Nor will it make you look like a dude unless:
a. You
are a dude
b. You have a larger than average amount of testosterone in your system
c. You're taking anabolic steroids
I'm addicted to weight lifting.
I started half-heartedly with light weights in 1984. Had no idea what I was doing but I enjoyed it. Never got big results but like I said, I enjoyed it so I kept doing it.
Fast forward to November 1997. I developed a T6-T7 disc herniation that went undiagnosed until August of the following year. The only thing I could do that did not hurt was Pilates. I did not realize how addicted I was to lifting until I couldn't do it.
Had surgery to deal with the herniation in Aug 1998 and was in a rigid fiberglass brace until December of that year. Since I was walking around just fine once the brace was put on, they put me in charge of my own rehabilitation. I didn't know what I was doing so as soon as the brace was off, I started lifting again.
This time it was different though. I used the time in my brace to do research. By the time I could exercise again, I had a complete weight training protocol put together.
The first month was spent regaining some basic strength. By basic, I mean
basic. I was doing squats and deadlifts with a broomstick because I didn't even have the strength to use lightweight dumbells for those exercises.
For three months after that, the people would just watch me in the gym. A fat chick with a backbrace on for the first month lifting consistently five days a week with a proper lifting protocol and perfect form. No one was talking to me. They were just watching.
Month four, I got their attention. The fat I gained during my back episode started to literally fall off of me. Two months after that, I had to replace my military uniforms because the others were too large.
The reason why I started to get the results on month four was because I finally was strong enough to put away the lightweight dumbells and move to the heavy weights.
It's been 13 years today since my back surgery.
My weight stays in the 120# range. I'm 48 and can share skinny jeans with my 20 year old daughter. I do not live on boiled chicken, brown rice and raw vegetables. I have a quality of life. I attribute all of this to
heavy lifting.
So ladies, put away the 5# dumbells and embrace the iron. Trust me, you'll be glad that you did.
Labels: Weight Training
Nor will it make you look like a dude unless:
