a massage person (sensitive to touching), but tried hot stones at a point of great stress.
Does lawnmowing have the equivalent of a happy ending?
That’s what leaf blowers are for.
Snow blower, garden tiller, lawn mower, all just walking, just with different clothes.
I used to hate it, then I paid someone to do it, and they did it all wrong. Now, I admittedly kind of enjoy it.
Feel free to start today.
Did yard work today, coaching tomorrow, but Tue-Thu going to be rainy. Gym-ball and hand weights here I come!
I had my work out already today.
Put 140 out of 150 in the 10 ring at 25 yards with the new Ruger PC9 with a Burris red dot.
I am looking forward to getting to an out door range soon.
Nice. I saw one being handled at the store yesterday. Looked like fun.
tfb tv reviews the PC9
HI Chafed!
I’m choosing my sanity.
I hear you. I reached the end last weekend. I was tired of being pissed all the time. My workouts were shit, my attitude was shit, my sleep was shit and I managed to eliminate all the gains I had made. Fuck.
A buddy of mine challenged me to do this. He had just finished it and said it was great for getting his head in a better place and getting him back focused on his bigger goals. It’s kind of interesting and will definitely be a challenge.
Hopefully my gym will be open in a few weeks. I am dreaming of barbells.
Good luck this week, people!
I hope so. Walking, pushups, and the rest were good for the first month. Now I feel and look like shit. Really pissing me off now.
I hear you Drake. One way I shook it up was by supersetting a few body weight exercises, not resting between sets, and doing more sets than I’ve done before. It adds an element of conditioning to strength exercises.
I’ll also suggest you up your conditioning. It’s a different challenge and adds something new to keep you mentally engaged.
Maybe hunting politicans for sport with spears would be good cardio and stress relief.
Thanks Tundra. Have you read David Goggins’ book? I’m asking because the program you linked appears to have a fair amount of overlap with Goghins’ work.
I have and it does. I really like the five simple rules. Lots of flexibility about how you attack it, but zero flexibility about hitting all five every day.
I like a simple program. It’s why I’ll be going back to 5/3/1 when I can get into the gym.
5/3/1 is a good program.
Good walking week – over 3 miles per day, plus yard work. Our gym reopened, so a few days of weights. My husband purchased a Gorilla Bow for me – arrived yesterday.
https://www.gorillabow.com/
Okay, they guy in the sleeveless shirt exercising outdoors has me sold.
It’s good you found your motivation.
So my pants are a measurement of volume. Let’s pretend that the weight I’ve gained is muscle, then the “muscle weight” takes up less volume than “fat weight.” Mostly I would like to tell myself that the increase in weight is an increase in muscle and not fat.
Do the ol’ pinch test. Thumb and forefinger, see how much fat you can pinch.
It depends on the area. I’m actually okay with a little fat, just slightly less than where I am now (and I’d like it to stay in certain areas).
Laughing about where you lose fat. Since I ride a horse I really notice when my arse drops some padding.
What happens when you run out of thumb and forefinger.
I would not leave the house, total nonCovid isolation.
Oh, you were making a joke.
https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/026/862/homer.jpg
Use your fist?
Day 78 of my Ozy challenge.
I had missed a day about Day 32 or so and did yesterday’s in the morning and today’s in the afternoon the next day. I was stuck in town on Day 76 but there was no way that I could do 76 in the morning and 77 later. Maybe I’ll just go to 101 to make up for it.
My thighs are constantly sore. Starting about Day 70 or so I finished up very winded and had to walk around a bit to catch my breath.
I’m with you. I’m on day 86 (90 reps) of squats, plus a bunch of other things that I’ve been working in. The 30’s and the 70’s were the hardest to muscle through. I actually feel like the the last leg to 100 will be more or less coasting.
My pushup performance is lagging, to my surprise. I’m up to a max of 20 reps on the first set, but only if I rest arms and chest for two days between attempts. I have added 1.5″ to my chest measurement in 3 months. Half from chest growth, half from back growth.
On doctors advice (telemedicine). I’m not doing it for a another week. Then I’ll have to start over. My knee just wasn’t getting better,it just plateaued at a point where stairs still hurt going down. I have another appointment in a week and then we’ll see.
