Thank you for the rec!

Anyone have a favorite dumbbell program or fitness person who posts varied dumbbell ideas? I’m finally resigning myself to the fact that I won’t have access to barbells for a long time but I still have dumbbells and a bench at my disposal. Looking to find some new moves I haven’t tried yet but get overwhelmed by the options of programs.

Missed that—thanks!

YMMV with the maximum amount you’re allowed to claim in small claims court. In some states, the max is as little as $3K.

But it’s not the only benefit, is it? The stupid convention (stupid because as you say, it’s not really necessary, and convention because it seems to be a staple) is that you need a journal as a boost on your resume, unless you’re going to go whole ham on moot court. Can you get hired without it? Sure. Is it still a box to be checked for old white hiring partners? Also sure.

I agree they aren’t that difficult. But in my experience working with colleagues and managing summers, I have found a direct correlation between correct and consistent citations and people who were on journals.

Law review definitely felt like an effort in insanity, with some of my least favorite classmates lording their newfound power over people and being incredibly petty and unreasonable.

However, the citation skills have been worth their weight in gold as an attorney. Those couple of years on law review taught me the Bluebook inside and out which was helpful during my summer associateship and then when I started in litigation. It’s also a crash course in precision proofreading, which is sometimes all you have to offer when you first start out as an attorney. It’s that eye for detail that can give you a leg up.

I wouldn’t want to do law review again, but I am definitely glad I did it.

I watched this couple’s season but I’ve never seen this clip. OH MY GOD when even the host shuts it down, you know it’s bad!

I got this one because I don’t run and I wanted it to be as small as possible: REDLIRO Under Desk Bed Treadmill 2 in 1 Walking Machine Portable Space Saving Fitness Motorized Folding Treadmill Electric for Home Office Workout Ind https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0863LMHWZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_YIvVzuyrHjECO

Fair warning: I am 5’8” and my stride barely fits on it, and after 7ish months of use, it’s starting to wear. When it dies on me, I’m going to get a decent one.

That’s so cute! What else is on your list?

Someone recommended a podcast to me recently which I am now in love with and want to share the gospel: it’s called Maintenance Phase.

The short description from their website is: “Every other Tuesday, Michael Hobbes (You're Wrong About) and Aubrey Gordon (Your Fat Friend) debunk the junk science behind health & wellness fads, and decode their cultural meaning.”

I listened to an episode on Halo Top this morning and it was fascinating! The fat phobia episode really opened my eyes to a lot of latent discrimination I didn’t realize was happening (for instance, did you know there is a fat wage gap?).

I know for myself, I’ve somewhat immersed myself into different online fitness communities like this one, and there’s often talk of nutrition and diets and general health. Hearing the “fat” side of the equation has been really helpful in terms of rounding out my understanding of things. Highly recommend!

Oh no! As someone else who also loves food and has foodie tendencies, this would bug the shit out of me! I hope your body adjusts to it quickly.

The last two sessions of teletherapy, I’ve done them while walking slowly on my portable treadmill in my living room. The fact that I’m getting both mental and physical health in one hour is just 🔥🔥🔥

I tried these and they were WAY smaller than the advertised range (even after walking around in them as per the package’s suggestions), so I had to send them back. Glad to know they work for other people though!

10000% agree, coming home to my dog and my plants is basically the best part of all these dates!

And the corollary “why are men”?

Ughhhh you’re so right about being better for it, it’s just hard to remember that in the moment!

I did see on someone’s dating profile something that resonated with me recently. It was like, “Let’s make sure we’re on the same page about…” and his answer was “This isn’t dating. This is meeting up with someone to see if they’re someone you might be interested in dating.” And that’s a good reminder that they aren’t really first “dates,” they’re more like screener interviews. And it takes a lot of those!

I definitely need to be kinder to myself! You’re very right that it translates to how you act on the date, too.

Haha to be clear, it’s me imagining him thinking those things—so, I’m the dick in this case 😅

I’ve been trying to re-join the dating world after more than a year on my own during the pandemic and it. Is. Demoralizing.

I have been on a bunch of first dates over the last two weeks and while I know I’m not at my physical prime, I still have all the same lovely personality traits to offer as I did before. But when the date’s over and I don’t hear from the person again, I immediately think “Oh, I must not be physically attractive anymore and that’s why they aren’t reaching out.” (This is based on my experience of men generally being physically attracted first and chasing that, and only getting to know a woman’s personality as a consequence of being physically attracted.)

I talked with one date about lifting for a little while and I mentioned that I loved it but haven’t been able to powerlift since last year because of the gym situation etc. and I imagined him thinking “You don’t LOOK like you’re into lifting…” since my muscles are now all covered by fat.

It’s the double-punch: the date doesn’t lead to anything and then I end up blaming myself afterwards instead of just chalking it up to non-compatibility.

That’s the next step for sure! Plus, eventually the university gym will open up and I’ll still be here then. It’s just a further lesson in patience for now!

I moved into my own apartment that I purchased about a month ago (yay!) and it’s nowhere near any gyms (boo!). It has an apartment gym (yay!) but it’s incredibly ill-equipped (boo!). However, there is a university gym close by that allows community members to join (yay!), but it’s been closed to the community for a long time because of covid and probably won’t be reopening those memberships until this Fall at the earliest if even then (boo!).

This really feels like you can’t always get what you want. I moved from an apartment I rented that was noisy and had lots of transient neighbors but had a great gym across to the street to a place I own, have made my own, and have met a bunch of neighbors who are all really sweet. But no gym. Sighhhh.

Sending you good thoughts and vibes that tomorrow will be better!

My region just reinstated its indoor mask mandates regardless of vaccination status and the CDC has listed us as “substantial transmission.” Being vaccinated feels less comforting than it did before, but after 16+ months of this, it’s also kind of like “oh well, ok, guess I’ll just stay home more again.”

I’m less disheartened than I thought I would be though because of my new Fitbit. I feel like it’s giving me the motivation to keep moving and along with my dog, taking long walks in the morning is more rewarding than ever. I’m getting my diet cleaned up and I swear to god if I ever end up back in my office, I am GOING to fit back into my work clothes!

Side note, but my dog is only 6lbs and that bitch can WALK. I seriously wish I had her energy!

Not just an athlete, but everything else! Sexual assault, being black in America, a year+ of the pandemic… I think she’s strong as hell for putting her foot down and saying she needs a break for her mental health.