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Thanks to a little twitter encourangement from Jenn The Left Over Queen I was a little stoked to try out weight lifting. A little scared but stoked none the less.
I decided to forgo the advice from the 16 year old “running shoe expert” who told me that running shoes were only for running and I would need to purchase special weight lifting shoes. I mean seriously, are the shoe police going to come get me? Plus my quest for an exercise routine I can become addicted to has already cost me a small fortune so I wore the running shoes paired with my running shorts and the top from my cute little yoga outfit. Plus the weight training session was free! I was already way ahead of the game with weight lifting.
My eyes bugged out of my head when I meet my trainer, Mr. X. (an alias to protect the inncocent and guilty). He has the face of a Botticelli angel and the body of Adonis – or maybe Brad Pitt in Troy. And he was the sweetest guy, he didn’t snicker or roll his eyes or or snort when I answered his questions as to my exercise goals.
We started off nice and easy, lifting a few pounds, doing a few reps (that’s weight lifting lingo) and Mr. X was so concerned, always asking “Is that too heavy?” There was some cool rock music blasting in the background, I was pumping iron and certain I was going to be ripped and strong in just a few short weeks!
After about 15 minutes my cherub faced, Adonis bodied sweetheart turned into Attila the Hun. Or Hitler. He was “encouraging” me to do more, lift slower, watch my form. Heck, I couldn’t watch anything as my eyes were so filled with salty sweat. My heart was pumping, my muscles screaming and waves of nausea kept rolling through my churning stomach. I seriously thought I was going to die and my life passed quickly before my eyes.
Oddly enough I found a peace of mind that escaped me with yoga. When told to empty my mind I couldn’t do anything but think dark evil thoughts. But when Mr. X. told me to concentrate my mind went blank. Nothing existed except the sound of his voice counting reps and the now faint rock music in the background. I think this must be a mechanism employed by the mind that allows prisoners of war and concentration camp victims to survive. The pain and distress fade away as our bodies attempt to stay alive through sheer torture.
At the end of the hour I was relieved to have survived and more than a little proud. As I walked to my car I felt strong. My feet felt that they were literally moving the earth below me. I was strong! I was woman who lifted weights! I was invincible!
The next morning I awoke wondering if I had been in a terrible accident. Everything hurt. Even my eyelashes. How in the world can this be good for you?
I hobbled to the bathroom like a 98 year old train wreck victim thinking that quite possibly weight lifting was not my calling after all.
And then something happened. As I lifted the toothbrush to my mouth I glimpsed in the mirror the faintest outline of – A MUSCLE! On my bicep. It was small but there it was popping up like a proud little mound. Well not exactly a mound, more like the faintest whisper of a shadow of an image of a mound, but still. I kept lowering and raising the tooth brush and sure enough, with each motion my little muscle would pop up. I switched hands, same thing with the left arm. Holy muscle bound woman Batman!
All through the day as I hobbled from place to place in utter agony I would look again each time I passed a mirror. And every time I was rewarded with a glimpse at my baby muscle. Who cares if I can barely walk? Who needs to walk when they are buffed? (An added benefit to barely being able to walk is that I have eaten much less. When faced with the choice of getting up and walking into the kitchen or being hungry, hunger seemed like the most sensible solution.)
As the days have passed the soreness has dissipated but my burgeoning muscles have not. Finally, an exercise I can embrace! That’s the good news. The bad news is that Mr. X informed me that I must supplement weight lifting with other forms of exercise such as cardio and stretching. So while I can add weight lifting the quest is not over. Apparently I must find a whole routine and make working out a life style. And apparently drinking expensive martinis in sexy shoes is not something Mr. X considers a healthy lifestyle.
Weight Lifting Recap:
Cost:
Clothing – $0.00
Free Weight Lifting Lesson – $0.00
2 months gym membership – $70.00
Calories Burned:
About 350 weight lifting
Another 150 lifting my arms to check out my muscles millions of time over
Plus no negative calorie loss due to the nausea and inability to walk to the fridge.
