Gotta tell ya'll who care: went back to the complex for dd's other practice, and still had coverage since I already paid for the day, so I went back into the gym and it was PACKED with intense, high-number-happy folk; there were the kind of lifters who know EVERYTHING and yet haven't researched or read a thing. It's that kind of place.
I was a bit intimidated, considering they were dressed in black, bandana's, tattoo's, until... I saw that one of the guys who was breathing REALLY loud, exhaling with force out his mouth on the seated chest press had one 45 and one 25 on each side.
I've never used that machine with those weights, but, I can push-up my own weight ten + times on a flat plane.
So, I asked if I could work in. He said "sure" and started taking weight off, and I said, "Wait..." and I proceeded to press HIS weights!
Slowly.
Controlled...
... and QUIETLY for 12 reps!
He left the gym.
Sorry, but this just felt amazing and sad at all at once. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings; honestly, I just wanted to see if I could do it! I went on to do a few more combo moves, just to show off cuz I'm old and need a good go, but honestly, I felt powerful.
Still phlubby, but much more powerful than I did a mere 6 weeks ago.
I like this stuff.
A lot.