This morning I finally worked out. The last time I squeezed in a proper workout was a full week ago.
I realized a couple things while I was lifting weights this morning:
I’m super lucky to do what I do. I think this realization hit me because I happened to workout along side my friend who has cancer. I’m so lucky to be healthy without major illnesses and able to workout and push my body fully. I’m very lucky indeed.
As a female, the stronger you get the smaller you get. That’s my favorite part of lifting weights. Lately I’ve only been able to lift weights once or twice a week but I’ve seen more changes in my body (for the better) than I ever did when I was doing hours of cardio training for my triathlon. I still love swimming and biking and all but the weights are my true love. I love getting and being strong and I love how it’s changing my body.
I can lift more than I think. I usually workout by myself so I never push myself to 100%. I always want to lift a weight that is challenging but I no I can handle alone so I don’t get hurt. This was sort of subconsciously done at first and I realized it today when my friend watched my when I did skull crushers (best name ever, btw). I could do more and I’m going to start doing it.
Squats are the best. Squats have to be my favorite exercise which is funny because I hated them for the first few years I started working out. Squats work your entire lower body. They are an awesome exercise and it’s fun to see the weight you lift go up and up.
Those are just a few of the things running through my mind this morning post workout. The second is especially important I think because it’s so true. Most women I know are scared to get bulky and avoid weights for hours on the treadmill. But really? Weights won’t make you big if you are a female. They will make you lean and athletic and awesome. I’m not the only girl who thinks so.
–
ps – This cartoon cracked me up today so I have to share it. This seems very familiar as a blogger!
mary, I love all of this. Right down to the cartoon ending.
;)
What she said. I can definitely see a bigger difference in my body after lifting weights consistently for a while. Have you ever heard and/or tried body pump? My friend does it, and it seems pretty intense. Her instructor said, “if this doesn’t have you on the verge of vomitting all class, you’re not lifting enough weight!”
Not to try and talk you out of it, of course.
Haha. I’m not really scared of BodyPump, it’s just not my thing. I love group classes but not for weightlifting. I like to go my own speed and lift my own weight amounts. I find I push myself more when I’m not in a class setting because there are no limitations. But those kinds of classes have definitely helped a lot of people and I know some people love them!
I have been really really bad about strength training lately. I think since I’m training for a run, I just cling to the runs and congratulate myself when I do them, but I really need to focus on strength training too because I know it will only make me a stronger runner!
Ahaha that cartoon totally cracked me up! Thanks for sharing it!
I have a love/hate relationship with squats. On the one hand, I can easily feel my body working and the squats (even regular, un-weighted ones) are easy for me to judge that my form is correct. On the other hand, the spot right above my knees gets so sore that when DOMS sets in I am doomed, since I am constantly going up and down stairs at work and at home. Good indicator that I’m working out, but painful!
That cartoon is soooooooooooooooooooo funny!
You know I hear you on the weights. I LOVE THEM! I will add though that there are a few of us that can get big lifting IF we lift heavy & eat for getting big so…. just so people know. I could get very big when I was younger & lifted heavy. People thought I was on drugs & of course I was not. Some of us ladies can get big but it is all part of having the genetics to do so & lifting & eating to do so…
So happy you are loving weights!!!!
ROFL! That cartoon just depicted the relation between Twitter celebs and their umpteen followers too! :D
I disagree with you on the second point which infers (although you do not directly say it) that you cannot get strong or lean with a cardio focus. I have completely transformed my leg strength through a focused and dedicated training regime on the bike (be it my bike, a spin class, or my bike on an indoor trainer setup). Of course, I do also include strength work (mostly isometric or using my body’s own weight to strengthen my weak areas for example with step ups and squats – but sometimes with weights too). But not exclusively. And not unless it has a purpose – for example, making my legs stronger to help me to bike with more power.
Personally, I think the key to strength and fitness is dedication, work and committing to what you do – giving 100% at the workouts you do, making the time to get it done week in and week out.
But that is just my experience.
Um, no, it doesn’t infer that so you really shouldn’t be disagreeing. Please take your assumptions elsewhere. ;)
What it does mean is that strength training does do that too. It’s NOT something females should be scared of and avoid because they don’t want to “bulk up” because that really doesn’t happen. You get stronger – you get leaner. That’s how it works and has nothing to do with a cardio focus or not.
I wonder what research shows.
Based on my own experiences, the strength and cardio go hand in hand. Like complementary colours. Necessary for balance and a total health picture.
Of course they do. I didn’t say it was completely one or the other. I said that when I was doing ONLY cardio, nothing happened. When I started doing more weights (I still do cardio) better things happened. I’m not even sure why you are arguing a non-existent point. It’s not like I’m saying only do strength training.
Woohoo! Working out together will be awesome!
Yeah, most women still think strength training is not right for them. Oh well!
I’m not arguing – merely promoting the benefit of balance, which is not really what I took away from your point number two.
I saw an interesting link today that said that the key benefit of strength training for weight loss was that by increasing the proportion of muscle in the body, it would elevate naturally the resting metabolic rate (as muscles use more energy even in a resting state). More reason to build the weights into training, or even isometrics designed to build strength.
Not arguing. Just annoying me on what was a positive and awesome post. ;)
I think this is a great post…. It is so positive and it is really encouraging to read!
Maybe some of your readers need to be reminded of why you are blogging and like you say you are ‘not a doctor/nutritionist/dietitian/personal trainer. Basically my opinion is NOT what you should base your own healthy living decisions off of…My blog is only my personal experience in what has worked for me.’
Keep up the amazing work!
Lizzy :)
Awesome post! I am wishing for some new weights (I only have little 2lbs) but have been trying to use my own body weight for now.
Bodyweight is a great place to start for a lot of exercise. :)
First of all, I love the cartoon! Doesn’t it seem so like our world today?
Lifting weights has this stigma of “bulking” people up, but when done right, it doesn’t have to bulk you up, whether you’re a guy or a girl. I’m a guy, and I’m not looking to get a “bodybuilder” or a “wrestler” physique. I’m more after a lean, muscular look.
Great post!
Very true! It doesn’t have to bulk you up as a guy either. A few guys at my gym now lift every day but they aren’t trying to bulk up so they aren’t. It takes effort, even as a guy, to build lots of muscle!
i love that cartoon! it reminds me of the online ‘fans’ i’ve inherited from my friends (tho im prob a ‘fan’ of some people, like u, that i never met either).
i think i did used to think that about weights, that it could make women bulky. def not true, and i love my weights class!
Hi, Mary –
I’m a new reader, so I’m not sure if you’ve posted about it before (so apologies if you have.) What kind of weightlifting do you do? I ask because I’m curious – I do free-weights but have been considering increasing my weight workouts beyond my three-times-weekly classes with Richard Simmons.
Thanks!