The Cure for Anything

I recently had an acquaintance comment that I was getting too muscular.  Ha! There are only two people allowed to have an opinion on how my body looks: me and me  😊

But seriously, Why does it seem okay for some people to comment negatively on fit/strong/slim people’s bodies, but if you say something to an overweight person it’s fat-shaming? Neither one is okay. I think it’s rude for anyone to make unsolicited negative comments about anyone else’s body. I try to remind myself that when people judge MY body it is almost always just an extension of their own dissatisfaction with THEIR bodies. I.e., people who are totally cool with how their own bodies look and work don’t give a  care about how mine looks. Why would they care? They have better things to think about!  So be psyched about your muscles if you love them! They are YOURS.

Besides, that muscle is a result of years of hard work and dedication on my part. Strength training shows you that there are no excuses. You can get better, or you can complain  you can’t do both. There’s no way to cheat or fake it, either.

My reaction when someone asks if I’m worried about getting “too big”:

From my mentor, and I can completely relate:

I began lifting in 2009 because I wanted to like myself more. I was unhappy with who I’d become. I was told time and again, “Just don’t get big.” Fear instilled in women who lift and play sports teaches us to shy away from growth on so many levels.
I didn’t listen. I got big.
I got big on confidence. Big on self-worth. Big on fearlessness.

Big on courage. Big on gratitude. Big on humility.

Big on compassion. Big on strength. Big on resilience.
Big on sleeping well. Big on eating well. Big on loving better.

Big on living in the moment.
Oh, and big muscles, too. You’re worth is far more than the fear projected on to you. Get big.

Things Only People Who Love Strength Training Will Understand:

Strength training teaches honesty. You can’t fudge a deadlift: you either pull it, or you don’t. A push-up is a push-up, and a pull-up is a pull-up. In today’s world where people are oftentimes wearing a facade and showing you what they want you to see, honesty is needed more than ever. A barbell or dumbbell doesn’t lie; it doesn’t tell you what you want to hear or lead you into believing it’s something it’s not.
Strength training builds your body, of course, but also your mind. Few things can increase your mental fortitude than a brutal set of 20 rep squats when your lungs are screaming Stop! but your body and mind know it can handle more. There are times when you want to test your physical and mental strength, and a good resistance training workout will deliver a dose right into your bloodstream.
Strength training is beautifully simple. Use proper form. Perform a balanced routine that hits all of your muscles and trains the major movements.

Strength training allows you to discover the incredible things your body can do. Often women say, “I can’t do push-ups” or “I can’t do pull-ups” or “There’s no way I can deadlift twice my bodyweight.” I gently correct them, “You mean you can’t do those things yet, but you will.” In a world that encourages us to value ourselves solely on how we look, strength training, if we allow it, will shine a blinding light on the things we can do. As a result, you’ll value yourself in a new, wonderful, empowering way.

You sleep better. Consistent strength training, in my experience, aids in falling to sleep faster and sleeping better.

Humility. Try to do too much too quickly, and the barbell or dumbbell will humble you. You can’t wield it into doing as you wish, and if necessary, it will remind you of this fact. When you feel over confident, throw too much weight on the bar, it will gladly humble you and crush your ego in the process. This isn’t always a bad thing; sometimes we need a firm reality-slap square in the ego.

Patience. You’ll never lose weight fast enough or increase the weight you lift quick enough. But regardless of how impatient you are, the barbell and dumbbell will force you to practice patience. You’ll begin to be grateful for the small improvements: that extra rep or extra five pounds you added to your lift.

Strength training teaches you the importance, and power, of consistency. You can’t do one workout and get stronger. You can’t eat great for one week and expect to lose a ton of weight in that short time frame. But workout by workout, month by month, the seemingly small changes add up to noticeable improvements. Each time you return to the iron, it will reward you, but it may take many workouts before you see the effects.

Empowerment. You may not realize your true potential. You may not yet be aware of the strength within just waiting to be unleashed. The barbell, dumbbell, kettlebell or other tools will reveal this to you. You are stronger than you realize. And unlike the physical changes which can take weeks or months to notice, you can feel empowered in today’s workout.

Respect. Strength training will keep you in check. It will show you what you can do, what you can strive to do, and make you appreciate any limitations you may have.

Strength training shows you there are no excuses. You can get better or you can complain, but you can’t do both. Regardless of any physical limitation or injury you have, you can always do something. And even if you don’t have a lot of time to work out, you can still strength train and achieve results.

Strength training doesn’t discriminate. Age, race, size, gender, time, location, religion, equipment, shape, limitations, preferences. It doesn’t matter. Anyone can participate, one way or another.