September 2020: Don't Let the Crazies Bring You Down

 

In Seattle, there's no end in sight to the Covid Crazies, which are inextricably linked to:

--the legions of homeless with nowhere to go now that their old haunts have been closed for months...

--the increasing demand for defunding the police...

--the resulting disappearance of cops from the streets and growing inability to do much of anything to make the city safe...

--the ruin of local businesses: a hundred in Seattle have permanently closed, unable to pay for security guards to protect their staff and customers or keep thieves from brazenly looting the shelves...

--delays in relief benefits--and the fear that some of those may disappear completely.

--the terror of losing our jobs and our homes...

 

We're all mad as hell about this. And we have every right to be. But more than ever now we need the sense of peace and comfort we're most certain to find in our caves. 

The greater the stress on the outside, the more resourceful we all need to be in making sure our caves refresh us and restore us. Your daily question ought to be: What else can I do make my cave a place that I'm not stuck in...but a place I can't wait to return to?

The answers needn't be too expensive. But every penny ought to count. This month, to give two examples, I bought my wounded right knee a pair of jump for joy gifts. Since sitting for hours at my desk strains the knee, I chose:

This laptop desk enables me to work while I'm seated with my leg outstretched. And...

This sit to stand desktop converter allows me to write on my feet, the knee straight. Combined, the two self-gifts have made my cave a daily joy.

As important as this is, though, a third element has made the cave a heaven as well as a haven. 

My kettlebell collection, from 5#-60#, is my pride and joy. Whether you're sold on kbs too or prefer dumbbell or barbells, if you're starting from scratch you have a challenge ahead: finding them at all or anything close to a sequence. 

Sequence matters because you do not want to jump from fifteen or twenty pounds to forty or fifty. The kettlebell, as someone said, is like a cannonball with a suitcase handle for a grip--and the cannonball is always loaded. Be mindful and cautious...or the cannonball may throw off your balance. From the start, I've progressed in increments of just pounds, using different weights for different exercises. I don't advance to a higher weight until I can do three sets of fifteen reps. Not 15, 15, 12--no, 15, 15, 15.

This link is worth a look for a well-written explanation of why weights are so hard to find:

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/21396116/dumbbell-set-shortage-nordictrack-bowflex

For kettlebells, I'd learned, the main suppliers are Rogue Fitness, Kettlebell Kings, and Rep Fitness. But all three were sold out completely and none of them took any preorders. Amazon was also sold out at that time, except for a five-pounder, which I bought. Even that diminutive kettlebell hooked me instantly and let me know that I'd be wise to buy the 'bells in sequence, slowly and carefully building my sense and perfecting my kettlebell form.

My solution: eBay. Pricier, of course, but most of my purchases included free shipping, whereas a main supplier may sell you the 'bell for way less but charge fifty bucks or more to ship. Most of the 'bells I received were by Joe Weider with a homely hammertone finish. No complaints, they do the job. But one vendor offered me a replacement 40# kb when the 35# kb I ordered was out of stock. And I was spoiled instantly the day that I received. 

This was a brand-new kb from Rep Fitness with a black 'powder' finish. I'd have dealt exclusively with Rep Fitness from then on but learned that they're a small family-owned operation on Colorado with a devoted customer base. If you're on their Notify Me list, you may have thirty minutes to order or learn they're out of stock again. Best advice: check daily, several times a day, and be prepared to wait for months. This was a special drag for me because my eBay substitute Rep kettlebell came with the following card:

Oh, what a falling off is there! Good luck these days in reaching a live person by phone...or an email response in a month.

 I had far better luck with Rogue Fitness for availability and notifications. They do dynamite work, they ship quickly, and their packaging is world-class. 

Here are links to the three to check out on your own, starting with my favorite. The first two sell both kettlebells and weights/home gym equipment.

Rogue Fitness: https://fOR tinyurl.com/yyodgz44

Rep Fitness: https://www.repfitness.com/

Kettlebell Kings: https://www.kettlebellkings.com/

My overall recommendation for both kettlebells and weights is this: Start off in eBay, ordering enough weights in sequence to keep you going a couple of months. Then add your name to a  Notify list and be ready to move like the wind when you're told your item's in stock.

                               SPECIAL BONUS LINK

Here's a terrific introduction for those who are serious about going kettlebell: things you must and mustn't do.

https://kettlebellsworkouts.com/common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-kettlebell-training/