Interesting. Ive had a long term knee problem that has improved quite a bit throughout this routine. Spitballing here, but maybe a 50% reduction in pain (both the dull daily pain and sharp full range pain. Its never been diagnosed, so I have no idea what the specific injury is.
I slipped on wet grass and wrenched it badly. I didn’t realize how badly for the first few days.
You are awesome, Hobbit! You are finding out what many people also have to find out the hard way – squatting for any real number of reps is a both a “leg” and a conditioning workout, all by itself. There are infinite variations once you’ve gotten confident you can do 100 squats.
e.g. 4 rounds for time of: 25 squats and 10 pushups (or 15, or 20…). OR – 5 rounds for time of: 20 squats and 5 pullups (or 10, or 15, or…). And then you can change up whether it’s a time priority or task priority. For example, in 10 minutes, do as many rounds and reps as possible of: 10 squats & 10 pushups.
You are on the verge of opening up a vista of exercise and movement possibilities for yourself, TBH. Bravo!
Ditto to APS, as well. Usually the 30s and the 70s are the ‘decades’ that are a grind.
Tulip – no biggie! It’s always there as a gateway and now you know what to expect in those early sets. Heal up, but in the meantime, see if you can do stretching for 10-15 minutes. I have no specific program in mind, either, just get on the floor and roll around and stretch everything you can. Hold it and gently lean/push as you breathe out slowly. Do it for 3-5 good deep breaths. Be like a kid – just let yourself explore what your body can do, where it’s right, and do it until you’re warm.
I’m back to CrossFit main page wods with a heavy emphasis on running alongside it. I have three courses I mapped out from my house: 2.6 miles, 3.1 miles, and 3.6 miles and I just put on a cap and hit one of them every day. I want to get back to being a runner, something I used to do fairly well a few decades ago. To break up the monotony, I occasionally get on the rower instead. Keep at it Glibs!
squatting for any real number of reps is a both a “leg” and a conditioning workout,
On that note, when I was younger I tried the 20 rep squat workout which I found out about from Randall Strossen’s work.
I found if I dropped it to a 15 rep squat, I could finish the program.
I doubt I could pull it off now.
French rock
Well.. at least someone clicks the links.
French TV
Was expecting this.
Working from home has been great for getting extra walking in – I can just head out the door for 30 minutes, bring my phone with me in case any work 911’s come up, and get some sunshine. The mood boost alone has given me the extra willpower to clean up my diet a bit so overall this has been great for my health. Not sharing any numbers but I’m seeing small results on the scale which is encouraging.
Some of the dog parks have started opening up so going twice a day on the weekend and running around with all the doggos has been great too. Being around a bunch of goofy happy dogs really does a lot to put the world into perspective.
I’ve also been walking a lot more since I’ve been working from home. It’s good.
I jacked up my back splitting wood yesterday(and I was using a splitter), so I hired the kid next door to enact my labor and stack it for me. I have no guilt.
“Hired the kid next door”?!?!?! Your orphans should be doing it for you if you’re not going to do it yourself (you know, for the exercise).
I will condense my piles of wood in the shed (you know, for exercise) at some point.
You could have called. I’d have underbid the kid but would need round trip carfare.
I gave him an extra five he did such a good job.
What happens when you run out of thumb and forefinger.
They make calipers in a variety of sizes. If you need a twelve inch caliper, you’re fat.
I’d say that’s a fair assumption.
12 inch caliber? My goodness, your deer are bigger than here. Glad I don’t reload for you…
Made me think of Kill Bill.
You people are far too motivated. ?
I was motivated at one point. I’d like to get it back. Looks like I may be able to get a ride in Tuesday and Wednesday this week if the predictions are correct. Probably plan on some short 15 mile rides to get the conditioning back.
Hey Mo thanks for the kind words about the trailer! GlibFit? I worked in the trailer and garden and took the dogs for a walk.
I need to start running again but my motivation is lacking
Eggs and sausage, scrambled up with cheese and salsa on top. I’m starting to wonder if I’m going to puke it right back up.
My life is not going smoothly, these days.
Sorry to hear that Brooks.
Sorry.
That stinks, Brooks. I’m sorry.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/covid-toes-other-rashes-latest-possible-rare-virus-signs/2420555/
Covid toes.
FFS. ?
This virus behaves exactly like climate change. No matter what happens, it’s the cause. SCIENCE!
Cue the coronachondriacs.
I like that.
