It's a trap bar! (Sometimes called a "hex bar" due to the hexagonal shape.)
While originally intended for shrugs (working the trapezius muscles, hence "trap" bar), it's most commonly used these days for trap bar deadlifts since it makes it easier to maintain a neutral spine and eliminates shin wear and tear.
This was my first time using one. A little weird, but a nice addition to the toolbox. Thanks for the gift, me!
Got (myself) a birthday gift. Can you tell what it is? I'll show it with context in the near future!
New visitors may wonder why there's a huge gap in posts here. Well, for years, we've been doing a newsletter instead of blog posts: The StrongFast Planet. And now, the blog is becoming The StrongFast Planet. See? Simple!
A woman in a gym, apparently having just completed a workout, says, "Fast: that's just the kind of relief my muscles need." Or something like that. It was the beginning of a commercial, and don't ask me for what (other than some pain relief drug, obviously) since it was switched off after that line. Perhaps it was a good commercial, though, since it did get me thinking.
First of all, why is she sore immediately after working out? Sounds like she needs a new workout. (Or a good trainer!) Immediately after a hard workout, muscles experience fatigue, often in the extreme. As in "I can't get up" extreme. But that's different from pain, and no pain-relief product will put a stop to that. The muscular pain associated with a hard workout typically shows up 24-48 hours afterwards and is known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or DOMS. Continue reading
People talk about it all the time, but what is "fitness" anyway? The Free Dictionary defines it as:
Good health or physical condition, especially as the result of exercise and proper nutrition.
But there's also the concept of being "fit for duty." I kind of like that: fitness as being "fit for life" as in ready to live life competently. Simply being able to live is comparatively easy in our society: eating, sleeping, breathing...muddling through each day like it's a tedious task. Being fit to live demands more than mediocrity. And that takes some effort. Is it really worth it?
Imagine you could take a pill (with no side-effects) and instantly double your strength. How would that feel? What might you do differently (other than crush your enemies, of course)? Suddenly, you could run faster, jump higher, climb, lift, throw...do all kinds of activities that were previously very difficult or even impossible. But even the simple things are affected: standing up from a chair, climbing stairs, carrying the groceries, mowing the lawn...almost everything is easier. How much would you pay for a pill like that?
You know where this is going, right? Of course. There's already a way to get those results. It doesn't happen instantly, but it also doesn't cost a fortune. It takes more time and effort than pill-popping, but if you're doing it right, that time and effort can be fun!
But wait! There's more!
Ah, pity the poor maligned