Body building???

Hell yes, I do.  

I was at the Doctors the other day when she asked me what I do as far as exercise.  I told her that I walk, run and lift.  She immediately asked if I was a bodybuilder.  I paused and pondered... "no" I said, I just lift weights.  So on the way home I thought about her question.  When she asked if I was a body builder, I instantly thought of those steroid man looking women; so of course my answer was no.  But once I started to think about it I thought that perhaps I am. 

Knowing that our bodies lose muscle mass as we age; I am most definitely building my body so that I don't suffer from the effects quite as drastically.  Yes I am a body builder is what my answer should have been; but I also don't want people thinking that I am in the gym to look like those man/women.

Why do I care?  Because I'm not in the gym for a fashion statement; although my daughter has me decked out pretty snazzy via Reebok.  I am not there to get huge muscles nor there to compete with or look like a man.  I am at the gym to stay strong and try to reverse the effects of aging.  At 53 and a recent Grandma of 2 gorgeous little men; I am proud to say that Grandma lifts.  If you don't work your muscles to keep them strong and flexible then you will lose them and end up being a feeble old person at the an age that you should not be feeble.  I have met many people younger than myself who are feeble.  I have met people who think that dieting, losing weight and being skinny is what it's all about.  But asked to do something strenuous and they fail drastically.  

Just imagine how much harder it is to do anything when you have little to no muscle?  Your muscles ache when asked to do even the smallest of movements and your joints suffer under the pressure with no muscle to protect them.  It happens to all of us and you can either shrug your shoulders and say "I can't."  Or you can say "hell yes I can," and get moving.  Starting with very small weights and low repetitions, anyone who is not seriously ill can start to lift.  

So, the other day at the Doctors, I should have replied yes; when asked if I was a bodybuilder.  But the whole image of what many think of lifting weights got in the way.  

I can't

 

Just move.

I've talked to several people about lifting and they immediately tell me that "they can't."  "No I can't, I have a bad back; and if I'm on my feet too long my knee gives out."  Quite the predicament eh?  What you have before you is a vicious cycle.  You can't work out because you don't work out.  You have a hard time moving about because you have a lack of muscle.  Lack of muscle makes it very difficult to move comfortably; it also puts a huge strain on your joints.  When there is strain on your joints with no muscle, bad things happen to your body. 

I remember a conversation when I ever so gently tried to introduce just the idea of a bit of movement to a non moving person.  "What if, you just..."  I started to ask and was quickly stopped "I can't."  I tried again "maybe if you only..." I gently continued.  No, "I can't."  So I stopped, it was getting no where.  I so badly wanted to help but when someone does not want help, you cannot help. 

Muscle atrophy is when muscles waste away. The main reason for muscle wasting is a lack of physical activity.

When you don't move, you lose muscle; which makes it difficult to move.  Many people in this predicament fail to look at the big picture; where it all started.  The lack of movement starts it; then you might have weight gain which makes it even harder to move.  The cycle begins and picks up momentum the longer you are sedentary.  So ya gotta move.  Of course that first step is tough; and it should be a very small and slow one;  but you should take it.  You can get yourself out of the vicious cycle by simply stepping out.  Picture a circle, picture you going round and round, but not moving; until one day you stick a foot out of the circle and end it then and there. 

The less you move, the harder it is to move; and it gets harder the older we get.  As we age the more muscle we lose; so we must keep moving and moving well to simply retain our muscle.  If you want to be strong you must lift, pull, hoist and push to promote growth.  Moving will make you strong; which will make it easier to move.  I hate that our society has a pill for everything.  If you have a lack of muscle and hurt when you move, there's a pill for that.  How about a steroid injection?  That'll fix everything, right?  Wrong.  If you continue to not move; you will continue to have problems.  The only thing that will help you to feel better when you move, is moving.  You can continue to take the pills and shots but it is only masking the problem, no muscle. 

What's stopping you?

                                 Lifting makes hauling around my huge camera much easier. 

When I look around the gym, I wonder; why do more women not lift?  I have thought about this a lot lately and I think that there are many reasons. The first of course is the misconception of getting bulky.  Lifting weights tones muscle, that's it.  The bulky thing is either extra weight on top of those glorious lean muscles (looking at myself) or steroids.  Yes there are women out there who want to look like men; I don't get it but it's out there like any other disorder.  Even the women who lift heavy and often don't look all ripped and muscled when they are not pumped.  Someone who lifts just looks fit when they are not in the midst of lifting.

I see a big obstacle when I look at images of people lifting in advertisements.  All muscled up and rippling; it is too much for the average Joe or Josephine.  It is a turn off to many, they don't want to look like that.  I wish more people knew that you don't have to look like that.  Lifting is a great way to build strength; the glistening muscle is how far you take lifting. 

Second, I think a lot of people think that their work out is great, why change?  Getting in a rut is easy; getting out, not so much.  I know because I too get into ruts that I force myself out of.  Deciding to lift means learning something new; which in itself means change.  Many people are not up for change; and the older you get the worse that gets.  But the older you get the more you should lift.  Lifting is easy, once you learn the basics it's just the matter of getting it done.

Another obstacle is the gym itself.  I know that most gyms are set up with all the lighter equipment on one side with the free weights and heavier equipment on the other. No matter if you are a man or a woman; stepping into the lifting zone can be intimidating.  I think that is a huge factor in people not lifting.  You just have to do it; take a big breath and go in.  Get in there and lift.  Lifting does not mean that you have to lift heavy.  There are light weights in that intimidation area.  You can lift light until you are ready or even want to lift more.  Lifting is not about using the heaviest of weights. 

Treadmills and elliptical are not going to build the muscle that you need.  The other day I noticed a long timer at the gym.  She was rolling around on one of those big balls; looked like fun but she was doing nothing as far as getting into shape.  Same goes for all those people riding away on their elliptical machines.  They're all going for a ride on the magic machines and getting nowhere; nowhere as far as getting fit and strong.  These things have become a crutch for many as far as the idea of working out. 

Great article on working out and how to get the most of it. 

Lifting will make you strong, amp up your metabolism and enable you to do things that you maybe haven't done for years.  It is also a very special workout that can be personalized like no other.  Got some problem spots you want to get rid of?  You can pick and choose what to work on that will create the look you are going for.  If you have issues like I do with my neck and shoulders after numerous read end collisions, you can work around them.  By using strategic exercises you can help weak areas to become strong again. 

It's not all about grunting (although I'm sure I do on occasion) and glistening ripped muscle.  It's about getting strong, feeling strong and doing what you want.  Not get your gym clothes on and get going.