Breathing: It's Overrated

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Monday night, following heavy sets with both barbell and dumbbells on the flat bench, I had the distinct sensation that my ribs were poking through my heart, and that my lungs, in solidarity, had ceased all major operations. Greg says this is my punishment for having another man spot me on the dumbbell press, but my feeling is he shouldn't be spiteful when I'm here knocking on death's door.

Reactions have been mixed. Regular folk are alarmed upon hearing phrases such as "I can't breathe," whereas powerlifters are like, "Go stretch. You'll be fine." I must admit that stretching has done nada; only time is taking away the feeling that the 45-pound dumbbell is sitting on my chest. I figure by next Saturday's meet, I'll either be really strong from carrying this imaginary weight around, or I'll pass out from the lack of breathing.

Comments

  1. Amy PhillipsOctober 27, 2010 at 10:14 PM

    This explains it, though can I trust an article that ends with "be careful when you breathe"?

    http://www.healthandnutritiontips.net/intercostal_muscle_strain/intercostal_muscle_strain.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Greg ScheerOctober 27, 2010 at 10:26 PM

    Your cheating ways broke my heart. And your intercostal muscles. But pretty much that's the same thing.

    ReplyDelete

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