For as long as I can remember I have always heard people say negative things about women who lift. They look too manly; your boobs will shrivel up to nothing, or the ones I despise the most hateful derogatory meant to destroy that woman.
I have always wanted to be a woman of strength, not just on the inside but my outer shell as well. It wasn’t until January of 2015 that I decided to get off of my ass and work.
My lifts weren’t heavy at first, lifting for me was something I had to ease myself into to avoid an injury. It wasn’t until about 7-8 months into lifting that I decided to pick up a barbell and show all of the haters that strong women are beautiful too.
Now it wasn’t an easy task, and it was so intimidating cause the only ones who use the barbells where I lift are men. At first, when I started I felt eyes on me watching me and I felt like people wanted me to fail. Now no one said anything to me when I was lifting. But I got a few dirty looks here and there by younger men.
It wasn’t until January of this year that I actually had older gentlemen come up to me and say how amazing I looked and that he was glad I wasn’t afraid to lift heavy and show off just what women could do. Let me tell you that was so amazing and encouraging to here and from a man.
Now I am not a man hater, but men in my family have strong opinions on what women should and shouldn’t be doing. So growing up was not a struggle, but it felt like I had to defend myself constantly.
Now back to my journey, I have gained significant muscle mass and turned tons of my squishy post-baby fat into useful muscle and strength. I am not bulky; I don’t look like a man and yes my boobs are small, but I prefer my B’s to C’s or D’s any day. Not to mention my awesome husband who supports me in everything I do.
So suck it, haters! Women are paving the way for others to be strong and beautiful. They are breaking down power lifting barriers, and proving women who are strong are sexy.
So the fitness model/bodybuilder/mother/inspiring woman that I follow and admire is holding a Transform You Challenge. I have been following this woman for over a year, and she has held many of these challenges, and I have competed in zero.
Why? Well like the start of all journeys the challenges seemed intimidating, and I feared posting pictures throughout the competition for all of social media to see. Well, this week was the start of my first challenge. I am extremely nervous, but I feel like I have to remove my veil for those who know me.
It’s important to share your struggles as well as your success, in order to not only better yourself, but maybe your story will touch someone else and help them with whatever ails them.
I know this challenge will push me mentally and physically. I will hurt, want to puke and want to quit. But it will make me stronger, and if I finish strong and am satisfied with my end results, then that’s the best prize I could ever ask for.
We all have to start somewhere, make today your day. Plunge into those uncharted waters and tread water as hard and fast as you can to stay afloat. The journey will be tough, and you will be tested, but document where you have been so, in the end, you can marvel at how far you’ve come.
Prove to all of the haters that you will not only succeed you will look damn good doing it. And for my fellow ladies that lift ignore the hate. Take all that shit people throw at you, put it on the bar and work that shit out of your mind.
In the words of Ashley Horner “Find beauty in your strength” and most importantly love yourself. Lastly, I will leave you with something my best friend once said to me “if you don’t love yourself how do you expect others to love you.
Strong has ALWAYS been super sexy to me!! 🙂
Right!!!? There is no perfect body, but strong isn’t a bad look! If you lift you are a badass!