So I got a pretty fantastic email this past Friday from a friend from high school who is now a graphic designer and website developer, and she was cool enough to provide me with the fantastic new banner at the top of this site. I think it looks pretty damn fantastic, so I’m going to keep it up for a while. If you need any graphic design work or anything related to digital marketing, you should give Kylie a shout at Foxx5 Creative Studios. Who knows, she may just wind up being my digital campaign manager in my bid to take over the world. She also just completed the LA Rock & Roll Mini Marathon last week, which is another notch on her list of “Ways that Make Me Awesome.” Congratulations Kylie!!

There’s a disturbing trend in Facebook and Twitter updates from a lot of the people I’m friends with or following. A lot of them throw in the word “Boom” at random intervals, even if what they’re saying has absolutely no impact. I can see something like

My client just got first place in his meet this weekend!! Boom!!

Or maybe even

Just finished trashing my legs! It’s gonna hurt to take a poop tomorrow!! Boom!!

But it’s just a lack of effort when I see something like

Roast chicken salad for dinner tonight. Boom.

Wow, that was underwhelming, wasn’t it? First, I think the term “Boom” is something that can give huge impact, or completely crap the bed with intensity, as evident by “Boom goes the dynamite” guy here. Fast forward to 2:20.

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I don’t doubt that most people would want to have a word like this make some sort of an impact or emotional push to deliver some emphasis on their point, but the word “Boom” could be the first words of a toddler and have all the emotion of “ohmygawdthatlittlebabyissocuuuuute!!!!”.

What we need is a new word to deliver some sort of impact, and as Boom was probably coined off Will Ferrell’s character Chaz Michael Michaels from Blades of Glory, I think the next phrase should also come from a Will Ferrell movie. I nominate Champ’s catch-phrase of “WHAMMY!!”

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I mean, you have to breathe that one out to say it properly. You have to get your diaphragm into it and get some stank on that sucker. It’s also 2 syllables, so it automatically is a better quality word. That’s just science talking right there. Plus, you get to throw a “me” in at the end of the word, as in “Wham-mee,” making it that much cooler. Done. I now claim “Boom” dead, and it shall be replaced with “Whammy” at every opportunity.

A funny thing happened last week. I managed to get a new PR in deadlifts at 425, and to be honest, it felt a lot faster than any previous max effort lift I’ve done before. Another funny thing is that this is the first time attempting anything over 385 in the past 5 months, which kind of blew me away that I would set a PR my first time out the gate with a max lift.

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Compare this to the PR I set back in March and you’ll see what I mean by how fast it felt.

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It should also be noted that distance runners everywhere are jealous of my right foot and complete lack of fallen arches. Top that off with the calf envy from pretty much everyone with pencil-thin calves (Gentilcore?). Considering that my new lift at 425 was completed in 3.42 seconds, and my previous best at 405 was completed in 4.12 seconds, I’d say I’m doing alright. Who knows, maybe 500 will be around the corner sometime soon. I’m sure the additional speed off the bottom came from doing more squats and working at getting more quad strength, but maybe something else is at play. Maybe it was the extra loud Nicky Minaj blaring directly into my soul through my ear-holes at the moment. Maybe it was Jupiter in the third house. Maybe it was seeing this picture of a guinnea pig with a pancake on its’ head….

….whatever the case, it happened, and now we all have to live with the consequences of me lifting more weight. WHAMMY!!!

Probably the best money you could ever spend, especially if you live in a winter climate, is a couple bucks on a set of ear warmers. I got a set as a Christmas gift a while ago, and subsequently lost them in the vortex that is my front closet, which meant I had to go and get another set. Come hell or high water, my ears are gonna be toasty when it hits -40 with a windchill this winter!!! If you want a set, pick them up HERE. They’re cheap and they’re spectacular!!

Muscle Imbalances Revealed: Upper Body is set to re-launch beginning next week, and we have a few additional bonuses in it for everyone. First, you can get some DVD’s out of it, which means you can hear my syrupy sweet radio voice over your surround sound if you want. Second, you can get some continuing education credits if you’re a trainer and you need to keep your certifications. Third, come on, do you really need another reason? This thing is the BOMB, baby!!!    WHAMMY!!!

Finally, if you haven’t signed up to get my updates and newsletter, do it by filling out the little form on the right hand side of this post. I have a few cool things going on in the coming weeks, and I’m going to break the news first to everyone who is a member of my list, plus I’m going to have some exclusive contests leading up to the Christmas season. It’s probably going to be the absolute highlight of your day, proven by science, and that’s just plain awesome. WHAMMY!!!!!  Yeah, I can feel the ripple effect of that one taking off as we speak.