The guys are both really starting to push me to take on more weight, each in their own unique way. It amuses me. I have written once before of Kevin's "look". The one that said "what are you doing? You can do better than that!" The words were never spoken, but the message was clear. It was time to step it up, be stronger, be better.
Levi is a man of few words. The first time he did it to me was during the challenge. Think it was only the second time I had worked with him. I was doing kettle bell swings with an 8 kg weight. He came and stood in front of me, crossed his arms, cocked one eyebrow and watched me for a minute. Then he said, "How's that weight working for you?" "A little lite," I say. He gives me a half smile and says, "That's what I thought, go get another one." A couple of weeks ago, I was doing dumbbell snatches (taking dumb bell from floor to over your head in one smooth movement). The dumbbells at the gym don't have a weight value on them, instead they are ranked by difficulty determined by weight and grip size. I was working with a 2.5 level, and there was a 3 on the floor at my feet. Again, Levi comes and stands in front of me, cocks his head, raises one eyebrow. He looks at me, then looks up at the weight in my hand, then down at the 3 on the floor. He pushes the 3 with his toe, looks at me again, then up at the weight in my hand, pushes the 3 with his toe. I drop the 2.5, pick up the 3. He gives me the half smile and walks off. It happened again this morning. I have been having problems with my left arm. I think I have strained a muscle, or maybe a tendon in my left shoulder. We were doing squats followed by overhead kettle bell presses. I had started with my left side (I frequently do things with my weaker side first to get it over with). I TRIED the 12 kg kettle bell, but couldn't press it over my head. I switched to an 8 kg. I don't think Levi had seen the attempt with the 12. When I switched to my right side, I put the 8 up and grabbed the 12. He DID see that. He gave me his half smile and said, "I was about to ask you how that 8 was working for you." "Still having problems with my left arm." "I was wondering if you felt ANYTHING with that small of a weight."
Austin, on the other hand is a little more direct. I have seen him walk up to someone, take the weight out of their hands and hand them a heavier weight. No discussion, no options...just here, do this. A couple of days ago, as I was walking up to the kettle bell station where everyone else had been using an 8 kg kettle bell, he rushed up and set a 12 in front of me. I had already decided to up to a 12 that day, but he didn't know that. He made it quite clear that it wasn't an option.
So now I'm moving into a phase where I'm doing more weight....sigh. I can't believe I pay money to have these guys try to kill me. Oh well, I guess it comes with being Brainwashed&Broken.
