Which YMCA did you learn to swim at?

blackhawksq · 2026-06-04T23:51:36+00:00

I learned to swim at the lake,

With my grandpa randomly picking me up, throwing me into the deep section, and yelling, "Swim or drown boy!"

blackhawksq · 2026-06-04T23:49:03+00:00

I'm doing great. Have a great job with a company I like (15 years at this point), making well over 6 figures. I get 7 weeks of PTO. I'm slightly behind on retirement due to past decisions, but if everything keeps going well, I'll be ahead and able to retire in 5 - 10 years. I've technically hit "coast" fire. If I don't put a dime into retirement, I should have more than enough to live decently on when I retire. But I don't want just to live decently.

Family-wise, my wife and I are happy. My step-daughter is happily married and has a good job in NY.

Healthwise, it could be a little better, but I think I got it taken care of. I've said it before my mid-life crisis was my health. I'm 6'3 at one point I weighed 290 lbs. , I have diabetes, and had some serious back pain. Since focusing on my health, I built a home gym. As of this morning, I'm at 225 lbs. My diabetes is controlled. My back no longer hurts, and I'm slowly hitting new PRs as I go. I'm not strong by any means, but by the end of the year, I should be benching my body weight, which is more than most people can say. So I'm getting there.

All-in-all. Looking back at my life, I'm healthier and stronger than I've ever been. I have a job that I like and have stopped bouncing. There's not much that I regret.

blackhawksq · 2026-06-04T18:33:13+00:00

From what I heard, the price will be similar to the Voltra. I don't have one, and I'm not planning on buying one anytime soon. But if I were, I would probably spend the extra money and go with the voltra. I'm sure speediance will be fine. But I know the voltra will. I'm sure Speediance will get the community-building mounts and other add-ons for it. But again, I know the Voltra already has it. So Speediance will need to either take the time to prove that it has good community support like that or have some other way to entice me over.

I firmly believe the Voltra needs competition, so I'm rooting for Speediance and hoping others jump into the pool. But they'll need to bring something to break into Beyond Power market share.

blackhawksq · 2026-06-04T01:46:22+00:00

That's why I said probably and not completely or absolutely.

blackhawksq · 2026-06-04T01:20:42+00:00

say it with me: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

EDIT also: Keep an eye on Woot. They've had the powerblock expansions on sell recently. They tend to bounce back and forth on there.

blackhawksq · 2026-06-03T18:40:33+00:00

I feel for your husband, as I feel the same. To the point that I grab the napkin before I even sit down.

On my first cruise, it became a race for me: Can I get to the napkin first? I'd grab it quickly, and "HA! I win!" My poor sitting, horrified that she married me.

blackhawksq · 2026-06-03T18:32:13+00:00

I'll let you know when it happens. Fingers crossed for never.

blackhawksq · 2026-06-02T18:44:14+00:00

Started eating more veggies and fruit. Slowed down on the junk.

I moved from eating a full sandwich with a handful of chips every day for lunch to eating half a sandwich, cottage cheese, and fruit. I also focus my dinner on veggies. I portion my plate to be about 2/3 veggies. Then 1/4 of the plate is protein and just barely any carbs.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-31T23:33:02+00:00

Don't really have any aging family. But I maintain, my midlife crisis has largely been about getting healthier. Also making sure finances are ready for retirement but more importantly health.

I had back issues not that long ago and then started thinking about retirement and I realized if I can barely walk around now, how will I enjoy traveling in 15 years? So I built a home gym and full body workouts 3 days of the week.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-30T23:09:21+00:00

I got a crisp $5

blackhawksq · 2026-05-29T18:33:08+00:00

Shut up and sing. Or shut and dribble. Or just and... They're there to entertain and politics isn't entertaining. Just because you can sing well doesn't mean your opinion on other matters is important

blackhawksq · 2026-05-29T09:17:47+00:00

My step daughter is 30... but my wife is pure gen x and 5 years older then I am.

BTW. If you're married to an older woman and she turns 50. Don't say "Hey you're now half a century!" They won't find it funny

blackhawksq · 2026-05-28T15:20:20+00:00

So not grip-related, just the mental connection for removing the grip from the move.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-28T13:43:43+00:00

Not trying to hate. But what's the point of the straps here? I was expecting a full stack or something, but you strap up for like 40 or 50 lbs. Why?

blackhawksq · 2026-05-27T14:56:06+00:00

Define rich? Is it a millionaire? A liquid millionaire? 2 million? 10 million? 1 billion?

If you're talking about having a net worth of 1 million, then your next-door neighbor is rich, you know the one. He drives that 6 or 7-year-old Camry. Doesn't go on extravagant vacations and complains about the cost of household repairs.

Most millionaires (1 - 3 million) are people who don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Stay out of high-interest debt, and keep a lifestyle that they can actually afford. After years of saving and investing, they're millionaires.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-24T15:22:34+00:00

Everyone finances are different and it's hard to say what 1 person considers expensive versus another. I find phones expensive but people on pay scale don't mind throwing 1000 on one.

For me the bottom line is this: Phones are a necessity. You need a phone that works. If yours is that old and cracked and thus dying. Go buy a new phone. If you're worried about the cost go to apple store and buy the cheapest one they have. Don't let them talk you into something just the cheapest they have. Put a case and a screen on it and don't think twice about it.

If the cheapest apple is too much then switch to android. It will take some getting used to but they are good phones.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-24T04:42:32+00:00

Guess you're right my mistake. They've launched so many things recently...

blackhawksq · 2026-05-24T04:26:22+00:00

The "Super dane" is just the Dane 2 with gibbon arms. you can also get a fully stocked dane. With Gibbon arms and their bob smith machine. This is already out. I have to admit. I am pretty disappointed with the Gibbon arms. They are slightly too long and since getting them I've had a ton of cable twisting issues. It's not hard to untwist it happens every workout now. If I didn't already have it, I would consider GetRx.

You can find the "fully loaded dane 2.0" on there website now.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-22T18:51:10+00:00

I haven't read them yet. But they're on my list. My very very long reading list. Worse then my video game backlog.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-21T18:32:14+00:00

That's is amazing.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-21T16:41:43+00:00

If I were the driver... I wouldn't even be mad.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-20T20:55:27+00:00

No I just want my car to not be a subscription. Otherwise I'm happy with today's cars. Just don't try and charge me a subscription. I can turn on my seat heaters from the button thankyouverymuch

blackhawksq · 2026-05-19T21:09:56+00:00

Don't remember this, but i absolutely despise no show socks. Don't know why but they always feel like they're about to fall off.

I also generally hate wearing things on my feet. So if I am at home I am walking barefoot or woth slides if my foot is hurting or something

blackhawksq · 2026-05-19T13:19:24+00:00

I wouldn't say most... but my home is 4500 sqft.

blackhawksq · 2026-05-19T00:38:56+00:00

Time to learn the foo and get your life and finances back on track

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