Everyone should start leaving their front page posts unsigned and the comments can be a game of guess the author. I was sure this one was Apostropher, and there was an earlier political post that I thought was Labs but was really LB.
I saw this on Wonkette. I'm suspicious. That's four 45 lb plates on each side, plus change. Leg presses are the machine that people seem to cheat at more than any other, and weights from machine to machine mean little -- the angle of the path the weight takes determines how much work you're actually doing.
Still, if I had to enter into a State Department kickboxing tournament, I'd be hoping not to get seeded against her.
Yeah, I agree with Tom's skepticism. It's not at all clear what "leg press 400 pounds" means, given variation between machines and between different people's ideas about what counts as a rep. Still, pretty awesome. Ask her if she squats.
Dumbest/funniest thing I've seen at a gym: guy loads up press, wants more weight, asks small Asian girl to sit on the sled. For some reason, she consents. At this point the whole gym is watching. Guy then does the shortest, lamest reps in the world, moving the sled a couple of inches. We all snicker.
I suspect two-inch presses at 400 lb. Still two-inches more than I could do at 400lb, but that's ridiculously strong if she's doing that with good form.
Of course, squats might not be a good measure, either, judging from all the guys at my gym performing lame butt-bounces while grunting manfully.
I have done chess-boxing once. It was pretty brutal. You would be surprised how many reasonably good amateur boxers play a reasonably good game of chess. You would also be surprised how easy it is to get talked into a serious beating when you let it slip in conversation that you boxed as a schoolboy. I gave up early in the second round of boxing, leaving behind a decidedly dodgy position on the chessboard. These modern surrealists are violent little fuckers.
I have just gotten back from the gym, and can testify that on the leg press machine we have, a set of 10 reps at 205 is taxing. I don't know what my 1 rep max is, but it isn't anywhere near 400.
You appear to be under the common misconception that 'rep' is short for 'repetition'. Actually, it is short for 'repetoire', as in, 'an exercise that I can complete at a given weight is within my repetiore'.
She's so intimidating I'd probably let her benchpress me (though apparently she could bench press 3 of me).
Posted by Sommer | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:24 PM
Err, leg press.
Posted by Sommer | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:24 PM
I'd probably let her benchpress me
At the Mineshaft.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:26 PM
Madeline Albright can kick my ass. I suddenly feel weak and pathetic.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:28 PM
FL: Jealous, much?
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:28 PM
I find the URL for that picture deceptive. When it says "full assets" I want full assets, dammit.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:34 PM
Yet another "offbeat" Deborah Soloman interview, I trust.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:34 PM
Everyone should start leaving their front page posts unsigned and the comments can be a game of guess the author. I was sure this one was Apostropher, and there was an earlier political post that I thought was Labs but was really LB.
Posted by SP | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:44 PM
SP:Apostropher punctuates his titles.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:47 PM
9: Well, now you've given away any advantage you had.
Posted by SP | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:48 PM
Because I don't go anywhere near exercise equipment, I wouldn't have known that was an impressive amount for a leg press.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:51 PM
Surely you'd have guessed the one above it was me though, right?
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 2:52 PM
Apo, it's not that much weight for a lot of people, but for a woman in her late 60s, it's a lot.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 3:06 PM
I saw this on Wonkette. I'm suspicious. That's four 45 lb plates on each side, plus change. Leg presses are the machine that people seem to cheat at more than any other, and weights from machine to machine mean little -- the angle of the path the weight takes determines how much work you're actually doing.
Still, if I had to enter into a State Department kickboxing tournament, I'd be hoping not to get seeded against her.
Posted by tom | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 3:08 PM
You'd want Zoellick. Even Wolfson could kick his ass.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 3:16 PM
Even more frightening would be an indian wrestling tourney.
Posted by Sommer | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 3:20 PM
Have you guys heard of this thing where they alternate between chess and boxing?
Posted by Adam Kotsko | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 4:30 PM
I'd do the chess part if someone else (Harry Reid?) would take care of the boxing.
Posted by Frederick | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 6:54 PM
Schumer. He'd have a reach advantage on just about anybody.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 7:59 PM
I'm afraid that Putin would have an advantage on all our diplomats if chess-boxing became a diplomatic test.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 8:01 PM
Yeah, I agree with Tom's skepticism. It's not at all clear what "leg press 400 pounds" means, given variation between machines and between different people's ideas about what counts as a rep. Still, pretty awesome. Ask her if she squats.
Dumbest/funniest thing I've seen at a gym: guy loads up press, wants more weight, asks small Asian girl to sit on the sled. For some reason, she consents. At this point the whole gym is watching. Guy then does the shortest, lamest reps in the world, moving the sled a couple of inches. We all snicker.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 8:48 PM
I suspect two-inch presses at 400 lb. Still two-inches more than I could do at 400lb, but that's ridiculously strong if she's doing that with good form.
Of course, squats might not be a good measure, either, judging from all the guys at my gym performing lame butt-bounces while grunting manfully.
Posted by Cala | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 9:42 PM
Man, if you're going to ask a chick to sit on the leg press, you'd better be a totall badass or you're going to look completely retarded.
and butt-bounces? WTF?
Now with deadlifts there's no screwing around. Either you get it off the ground or you don't.
Posted by gswift | Link to this comment | 04-20-06 11:53 PM
I have done chess-boxing once. It was pretty brutal. You would be surprised how many reasonably good amateur boxers play a reasonably good game of chess. You would also be surprised how easy it is to get talked into a serious beating when you let it slip in conversation that you boxed as a schoolboy. I gave up early in the second round of boxing, leaving behind a decidedly dodgy position on the chessboard. These modern surrealists are violent little fuckers.
Posted by dsquared | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 2:00 AM
I have just gotten back from the gym, and can testify that on the leg press machine we have, a set of 10 reps at 205 is taxing. I don't know what my 1 rep max is, but it isn't anywhere near 400.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 10:50 AM
my 1 rep max
Why do you call it a "rep" when there is only one of it?
Posted by The Modesto Kid | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 10:52 AM
You appear to be under the common misconception that 'rep' is short for 'repetition'. Actually, it is short for 'repetoire', as in, 'an exercise that I can complete at a given weight is within my repetiore'.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 11:01 AM
I thought it was short for "represent," as in, "West side of the gym! Represent!"
Posted by Tia | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 11:09 AM
Ah ok. Well that makes sense, then.
Posted by The Modesto Kid | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 11:13 AM
Except for I think you misspelled "repertoire".
Posted by The Modesto Kid | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 11:15 AM
Another common misconception. The spelling I used is standard, but only within the athletic context, mostly because athletes spell poorly.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 11:20 AM
<giggle>
Posted by The Modesto Kid | Link to this comment | 04-21-06 11:24 AM
Hope she wouldn't kick me!
Posted by Anda | Link to this comment | 04-24-06 12:42 PM