I stumbled across Zoe Pablo Smith’s blog the other day and was immediately drawn in and impressed by both her writing and her skills. Who is she? Well she’s a British Olympian and holds the record for the clean and jerk. She weighs 58kg/127.8lbs and lifted over her head 267lbs. You read that correctly. This is what she looks like:
Not what you were expecting, huh? I’m not quite sure how tall she is but she’s not what most people think of when they think of girls lifting weights. Especially big weights. So let me shatter that myth once and for all ladies, unless you set out to look like a body builder, you will NOT “bulk up” if you lift weights. You especially won’t bulk up if you lift stuff that’s more than 5lbs.
I like lifting weights! A lot. There’s something very satisfying in a primitive way of picking up something heavy and putting it down again. And then repeating that a bunch of times. It’s tiring and when my muscles are screaming at me to stop, I feel very powerful putting up that last set with perfect form.
Marital arts has been good for my soul but weight lifting has been good for my body. Extensive research has shown that weight bearing exercise (like lifting weights!) is useful in preventing osteoporosis. Do you hear that, ladies? You won’t Hulk out *and* you’ll make your bones stronger!
I also lift because I love challenging myself and having concrete goals set up. Non-competitive weight lifting isn’t about out lifting the other guy, it’s about breaking your personal record. It’s about setting the bar up a little higher and reaching it. I love seeing my repetitions go down while the weight I’m pushing (or pulling) goes up. I feel stronger and more capable to tackle the problems life sets before me. I can also feel myself walking a bit taller with my head held higher. I know I look good but, incredibly, I believe that. And deeper down, I feel good. I feel good about myself and I feel more optimistic.
I am a lifter! Hear me roar! Except, try not to do that at the gym. It’s can get really annoying. I realize the gym is an intimidating place. Heck, I sometimes feel nervous going to the free weights section because it’s mostly just dudes in there. However, as I’ve blogged about before, no one is really looking at you. And if they are, most folks are looking at your form. An exercise done incorrectly not only is a waste of energy, it can also lead to injuries down the road. Most people who are seriously into lifting weights will often times give a newbie some pointers on correct form.
So get out there and lifting things up! Channel your inner meat head and do it! Lift things up and put them down! Your body will thank you for it.
5 Responses to “Why I Lift Weights…”
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I have recently been lifting (very tiny) weights when at the Y. It makes me feel all strong, even though they are only 3 lbs
. Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to play with the big boys and girls in the weight room.
Excellent post – I don’t lift weights but I keep meaning to try it. My upper body strength is non existent! And if your post reminds people that women just don’t bulk up without a lot of effort, that’s even better
Too true! I’ve been there where I couldn’t move, and still experience terrible, bone aching pain that makes me want to curl up in bed, BUT as my physio therapist says, “motion is lotion.” I can’t make the fact that I was in a car accident go away, but I can do things in the here and now, no matter how small they might appear and that is BRILLIANT! I used to do long distance cycling. Getting on my stationary bike is a challenge but I take heart when I see my Lance Armstrong poster my brother gave me hanging in my exercise room.
And Vanessa, you’ve totally read my mind! I’m starting a low weight training program tonight and I am excited. I think being strong, thinking strong and looking strong is beautiful!
Thanks for the link to the post from Zoe Pablo Smith. It’s very articulate and interesting. I agree that there is nothing wrong with a woman wanting to be strong. Anyone who has ever been (or still is) ill, would weep with joy at being able to lift anything heavier than a tea cup without falling over or weeping with exhaustion and pain. I would give so much to be able to exercise without crippling pain. I wish my body could work the way yours does now, or in my dreams, like that of an Olympian. To be honest, I’d be grateful to have a body that works as well as a 70 year old’s! A body is not an instrument for capturing a member of the opposite sex, it is a vehicle and a sensory interaction device for your brain. As with any vehicle, it requires regular exercise and the right kind of fuel to make sure it works properly. If you are lucky enough to have a healthy body, you shouldn’t be afraid to look after it, because of what some idiots might think!
You bring up many excellent points, one of which I just may turn into a blog post. I’d like to address this one: “Anyone who has ever been (or still is) ill, would weep with joy at being able to lift anything heavier than a tea cup without falling over or weeping with exhaustion and pain.”
When I was going through chemo, it was very difficult to sit up in bed some days. Obviously, if you’re running low on “spoons” for the day, I don’t advocate going out and lifting 50lbs. But if you can lift a tea cup up to your lips with little problem, then there’s no reason to stop feeding yourself. I saw too many people on the cancer floor just stop moving. One of the best things a person with an illness can do is to keep moving, whatever that may mean for them.
You don’t have to run a marathon–even the healthiest of us has trouble doing that! What you do need to do is take it slowly and do what you are ABLE to do. If that means sitting up in bed, great! As long as it’s something.