Miscellaneous Miscellany Monday: 10/31/11

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1.  <====== I figured I’d start the week off with a bang and share a picture that someone posted on my Facebook page over the weekend.  They thought that I’d get a kick out of it, and well, they assumed correctly.

2.  As I write this post, CP is currently without power, and subsequently, heat.  We had our first snow storm here in Boston on Saturday night, and apparently roughly 500,000 people throughout the state are without power. It’s about 50 degrees in there right now, but it’s nothing a pair of sweatpants and a skully can’t fix.

It reminds me of when I used to train at South Side Barbell back in the day in Stratford, CT.  Once winter hit, they only thing they’d use to heat the place were a few space heaters…..and some hand warmers, if we were lucky.  I’m not kidding that there would be times where I’d take off my hat in the middle of a training session, and you’d literally see steam coming off my head.  It was awesome.

Regardless, there’s an important lesson to learn here:  when all is said and done, this just goes to show why barbells are superior to a treadmill any day of the week.  ALWAYS.  No lights or heat?  No problem.  We’re still going to lift heavy things off the floor.  Well, at least I am.

Note to any CP clients who are reading this (as of 9:30 AM):  CP is closed until the lights and heat are back on.  As badass as it would be to train in the cold, the risk of pulled hamstrings is kind of bad for business.  Please check in on CP’s fan page on Facebook for updates.

3.  As many are aware, last week I held a little promotion where I was giving away some free stuff for those who participated in Eric Cressey’s sale event with Show and Go.  Here are the winners:

FREE individualized programming for a month:  Juliet Gotthardt

FREE copy of Muscle Imbalances Revealed – Upper Body – Christian Oleson

FREE autographed 5×7 picture of moi:  Eva Mendes

If the three of you could email me at your earliest convenience to claim your prizes that would be helpful.

4.  Most of you may remember the story of Steve and Kelsey from last March, when Steve actually proposed to Kelsey on this blog, and as a result, pretty much made it so that the rest of us would really (and I mean REALLY) have to step up our game if or when the time came to propose to our significant others.

Note to Self:  I can’t even use my own blog to propose, now.  Thanks Steve.  Jerk……..;o)

In any case, Steve and Kelsey finally tied the knot a few weekends ago, and spent all of last week up here in Boston hanging out at Cressey Performance.  Yes, you read that correctly, they spent their honeymoon at CP.

As strength coaches themselves, they figured they’d rather spend their honeymoon squatting, push-pressing, throwing chalk in the air, and talking shop rather than chillax on a warm, sandy beach drinking Pina coladas somewhere.  You know how the saying goes:  different strokes for different folks, and needless to say, I was honored that they would choose to do something like that.

Now, I’ve met dozens and dozens and dozens of people at the facility in the past few years who, for their own reasons, make the trek to CP to see what we’re all about.  At times, meeting complete strangers can sorta be like a high-school dance where there’s just all sorts of awkwardness going on.

You don’t know whether to shake hands, fist-bump, or hug; and inevitably the conversation turns to the weather.  Never a good scenario.

Conversely, at other times, meeting people can be almost as if you’ve been BFFs forever, which was exactly what happened with Steve and Kelsey.  They spent the entire week training at CP – getting AFTER IT mind you – and both Lisa and I had the opportunity to meet them out for dinner one night last week as well.

I just wanted to say congrats, again, to both of them.  It was awesome meeting you both, and I wish you all the love, memories, and future deadlift PRs the world has to offer!

5.  Amusing CrossFit video of the week.  You’re welcome.

6.  I have a short list of things that I love in this world.  Family is right up there, of course.  As is my girlfriend.  I’ll also throw in things like old 90210 re-runs, Spike, people who use exact change, and goat cheese into the mix.

But I also LOVE girls who lift heavy things, which is why you should check out Girls Gone Strong.

Seriously, do it.  I dare you.

7.  Lastly, I like Halloween about as much as I like getting kicked in the balls.  I’ve never bought into the whole “lets get dressed up” mentality.

As it happened, though, one of Lisa’s good friends hosted a costume party over the weekend that served as a fund-raiser for her charity work with Therapists Without Borders, which is an organization that matches professional therapists with under served communities throughout the world.  Since it was for a really great cause, I decided to swallow my reservations and dressed up as none other than MR. CLEAN.  Giving credit where credit is due, Lisa came up with the idea, which ended up being downright brilliant when you think about it.

For those interested in the cause, HERE is Katie’s (Lisa’s friend) donation page which serves as her home-base for the funds she’s trying to raise for her trip to Kenya in January.  I know money is tight nowadays, and I understand that you don’t know Katie (you should, though, she’s pretty much the most kind, generous, caring, and just downright beautiful human being I know) from a hole in the wall, but I’d be immensely appreciative to anyone who clicked on the link and maybe donated a few dollars if she or he chooses to do so.

