Every girl dreams of being a princess. And every geeky girl dreams of being a super heroine. Wonder Woman happens to be a princess AND a super hero! Win-Win! Once the world comes around, they will see that I, too, am a princess...and I strive to be someone's hero every day. This blog is a journey of health and fitness--and maybe will serve as the inspiration someone else needs to live their dream.
So. I went to the gym two weeks ago and threw my back out. I do remember blogging that. What I didn't blog was my conversation a week later.
I saw Nike (my fav female personal trainer) talking with Dan (my fav male personal trainer) and one other guy (turns out it was Chris, the PT Director). I wanted to let her know that my back was healing, but my new chiro had put me off heavy squats and, presumably, dead lifts for now.
Dan frowned at the news. Nike was surprised, but understood....and Chris? Chris said, "That's good. You're a girl and shouldn't be lifting like that, anyway."
Dan and Nike split. Had I not been standing in LA Fitness, I would have verbal assaulted him and, likely, kicked him quite hard. There are no words for his chauvinistic attitude, nor is there any excuse.
I've since taken up dumbbell training which is going very well. I've had more DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) with dumbbell training than I ever had with barbell. Dumbbells are also humbling. I never knew that 10lbs could be so heavy when doing curls. I'm hoping to, someday, be doing curls with 25lbs. Maybe higher. We'll see.
In the meantime, I leave you with this awesome inspiration:
I have a goal. My goal is to be spandex-ready and worthy by Memorial Day weekend. Specifically, May 24. To that end, I talked to one of the trainers at my gym yesterday about personal training.
I was set up for my free consultation for this morning. I am fairly certain the guy was trying to kill me. I've been doing StrongLifts 5x5 since November and only recently hit plateaus in everything. I did a 20% deload and am going to work back up from there.
The guy who was doing my consult today, thinks I should stop SL because it's "advanced" and I need to work the smaller muscles to build them up to push through stalls, etc. Resistance training.
But. I like SL.
I also like the torture he put me through today. I, personally, think both would work nicely together to get the results I want.
We'll see if the trainer agrees. Her name is Nike and she told me she wanted to train me. She knows what I lift; she knows my goals. We chat because she's awesome. As much as I like the super-cute trainer, Daniel, I think he'd be a little distracting--though, he's pretty awesome as a bench press spotter. Very encouraging.
Anyway. Chris, the training director, really put me through some hardcore stuff and I discovered I have a phobia of balls. He had me doing squats with a yoga ball and I was afraid I'd pop it (hey, I've been told I was *fat* all my life...). Then, he wanted me to do burpees with an 8lb weighted ball. I knew the instant I put it down, my arms would slip and I'd break something...and I just sorta stood there, staring, trying to psych myself into it. I finally turned to him and said, "Can I not do that with this?" He was confused and started talking about strong cores, etc. I said, "Yeah...see...it's not my core I'm worried about...it's the fact my hands will slip off the ball and I will collapse onto it, crushing my sternum." He laughed and handed me a set of 12lbs dumbbells...that were circular on the ends. I put them down on the mat and stared a minute...then stood up and said, "Can I just do regular burpees? I'd rather not roll around and really hurt myself." Apparently, though, this fear of mine is because I don't have a strong core. Couldn't possibly be because I have no depth perception and very little coordination...coupled with a severe lack of confidence in doing anything involving something that requires depth perception and coordination. I digress.
There were a few exercises I just couldn't do. Planking and lifting a 12lb dumbbell was the first...followed by the stupid weighted burpees...and ending with a step thing where you step up onto a raised platform, balance and lift the 12lbs dumbbells over your head, then step off the other side. Remember a lack of depth perception and such? I also have a lack of balance...and a bad knee....which gave out on the step down.
TIME TO WORK THAT KNEE! Dear lord, I thought I was going to die...and I'm a pretty strong girl... But, then again, my left knee *is* pretty jacked up. As is my left shoulder. I'd really like to do things like what I did today as a supplement to my strong lifts. Hopefully, they'll agree.
Today was a big day for me. It was the day I got to attempt my squat goal: 200lbs. I said "When I am able to squat 200#, then I will get myself a 'Miss Fit' tank top."
...and so I am designing my tank top.
Whilst I was setting up for my last set, a gentleman came over to me and stared with great intensity into my eyes. Quietly, he said, "You are a very strong woman..." And I just smiled and said, "Aww, anyone could lift this--it's only 200#!" (trying to be jocular). He continued his serious gaze and said, "I could never lift that...my back wouldn't handle it!"
