[jjsheridan5]

When Mark Rippetoe speaks, it is a good idea to drop everything and listen. He may not be spouting some cutting edge theory or flashy new program, but his ideas are often what people need to hear, as opposed to what they want to hear.

My favorite article of his:

Who Wants to Be a Novice? You Do.

Telling a bunch of dedicated gym rats that most of them are really beginners, not advanced, and that they need to train accordingly, is a perfect example of his no-nonsense approach to health and fitness.

[Foundahardheadedwoman]

Know from school of hard knocks that you can’t start off where you left off. I am also stupid.

Married woman with farm, was bush hogging a field when I got a bunch of barbed wire tangled in it. Got some bolt cutters and wire pliers forgot the jack, as I said I am stupid.

Found a short piece of wood, was an inch to long so looked at the the bush hog thought what can it weigh maybe 4 or 500 pounds, no sweat. Grabbed it lifted it and pushed the wood in with my foot. Felt a sharp pain just above my navel, paid it no attention.

Began to develop a bulge above my navel, naturally thought it was cancer, kills most of my folks, so figured not going to the doc don’t need any bad news.

It became larger and brushing against something caused pain, finally figured I would have to go to the doc.

I went found out I had an umbilical hernia had the surgery and no pain or bulge since that time.

I did the lift because I had forgotten that I was not in shape and the result was not pleasant. I have started to lift again but am easing into it and have dropped quite a bit of weight. Did I mention I was stupid?