After getting home from a delicious meal with @marc_david today, I was greeted by the TSLA news, and I don’t really know what to say about that. I don’t think it’s all that bad, or all that great, so I must ponder it some more. Today was big bench day, so I had to get my mind right.

The lady picked me up, and I was determined to get at least 440lbs. I still do not have a spotter, or training and partner, and today I found out that I am going to need one. I may also need to buy my own bench, or something. The geniuses at 24 decided to anchor all the benches in the rubber protecting the floor. Thus, when a “big boss,” uses some leg drive, or even just has a violent rep or too, the benches rip out of the ground. Not even close to being somewhat safe.

This is pure idiocy, but you have to understand this is San Francisco, were dudes come to the gym in all their designer workout gear, to stare at chicks in tight spandex, or other dudes. Thus, why would they care if there’s only two guys in the entire gym that handle over 250lbs? They don’t. So now I am left with only the Smith Machine, that I have to strap Velcro around the “stops,” otherwise they fall.

There’s no other feasible gyms, almost all the other ones are part of a chain called “Crunch,” no thanks. Trying to work with what you have can only go so far, when you have no spotter, and you only have a Smith Machine that sticks on the right side going up.  I got– in just plate weight –410 lbs for 3 by myself, then moved up 40 lbs to 450 lbs– 5 x 45 lb plates on each side. I psyched myself out a little bit, and I think I got a little scared, but if you had that much weight hanging over you with no help, would you not be too?

I tried to shake it off and handle it myself, but as I un-racked it and started lowering it, halfway down I pushed it back up, it just wasn’t worth it. I was pretty disgusted with myself, but how disgusted would I have been if I hurt myself? After taking one plate off  per side, I swapped them each with 35’s, effectively making the plate weight 430 lbs, with my buddy spotting me I did this for 5 reps.

The biggest thing wasn’t the help, it was being able to focus on all the fundamentals of the lift– getting, and staying, dialed in. My buddy was actually impressed, and had recently given me hell for using the Smith. I’m afraid I have reached the point that I will have to start the search for a spotter. A necessity, it seems, just like making magnificent returns in the Stocked Market.

Which reminds me, I am working on some new picks. Are you ready?

Tweet