upright row = pure pleasure
Yesterday was chest/triceps/shoulders day at the gym. These days I’m doing less cardio after my weight workout and more total sets during the workout. At the moment am more desirous of increasing lean body mass than losing the five pounds I could lose (if I could get a bit more worked up about it).
In any case, I’ve added upright rows with dumbbells to my repertoire. Years ago I found that upright rows with a bar stressed my right shoulder, but I have no problem with dbs.
So I’m in the middle of my first set–about in the middle of my workout (post bench, post first couple sets of dips)–and suddenly I’m aware that this movement is, well, pure pleasure. It just feels terrific, delightful, satisfying, good. I enjoy most sets (on most days) to one degree or another, but this is the first time I remember thinking, literally, This is pure pleasure. Followed up with an immediate set of dips and had a foolish grin on my face . . . because it too felt so good.
Once upon a time, when I was a lass in my 20s, I used to run about 35 miles a week. Every now and then I’d experience "runner’s high"–fueled by a blast of endorphins, I suppose.
I don’t know if Friday’s experience was physiologically the same, but it felt the same psychologically–a "peak experience," one of those fleeting moments that arrives unbidden and lingers in memory.
August 9th, 2005 at 7:42 am
What’s the weight on those dbls?
I’ve been doing upright rows for a few weeks now and love them, too. I’m only at 5 lbs., though.
August 9th, 2005 at 8:11 am
I believe I was using a pair of 15s. I’d have to check my book to be sure. Today is back day. Looking forward to pullups . . .
August 12th, 2005 at 10:10 am
Yesterday I used the 20s for two sets of 14 or 15 reps.