Babbles on Tough it Out Tuesdays

Ever since going to the gym and starting to lift weights, all of the myths that I’ve been told about women lifting weights, have vanished. 

I used to think you were suppose to lose the fat you had on your body before gaining muscle. After having my three training sessions I fell in LOVE with lifting. I feel strong, powerful, and able to conquer anything (well almost anything). Will the power of lifting magically make my fat vanish? No, not even a little bit, but while losing the fat and gaining muscle my body will be recomposed. 

That is where IIFYM comes in. What’s IIFYM you ask? It stands for If It Fits Your Macros, macros are Carbs, Protein & Fat. You want to be “toned” or “lean” right? So you have to recompose your body while eating the correct way for YOUR body. Yes there are a LOT of companies, pills, programs, and all that jazz that have their sales pitch to get you to buy their product. But IIFYM isn’t a product,you eat food, regular food you buy at the store, and you eat to how your macros are set up. 

I’ve tried ALOT and I mean ALOT of things to lose weight, I’ve usually LOST the weight, but those little buggers ALWAYS found their way back to on my body. This works for me, IIFYM gives me more security that I am less likely to mess up and gain the weight or be at a stand still. I ate normal food, I still drink my Shakeo drinks because I am lazy in the AM and SO can’t handle making anything beyond a shake. I eat proportionate to my body, at first the CALORIES got to me, like WHAT?! I am on a 1800 caloric “diet” yes 1800 frkn calories, and guess what? I’ve lost 7 lbs so far in just 4 weeks. I could have lost more, but I know my inches lost has been phenomenal. I haven’t taken new measurements yet, but old clothes are fitting MUCH better, or just fitting for the first time in YEARS. 

Back to lifting (sorry DEF got off track), how did I start? I got 3 personal training sessions, but if you don’t have the money for it, most gyms offer a free personal training consult, so take advantage of that! He set me up on a plan (that I’ve since tweaked), and my plan has stuck for the 4 weeks after him giving the plan to me. I now do the 5×5 Strong Lifts plan with Simply Shredded to add in accessory work to build up my arms (get rid of those jiggly thangs!), and work on my core. I am still running and within a few weeks will be starting half marathon training which will have me running 4 days a week 3 normal runs and Saturday is a long run for distance. Sunday is going to be my normal rest day, and during the week I will be doubling up my workouts to help me get the body I want. 

There is no “perfect” body that I have envisioned, I know what I want to look like eventually. Slimmer arms, legs, stomach, and 100000% more confident that I am. Lifting weights has given me some of my confidence back, because I can LIFT heavy, I can leg press 140lbs, Squat 75lbs, Front Squat 65lbs, & bench press 55lbs (no spotter so lighter weights). I am building up strength each day that I go and ‘hit’ the gym and I love it. YES I am a “big girl” I have a huge ass already, tree trunk legs, jiggly arms, and a stomach. But I DO know one thing… one very important MAJOR huge thing…. I am changing my body to be MY “perfect” body. I no longer think or care what others think about my body. They don’t know my story, they don’t know I’ve lost 70lbs already, that I go to the gym 5 times a week and run 3 times. They don’t know I’ll be training for a half marathon soon and putting my body to a test it’s never gone through before. They don’t know but they’ll judge me anyways, which is fine, I am happy in my life, for them to judge me, it says NOTHING about my character it says something about theirs. 

This post may have jumped around a little a LOT, but the bottom line is do what works for YOU, make YOURSELF happy first. You have to love your self how you are, fat, skinny, average, obese, athletic, love you for you. And love your body because it’s the ONLY one you have.