Since I sort of touched on the idea of encouraging women to lift weights this week, I thought I might take a minute to talk about myself as a FitFluential Ambassador (if you haven't noticed the badge on the page). I was very honored to be invited to be an ambassador among some amazing fitness and health and wellness bloggers.
I feel like I've always been active in some way, shape, or form. But to realize that I might potentially inspire others is still rather new to me to be honest. To be FitFluential is an honor. So I would like to encourage others to become fit, to become healthier as well. It is something I'm passionate about, even if I am typically just posting my daily life doings (that happen to include workouts of course).
So, enough rambling. For Fun Facts Friday, I thought I'd share 7 weight lifting tips for women (or sort of how to not be intimidated by weights). Maybe I can persuade some of you to hit the weights either in the gym or at home.
1. Study up - take some time to do a little research. Ok, research sounds scary. But pick up some fitness magazines or even workout DVDs. I started my foray into weight lifting by doing The Firm DVDs, then Jeri Love, onto Cathe Friedrich (my all-time, hands down favorite).
You don't have to pay for a personal trainer, but if you can afford a session or two, then maybe take that route. DVDs, books, magazines can also give you great ideas for setting up a workout plan in terms of full body, upper body splits, lower body, circuits, etc.
2. Be prepared - write out your workout, even include drawings of the exercises you plan on doing. Go so far as to write out the intended weights for each exercise. This can help you go in, set up, and get going without worrying about anyone else around you. It gives you focus.
3. Lift heavy - ok, maybe not right off the bat, but don't be afraid of heavy weights. You will NOT bulk up unless you spend a significant amount of time and effort to do so. What you will do is create shapely muscles, lose fat, and speed up your metabolism. Oh and stave off osteoporosis while you're at it.
4. Buddy up - find a friend to hit the weights with. This can make it more fun and less intimidating. But don't go in and chit chat, work.
5. Change is good - don't do the same exercises in the same order on the same days with the same weights week after week. Shake it up. It makes it less boring as well.
6. Try a class - if you're still leery about hitting the weights on your own, try a group class. Again, you will get support from others in the class and the instructor as well as learn how to perform exercises correctly.
7. Fake it 'til you make it - walk into the weight area like you know what you're doing and that you know you belong there. Um, because you do. Do you really think all the guys in there know what they're doing all the time? Eventually you will feel like you belong there. You'll be the cool chick in the weight room ;-)
I guess the most important thing to realize is that whenever you workout, no matter what it is, you should be doing it for you. So who cares what anyone else in the gym thinks? They all started somewhere too. I mean, if I cared how I looked when running, spinning, lifting, I'd quite ASAP!
Now it's your turn - either share a tip on starting a new workout (weights, running, spinning, whatever), share how you got over your fear of the weights (if that was ever the case)...or just share anything fitness related. Love to hear your comments is really what it boils down to ;-)
Oh and I guess while talking about fitness, I should mention that I managed to get in a pretty good 6-mile run after work. Loving the mild temperatures right now.
Daily To-Enjoy List:
I feel like I've always been active in some way, shape, or form. But to realize that I might potentially inspire others is still rather new to me to be honest. To be FitFluential is an honor. So I would like to encourage others to become fit, to become healthier as well. It is something I'm passionate about, even if I am typically just posting my daily life doings (that happen to include workouts of course).
So, enough rambling. For Fun Facts Friday, I thought I'd share 7 weight lifting tips for women (or sort of how to not be intimidated by weights). Maybe I can persuade some of you to hit the weights either in the gym or at home.
1. Study up - take some time to do a little research. Ok, research sounds scary. But pick up some fitness magazines or even workout DVDs. I started my foray into weight lifting by doing The Firm DVDs, then Jeri Love, onto Cathe Friedrich (my all-time, hands down favorite).
You don't have to pay for a personal trainer, but if you can afford a session or two, then maybe take that route. DVDs, books, magazines can also give you great ideas for setting up a workout plan in terms of full body, upper body splits, lower body, circuits, etc.
2. Be prepared - write out your workout, even include drawings of the exercises you plan on doing. Go so far as to write out the intended weights for each exercise. This can help you go in, set up, and get going without worrying about anyone else around you. It gives you focus.
3. Lift heavy - ok, maybe not right off the bat, but don't be afraid of heavy weights. You will NOT bulk up unless you spend a significant amount of time and effort to do so. What you will do is create shapely muscles, lose fat, and speed up your metabolism. Oh and stave off osteoporosis while you're at it.
4. Buddy up - find a friend to hit the weights with. This can make it more fun and less intimidating. But don't go in and chit chat, work.
5. Change is good - don't do the same exercises in the same order on the same days with the same weights week after week. Shake it up. It makes it less boring as well.
6. Try a class - if you're still leery about hitting the weights on your own, try a group class. Again, you will get support from others in the class and the instructor as well as learn how to perform exercises correctly.
7. Fake it 'til you make it - walk into the weight area like you know what you're doing and that you know you belong there. Um, because you do. Do you really think all the guys in there know what they're doing all the time? Eventually you will feel like you belong there. You'll be the cool chick in the weight room ;-)
I guess the most important thing to realize is that whenever you workout, no matter what it is, you should be doing it for you. So who cares what anyone else in the gym thinks? They all started somewhere too. I mean, if I cared how I looked when running, spinning, lifting, I'd quite ASAP!
Oh and I guess while talking about fitness, I should mention that I managed to get in a pretty good 6-mile run after work. Loving the mild temperatures right now.
Daily To-Enjoy List:
- Running (outdoors)
- Sunshine
- The fact that it's Friday
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