First phase of strength training… complete!
Like most of you, I just didn’t know where to start. I talked about doing it for awhile because I felt that my love for cardio was decreasing my muscle mass/strength. I wanted to get toned and I wanted to feel strong! So I finally took the first step, which for me, was asking for help.
After I was given a program that I could easily follow, I knew I was going to get on track. (I am using the word easily in regard to everything being written out step-by-step for me, not that the workouts were easy)!!
HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED DOING A MONTH OF STRENGTH TRAINING
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I was stronger than I thought I was
Your strength will surprise you, with anything you do, so don’t doubt yourself! I was stronger physically than I thought, and mentally as well. I was a cardio girl, it’s not like I was a couch potato. But, I was happily surprised with how strong my body was without lifting before. Honor where your body is when you start, and be proud of it. Mentally, I surprised myself with the willpower I had. Even when I woke up at 4am and was on a 6am flight and exhausted, I still made sure I got my workout in. I wanted to stick to my routine so I physically could be my best.
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It’s OK to miss a day
At the beginning, I was so concerned about sticking to the routine and not missing a single day. I’m glad I was like that because you have to hold yourself accountable. Plus, it takes awhile to break a habit (and create a new one). BUT, of course, life happens. There are those days where you seriously just cannot get to the gym. Don’t hate yourself for not going. Move on and know you will pick it back up the next day. Listen to your body and don’t beat yourself up.
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“Strong is the new skinny”
As Blaze said in our Healthy Lifestyle Q&A, strong is the new skinny. It felt empowering going to the weight room and lifting. Don’t be embarrassed, even if you’re using 5 lb. dumbbells, just do it and let yourself feel empowered. Modify where you see fit. Everyone has to start somewhere.
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How strong you feel is more important than how strong you look
I don’t think I look “stronger” yet but I can tell you with 100% certainty, I am. Don’t get upset if you’re not seeing the results. Feeling the results are just as (if not more) important.
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Don’t view a program as “x” weeks
Yes, celebrate you completing an “x” week program or praise yourself for all the hard work you’ve put in. But don’t let yourself just stop when you’re done after a 4-week program. Training is a journey. It doesn’t just finish when you’re done with your first goal. Make a new one, or let it evolve into something else. If your body is what’s benefiting greatly, why just stop? Make it the best it can be.
I can’t sit here and tell you how much I weigh or my measurements. Not because I won’t tell you, but because I didn’t keep track of any of that. To be honest, I didn’t weigh myself at the beginning, the middle or the end. I didn’t even get on a scale the entire time. Nor did I measure myself. I wanted to do this training solely based on how I felt. And that felt good.
My journey isn’t done. I’ve completed the first part of it and I will now take my lessons and go onto my next fitness phase. TBD where that will take me 🙂
xoxo
