Last week I couldn't fully extend my arms...

This week, I can't fully bend them. Monday began week 2 with Becca and she isn't letting me slack off. I'm working with her Mon, Wed and Fri. Mondays are shoulders, chest and triceps. Wednesdays are back, biceps and abs. Fridays are legs. I haven't squatted yet, and I'm ok with that. I told JRB that I hadn't squatted yet, "Thank God!" and he said something along the lines of, "No, you haven't had the opportunity to experience squatting." Yeah.

Becca is awesome, though. She kicks my ass and helps me push myself. On top of that, she is just a cool person. I don't think I would look forward to my workouts as much if my trainer was a tool.

Big Iron Gym is very different from Gold's. When you walk into Gold's, everything is shiny and the smell is very neutral. Big Iron, on the other hand, is not so shiny and it smells like sweat. As you enter Big Iron, to your right is the front counter, to your left is an approx. 6ft chain link fence separating the entry from the equipment and right in front of you is a pool table. All I've ever seen the pool table used for is a gym bag dumping ground.

At Gold's, they discourage making noise. They also discourage foul language and reserve the right to revoke membership over it. At Big Iron, I've seen everybody in the gym (ok, so it's only 6 people) stop what they are doing to shout encouragement at somebody trying to deadlift a rediculous amount of weight. I've also heard one guy suggest (good-naturedly)to another guy that he should attempt something anatomicaly impossible and nobody batted an eyelash.

Don't get me wrong, Gold's definitly has things in their favor. I do miss a few things about working out there, just not enough to go back yet. I really like Big Iron Gym, but it's still too soon to know if I really do prefer it or it's just a novelty.

Here's a public service announcement based on an IM conversation I had earlier:

XXXXXXX: have you ever seen microwavable pork rinds?
XXXXXXX: they are nasty.
XXXXXXX: Very nasty.
Nikixie: why would you microwave pork rinds?
XXXXXXX: I don't know, beavis
XXXXXXX: given how they tasted I suppose it's much wiser not to
Nikixie: LMAO
Nikixie: are they like uncooked?
XXXXXXX: I'm not entirely sure
XXXXXXX: just don't buy them, ever
XXXXXXX: my advice usually isn't good but this piece is very sound.

The more you know...


Oh, and the Ballard's middle child is going to be paying 2% more on his student loans if he doesn't contact Sally Mae Financial in the very near future.