One of those “Duh!” moments for me. But it was a good moment. Very much appreciated.
I went to the campus gym this morning for my weight-lifting class, and as usual, I went straight to the rowing-machine for a bit of warming-up before starting to work on the real fun. Interestingly enough, that rowing-machine is never at the same place, since people tend to move it around benches, or move the benches around it, depending on their needs of the moment. Today, it just happened that the machine was next to one of the mirrors on the wall, so I took this as an opportunity to check that my posture was correct. My abs being still sore after Wednesday’s workout, I preferred to make sure that I wasn’t unconsciously avoiding using them, which, being at the core of the body, would be a bad idea.
That’s when I saw that weird bulge in my right arm as I was rowing, and had to peer and squint a little before finally realizing what it was.
Muscle definition.
I mean, holy flaming barbell, Batman! Muscle definition! I haven’t seen that in my body since a year or so! (After I had stupidly let myself slip to one workout every three or four weeks. >>a-hem<<)
See, I told you it was a good moment of realization. It even made me work out more diligently today, so happy I was to see that even after ‘only’ one month, or a little over one month, results are already visible.
My instructor is pretty cool, too. The first time I walked into his class, he showed me the machines and gave me a list of exercises to tone up, but I quickly altered that. I only need 1-2 sessions to get back into the swing of things, which means I also got back to my own way of lifting. I want to develop muscles, not tone up a little, that is, so long sets of reps with tiny weights just doesn’t cut it for me.
Like I’m going to be happy on a ThighMaster, or not lifting more than 5 lbs in fear of breaking a nail. >>snerks<<
So, the instructor, he doesn’t mind me, which is great. I wouldn’t be at ease with being told to ‘work out like a woman’ or whatever similar crap (last I knew, what worked for men also worked for women, huhuh). Now he even gives me advice about how to push further if I want to, and shows me free weights exercises when I ask. Allright, I’m going to look like a freak in the eyes of the other girls (it’s a women-only class), but meh. Who cares.
As a sidenote, working out with the guys feels better IMHO. They pump up Prodigy and other artists I never listen to myself but who’re great for not slacking out on the bench, and I don’t know why, but when surrounded by muscular guys, somehow you don’t feel like touching those little dumbbells either. At least, I don’t. I rather feel like doing my best. (My best, right, not overdoing it either.)
And now people can see my biceps rolling under the skin of my arms. It’s amazing. Surprising. Beautiful. It looks so… natural.
I’m feeling all buff and pretty, and ready to kick ass.
June 16th, 2007 at 01:32
I’m so with you on the muscle thing. I think muscle definition looks great on women. You have to get so extreme in terms of training and have to have almost no body fat to ever start looking like a guy, yet so many women seem to be afraid of that.
Muscle burns calories, comes in handy for lifting things, and is proof of hard work. That’s so cool that you’re seeing results!
(Plus, lifting tiny weights with endless repetitions is just so f*cking tedious, and it hurts for way longer than shorter sets with heavier weights).
June 16th, 2007 at 09:45
I agree, endless reps with tiny weights is very tedious–although I don’t admit it publicly at the gym, that would probably piss off some of the girls, and I go there to have a good work out, not to bicker and argue.
I think I still look overly overweight, muscle definition or not–but from what the mirror tells me, it is not muscle, it is clearly that fat still clinging to my thighs and butt. So I’m probably quite safe on the side of bulking up, and even if I were to do a little, well… at least it will be something that I owe to my own efforts, not to sitting on my couch with a cookie jar nearby. :p
June 29th, 2007 at 17:01
“holy flaming barbell, Batman! Muscle definition”
That made me remember the evening not so long ago when my husband (who just recently started working out) ran into the room and said “hey look at these! Look!” and starting flexing his arms and shoulders all round and grinning like a fool…it’s exciting and encouraging isn’t it?
June 29th, 2007 at 18:02
Hehe, oh yes it is. And then we feel like showing those muscles to everyone, even if THEY are already super muscular and won’t be impressed, because it means so much progress for us.