Sounds like a plot to revive Leg Show. Well played, Dian Hanson; well played indeed.
this is actually interesting to me because i mysteriously got these symptoms last week and couldn’t figure out the cause.
clearly i’ve had covid and am now free to do as i please.
?
*maintains 6 ft distance*
Idiots. Thats just Morgellons.
Interesting how that’s finally showing up in the media now. This isn’t exactly either news or the latest.
Does it cause Camel Toe?
That’s a genetic condition.
My workout now consists of popping beers, helping the wife with the house, since I’m always here, and working with my deck garden. I need to get back to routine, but it is what it is for now. I feel fine, but I need to get the wife to cut my hair, I’m looking a little caveman here.
I read that as “pooping bears” fwiw.
That only happens when I’ve drank too much Natty Bo.
GlibFit gals say “imagine the possibilities”.
http://archive.li/autb9
25 has an awesome booty and thighs
I like 17, not that I look at these things, asking for a friend.
17 seems to have ” don’t you dare post that on the internet” crazy eyes.
She has great legs and ass though.
Good lord
You hit it outta the park with that set!
#27 is way better than me at the pigeon pose.
#18 is my favorite. Her iChive gallery is fantastic.
32 could be interesting.
I have the unfortunate tendency to cook or bake special delicacies when I’m stuck inside the house.
So I gained back some of what I lost but am still at a net loss.
Need to find a non-food means of celebrating or of passing time .
Martinis. ?
DRANK! Oh wait, now I remember the last time you did that, never mind (:
Most of the ways I can think of that fit your criteria are horizontal.
Knitting, crocheting, or sewing! The first two have lower start-up costs and can be done either in front of the TV or while lounging on one’s veranda. I like to create things that won’t ultimately end up either in my toilet or on my hips (in such a way that they are not easily removed.)
Sex?
How do you maintain proper social distancing doing that? It needs to be banned! /Karen
I’ve got a six-foot dick, so I don’t need to worry about social distancing during sex.
You weren’t getting anything more than masturbation anyway, so it’s not an issue for you.
It was one thing when you were wildly exaggerating by claiming you have 6 inches, but now you’ve gone too far.
Are you stealing Brochettaward’s
dschtick now?Ted S. is an overgrown porcupine?
Need to find a non-food means of celebrating or of passing time .
Dance.
Gardening works for me, and you can actually eat the results. And pretty much everything I grow is good for you and will not put any fat on you. Anyways, the entire carbs vs protein thing is way overrated, it’s the actual amount of calories being consumed vs energy spent burning the calories. And you can’t eat enough calories in tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, or pretty much any other veggie to make you gain weight. You might be able to do it with potatoes or corn, but I even doubt that. Without highly processed calorie dense food and sedentary lifestyle, most people would have a hard time getting overweight. I’ve gained weight since this corona clusterfuck, but I’m drinking enough beer to float a battleship around. Beer does not exist in nature and it takes a lot of sugar to make it.
That sounds like a challenge that would end up badly for me. But one of my issues is that I don’t get full (unless I’ve eaten an obscene amount of food). For beer, part of the process is converting starches into sugar for the yeast. You can use potatoes and the like to make beer, but it’s not common.
Potato vodka is a thing. I don’t know why, but it is. I no longer drink hard liquor because it raises my blood pressure. Beer doesn’t seem to have that effect, but it does make me gain some weight.
I’ve got a Fitbit, and I notice that my heart rate goes up anytime there’s alcohol consumption. I gain weight with alcohol regardless of what type it is.
I typically wear my fitbit all of the time, except when I’m sleeping.
For some reason, hard liquor sends my heart rate and blood pressure into overdrive. Beer has a minimal effect, and a rise typically does not occur until the next day after drinking it, and it’s not enough for concern.
I love bourbon and vodka. I mean do I ever love it. But I just can’t justify drinking it because of health reasons. I’m also pretty sure it’s hard on your liver, although mine seems to be made of titanium.
I wear mine even through sleeping. That way it can judge my sleep too. My BP stays stable through it all, it’s just the heart rate that goes up. Of course, for me, a resting heart rate in the 60’s is high (it was down to sub-50 when I was working out on a regular basis and dropping the weight). I’ve got a huge selection of Scotch, Irish Whiskey, and Bourbon on the shelves in my basement. As the weather turns good, I’ve shifted to gin, and I found a local distillery that makes a really solid gin (with no anise).
