CHRISTMAS = PRESENTS
The fire light dances off the wrapping paper as you are surrounded by a subtle glow from your family’s Christmas tree. The wrapped gift in your lap says, “To: You, From: Santa”. The welling of excitement is nearly pouring out of your body as your parents give you the okay to open your gift. What could it be? Surely it is something wonderful and fun. Your hands tear the paper away to reveal not only your first Christmas gift, but jubilation.
This scenario is similar to most childhood Christmas experiences. Traditions are kept alive and passed to children, and each family has their own way of celebrating Christmas. Some people don’t celebrate Christmas – they either have conflicting religious beliefs or lost interest over the years – but these people are the American minority. Most celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, specifically the symbolic birth of Christ. This symbolic birth is often cited as the “true meaning of Christmas”, but deep down nobody actually believes that. Christmas is all about presents.
I know what you’re thinking. Presents are a materialistic and you were always taught that there is more to Christmas than just opening presents. WRONG! Christmas = presents.
Christmas is about getting presents. The anticipation of presents is sometimes better than the gift itself. Most presents are thoughtful, helpful, or amusing, yet unwrapping gifts fills us with a childlike sensation that only occurs next to that colorful tree.
Christmas is about giving presents. The reciprocal of getting is giving, and once you mature you realize how much joy you get out of giving gifts. It can be hard figuring out what the perfect gift is, but in reality it doesn’t matter; you did something thoughtful for someone you cared about, and that’s all that matters.
Giving and receiving presents creates a fun, exciting atmosphere that resonates outside of the living room. Folks at work are relaxed, people at the store are nice, and there is a growing level of anxiousness that looks forward to Christmas day. This brings me to the most important point:
The greatest Christmas present is your family. Family is relative; it can mean your parents and siblings, your friends, or anyone else that you genuinely care about. The gift of spending quality time with your family is a present that is insurmountable. This may be the only time of year you get to see your family, and it’s the holiday season that allows this to happen. The sights and sounds of Christmas are all a pleasant prelude to the true meaning of Christmas: presents.
Nobody thinks about religious meaning or pagan traditions as they rip away wrapping paper; instead they are enjoying the emotions and nostalgia of sharing not only gifts, but each other’s presence. I hope you and your family create beautiful memories this holiday season while holding past Christmas memories close to your heart.
Merry Christmas. And shit.
Just when i thought you’d shown your truly cynical, hard-bitten nature, you do a 180 on us! You old softie, Justin… ;) And i totally agree, too.
Hope everyone has a great Christmas with lots of love and laughter (and maybe even a few belts, shoes or bars under the tree!)
Just for the record, though, i believe the official holiday of 70s Big should definitely be Festivus.
Frank Costanza was on to something. Think about it. You’ve got the Airing of Grievances, where you tell everyone all the ways they’ve disappointed you during the year.
The aluminium Festivus pole could easily be replaced with a barbell.
And finally, the Feats of Strength, usually where someone has to try and pin the head of the household in a wrestling match – it has everything! Take that, baby Jesus…
“As i rained blows upon him, i realised there had to be another way…” lol :)
Christmas = presents
I gave myself the following pr’s today:
Squat: 3x330lbs
Bench 1×220
Gym was open so.. Why not? :)
Merry christmas everyone! Remember to eat a lot!
@number5
It was certainly remiss of me not to mention “many PRs” in that list. Nice work!
Sorry guys, about to go to bed, so this is the last one – I promise!
Just wanted to mention all servicemen and women currently on deployment or otherwise unable to be at home with their families this Christmas (esp. all the diggers over in the Ghan, Timor, the Sollies or wherever).
We’re thinking of you and appreciate the work you’re doing – stay safe.
Marry Christmas everyone! Justin I wish you and the 70sbig.com crew a great 2011!
if your family truly loves you they give the gift that keeps on giving, like a set of Werksan training bumpers, jerks boxes, etc.
Right on. Christmas is also about feasting! We’re talking multiple birds of various species, many pork products, bottle after bottle of hopped up seasonal brews, fine scotch and having all the squat racks to yourself on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!
*And Jethro Tull!
This Christmas thing really grinds my gears…the gym is closed tomorrow. Now I have to my 1 week squat and bench in the same day.
I gave myself a 3x5x265lbs squat PR and a 377.5 lbs single deadlift PR.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, y’all. Here’s to a great 2011!
Only one PR this week.
Press: 120# x 5 x 3
M / 50 / 6’1″ / 212#
I went to Universal Studios this week for vacation. I could only fit on the rides that used a lap bar. Girth PR.
Squats:
3 x 5 x 191 lbs
5 x 193 lbs – Fucked this set up by losing the bar off my back on the fifth rep of second set. It was still a PR for a set of 5, though. I am walking the finest line with stalling anyway, so whatever. Next week.
Overhead:
138 lbs from the front rack
163 lbs from behind the neck
These were both a big deal because I haven’t put anything more than 125 lbs up from the front rack since fucking my shoulder in May. So, this proves that my shoulders are fine and I just need to stop being such a pussy. I’ma say these were both missed jerks, as I am sure I pressed out. In fact, I think the lift at 138 lbs was an ugly push press because I didn’t even manage to redip under the bar.
