The cost of a free education

NOTE: I had a longer version of the following but as often happens, I got it start and had to set it down and come back to it several times. It’s probably obvious that this is a quick way to kill a train of thought. So I’m rewriting it in an abreviated form.

Thank you Chris and Teresa (does she spell it with an H?). I sprung the idea on Chris last Thursday or Friday that I’d like to drop by his house on Saturday. He had stuff to do but was willing to make time for Laura and me to come by. We dropped by and Chris and Teresa were wonderful hosts, letting us hang out in Chris’s home gym (a dramatic understatement). I got to see Chris’s nice, pro style kettlebells. Laura got to see the bell she has always wanted, the pink pro. Laura got to hear a bit from Teresa about the ups and downs of living with a lifter.

More important that looking at more weights, I really enjoyed getting to hear how Chris and Teresa got to where they were. I think I’ve heard all of it before but I can be dense so hearing it a second time was really helpful. It may have simply been the reminder that I needed.  There were a lot of memorable phrases that stick with me, a few come to mind typing this:

“I started building this gym in 2000 as a gift to myself” bear in mind that Chris has been training for longer than I have been alive, it’s not like he just built a gym on his first time out, he earned it in every way.

“We chose to spend money doing things rather than buying stuff” Laura and have tried to hold this philosophy in mind but it’s interesting to see the other side of it, where you can arrive at by following that path.

“You won’t get as strong with kettlebells but you can get more fit.”

“It won’t happen the way you think it will” This was in reference to my thoughts on the order I would go about getting stuff throughout my life.

It was a great education for me Chris, thank you.

Chris, if you decided to do the 14er thing, whether you take your big trip or not, please consider me interested. I’ve got a lot going on in the next 2-3 years but I’ll do my best to take part in an adventure like that.

Today

32K kettlebell

2H swing 25
Strict Press 5/5 -> 1/1
Front Squat 10
5 sets

Time: 20:47
Avg Hr: 154
Max Hr: 173
Body weight:251.4
tsk tsk, it was cake day at work and I had one slice additionally I ate late. My usual Thursday lunch date was unavailable and I hadn’t seen my favorite sushi chef in weeks so I popped over for a spicy bowl, a bowl of rice with some raw fish and hot sauce on top. All that contributed to a high bodyweight when I got home. I’ve actually been behaving myself very well the last few days, aside from this. So, we dust ourselves off and get back on the horse. 250, I never want to see you again.

additional note on weightloss. I went into Joseph A. Banks (a local men’s formal wear retailer) to look at suits. I need to lose a chunk of weight so I can get a nice new suit this summer and look good in it.

additional  – additional note, I think I’m going to start doing a light 20 minute workout in the mornings.