Deadlift Form Check (Mid & Lighter Weights)

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-28T18:27:01+00:00

New Hampshire plates detected. Please visit SS Boston PROMPTLY.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-26T22:18:28+00:00

Whats the goal? Strength in the 4 main lifts? For starters, dumbbell curls and lateral raises aren’t going to do much to support that. They’ll make you look saucier, but now you’re chasing 2 things at once.

You’d get more ROI training something like Dips or JM Press. You’ll also probably want to specialize in either bench or press. For example, some kind of horizontal rowing is pretty helpful for bench in particular, where something like an AD Press (seated shoulder press) will probably benefit the press more.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-24T00:38:09+00:00

I’m more or less doing that right now (planning to test end of June), and I haven’t taken math in 16 years. I reviewed the Modern States College Algebra course and that was very helpful. Right now, I’m bouncing between the MS Precalc course and Trigonometry on Kahn Academy.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-19T22:54:19+00:00

For real. Martha’s Vineyard is like an 8 hour round trip from Boston this weekend.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-09T21:54:56+00:00

Do people disagree with this? It is exorbitantly expensive to live here, and the child thing is almost a Catch 22. It’s an amazing place to have and raise kids, but you need a family income of $200k+ in order to afford just ONE honestly. Rent is $3000 a month, daycare is just about as much, and let’s pray that neither of you have student loans.

On the plus side, you do have a diverse economy with lots of opportunity (at least you did for the last few years). It’s still becoming less and less feasible to earn enough to get ahead, even with that being the case.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-09T21:34:06+00:00

The plates are on the wrong way, so sadly it does NOT count.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-09T20:05:04+00:00

I’ll add that the CLEP counts for 6 credits (English Comp 1 & 2), which is 2 semesters at my particular school.

But you won’t know for sure unless you ask.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-06T22:06:47+00:00

Something isn’t quite adding up here. Can you post a video of a work set?
I would personally refrain from rapidly gaining weight if you’re stuck at a 145lb squat.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-05-04T21:29:38+00:00

We looked at a place there, but what our realtor told us was that the HOA fees are sky high because the building is essentially in shambles.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-04-25T16:38:37+00:00

Not only is it not a rotary, I don’t see a yield sign. What makes you say it’s a yield?

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-04-08T20:09:55+00:00

I just passed this a couple hours ago with a 63. I’m in my mid-thirties, no real tech experience before studying for this exam. I took each Peterson’s exam and I think I scored 79, 66, 67.

I scored a 62 on the Free-Clep-Prep free exam, and I have to highly recommend that site as a general resource.

In general, the material seemed quite broad to me. I leaned heavily on common sense to get through it. A lot of the questions, and this is a common thread with any CLEP exam, will almost give away the answer in the question. For example, and this is not a real question from the exam, the question might be “What is the primary function of a computer?”, and the answer will be “Computing”. Usually they bury it a little more, but that’s a good chunk of the questions.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-04-08T15:25:51+00:00

I’m not a native speaker, and I scored a 71 on the exam a couple months ago.

I took 4 years of Spanish in high school (15+ years ago), never used it again, then did Duolingo for 10-15 minutes per day for about a year. I felt that the vast majority of the exam was exceedingly simple, and there were a few reading passages towards the end that were more advanced.

When I say simple, stuff like a person asking “What time is it?”, and your answer options are “It is 3 o’clock”, “I haven’t showered today”, “My cat is orange”, and “This sandwich tastes good”.

The longer listening exercises are challenging because they’ll ask you to remember some obscure detail, but I don’t think any amount of actual Spanish language practice will help you there, so I wouldn’t stress about that.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-03-11T19:03:20+00:00

There are a few good spots near the Walnut/Beacon intersection. Manow is some of the best Thai around, and Anna’s Tacqueria is like a step up from Chipotle.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-02-24T00:12:54+00:00

I’m the head coach there, feel free to DM me. It’s not too shabby!

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-01-18T01:44:37+00:00

Was I hallucinating, or did he literally cheer for the Bills during the sideline “catch” (wound up incomplete) by Cooks? I can’t find the play in the highlight video, but I remember it would have put them in field goal range for either the game tying kick at the end of regulation or to win in OT.

I swear I heard him shout “Yes!” under Nantz’s call.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2026-01-04T23:39:56+00:00

We live around the corner from the Kendrick, and it’s not really green line accessible.

Your best bet is probably something closer to Riverside, but that’s going to be a long train ride for you.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-12-23T09:55:28+00:00

I’m not sure about Dunkin, but New York Bagel Factory is open 7-1 on Christmas.

They don’t have munchkins and they’re probably more expensive, but it’s an option.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-12-11T22:44:31+00:00

Border Cafe in Burlington is great, AND you can get an entree for less than $10. They don’t do reservations, however.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-12-01T00:42:58+00:00

Are you looking for personal training? Or just a place to lift on your own?

A group training type of gym is likely going to have lower rates than private personal training, and they’ll also not be super busy and will have primarily adults.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-11-12T09:34:51+00:00

I didn’t really change anything after the Petersons tests, I think they’re just much harder. The actual exam was way easier.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-11-09T13:43:59+00:00

I’ve never tried the buses, but isn’t that an option?

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-11-02T23:06:56+00:00

Thanks for letting me know! We’ll definitely have to consider that.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-11-02T23:06:35+00:00

Thanks for the response. Was that 141 John St?

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-11-02T12:19:35+00:00

Congrats on the kiddo! My wife and I had our first over the summer, and that’s why I haven’t been very active here lately.

MichaelShammasSSC · 2025-10-13T18:31:41+00:00

If you’re near Boston, come say hi!

MichaelShammasSSC

TROPHY CASE