In the last blog i wrote i touched on a subject that highlighted that past decisions are generally based on what we may have experienced, what we think we are capable of and our own self limiting factors or self belief…or lack thereof
As an example i talked about getting clients, women in particular lifting heavy ass weights
How these clients are usually in disbelief when in the first session i get out a barbell and a couple of weight plates and tell them they will be lifting them
Cut to 8 weeks later and clients are obsessed by whats on the bar, telling their mates their deadlift stats, getting pissed off when they miss a rep/ weight they’ve hit before
Lifting heavy stuff is great for nearly everyone
Strength work is great for nearly everyone
Thats why regardless of goals, i try and incorporate some form of strength work with each client and you should too
The list of WHY is toooooo long to go into
Heres a few reasons:
Being strong helps you in other exercises and reduces injury risk
Workout harder in classes
Carry more shopping home/ carry more stuff in the house/ carry kids further
Great at retention of lean muscle mass and also generating fat loss conditions
Feeling like a badass
BUUUUUUUUUT
What i actually wanted to talk about was the effect it had on clients, the effect it had on mindset
Going from a place of lacking self belief, to actually pushing to get stronger, wanting to see where their limitations are
So i asked for a couple of quotes from female clients that i train and lift weights with, who certainly WERE NOT gym head/ meat head types/weight lifting types
so ill use these for now:
V, Trauma Surgeon, Royal London (badass medic)
I remember Paul turning up at my house for the first time with the weight bar and weights. In my head, I was like, who the hell is he planning to train today?!?! But, obviously never one to show signs of weakness or so I think, I was all cool and nonchalant. As he assembled the weights, I glared at these alien, monstrous steel wheels, held together by a heavy cold rod, lying on my floor as if the remnants from a Transformers’ fight scene. Paul just casually carries on, “So, deadlifts…” he says all blasé as he demonstrates. He goes through the technique in detail, asking me to demonstrate and practise the starting posture without the weight. Armed with my newfound knowledge on dead lifting technique and Paul’s thoughtful supervision of my posture, I felt ready. In the comfort of my own home, my perceived failure was less daunting. My internal commentary of “Come on you can do this! Posture, focus, lift.” echoes over Paul’s “Bum down, shoulders back, head up, arms straight and lift”. Then it hit me! The realization! That it’s not actually that heavy (ok, it’s not that light either), I carry on with the reps, more and more surprised by how strong I am! End of the reps, I drop the weights (gently), awash with this immense feeling of accomplishment. Yeaaa buddy!!! I lift!!!!
Over the last few months, my body has become more toned and sculpted but honestly, the best thing of all is that I feel strong!! Things that were once physically demanding require minimal effort. I feel noticeably fitter. With this strength has come a whole new level of confidence. So all I got to say is, step aside lads, us females will help you open those jars, cause we so SWOLE (slang for strong!)
Femma, IT Geek (permission to use that title..actually shes a programmer but GEEK is better)
The first time I hit the 70kg deadlift mark, I didn’t even know I was doing it until after I’d lifted. I was starting to flail at about the third set. I asked Paul ‘What’s the weight on the bar’ he replied with ’65 kg’ which I’d comfortably lifted the week before. After I’d completed the 3 reps, Paul said ‘actually that was 70kg.’ I asked why he’d hadn’t told me it was 70kg and he said it was because I would have psyched myself out even though he knew I’d be able to lift 70kg.
Other times, when I may not be entirely up to it mentally or physically, Paul is able to judge this in the session and he will work with me so that I am still able to get a decent heavy weights session in but maybe not go for a PB in that session.
Lifting weights has become by far one of the most enjoyable parts of my training and a lot of that is due to the encouragement and motivation I receive. There is a feeling of accomplishment each time you hit a personal best, a feeling of elation and pride in that week by week you are working with your trainer to increase your strength. When I first started I could barely dead lift 10kg 5 years ago and only this week I smashed through another personal best and deadlifted 85kg.
Strength was never a natural gift for me, however together with Paul I have persevered to get fitter and stronger and each week the weight is slightly increased from the previous week and the rewards reaped. I absolutely love lifting weights and it makes me feel fantastic that I can deadlift more than what the average woman weighs.
So this just goes to show that you are stronger, fitter and way more capable than what you currently think
Whatever notion you have in your head that is holding you back is ONLY that…in your HEAD
Getting strong is a massive benefit to anyone and everyone
Absolutely in every day life
That means YOU…..YES YOU!
myfitnesspro – personal training in Epping, Theydon Bois, Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Highams Park, Chingford, Woodford, South Woodford, Grange Hill, Woodford Bridge, Wanstead, Leytonstone, Walthamstow, Stratford, Bow, Mile End, Victoria Park, Canary Wharf, Canning Town, Docklands, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E8, E9, E10, E11, E14, E15, E17, E18, IG7, IG8, IG9, IG10 and all areas in between.
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