I didn't have the heart to tell him he couldn't do it because he didn't believe he could. I did, however, say, "I'm sure you could with a little effort and training."
Because, seriously, if I can do it, anyone can do it. I have back problems, knee problems, ankle problems...heck, my hips aren't even level let alone straight. I probably shouldn't be able to squat 200lbs, but, like the bumble bee, I don't know that I can't.
So I did.
Someone asked once why I'd want to lift so much weight. Presumably, the person thought I was doing it for attention (because, really, how many women do you see benching 115#, squatting 200#, and deadlifting 185#). But, honestly, I enjoy it. There's just something about the feeling of pushing yourself just that much harder to become harder, better, faster, stronger. I'm not trying to "beat the boys." I'm trying to beat Me. I'm trying to beat that little voice in my head that says, "You can't..." Because you know what? I'm a female. And that means I CAN....because... y'know, I'm Iron Man*.
*That's Fe-Male. Get it? Fe = Iron? Iron Man...? IT'S SCIENCE!!!!
I suppose, mathematically speaking, tomorrow would be the actual half way point of the Whole30 Challenge, but, y'know what? It's been two weeks since I started and that is just awesome. So, how's the last two weeks been? Here's a bit of a recap of things.
Things I'm not supposed to know... I've lost 10 pounds. I started with 172 (I listed it as 170, because that's what I'd say to people) and I'm at 162. I've also lost inches. I always pull the tape tightly because I *hate* those numbers, but lets be realistic--I'm only hurting myself when I do that. My numbers to start were 38-33-40 and the abdomen (2" from navel) was at 38, as well. Today, my measurements were 38-31.5-38 and 36 at the abdomen. I admit it. I squeed.
Things I have learned... When they say no alcohol for 30 days, they mean it. I had a total of 4 vodka tonics in the last 14 days. The first two didn't do much other than taste icky; the second two plastered me and made me sick to my stomach. Enough for me to say I'm not doing that again in the next 2 weeks. Don't care. Not worth that pain.
I've also learned I need to eat before my workouts. If I don't, I just can't push the weight (HA! punny!). I also really need to pay attention to time and eat. Three times a day is not that difficult. Protein! Protein! Protein!
Things that have improved... MY SLEEP!Mostly. I still have off nights, but for the most part, I'm falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up semi-refreshed.
So, what did I nom on today during one of the most emotionally stressful days of my last few weeks?
Dinner: Spaghetti squash spaghetti with meatballs from last night, chicken, and black olives. I finished off the meatballs....SO YUM!
Now, I'm getting my magnesium (the powder, coconut milk, a banana and a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder), knitting this sweater for the weekend (you can read about that kinda stuff here), and watching a movie before passing out so I can go to the gym tomorrow and be SHE-RA!
I didn't log yesterday. Obviously. So here's a recap from yesterday. RECAP Breakfast - Mollet egg, bacon (2 slices), and sautéd Nappa cabbage. Lunch - I think I skipped it. I was having a very bad emotional day. Dinner - Chili. It was awesome. The recipe is here. I had 2 vodka tonics last night and pretty much instantly regretted them. I was kinda nauseated and in pain. I think the coconut milk that went with my banana and magnesium powder curdled or something. Who knows. Today... I at least ate 3 times. I'm proud of me! But, it was also a training day...so, I should have eaten 4 times. Oh, well. I don't have any epic stories from the training room today, so you get this one post. RECAP Breakfast - Chicken breast tenderloin & half a sweet potato Second Breakfast - 2 eggs, and 4 strips of really bad bacon and about 2 cups of coffee Dinner - SO MUCH FOOD! We made this great salad, these awesome roasted carrots, and these amazing meatballs. This was a masterpiece of taste sensations! And we have a ton of leftover salad (YAY LUNCH TOMORROW). Drinking water today. Overall, I'm feeling pretty amazing and I'm starting to see how some foods negatively impact my system. This makes me happy, too. Not thrilled that I need to rid myself of Vodka (unless I can drink the more expensive gluten free vodka), but maybe I'll be able to drink my wine. I do like a dry white.
Today's episode found me at my gym, stretching. I did a bridge type thing to stretch my low back. Hands in reverse, I hoisted my body on to my head and just held the stretch in my back. Upon standing, a gentleman began waving at me frantically and whispering something about pushing to lift my head off the mat. After a few seconds, he finally signed the phrase, "I'm deaf." To his surprise and relief, I responded with, "Oh! OK!" and we began an awesome Zen moment of conversation (Note to self: Brush up on ASL). I did my squat set (190#) and then went to do a new exercise: The Push Press. I'd been struggling for weeks at 60# Overhead Presses (OHPs), and one of my fellow Lady Lifters suggested the push press to help work the muscles for regular OHPs. I was very glad she did because I felt like a powerful princess!
