[S] Fitness Journal #9.5 - Voluntary Spotter

A very short entry about something that happened in the gym today:

I was doing my sets at the bench when this big (not muscular, just bigger than me), timid-looking guy asked to share the bench with me. After his first set of 5, he began to stop at 3 reps for his next 2 sets, clearly struggling with his 2nd and 3rd rep.

I wanted to offer to help him spot his 4th set, but I was scared/shy so I didn't... then I saw him struggle to only 3 reps again on his 4th set. Then I couldn't take it already.

"Hey, do you want me to spot for you?"

-shyly smiles and shakes head- "It's okay..."

"I think you can do 5 reps. You're stopping at 3 reps because you're afraid you can't lift the weight again right?"

-he nods timidly, and mumbles something about his brother usually accompanying him-

'I spot for you, you go for 5 reps. okay?'

- he nods again-

So I proceed to get into position behind him, and spotted him for that set - with some help and me going 'COME ON. PUSH! ONE MORE! PUSH! LAST ONE! PUSH! PUSH!' etc, he managed to push his way through 5 reps, and I could see the look of accomplishment flush on his face as he appreciatively mumbled 'thanks' and offered to spot for my next set which I declined cos I wasn't doing my max.

Deep inside, my heart glowed too at having helped someone else accomplish something he didn't think could be done.

Fitness Journal #9 - Pet Peeves

I am quite the newbie at gymming, having only started gymming 2 months+ ago, but being the bitchy judgemental observant person I am, I already have some pet peeves in the gym.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] From cartoonstock.com[/caption]

The Dark Knight Climbs a Well

Today I went to watch 'The Dark Knight Rises' for free, because of some SAFRA competition that I won. Pretty easy contest, just email them saying that you want the tickets and presto! They replied saying 'Congratulations! You have won... etc'.

I must say, the show was pretty draggy and confusing, and seemed to be filled with plot holes. The movie was about 2 hours 45 minutes long and many scenes felt pretty redundant or draggy. And I was relying on the Chinese subtitles for many parts to try to decipher what they were saying in their try-to-act-cool-mumbling, and given how bad my Chinese is it doesn't always work. I'm going to give my interpretation of what was happening for the movie below... spoilers ahead! Don't read on if you don't want to be spoilt for the movie!