Let me just put this out there right now…I hate
exercise. I know that some people love
it, my sister and husband included, but I’ve never seen the appeal. And don’t think it’s because I just haven’t
experienced it. I have. I’ve sampled my share of physically exerting
activities over the years.
When I was in the fourth grade I did a summer of gymnastics
which, after landing on my back one too many times made me want to pop my back
into place for the rest of my life. When
I was 13 my mom took my sister and me along with her to do Body and Soul aerobics
classes which was the closest I ever got to dance lessons. When I was a freshman in high school I
attempted a summer on a swim team, but hated needing to throw up after each
heat. My senior year I tried out for the
volleyball team in an attempt to make new friends at a new school. Who new Keds weren’t the best choice in
footwear when attempting a rigourous all day tryout? As a result, I slipped a disk and had to miss
the first week of my senior year because I was literally flat on my back. As a consolation prize, I was offered the
position of….team manager. As a Sophmore
in college I signed up for racquetball as one of my P.E. electives. My “professor/coach” commented, “You really
aren’t naturally athletic are you.” When
I met my husband he talked me into signing up for Crossfit, something that has
helped him physically and mentally. I
tried it but, aside from it being astronomically expensive, I just didn’t feel
feminine doing dead lifts and I was terrified of bulking up.
Which bring me to my next subject, I hate it when trainers
tell you that it’s impossible to bulk up as a woman because we lack the
necessary testosterone to do so. I’ve
seen plenty of women at the gym that despite looking fit, have very bulky legs. Being one of those women who have been cursed
with “curvy” legs, I have been wary of the gym.
Which led me on my quest to discover the types of exercises for women
that will give you more of a “Bond girl” look rather than muscle mania. Then I hit the jackpot. I came across a blog written by RustyMoore. You can check out his blog Visual Impact. Finally someone who acknowledges what I and
other women have for years been fearing!
He does a great job of explaining which gym equipment to embrace (think
treadmill and elliptical) and which to avoid (bike, stair master) if you’re
going for a lean look. He also talks
about the importance of diet and even breaks down how different diets work and
why. Hint: any diet you try will work as
long as you’re on it, but you get to figure out which one fits your food
personality.
So all of this is to say that once again, I will be
attempting to hit the gym tonight. I
have my audiobook downloaded, my Nike’s laced and the hope that this time, I
just might get it right.