Probability of adding weight lifting to my life routine:
HELL YES!
(finally!)
Next up - Treadmill (clearly I need to find a more distraction-free place to run!)
Weight Lifting – Simply Gluten Free
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Carole, I urge you to try circuit training. It's a combination of weight lifting and cardio in nice quick bursts – so you don't have time to get bored, think evil thoughts or notice that your muscles are screaming (ok, maybe a bit). If you enjoy the calm feeling that weight training gives you but need cardio too, it's the dogs biscuits.
Great description!
x x x
So glad you are torturing yourself so I don't have to. Thanks for taking one for the team.
One more reminder, Jazzercise is 1 hour of cardio, weight lifting and stretching. If you find a class with a good group of gals, we go out Wed. nights for Martinis and high heels. Find a class near you on http://www.Jazzercise.com
Once again, your exercise post cracked me up! I took up on weight lifting around Thanksgiving because even though I do the elliptical and/or stationary bike every day I was not looking so tone. Funny, I saw a little muscle after the first day and it's what keeps me going! I think the treadmill is boring… :) If you must do cardio on your own, I would say the bike is the most entertaining and than the elliptical comes in second. I get a great work out from the stationary bike. Do both of those in intervals. Otherwise, good luck finding your cardio of choice.
Weight-lifting is more rewarding – that little muscle can motivate you! Great job! (reminds me I need to do more strength training!) As for the treadmill, I tend to find myself watching the clock a lot – unless I have my ipod. Then I find songs with a beat matching that of the pounding of my feet – so I can run to the beat. If it's a particularly energizing song (for some reason, hard rock is my "go-go" juice), I'll even get into it and really push. Since I can't dance and the people at Jazzercise would make fun of my lack of coordination – this running-to-music thing is my next best thing. Good luck!
Have you tried P90x? The stuff from the infomercial? It combines weights, cardio, yoga and stretch into a seven day routine. Most people who start it become addicted to it. You can research it online.
Awesome! I love a good metabolic workout. If you like weight lifting, you should look into it. It's a great way to combine cardio and weights without getting bored.
Being an exercise phys major and avidt health nut (hey, its my job) I couldnt agree more (and laugh with you) about everything!!
YES!!! I am thrilled to hear about your weight lifting session! I know what you mean – a little motivation goes a long way. If you want Linda Hamilton arms, in my experience, there are a few things you will have to do differently down the road, once you are used to the routine you are doing now. But we can talk about that later! I am just so excited for you that you really enjoyed yourself!
Love the post…it's rewarding for me, a fellow food blogger, to follow the progress of another's fitness goals. It can be hard to balance the passion for food with the other things we need to do for our bodies.
I love weight lifting as a meditative exercise. And those muscles burn more calories at rest than the rest of your body!
I recommend with the treadmill that you have a TV near by. Just walk fast during a show and run during the commercials!
I absolutely love this exercise series, it's hilarious. I'm glad you enjoyed lifting, it's my favorite! I'm afraid your trainer might have over done it a little for first timer but glad to hear you're not letting that discourage you! Keep up the good work!!!
Yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying it =D.
girl, beyonce's and shakira's abs should have been all up in there! have u seen them!! :) P90X works like a charm. hard as hec, but it really does work!
Not only does weight lifting give you that awesome tone, you burn more calories and can get away with more carbs / day before spiking your insulin.
Awesome post. Women forget the importance of weight lifting. It's great for bone density. I was afraid I'd "bulk up" if I did weight training. Thankfully, a trainer reminded me that if it's not my goal, it won't happen.
Good luck with your new workout endeavor!
Easily I agree but I contemplate the post should acquire more info then it has.
I love to hear about other women who love the iron! If you want some cool weightlifting info, check out stumptuous.com. You'll never look at squatting the same way twice!
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