Having to quit drinking, cut way back on salt, and start this quarantine crap all at the same time has thrown me for a loop.
When shopping is less of a pain, I will be more inclined to do careful counting.
how are you juggling your recent challenges? I think you’re a bit more banged up that the average Glib
Pull ups/Chin ups have always been my nemesis. I have one of those door jam mounted pull up bars and I find it very awkward to use for the reason you mentioned. I do plan on adding pull ups to my work out soon just to see if I can manage 1 pull up. I started dieting and working out after browsing thru one of these glib-fit threads when the lockdowns started – you guys and gals were my inspiration and motivation. In 8 weeks I’ve dropped 30 lbs and now none of my clothes fit anymore. Thanks!
Damn man. Good job. I’ve put about 15 back on from what I lost. Local restaurants are not exactly health food around here… and the increase in alcohol consumption doesn’t help either.
Thanks, I was up to 280 on a 6’1 frame. While I didn’t look like a total porko I was definitely fat with a spare tire. I’ve been doing weight training with free weights along with push ups and sit ups. Walking on off days. I think dieting was was biggest factor but the weight training has helped a lot too. Next goal is to tackle the dreaded pull-up.
I’m floating at around 205 now, was down to 190 on a 5′ 10″ frame. I had a decent routine going before the lockdown, key word being before. Since then, trying to support local restaurants/breweries, increased stress from an inability to plan, lack of routine, and shitty weather all built up to me slacking off on the workouts and diet.
For me, I haven’t found anything that lets me drop weight other then calorie counting (which is a pain). The exercise (especially riding) helps get me out, and there are few things that feel as good as getting the speed up high enough on the bike to be in the toughest gear and still keeping the cadence going.
I used to love to ride a bike as kid but haven’t rode one in decades. Something I am interested in, I may get a bike mount for my car and see if I can find a decent second hand bike. Lots of bike trails around me. I do use an exercise bike, an ancient DP Ergometer with one of those fan bladed front wheels. Took me awhile to be able to do 10 minutes on the thing. It had been serving as a clothes hanger in my basement for the past 25 years.
I’ve got a stationary, but I hate spending time on it, and do it only in the case that I’m motivated, the weather is shitty, and the spin studio is closed. I used it a couple of times during the lockdown.
Most major cities will have both new bike shops, places selling refurbished/used bikes, and Craigslist. Best time to look on Craigslist is end of summer/beginning of fall when people realize that the bike they’ve had in the garage hasn’t been touched all year. I enjoy cycling because there’s over a hundred miles of trails near me, and some decent street riding in my area. If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend a hybrid bike (you sit-up straight on it, and it’s got wider tires) over a road bike (ride hunched over most of the time, very narrow tires). The hybrid can do roads and trails, and handle pot holes better than a road bike. I’ve got a road and a hybrid, I was planning on getting a touring bike this spring, but pushed it off.
/starts considering doing the GAP this fall if PA opens up again.
Thanks for the tips, I’ll be on the lookout for a hybrid soon.
Not a problem. You can also check if there’s any bike shops in your area that do rentals so you can try bikes out.
Congrats.
That’s fantastic work on the weight loss CTC. Congratulations!
Thanks, still have at least 40 lbs to go.
Nice!
In 8 weeks I’ve dropped 30 lbs and now none of my clothes fit anymore.
Excellent
Fantastic!
And that, children, is the story of how owning a Tesla became racist, sexist and homophobic.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1262076474565242880
Will they now come with gun racks?
Harley-Davidson sticker in the rear window.
The worst hemorrhoid flare up of my life has finally subsided after being very careful about what(lots of fiber to help reduce the inflammation) and how much I eat(not much at all). Dead animal seemed to aggravate it as well so not much protien. As a result, I lost eight pounds and am back down to 167lbs. I need to be at 180-185lbs to really feel healthy. I’m pale, gaunt, waxy looking, and have dark bags under my eyes. I’ll be turning forty in a few days looking like dogshit. Hurray!
Hawt.
My found using a bidet helped with relieving some of the hemorrhoid problems vs toilet paper.
“I’m pale, gaunt, waxy looking, and have dark bags under my eyes.”
/Romanian Grinder
Sigh… I feel your pain, TH. I once laughed at Nobby’s Piles, now I suffer from them.