...then I pinched my pinky finger whilst putting a 45# plate on my deadlift bar. Needless to say, my deadlifts were not happening after that. Nice purple coloring with a bit of blue and the dark red in the center... verreh lovely, indeed. I'd eaten before I went to the gym and I really think it made a difference. I wasn't focused on the fact my stomach hurt because it was hungry or that my muscles felt weaker because they didn't have fuel. Instead, I was a powerful woman--a WONDER WOMAN!
I have graduated. Kind of. I have graduated from the StrongLifts program into....I have no idea what, but I'm working on it! Today consisted of squats, bench press, and a new exercise called a power clean. I have learned I have no idea what I'm doing with power anythings. But, it was fun! I will feel that in the morning, I'm sure. I started with my bench press today because all the squat racks were taken. Every. Single. One. There are six of them. And everyone decided to hit them at the same time. I'd finished my warm up sets for my bench press, looked to where the squat racks were and...they were all effing empty. FRUSTRATION! That's okay. 115# bench press! Set one...power! Set two...POWRAWR! Set three.....roll of shame. I should have re-racked at 4, but I had to try for the 5th and my arms gave out. Just in case you were curious, 115# is really heavy--especially when you're pinned under it and everyone else is in the middle of their own sets. I'll have some lovely bruises. The guy on the bench next to me finished his set and looked over. I gave him a whimper and the puppy eyes of "HELP!" and he came over and moved the weight for me. Then offered to spot me. We reduced my weight to 105# and he worked with me on that, then gave me some tips and we reduced again to 95# for form check. I actually felt much better about my bench presses after working with him and he wasn't thinking I couldn't do the heavier weight because I was a girl. Probably will stick at 95-100# and watch my form for the next few cycles. Finally did squats. They were awesome and I felt (mostly) powerful. Then I realized I should have been at 190# today. Ah, well. Next time. My low back was really acting up...I'm seriously hoping the F/D treatments at the chiros don't mess me up. Those suckers HURT. Final exercise...the power clean (mine looked nothing like this). I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING. I saw a muscle-head who was doing some pretty amazing stuff and seemed like a person who would *answer* my questions rather than tell me I couldn't do them because I was a girl. I asked him if he was familiar with a power cleanse and how to do them. I was not prepared for the voice. Well. Not so much the voice as the accent. For the next few minutes as he explained that he wasn't sure how to answer the question because the exercise can be very dangerous for your low back (and not knowing me and my weight lifting history), all I could hear...was... THIS. I felt badly. Nice man...named Sergi. I finally worked up the courage to do something similar to a power clean and was complimented at the end of my set by a guy who was just impressed that I, a girl, knew her way around the free weights. "You don't see many girls doing those kinds of exercises. That was just awesome." I was at bar weight. Where I will remain for form checks...then start gently upping the weight. I'll keep Squats and DLs, steadily increasing til I hit 200# on each. I may hold there, or I may drop back squats and switch to front squats or power thrusters or something. Dunno. Saturday will be...interesting. Squats, DLs, and power presses. Incidentally. I must be doing something right. Sergi said I had the figure most women work hard to get. Either that, or he needs glasses.
Today is day 1 of my Whole30 Program. No grains, no sugars, no dairy, no alcohol, no legumes, no processed foods for 30 days. I've been so remiss in keeping track of other health things with this blog, I'm hoping this will keep me accountable. I've changed the name and such because this is a lifestyle change--the next 30 days are just to reset my system. To heal it. I love Greek mythology. I can relate most of the Greek gods to my own faith and aspects of my God. For example, Jehovah Nissi is the LORD my banner...which means nothing unless you put it into context. The banner is a sign of encouragement in battle, giving a person or group of people hope to fight on and the strength to win. Therefore, Jehovah Nissi is the God of Victory...but, it would feel silly to make the blog's title "Jehovah Nissi." Nike, the shoe company, had a great slogan of "Just Do It" and Nike barely had her own mythology after becoming the charioteer for Zeus. Perfect! I'm not offending anyone! So!! Let the healthy diet .... BEGIN! PS: I lift weights. Heavy weights. Follow me on Fitocracy to keep up with that progress. As of this blog, I bench press 110lbs, squat 165lbs, and dead lift 175lbs. If *I* can do it, so can you!
