Happy Squat Monday!

I trained at the Toronto Athletic Club this morning instead of at UofT. I’d planned to swim, and it would’ve been convenient because I could have extended the simile I’m about to make if I had, but it turns out that I made a good decision when I decided to start my Monday off with some heavy squats instead! I got PRs all over the place and it felt pretty glorious. On my way home, because I was walking through the PATH back towards Union Station as everyone else was going in the opposite direction, I felt like a particularly heroic little salmon swimming against the current! I think today’s going to be good.

Here’s a joke to brighten your morning: What’s yellow and dangerous?

Shark infested custard!

What a Bad Little Prince am I

I’ve been slacking on the weight loss thing. The powerlifting meet and (more importantly!) nude beach season are fast approaching! This is not the time for complacency!

Springtime in Hell

University is hard! I’m languishing in one of the lower circles of Essay Hell. I’d be grateful if you could send some hope in after me because I had to abandon mine at the gate. There was an inscription over the portal’s lofty arch about baggage restrictions…

I’ve been making the most of the nice weather by taking long, circuitous routes between class, the gym, and the library.

A Setback

I followed up last week’s squat PR with bench press, pullup, and deadlift PRs…but I was humbled yesterday when I failed a squat that should have been easy. How provoking. As Aristotle* said, “Powerlifting acts as a corrective against sinful pride”. Tomorrow I’m trying for another bench press PR and I really hope it goes better. I live in fear of dropping the bar on my face!

*It might not have been Aristotle, now that I come to think of it…

MissOfficer is Awesome!

Bodybuilder Lauren Powers appears in Lady Gaga’s latest music video! So cool! I don’t like Lady Gaga (Klaus Nomi did it better — and first), but I’m a big fan of Lauren Powers! She was featured in the female bodybuilding documentary that inspired me to start weight training.

Lauren is on the left, Jayne Trcka is on the right.

Back in My Otter Suit

This morning I went swimming at the Toronto Athletic Club. The view from the top of the TD Waterhouse Tower is glorious!

Since the pool is on the 36th floor it’s very shallow — fortunate, since I’d probably have drowned if there was a real deep end. I used to swim for an hour a day, but I stopped when I took up weight training… my swimming skills have deteriorated a lot! My front crawl was a gasping, floundering mess today! I think the CN Tower was laughing at me.

Here’s the pool before and after cute yellow goggles…

Zing!

I got a nice squat PR today without sucking up to the god of powerlifting. 145# for reps! I’d like a bench press PR on Wednesday, too. And losing some more weight this week would be nice. An A+ on the essay I’m working on right now would be nice too. And a pony! Maybe I’d better not push my luck…

Wishful Thinking…

I’d really like to hit a squat PR today. Making sacrifices as a means of currying favour from the gods seems to have fallen out of fashion. Maybe if I try this unconventional approach the god of powerlifting will smile upon me in a sort of bemused but benevolent way! I’m counting on bonus points for creativity. A human or animal sacrifice sounds too messy and extreme… but I bet the god of powerlifting would appreciate an offering of food!

I spent the weekend helping a friend to move so I missed watching the Arnold Classic. I was keeping my princely fingers crossed for Zoa Linsey, who made her pro debut and placed 7th in the Ms. International. Here’s a picture of her from the prejudging. I love her physique! And she’s Canadian! Talk about a total package!

Is Spring in the Air?

Today was so nice! I’ve missed the sun so much. Could it be spring at last? I think I’m getting a little ahead of myself but I decided to celebrate the good weather with a happy new Katamari-themed desktop background. Doesn’t it just scream springtime?

I’d like to roll up the first crocus, extra daylight hours, a robin redbreast, some daffodils, t-shirt temperatures, and whatever else usually signals the end of winter. I’d also like to roll up a burrito, a giant bowl of Shreddies, a carton of chocolate milk, and a stack of pancakes. So tired of dieting!