I’m a Jewish atheist so not much for the holiday spirit, but Justin got me all mushy, so Merry Christmas to my 70’s Big family.
F/35/5’8/150lbs
Just one PR this week 320x5x1 Deadlift, first PR in MONTHS, it felt awesome!
My new lifting socks came in the mail today, just in time for Christmas. Too bad my new belt hasn’t arrived yet, I expect it in a few days.
Merry Christmas to all, and STAY BIG!
First time poster doing LP which is shit of late due to holiday stuff in my way… PRs last week or so in lbs.
squat 320x5x3
bench 190x5x3
DL 370×5
clean 225×1
M/25/6’1/235
gonna be food all the rest of today and tomorrow, thanks jesus!
PRs:
Bench 255x5x3
Press 200×1 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1634046925873
Push Press 245×1
Chinup +135×1
Pullup +135×1
Barbell Curl 135×4
80% of a Pullup with ThunderThighs holding onto me. (she got scared and jumped off before chin reached the bar)
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PR’s
—-
Squat – 280 x 5 x 3
Bench – 230 x 5 x 3
Press – 137.5 x 5 x 3
Deadlift – 315 x 5 x 1
Merry Christmas, God bless, and get big…get 70’s Big
PRs:
3-Board Bench: 315X2
Front Squat: 350X1
I pressed 185X2. Not a PR but the best I’ve done since dropping 20lbs. I’m stronger in all my other lifts since losing the weight but the damn Press is a stubborn bitch. I’m jealous of Antigen’s 200lb press.
Merry Christmas.
I gave myself a great early present on Wednesday. A 500 lbs squat.
@TwoTone
Nice one, brother. 500 is decent and that squat was legit. I finally hit 3x5x100kg (220) the other day – hopefully be in to the +300lbs soon.
DL 270lb 1×5, locked out the fifth one and yelled “Merry Christmas!”
25/F/NoVa
What You Doin’ Tonight Baby?
I’m much outdone by the 500lb squat.
@Penn: My press shot up in a week after being stuck at 192.5 for a month after trying the press training schedule laid out by Grimek here:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/09/developing-greater-strength-john-grimek.html
This is the only time this year I get to see my family. If it wasn’t for my Dad buying me a plane ticket, I likely would not have been seeing my family at all ’till next fall.
Best Christmas present I have ever gotten.
And the .5” Rogue Rip Shoes I just opened weren’t bad either.
@Antigen – Really very excited about that Grimek article. Thanks.
Had a very good training week up until my I found out my Globo closed way too early today and could not go in to get another session in.
PRs:
Squat 350 3×5
Press: 180 3×5
Bench: 280 3×5
Deadlift: 485 1rm
Clothes PR:
Ass has grown to a size where my special rugby shorts imported from England ripped completely in half from proper squat form.
All I want for Christmas is a 500lb squat Santa. That and a singlet.
‘pump’ PR for the week, my bis and tris got swole (momentarily)…taking some time off from the regular program (5/3/1) to do some goofy bodybuilding and relax until the next training cycle begins!
A big thank you goes out to all our 70s Big Service men and women, past and present, keeping us safe while they fight for our freedom
Lifting PRs
Bench: 175×11
Press: 125×10
DL Lockout- 605
Christmas PR- spent 7 days in florida swimming and lifting, then drove to virginia for good family and a suprise white christmas.
Training Related Gift PRs: Got books by Dan John, Rip, and Brooks Kubrik, in addition to a CoC gripper and a KB. Pretty sweet haul!
Squat: 460 x 3
Grip PR- closed the CoC number 1 this afternoon, Messed around with it all morning, then managed to touch the handles and hold them closed this afternoon!
ThunderThighs needs to post pics…
Made a mistake in ordering the C.O.C. Trainer a few weeks ago…I can close it 28 times (with occasional readjustment breaks) with my right hand. But only roughly 8 with my left.
If anybody has a #1 (or maybe even a #1.5) C.O.C. they don’t use and would like to sell to me, let me know and I’ll give you my email…
Merry Christmas to all the 70sBIG folks. I may not know you, but you feel like a sort of family.
Speaking of presents, my awesome girlfriend gave me an Altus lifting belt and a rugby ball.
I know its late for PR friday, but I back squatted 200×20 before the weekend. I also snatched and C&J for the first time since I started shoulder rehab. That was the best Christmas gift yet.
Man, the CoC seems to be a popular gift for the folks here. As my grip used to be an issue with my deadlifts I figured it was time to do something about it. My wife got me the Trainer for V-day this year; I have the it on my desk at work and can now do sets of 20. I got the #1 yesterday. Maybe if I work at it I can get the 1.5 or the 2 for next V-day. :)
I wanted a set of CoC grippers, 2.5 through 1 (since I could close #1 over a year ago) but I think I ended up with an better gift.
I got a sledgehammer. By levering out it takes more and more grip and wrist strength to hold it parallel to the ground at my side. And although it’s just a 12# sledge I still have at least a foot to go before I’ll reach the end in my strongest hold (weight behind me).
It’s the same type of grip strength as holding a barbell but it always works one half of the fingers harder depending on lever direction. The thumb can be trained too.
I also figured ways to do curls, presses, lateral raises and other DB exercises with it in ways that multiply the resistance enough to be worthwhile hard.