And that’s it for today.  Sorry for any grammatical errors, I was kind of in a rush this morning.

 

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Comments for This Entry

  • Barath

    As you probably know, I have been reading your blog for a while and like your content and balanced views. Which is why it was a little surprising and disappointing to see the banner on vegetarians. I am one, and it certainly does not feel good to be called an idiot! Now, I am not making a snap judgment - I am pretty sure this doesn't say anything about you. But particularly as a strength and conditioning coach, it behooves you to understand and accept that people have varying choices. As long as one eats a balanced, healthy meal, all choices are okay. In fact, Dr. Berardi undertook a vegan diet for six months as an experiment and though he accepted it took some getting used to, he reported no loss of lean muscle mass. In other cheerful news, I started the Show and Go today! All set to take my deadlift from 355 to 400, I am!!

    October 31, 2011 at 9:10 am | Reply to this comment

  • Mozelstein

    As you probably know, I have been reading your blog for a while and like your content and balanced views. Which is why it was a little surprising and disappointing to see the vegetarian whining about the banner on vegetarians. I am one, and it certainly does not feel good to be lumped into the same category as this pussy that can't take a joke.! Now, I am not making a snap judgment - I am pretty sure his wife let's him carry his own balls on occasion. But particularly as a strength and conditioning trainee, it behooves him to understand and accept that people can make jokes and you don't have to get all butt hurt about them. As long as one drinks a nice, tall cup of STFU, all choices are okay.

    October 31, 2011 at 9:30 am | Reply to this comment

  • Kelsey

    Thank you so much again for your hospitality and great conversation! Steve and I had a great time with you and Lisa (y'all have to come down here sometime!) and truly enjoyed getting to know you both. Thank you for making our honeymoon doubly awesome!

    October 31, 2011 at 11:42 am | Reply to this comment

  • Stephane

    Nice costume Tony! Just make sure to stay away from all elementary schools unless you want to be arrested...

    October 31, 2011 at 12:54 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Ken

    Tony, I thought Mr. Clean had bigger guns...

    October 31, 2011 at 5:39 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Stevo

    Thanks for the kind words Tony. I echo Kelsey's words, and we wouldn't have wanted to spend our honeymoon anywhere else. And I have complete confidence in your ability to come up with a creative proposal :o)

    October 31, 2011 at 6:45 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Dana

    I know I'll look back fondly on the days I'm in now, training in a garage with one space heater, but those kettlebells and bars are seriously COLD when it's 38 degrees out! I've found I can keep gloves on with push-ups no problem, but they have to go for chin-ups.

    November 1, 2011 at 9:31 am | Reply to this comment

  • Swanson Reviews & WTF updates. | Hey Joob

    [...] won a free month of distance coaching with Tony Gentilcore for buying Show and Go! (THANKS AGAIN) While I won’t go into any of the [...]

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  • Pete

    Tony Gentilcore on the crossfit slating bandwagon! You do realise that a lot of your websites traffic comes from people who got into the big lifts after being introduced to Crossfit? I am one of many who did Crossfit, fell in love with the big lifts and moved on. Training large multi-joint movements is hugely popular now, thanks to them. Like I said, I don't do it, but laugh when I hear it mocked because nobody can ever give a genuine reason as to why it's shit, and usually collapse on their ass if they try it.

    November 2, 2011 at 10:35 am | Reply to this comment

    • Anonymous

      For the record, Pete, I've also put videos on this site that have shown powerlifters spliting their pants during a meet, people failing on bench press attempts, etc......so I don't really feel me posting a (funny to me) video on Crossfit is anything to get all huffy about. Are there things about CrossFit I disagree with? Absolutely! I've personally trained people who were SERIOUSLY injured following a WOD, and subsequently started training at my facility instead. You know, because they actually get coached on how to do things correctly and there's some semblance of individualization. For the most part - and there ARE exceptions - CrossFit's programming is a joke. There's no rhyme or reason to what they do. Do they make people work hard? Yep. But priding yourself on your ability to make people puke doesn't really impress me. But, that isn't to say that there aren't affiliates who do it right. My friend, Jen Sinkler, has written several times how her affiliate has more of a strength focus, and actually coaches their clients on how to lift properly. Great! But, that's an exception rather than a rule. In the end, I'm sorry if you took offense to the video. Get over it.

      November 3, 2011 at 6:25 am | Reply to this comment

  • Random Crap: My Holiday Week Post | Hey Joob!

    [...] on improving my own programming skills (i.e. writing up a training plan) as well as starting Tony’s program.  Since I switched up my approach to training*, I’ve seen more gains than I have in months. [...]

    November 22, 2011 at 7:19 am | Reply to this comment

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