Hello, Copper

[Alcoholiday]

i get an xl, and it fits pretty good. xxl would be loose, but not monsterous. The large shirts are tiny, and tight fitting for me. It helps me show off my man boobs to the chicks though.

[Matthew]

Cool, thanks guys.

Frank, if I get it sent by standard mail, I won't have to pay that extra fee? (I forget what it's called now, but someone told me it was to get the package across the border. I paid it when the guy showed up at my door with the box)

[Frank.S]

There is less of a chance youll pay it from my experience.. UPS is the worst. Still, its possible they will make you pay it though.

Ive never once gotten a UPS package accross the border without custom fee's.. yet ive gotten 100's over with stanard mail with no fees, still sometimes gets caught though.

[Matthew]

Cool, I'll see about getting it sent standard mail. I think I'll wait until the next offer though, see if I can't get a little something extra. Usually I wouldn't even think of it, but when I'm paying so much for shipping..


In other news, I quit my job last night. I had a feeling it would bite me in the ass, and I still have that feeling. But fuck it, I can't keep working there.
I'm looking at it this way: Now I can focus on training for the fitness test, without having to worry about being sore/in pain for work. Or being sore/in pain because of work.
And I really have no bills to pay. I have insurance, which is only 230 until October. Then rent to my parents, which is 200 a month. That's it. I'll still have over a grand after those are paid, which is enough to carry me through to the next job.

I was going to go through a course to be a security guard, but every one I've checked out seems to be bogus. Now I'm thinking I might hit the bars/clubs and see if I can get hired as a bouncer. I need something that will help me to portray confidence/authoritative qualities, because they'll be looking for that in the interview next month. Security guard/bouncer are the only things I can think of.
I'll apply to the city, too. They pay well and have benefits, so if I don't pass the test for whatever reason, I'll have something somewhat decent to fall back on.

I'm also looking into starting some martial arts courses. It'll help me with being a bouncer, if I end up doing that. It'll help me once I'm a cop, and it'll help me build some confidence in myself. All good things.

Now that I don't have a physical job to go to every night, I can start running three or four times a week. 3x distance, 2-3x sprints. And I'll still lift three days. And if I start those courses, I'll have that too.

Good.

[Alcoholiday]

i don't know if you really need martial arts courses if you're going to be a bouncer. You should know though, certain pressure points to use on people to inflict pain on them. Usually, other bouncers know these things.

[gobbla]

Maybe a self defense course, but vanilla martial arts might be a little...not what you need.

[Frank.S]

Beware of being a bouncer, I know for sure that lots of forces look down upon that actually.

[Matthew]

I think a lot of people become a bouncer just to get into fights. I'd be there just to 'keep the piece', and would actually prefer not to have to throw a punch. I think if I explain that, I should be ok.

But ok, assuming I don't work as a bouncer. What do you think I should do?



Gobbla, this is the course I was looking at. If you look at the list on the right it has all the classes they offer. There's one specifically designed for law enforcement officers, but I think you have to sign up with a team or something.

[gobbla]

This one looks very appropriate.

Biggest thing that I'm noticing is that you seem to be very nervous about appearing "good enough". The projection of a need to appear good enough and having little markers to "prove" it probably isn't what they're really looking for. The best thing that you can do is be confident in yourself in your ability and willingness to learn. They really don't care how fit you are or how tough you are or what you walk in the door with.

They'll MAKE you more fit. They'll TEACH you what they want you to know. If you walk in there with the mindset that you're willing to do whatever they want you to do and knowing that you *can* do it...you'll be golden. Display heart. Be eager to learn and adapt. Don't worry about what you don't know or can't control. *Dad voice off*

[Frank.S]

Originally Posted by Matthew

I think a lot of people become a bouncer just to get into fights. I'd be there just to 'keep the piece', and would actually prefer not to have to throw a punch. I think if I explain that, I should be ok.

But ok, assuming I don't work as a bouncer. What do you think I should do?



Gobbla, this is the course I was looking at. If you look at the list on the right it has all the classes they offer. There's one specifically designed for law enforcement officers, but I think you have to sign up with a team or something.

I know lots of prison gaurds that have became cops, not to hard to get into, not a great job i imagine though.

[Matthew]

Gobbla - you make a lot of sense and raise some very good points. Thank you, you've given me something to think about.


In other news, I've heard a few times now that it will be even more difficult than usual for me to get in because they're looking to hire more minorities - equal opportunity type thing. If this is true it means I may not get the job just because I'm white.
Oh the progress we've made.

[Matthew]

Finally finished my farmers walk handles.










Now I just have to find some way to make collars. The ones I have for my barbell don't fit the pipe, and wrapping cloth around the pipe to fatten it up just makes the collar slip. I'll probably just use PVC pipe with an eye bolt through it.
Altogether, these two probably cost me about $50. I got the pipe at Home Depot though, if I had gone to a scrap yard it would've cost a lot less. Or if I had found something else to use as stops, those gray things were five bucks each.
They're well worth it though, and a lot cheaper than ordering a pair.

Come to think of it, I should've used PVC pipe for stops. That would've saved me a couple bucks. Oh well.

[Matthew]

August 21
front squat
165x4x2

chin up
10, 7.5, 6

push up
22,15,16,12

box jumps
Worked up to 4 Reebok steps. When measured against myself the top of my tower of Reebok steps was touching the bottom of the waistline of my shorts.
I'm making nice progress with these.

barbell curl
50x16,15
elbows out db ext
30ea x8x2

bridge
+25 x60sec



The test involves half rep chin ups which I found in my practice test requires more bicep strength/endurance than anything. Hence the curls. I'll still be doing full rep chin ups in my training though.

[Matthew]

August 23
bench
165x5x2

pull ups
4,4,4

snatch
up to 95

knee jumps
14lb bar

RDL
255x10,9,8+1
-limiting factor was grip for each set. had a few reps in me still each time.
-10 reps is cardio

hanging leg raise
hip raise


Note to self: don't let your knees open up during snatches, major energy leak

[Frank.S]

Those farmers walk handles look excellent! nice work!

[bigDman]

nice farmer walk handles!

[Alcoholiday]

nice farmers walks. You need to start using them now! haha

[Matthew]

Thanks guys, 'preciate it.

I just tried them out quickly with a couple tens on each. They work really well. No balance issues, like there were when I was using two barbells. We'll see if it stays that way when I start to really load up the weight on them.

I ran just now for a few minutes at 7mph. I'm going to run distance three times a week, and sprint once or twice.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday I'll run distance. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I'll lift. Sunday I'll sprint.

Monday will be long and slow, so it'll pretty much be a nice recovery jog, but it should also help me build a bit of stamina. It should be 30+ minutes.
Wednesday I'll run fast for ten to twelve minutes. I'll try to increase the speed each time.
Friday I'll run faster than Wednesday, and just hold it for as long as possible. That will probably be 5-6 minutes. Maybe I'll do two sets like I did today, I'll go by how I'm feeling that particular day.
Wednesdays and Fridays might be on the treadmill.

I'm shooting for a 10 minute 1.5 mile. I think I'm at 12 minutes right now, or slightly over that. I have three weeks to make this happen.

The test is on Tuesday, September 18. So Friday the 14 will probably be my last distance run, then Saturday the 15 will be my last lifting session. I may or may not sprint on the Sunday, we'll see.