Cup Check

Xavy's adorable brother came to visit him last week and I was lucky enough not only to have met him but to have been able to train with him. It was then that I learned what the term, "cup check" was all about. I have never heard the term before last week.  What that refers to is a comment or action that someone uses to confirm someones gender.  Makes perfect sense I guess.

For the last few months, I have only trained next to Xavy.  I know what weights he lifts and how he trains so I set my goals based on him.  The free weight area to most of the females in the gym is like an uncharted island.  Maybe its the hot guys, maybe its the smelly guys, possibly it is the intimidation of the weights or even the mirrors.  Either way, there are only a few women that have been "man" enough to set foot on that side of the gym.  When Alicia was still training at our club, I had not yet made it to what I assumed her level was.  Talk about a beast in the gym.  That chick is solid!  I strive to be like her when I grow up.  That leaves me on the island of testosterone all alone now.  The good thing is that I really don't know what the "average" woman lifts on "average".  The bad thing is that I really don't know what the "average" woman lifts on "average".  haha.  All I can do is try to keep up with my peers, regardless of gender.   My training partner happens to be a male bodybuilder.  What does that mean?  I life heavy as $hit every single day. No where near as heavy he does but not so far away either.  When I started this journey, I had not given the amount of weight that I lift or the appearance of my muscles any thought.  I just wanted a smaller ass. I didn't have any clue how naturally as strong I was.  Xavy said a few times in awe that I was lifting dude weight, but part of me thought he was just encouraging me.  Last night, I waited for the firefighter next to me to finish his set of bicep curls so that I could take my turn- with the same weight.  The poor guy walked over to another machine with his tail between his legs. lol.

So back to the whole "cup check" incident...  Xavy had been teasing his brother that he had better get his butt in shape because his training partner, a girl, might be able to out-lift him.  His brother's laughed it off saying he would have to do a cup check it that was the case.

He didn't even see it coming...

Now, let me preface this by saying that at no point did I out-lift him.  I did however match him pound for pound a few times.  Probably a few times too many for that Ramirez ego that both of those men have.  I was giving it 125%.  I was having a blast!  Because I pushed him, he in turn pushed Xavy.  All of us KILLED IT that night in the gym.  I don't think that there was a plate in the gym that had not been touched. The whole time, we cracked up at each other and all had a really great workout.  If it wasn't for the pushup bra being all the proof that I needed that I was a female, I would have probably indeed endured the now famous, "cup check".  In my defense, the push-up bra, although inappropriate in the gym, was necessary.  I have got NOTHING left!  Xavy has bigger boobs then I do now.

I may not have many females on my Island of Testosterone, (the free weight area), but I have great friends that respect me for the "athlete" that I am.   I go in, I go hard and and keep up.  It may not be the most feminine hobby that I have but damn it makes me feel pretty awesome.

My max, that I remember (so far):
-results not typical, lol-

Leg Extensions: 3 sets of 15 @ 160lbs
Leg Press, (High and Wide): 2 sets of 15 @ 733lbs
Push-ups: 4sets of 50
Seated Bicep Curls: 2 sets of 15 @ 25lbs
Dumbbell Concentrations: 4 sets of 15 @ 30lbs
Rope Pushdown: 2 sets of 20 @ 42.5lbs
Tbar Row: 1 set of 12 @ 95lbs