No running this week to let the calf/achilles/whatever heal. Have been going for short walks 2-3 miles. Been eating low carb/keto.
I plan on running tomorrow morning.
For today though, it’s “A Force of One” on Amazon, Old Grand Dad and branch water, and porkchops. https://twitter.com/egould310/status/1262122910233157632?s=21
I enjoy Jangle Noise. Thanks for that.
Thank you kind lady.
*golf clap*
Two walks this weekend because it rained Friday evening. An hour or so with the dog each day, ran across one pair of bikers each time.
One other thing I saw on my ride yesterday was a group of cyclists riding together, and a group of joggers running together. No social distancing, and no masks.
I think the lockdown theater is coming to an end.
Kayaking is hard work, I might get some little muscles on my scrawny upper body, that’s Glibfit enough for me,
/Walking the park daily helps
Speaking of health….
I was hit by a car on September 21, 2019. Large portions of my shattered skull had to be removed and semi-brain surgery had to be done on Sept. 22. Everything got put back together with titanium. Now my hips, the titanium veterans, are no longer alone and have friends to talk and make love to!
I fly home from Korea May 21st. Curious, I figured out how many days there were between the accident and the return. 243 days. Divide that by 366 (Leap Year!) and ya get .6639.
Round up…and .666! And I’m 33 years old! Devil and Christ! Together! ME! THIS COMPARISON IS ODDLY FITTING!
(Joking aside, if one looks at the way I have lived my life, coupled with the experiences I’ve had and how many near-death experiences I’ve bounced back from…it’s pretty remarkable. Lady keeps getting upset with me that I haven’t learned to be safer.
I’m so used to be near peril that it doesn’t frighten me anymore. It’s just how I stupidly have learned to accept that that is just the way things are.
I’m incredibly lucky to still be here. And resilient. There are lessons to be learned. Wisdom (of sorts) to share. Sadly, I still tend to walk the boundary between the angel and devil that float around me, sputtering off their advice.
I’m happy to still be amongst the living, but stupidly understand why I haven’t yet learned to be smarter about the ways I live.)
Good to hear you are still hanging in there.
Glad you’re still with us.
How long are you planning on staying here in the states? (My apologies if I missed an update).
Thanks! Now that I’m not at that hellhole of a school with it’s unspeakably shitty management, I feel so much better. Mostly 80-90% normal I’d think. The auditory hallucinations are almost all gone, where they used to occupy about 75% of my day.
I want to get back to work as soon as possible, though I might not come back to Korea. I had a great time in Singapore, both financially and professionally. I can’t really imagine working in America. My entire adult life has been spent outside of it.
I am probably staying for at least three months…but my first stop is a two week quarantine! Honestly, I’m going to look at it as a vacation. I like my privacy and don’t feel much need to go out and be social. When I do I’m good at it and love playing drums, but the time off and the alone-time is going to be very good for my mental/physical help.
I have some online freelance work that I plan on kicking into as much as I possibly can, along with exploring other avenues of proofreading/editing/writing projects that I can tackle.
I will be in Indianapolis and would love to chat with folk. I shouldn’t be driving because of the epilepsy, but I haven’t had any seizures or anything in 7 or so weeks. Still, best be safe and listen to the good side of myself.
Indianapolis is driving distance for me (Cleveland), if you’re interested in meeting up, feel free to reach out when you get settled in (my handle at Google’s mail will get to me). The girlfriend is a fan of New Day craft cider/mead, so I may be able to convince her to ride along.
You’re going to be on I-70 passing through Dayton. You can pick me up and some other SW Ohio glibs.
Tres… I drive a Mini Cooper. While it would be entertaining to see you try to get into the back seat, it’s not recommended.
FIne. Park here and we’ll take the Denali.
I’m about 4 hours north of Indy, and have a niece and grand-niece I haven’t met yet about 45 minutes south of Indy. Let me know if a get together happens, I can likely make it down.
Evan, it’s always wonderful to hear from you and I’m glad you’re on the mend.
You still with your lady?
Your guardian angel is on Prozac.
Very glad to hear this! You’ve been a trouper, and more, through this experience.
Always glad to hear reports, especially when they’re good!
Evan! You’re still alive and with us! Yay!
So, about Lady. Last we heard, you and she had said goodbye, and then you were mentioning her again. I believe we missed something.
