The Happy Thread V

[Tessar]

As far as I know, that will only build small (but ‘hard’) muscles. The (limited) research I’ve done suggests that things like running/cycling (or lifting very light weights many times in a row) will only build small muscles. It’s how you go about ‘toning’.

[Huorn]

I used to weigh 160 pounds solid muscle. Those days are over. As I get older I am getting smaller and stringier. My old Navy uniforms are baggy on me.

[Tessar]

Whoa, how tall are you, Huorn? That's a good solid 'muscle' weight for a woman, assuming you're of average height.

My dad just started doing the same pushup program I'm doing. He's starting a couple of days 'behind' me in the program as far as total pushups go. He's gonna catch up if I'm not careful!

I'm in no competition, though. My friend, who's also doing it, started at like 60 total pushups when I started at about 28 total pushups. I'm so beaten it was never a race.

[Valandil]

Tessar - that reminds me of the worst bet I ever took in my life.

In my early high school years I was on a Y swim team. Builds up great arm endurance. In freshman PE class, I did 82 pushups! I think the only guy in the school who did more than me was another swimmer - he did 100.

So - about a year later, I was hanging out with some friends. This girl challenged me. She bet that no matter how many pushups I did, she could do one more. Well... I thought... she doesn't know what she's getting herself into (I wasn't that muscular looking or anything), but I'll show her!

So I got down and started doing pushups. But as I went along and did more and more, this girl didn't seem alarmed at all. She just laughed and laughed. The more I did, the more she laughed.

Finally... I managed to do 81 pushups, and then my arms just couldn't do any more.

She got right up, went down on the floor, and did ONE pushup.

You see... she had said that however many pushups I did, she would do ONE MORE!

[Valandil]

PS: I'm pretty sure she was from Texas!

[Tessar]

That's funny.

Tonight I was doing my last set of pushups (the program I'm on breaks it down into five sets) and I kept pushing myself to try to get just one more out... and I thought I was going to do it but all of the sudden my shoulders gave out and I had to lay there for a while because I couldn't even move my arms to roll over.

Proud of myself because, in doing so, I completed 52 total pushups and actually skipped forward two levels instead of one! A week ago I just barely got through 38 pushups using the same amount of effort that I used tonight. And a few weeks before that, I was only able to do 12 pushups in a row... now I'm able to do multiple sets of 12.

... meanwhile my friend is doing his pushups only every once in a while and he's still crankin' out about a half a zillion of them without very much effort, but WHATEVER. I'm proud of me for accomplishing more than I ever have before. This is the biggest my biceps have ever been, and the most defined my pectorals have ever been.

I think some of my old gymnastics and karate muscles are waking up, although I was never very strong in my upper body doing either of those activities. My legs were always much stronger.

[Huorn]

5'4. I broke my high school record for the squat for women. 385 pounds. When I was in the service I did straight leg push ups, not the bent knee kind. I am now boney looking and its hard for me to keep weight on. I am still strong. Right now I have a flu virus and it is eating up what little body fat I have.

[Tessar]

Good GRIEF. I'm 6' 2" and (last I checked) I weighed about 180. 160 is ridiculous for someone 5' 4"... not to even get into squatting 385 pounds. That really is incredible.

[Nerdanel]

i got work for 3 months! i've been worried that after the field work this summer (and after getting my master's degree), i'd have to get work in a hamburger joint or something... but instead i got work in my research group, where i'll be doing lab work. yay!

[Tessar]

Congratulations!!

[Tessar]

My Economics teacher just offered the opportunity to either take the 50 question test in class today, or get e-mailed a take-home test that isn't due till Wednesday but it's 100 questions. Lets see... 1:30 hours to do 50 questions or two days (half of Today, all of tomorrow, half of Wednesday) to do 100 questions....

I'm doing the freakin' take home. His questions are NEVER worded the same way as the book, so it's difficult to study for the tests. Having the extra time will be an enormous help. I'm so relieved!!!!

[Huorn]

Now I drive a bariatric van that carries man in a motorized wheelchair. The man in his chair weight a total of 800 pounds. The van has a special lift gate and lock down mechanism to transport him in his chair. The wife doesn't drive. The couple wouldn't have a life if they didn't have a driver. I am the primary driver on the driver roster.

[GrayMouser]

Congrats, Nerd...

These days, getting anything in your field is great, especially for a recent grad.

[Nerdanel]

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Congrats, Nerd...

These days, getting anything in your field is great, especially for a recent grad.

yeah, i know... it's only for 3 months, but still - fortunately, my research group managed to get money for the next few years. now i can start saving for my photography course (and pay off the little student loan i have - i'm so glad i basically managed without any loan)!

[Tessar]

Last push through to finals, then ten whole days off of school before the next semester begins. I cannot WAIT. OMG!!!!!

Just gotta make this last push... I can totally do this. I'm so psyched. We'll see if the feeling lasts. I'm assuming that tonight I'm gonna be psyched, tomorrow I'm going to be exhausted, tomorrow evening I'm going to be panicking, Friday morning I'll be tearing my hair out, and Friday evening I'll be in a coma after my last final at 8 p.m.

LETS DO IT!!!

[BeardofPants]

Who the **** schedules a final at 8pm? What, are they sadists?

[Mari]

Well, I can see an 8 PM final if it's really necessary, but on a Friday? Nu-uh.

[Huorn]

I am glad I am well past the stage in my life that I have to do finals..

[Earniel]

8 PM? I think even the teachers would protest.

The exam I had with the worst timing was years ago in the late afternoon of the 24th of December, across the border I might add (so much for international education).

[Valandil]

I'm guessing that final ends at 8:00 pm. Is that right Tess?