MUSCLE MEMORY? REMEMBER THEM

Muscle memory is a warning of what you didn’t do today.

Nothing is sore, nothing feels stretched, and you’ve got an inner-thigh cramp you rubbed out.

That the cramp hit the evening of a big family dinner downtown Portland with a belly-dancer working the room shouldn’t matter.

It just looks suspicious, as you were reminded around the table.

“What’s going on over there?” (Hey M)

Baby boomers know all about remembering their muscles.

From 1976-78 I was taking classes at UofO, running the Prefontaine Trails, and lifting with a pole vaulter.

As everyone knows, wrestlers are prime examples of manliness, pole vaulters take a close second.

I told the vaulter he would have been a good wrestler, he said I would have been a good pole vaulter.

We shared a similar fitness profile.

When I think of muscle memory these days I remember a kid from back then who had a late growth spurt, wrestling at 165 lbs in high school to heavyweight in college.

He was shredded then, fifty years later he’s still something.

Every year summer starts with his first ski outing, creating waterfalls in reverse on a single ski. (Hey Terry)

There’s an unmistakable joy the way he and his wife carve wakes across Lake Oswego.

That’s muscle memory with effort.

 

Is Physical Strength That Important

I’ve been a gym guy most of my life.

My high school got their first Nautilus machine while I was there.

I’ve been in bad gyms that should have been better for the athletes using it, and nice gyms that were more a social event than exercise.

From 24Hr Fitness, to hotel gyms, to my garage squat rack, there’s something special about breaking a weight lifting sweat.

It’s different than an aerobic sweat, a sauna sweat, or flop sweat.

You can feel things warming up, joints loosening, and a glow building.

That’s where most people stop. ‘Whew, that’s enough for me.’

But there are those who remember their muscles and know the glow is just the beginning.

Then there’s the first drip, the first drop, followed by the full flow, so get the bench-work done first.

Do the close-grip for inside pecs, flies for outside pecs, incline bench for upper-pecs.

Why all the pec-talk? Man boobs, that’s why. Moobs.

If you’re sporting a loose C-cup, and want to firm up the sway, do exercise that focus on the area.

(The area is your chest.)

Doing the chesty-work, along with the rest of the muscle building routine, you will be strong and LOOK strong.

 

It Doesn’t Always Work Out Right

Some people say they have extra-thick skin so their muscles don’t show.

Others don’t have the proper diet control so their muscles to show.

Still others like to drink beer after working out.

Depending on the day, I use them all.

I figure if my clothes still fit, I’m good.

But, it’s more than that. There’s still the part about setting an example.

The four year old came over for a while and we pretended we were in the jungle and at the beach, which means Granddad needs to get on the floor over there and over here, then back over there.

I understand why steps are counted, and why the recommended number is 10,000. At least I think I understand.

It’s a motivational tool.

A better measure is getting up and down from the ground up. I’m not doing that 10,000 times, but it’s a worker.

An even better measure? This:

 

 

If someone calls you fat, tell them you’re a powerlifter.

What are they going to do, ask you to prove it?

“Oh yeah? Go out and change my tire without a jack. A powerlifter could do that.”

“I’d love to, but I lifted yesterday. Today is my recovery day.”

So is tomorrow, and the day after. Powerlifters are temperamental about their routine.

 

PS: No matter what your stage of life, get reacquainted with your muscles. They will thank you, and you will thank them.

PSS: Start by giving them a friendly warning: Break time is over, fuckers, let’s go.