BODIES

In moderation...

It is true...that is how I feel.  I don't want to be skinny.  I want to enjoy delicious food.  I don't mind being a bit of overweight.  I am very comfortable with myself.  The first posting below, by Jen Sinkler, talks about different body types and their value.  Love it. 

The second article by Taylor Ryan offers a different perspective I think.  She is talking about working toward goals.  She is saying love who you are at the moment but challenge yourself to be better and more fit.  Set goals.

I love both these articles.  They both have merit.  They both resonated with me.  I am happy in my body type.  It works for me.  However, I have a specific goal.  I am working toward the SFG Barbell Certification.  The less you weight, the easier achieving the goal is.  As my weight goes down, the amount of weight I have to push, pull and lift changes.  Fifteen pounds less would make a difference.  On the other hand, I can just work super hard and do this a higher weight.  We shall see what June brings.

Please check out their postings..

Jen Sinkler talks about women loving their bodies in the face of societies attempts to define beauty and how difficult and ugly that can be. 

EMBRACE YOUR BIGNESS

The deadlift is rising up. Standing proud. Taking up space. This is a lift for women.

Over and over, I’ve witnessed a dramatic increase in body confidence when women start lifting.

If you lift weights, certain body parts may rearrange themselves. #embraceyourbigness.

Bigness is not about body size—it's a way of being." #embraceyourbigness

“INFERIOR JEANS! You cannot handle my giant muscles! I am TOO BIG FOR YOU!”

https://www.jensinkler.com/embrace-your-bigness/

The second article is,


WHY I HATE THE LOVE YOUR BODY TREND

What is it about?

– It’s about loving yourself enough to want to be better.

 

– It’s about accepting where you are today, but not where you can be tomorrow.

 

– It’s about SELF love as opposed to obsessing over the girl next to you on the treadmill. You know the one… she’s thin, doesn’t have a single cellulite dimple and is toned from squatting MAYBE 15 lb dumbbells. Trust me, she’s comparing herself to you and picking out the things she wishes she had.

 

– It’s about creating your own individual journey with self motivation, goals, and reasons.

http://www.liftingrevolution.com/the-naked-truth-i-kind-of-hate-the-love-your-body-trend/

 

  

Personally,

I LOVE the look of Serena Williams.  She has the ideal body type in my eyes and she says...

 

I am a full woman and I’m strong, and I’m powerful, and I’m beautiful at the same time. - Serena Williams 

  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alanah-joseph/feminine-muscularity-resh_b_9397370.html

SMART TRAINING

 In addition to trying a free class at Title Boxing Club this weekend, I did a workout at the Torigian YMCA.   They have a decent number of kettlebells and barbells both of which were on my training agenda.

Over the years when people have complimented my training and/or my technique, I've usually brushed it off or been annoyed that my training was interrupted.  On this day, a young guy came up to me after I had completed a Turkish Get Up using a 12 KG or 26 pound bell.  He more than enthusiastically described my TGU as perfect.  He said most guys can't even do a TGU without weight.



14 KG TGU in my messy backyard!

What I haven't learned is that because someone compliments you at 12 KG, it doesn't mean you have to immediately do one with 16 KG or 35 pounds.  Well, that is what I did.  That wasn't about training.  It was about trying to impress someone.  You see, for a number of health and joint reasons, I need to be smart about how I train.  That wasn't smart.  It doesn't mean I can't do 16 KG because I can.  It just means I need to be intentional about when I do them.

As many of you know, I went into the Strong First Certification training with a number a number of injuries.  I worked through them.  Eric Gahan, co-owner of Iron Body Studios, offered the best advice when I first started training there.  He said,  "You need to remember the goal."  Without that advice, my injuries would not have been under control by the certification.  I know I would have pushed myself.  All I needed to do was push, pull, snatch, clean, swing and squat 12 KG.  Without those words, REMEMBER THE GOAL, I would have pushed myself to push, pull, snatch, clean, swing and squat 14 or 16 KG.  It would not have been smart.  Full disclosure...there were times I did at 16 KG TGU.  One time, I almost attempted a 16 KG snatch.  At the time, none of it felt right. 

Snatching with 12 KG

Without Eric and Artemis knowledge and experience, I would know have become an StrongFirst Instructor.  I would not have reached this goal. 

Smart training is to have goals and understand that it takes to get there.  Remember the goal.