Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with wimp

Trouble starting Starting Strength

ayerarcturus — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:13:39 -0800

Ok, so I've read, highlighted and taken notes on Rippetoe's Starting Strength, after half of Metafilter and my gym going friends recommended it. I've run into some trouble with the program, though, since I can't seem to do deadlifts and I can't follow his dietary advice. Before this, I may have been in a weight room about five times in my life. I've always kept physically active (hiking, running, etc) and eaten a somewhat decent diet, but strength has been an outstandingly huge blind spot for me. I've had good luck with keeping somewhat acceptable form with the squat and the bench press, but when the time came around to do a deadlift I couldn't get the damn bar off the ground. Rippetoe suggests 5-10 lb plastic training weights, but I can't seem to find them in my gym. I've looked around for something to prop up the bar to the standard 8 1/2 inches, but I can't seem to find anything usable that's lighter than the two 45 lb weights that I can't lift. Would I kill my back by using the smaller weights and a lower starting position? It struck me as a bad idea at the time. For that matter, are there any other exercises I could do to strengthen my back until I can do a deadlift?

Second problem I've run into is that I have both a dairy allergy and am lactose intolerant, so I think drinking a gallon of milk would probably be my death. My diet has mostly revolved around meat, beans, peanut butter, fruit, and a bunch of different whole grains. It's getting dull, though. If you have high calorie, high protein meal ideas that don't involve any dairy, could you share them?

Open source PHP software and IIS

fx3000 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:04:18 -0800

Disadvantages working with Open Source PHP Software in a WIMP environment? I may be looking a bunch a of work in a WIMP (Windows, IIS, MySQL, PHP). I typically utilize a lot of open source PHP open source software in a LAMP enivronment. I'm wondering how much of a disadvantage working in the WIMP environment this will be.

How do I become Hero of the Beach?

Bookhouse — Mon, 28 May 2007 10:47:31 -0800

How can I toughen up? I am a wimp: Physically weak, non-confrontational, anxiety-prone and lazy. I would like to be none of these things. What can I do to add some steel to my inner core? I'm talking about improving both physically and mentally.

Please help me develop my inner Vic Mackey.

Safe walking in SF at midnight?

cccorlew — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 21:09:54 -0800

Is it safe to walk from Great American Music Hall (SF) to BART after a show? Yep. I'm from the burbs. Sorry. I usually drive, but I going to give public transit a shot. But SF does have its.. special... issues. Can my wife and I walk that far at midnaight and be safe, or is a cab a better idea?