Pumping Iron

[whimsy]

Off the inflatable couch -- it was pumped!

Got much fun out of this one -- Thanks, Darth!

[Wendy Walker]

Super-fun, Darth! Enjoyed it!

[CPJohnson]

Solved! Thanks, Darth, for creating something fun for the rest of us.

[Streroto]

OTC. Fun one.

[ChrisKochmanski]

OTC!

Though, truth be told, mostly tied to it. I haven’t had a cold and cough this bad for 30 years. Can barely move. Thanks, Darth, for a fun puzzle to make me feel somewhat better!

[Darth]

What an awesome MMM showing today! So far, 54 Muggles have left the couch...
Here's the Leaderboard (compiled from Crosshare and our Xword Forum):
Pair O Ducks
SamKat9
rjy
Abide
Schmeel
Capn Rick
Meg
Hector
boharr
Ergcat
JM
michaelm
hoover
Cindy Weatherman
kymike
DIS
Schmeel
woozy
dannyvee
ajk
heidi
emmie
Cindy Heisler
Philip Chow
bhamren
AxelPlays
lbray53
Jeremy Smith
Sharkicicles
MatthewL
Anita and Steve
Carolyn
JHSeeman
whimsy
Wendy Walker
david
Samwise
Archie
LindaPRmaven
LB800
DQwellner
CPJohnson
Danny K Bernstein
Streroto (Scott)
ChrisKochmanski
benchen71
BrennerTJ
KayW
Jaclyn
Tim
Berto
Bird Lives (Jay)
Laura M
Sendhil Revuluri

[KayW]

OTC Fun one, thanks!

[benchen71]

Off the couch! Clever puzzle, Darth.

[Berto]

Off the couch! And for once no need to say I FEll off - I jumped off with FErvour!

[Bird Lives]

Late to the party. It took me a while because I was just feeling so, I don't know, something,

[Eric Porter]

OTC. Thanks Darth!

I practically solved it last night; I had everything except the final answer. I woke up this morning, remembered the puzzle, and while still in bed realized what the solution was without even looking at the puzzle!
It's been a while since I've solved a puzzle that way.

[HeadinHome]

Almost swore off metas for the week because my paying job is stacking up and these distract me. But by Tuesday night, I just had to peek at the MMM, and it drew me right in! OTC and somewhat refreshed to get back to work now…

[Darth]

Tuesday's solvers for the Leaderboard. Total: 67 solvers so far...
LarsCaine
markhr
Quiara
Jeremy Smith
Eric Porter
edestlin
Alex Sisti
DCBilly
DrTom
BarbaraK
Susan
Gutman
HeadinHome

...and these "Wednesday nudges" might gather up some more solvers:

Nudge #1: There are six (6) starred clues which all have something in common.

Nudge #2: The puzzle's title offers a hint as to what that commonality is. A periodic table can help if you don't recognize it.

Nudge #3: 36A suggests the addition of this "essential mineral" -- Hmmm, what do each of those six key words look like without it?

Nudge #4: Do you recognize the six new words as grid entries? Listing them in their order of appearance might help.

You can do it! You got this! (Solution will be revealed on Sunday)

[JeanneC]

Off the couch! Super clever. Solved it the moment I saw Berto’s “spoiler”. Guess you could say I got it with a 1/nudge!

[MaineMarge]

OTC!
@Darth, you’re the man!
Great fun meta- thanks, and keep em coming

The birds will love this when we get it set up

[dot]

Off the couch! Got stuck at the last step, trying to put it all together... but got there in the end.

[Darth]

Here is the solution to the meta for "Pumping Iron":

The first word of the six starred clues follow the pattern Fe (Iron) + an answer in the grid:
10A Fences (in) --> Fe + NCES
17A Female fox --> Fe + MALE
31A Feeds the kitty --> Fe + EDS
55A Feint, as a boxing move --> Fe + INT
67A Feaster on frogs --> Fe + ASTER
68A Feats of Keats --> Fe + ATS

When taken in grid order the first letters spell ANEMIA:
ASTER - NCES - EDS - MALE - INT - ATS

[Darth]

Congratulations to our Wednesday - Saturday solvers, who bring our final total to 82!
atsirica111191
Pboodang
Johnny Luau
Steve M
Sobeknefru
jbird
JeanneC
SJMcK
MaineMarge
Bob cruise director
dot
kurtalert
imontoo
Naptown Kid

Thanks to all who attempted this puzzle, and to Crosshare for hosting!