This week's topic is pretty unsexy.  In fact, it's just about as unsexy as today's birthday boy, Hugh Hefner.

On that note: can anyone tell me what the deal is with his robe and sailor hat?  I mean, the guy IS 89 years old....but also has a degree in psychology.  If that's not ironic, I don't know what is.

Creepiness aside, a few weeks ago I had a brief conversation with one of my coworkers that went a lil' something like this:

Do you remember the Y2K scare?  I'll be honest, I don't really.  Of course, that's probably because I was in the 8th grade and wayyyy to into professional wrestling to give a hoot about anything else.  And, I was also fresh off my role as "Elvis," the emcee in my 8th grade Cabaret.

Before we go any further, let me answer your questions: 1) No, I no longer follow professional wresting (thank GOD it was a phase).  2) Yes, there is video evidence of me as Elvis somewhere in my parents' house.  It was actually the same show where I lip synced to "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. And, I....I think I've said too much.

Back to the topic at hand, the Y2K scare made the entire world think doomsday was right around the corner.  And, had it not been for some foresight and work by people like my Dad - who was actually working in the World Trade Center on the night of December 31, 1999 - Y2K could have been a big deal.  (And yes, he stopped working there a few months before IT happened)

As you all know, I love lifting heavy things.  But beyond my tough exterior, I also like to think there's a softer, gentler side - I was a ball of tears when watching "The Fault in Our Stars;" I'm a sucker for Puggle and Shiba Inu puppies; I also love long walks on the beach.

Just kidding, I hate long walks.  And the beach.

Nonetheless, I wanted to share that there's more to me than JUST deadlifts (plus, being able to deadlift over 500 pounds creates a safety net for me to share my softer side.)  Why?  Because this week's post is about - you guessed it - deadlifts.

I'm going to venture out on a limb and say that you've had lower back pain.

No, I'm not an oracle.  Nor am I one of those fortune telling gypsies in my new favorite Netflix show, "Peaky Blinders."  Great show, horrible name.  

It's just an honest fact - 80% of Americans will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives.  Like most of you, I'm not the exception, as I've dealt with my own share of lower back pain....and I'm just now getting to the point where I'm not constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I'd like to think I'm a classic case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.  Or rather, Dr. Deadlift and Mr. HydeThatBenchPress.

While I'm well on my way to deadlifting 3x my bodyweight, I really struggle on the bench press.  I know, I know, #meatheadproblems right?

But when it comes to my bench numbers, the struggle is real.  Between May and December of last year, I failed to improve my bench press and if anything, it occasionally seemed like my numbers were going backwards.  While my best bench ever was a measly 275 pounds (it's all perspective, right?), in late December I missed a rep at 265.  I was frustrated, and frankly, was thinking about benching wayyyy too much for my own good.

(And I'm sorry, but any guys reading this, I don't believe that you benched over 300 in high school.  Because you didn't. It's that simple.)