We are still together, thought we do have our personal dilemmas to overcome. I am still recovering and she has been more than a saint to help me through everything. Our school fucked her over and never gave her a proper visa here, and now with COVID South Africa/Korea do not get along at all and she can’t go back home legally. She has very few countries SoKo will let her go to. Combine that with our finances, legal and professional difficulties, her life is also stressful to navigate. Add me to the mix (and her issues with mine) and we are like Hillary and Norgay climbing up through strife.
But we’re in love and we do our best.
Sounds like you guys have what you need. Glad to hear you are OK.
Finally went to the gym. I felt bad about gaining 5 pounds, the trainer gained closer to 20. Since he’s a semi-pro boxer it turns out gaining weight is really easy for him to do.
Don’t wanna brag, but its really easy for me too.
Wow! My first confrontation wrt not wearing a face mask. I was in a park in Boston, the vast majority is wearing masks but not everyone. An old hag told me that I should wear a mask. I replied that I wasn’t participating in this masquerade. She insisted that it was the law. I told her to fuck herself. So, it was classy.
‘OK, now fuck off Karen, unless you’re ready to make a citizen’s arrest’
Whoa..too soon, cowboy.*
*Its never too soon
Is it really the law there?
Can’t be any more than illegal than not wearing a seatbelt.
According to the governor’s edict, it’s mandatory if you cannot stay at least 6 feet away. But individual cities may have issued stricter edicts. Plus there’s a sign at every park entrance that everyone must wear a mask.
Gay
Practice having a coughing fit. Karen will be gone in an instant.
Lick your palms, then go creepy joe on her,
Another guy (Shopper, no employee) was telling my husband he had to wear a mask.
Mr Splosives looked at him perplexed, replied with some fake sign language, pointed at his ear and shook his head.
Reminds me of when my wife answers the phone and it’s some scam call and she talks to them in Portuguese until they get frustrated and hang up.
Lately I’ve been getting spam/scam calls in Chinese, which is very strange. There’s zero connection between my life now and my life when I built and managed a team in China. Or there sure shouldn’t be.
That’s a thing actually.
The ChiComs are calling random numbers saying you’ve been found out for violating various emigration rules in Mandarin and ordering people to report to the nearest immigration office.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-behind-all-those-chinese-speaking-robocalls/
When you show up, they arrest you.
Huh. TIL
Karens and Betas everywhere ya go. I think the only reason they go out is to be assholes. They can all fuck off.
Funny thing is staying home is clearly 100x safer than going out with a mask.
Excellent.
I’ll raise a glass to you.
“Sooooo kind of you to take an interest” is the polite version if you wish not to immediately take it up to 11.
All this Karen talk always makes me think of Goodfellas. “Whaddaya mean you flushed it, Karen?!”
French rock?
Nobody did this ?
*he was akshually Belgian, but its IN French
Funny Glib-worthy lyrics (sex and drinking).
Touche pas ma planète!
You didn’t click the link did you?
When lockdown started, I went out to buy a set of PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells. They were sold out everywhere. I went on craigslist and bought a set that were about 50% more than buying brand new. It was the best purchase I made all lockdown.
Every morning, as my company CEO does his morning “Coronageddon State of the Company” broadcast, I am hitting those weights. In 6 weeks, I’ve pretty much doubled my lifts, and I am starting to wonder what is next when I top out 90lbs per weight for some lifts. I just installed a pull up bar in the doorway. I have never been heavier than I am now, but I am ten times more fit. I started doing pushups and situps with my son. My biggest impact has been back-workouts. Hungarian dead lift, DB row, Plank DB Row and Fly. This has pulled my shoulders back, tightening up the man boobs and improved my lower back pain immensely.
Just the other day I joined a video conference and my boss was like, “Holly shit, it’s like you’ve been in prison with nothing to do but workout”. I have been paying personal trainers for 6 months or so, just on the hope it would force me to get into the gym. But it was always interrupted by assholes (that outrank me) who don’t respect my calendar. As much as I detest this lockdown, the prisonyard workouts have been a silver lining.
Hungarian dead lift
Did you mean Romanian deadlift?
Probably? Yes, Sorry, Romanian deadlift.
OK. I was wondering if there was a variation I hadn’t heard of, which is quite possible.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
I know, I know. Laugh at me if you want but the fact is that nearly every action taken by government in response to this coronatheater is strictly and specifically illegal.
Sheesh. You just need to learn to listen to our betters.
I do, very carefully.
Congress made no law. Executive Orders FTW
To be fair Congress hasn’t passed such laws. Governors and unelected bureaucrats have just dictated them.
An old hag told me that I should wear a mask. I replied that I wasn’t participating in this masquerade.
I had an eye appointment Friday afternoon. When I arrived, this girl was running around wiping stuff in a frenzy like she was trying to clean up a fresh murder scene. She actually locked me out of the office. When she finally opened the door, the first words out of her mouth were, “I’ll have to get you a mask, unless you brought one with you.”
I said, “I’m not wearing a mask.”
She made a sort of squeak, as if I had just told her to get her panties off. So I said, “I refuse to participate in this idiotic theater.”
The End.
She said something as IO was going down the stairs about rescheduling, and I told her maybe when they come to their senses.
“I checked with the ___Secretary of State. Because I’m over___(in my case, way over) I don’t have to wear a mask because I’m going to die anyway”
Same as a prostate exam or colonoscopy.
Jounolist at it again…
https://apnews.com/c596e78d503f953fc8acf1eaad1b4dea
Be awesome if they focused on the actual pols exhibiting and exercising this behavior…
Like Gauleiter Wolf, Gauleiterin Whitmer, Gauleiter Newsom, Gauleiter Pritzker, Gauleiter Hogan, Gauleiter Murphy
Ah fuck it.
All of ’em.
Yep but Trump said he could. No fan and he has signed some awful legislation, but has actually engaged in federalism that hadn’t been seen in quite some time.
Oh well…off to prep dinner
He says a lot of dumb stuff that he doesn’t act upon. Probably most of which.
I posted for my CA friends on FB a link to Newsom musing about martial law with the header: they said martial law would happen because we elected Trump!
From what I have seen the majority of people have no idea what Martial law is.
Martial law is military legal system taking over when the civilian courts are non-existent or non-functioning. No executive branch shithead can declare martial law because they dont like the way the civilian courts are behaving.
If Newsome declares martial law on a whim people would be absolutely justified in resisting with arms.
I can’t decide who I hate more: Officials and unelected bureaucrats or the media that lie their asses off carrying water for statist fucks.
It’s interesting they are upset about what Trump could do but are cheerleaders what governors have actually done.
They are ‘the right people in charge’ morons. They aren’t smart enough to figure out that the problem is the game, not the players. They really are morons.
I’ll post it again cuz it’s so damn cute. XX’s Mother’s Day present.
She got a pin like that that she put on her Walmart vest and I laughed over it, so she got me this.
Isn’t that XY’s gift to you?
No, XX got me that.
The kids getting us gifts is a new thing because we never asked them to apportion money to get someone else a gift. I never really thought it was right to ask a kid to get an adult (or a sibling they are constantly fighting with) a gift (even if it is a teaching moment).
So XY doesn’t do it at all and XX only started a couple of occasions ago.
My mistake. I thought you told us earlier XY got it and can’t use the lawnmower.
No, XX got me the flag, but XY can’t use the lawnmower.
I’m commenting late here but it’s only 9 AM here and I’ve still got chores to do.
Pull-up update – I did the Russian routine for about 8 weeks at which time I started feeling a feel injuries. To me an “injury” is a persistent, local pain which doesn’t go away even when I’m not exercising. So I took a few days off and tested myself. When I first started the Russian system I could only do 3 perfect form pull-ups. At the peak of the program I was doing 11 but I can’t say they were all perfect. After the short rest period I could do 6 with perfect form, throat touching the bar on each rep.
After that I started doing 5 sets a day of my max rep each set. After a few days that max went to 7. I did 5 sets of 7 for 5 days after that. Today I’m on a rest day and expecting to take my max to 8 tomorrow.
I could probably try to get faster gains but in my experience (particularly at my age) I find that leads to injury which requires a long recuperation period. I prefer slow gains to that.
Otherwise, I saw that I had been putting on some weight and started doing long walks (4 to 7 miles) every day. I started with a rucksack with a 40 lb load but my ankles didn’t like that so I’m going to continue without a load until I’m accustomed to these daily long walks. I expect that losing some weight will also help with the pull-ups.