Yesterday was my lower body workout. Loved it! Overhead squats were first on the agenda. Thanks to my wonderful coach for giving me pointers in learning how to nail these, I was able to do them with much less struggle than the previous week. It is quite a challenging exercise for someone who is used to more conventional, bodybuilding-style training, and so acts as a good introduction to the rigours of Olympic weightlifting, or so this is what I've read.
Okay…so there a few exercises I find most humbling and this one ranks right up there with pull-ups and T-push ups. Maintaining strict form and squatting deep whilst holding a 45 pound bar above your head is no easy feat let me tell you. But I did it. Now if I could only add weight to the bar, it would be grand.
Today was upper body (heavy back day) and all I can say is that persistence has finally paid off. When doing single DB bench press I FINALLY was able to use the 35lb DB's without any difficulty! This was definitely a personal best for me. I'm finally feeling stronger and I'm loving it!
So all that said, whatever your goal, whether it be to lose 5 or 100 pounds, be able to walk/run a mile...the reality is if you want it bad enough and you work hard for it...you will achieve success. Persistence pays off.
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1996
2007
By definition, to be on the anvil is to be in a state of discussion, formation, or preparation. On the anvil I am transforming and reshaping a rusted, neglected body into a magnificent instrument. This is my place where I will share stories of my transformation. This is my anvil.
Margie
My Journey
My weight loss adventure began in 1996, weighing in at 205 pounds. Ten years later, I lost a total of 90 pounds. Aside from a love of sweets and carbs that knew no bounds? A myriad of incidents and issues led me to using food for all the wrong reasons from an early age. Food was never just food for me. It was a way of escaping from the world; a comfort and a coping mechanism. Not an unfamiliar story for many, I’m sure. It's taken me a long time but I'm finally managing to unravel my relationship with food and develop a healthier attitude towards my body and nutrition.
Back in 1996 I'd convinced myself that chocolate was one of the five food groups. Jelly beans, and jujubes were an afternoon snack. For years I watched the scale climb and felt helpless and hopeless. Depressed, yet determined I decided it was time to lose the weight. How I used to long to just be thin. So with my newfound determination I’d embark on a new “starvation” diet and throw in a little exercise for good measure. I’d lose anywhere from 5-10 pounds and manage to keep it off until I went through my next cycle of body image/diet frustration. This yo-yo dieting went on for ten years. My so-called grand epiphany happened in August 2005 when something in me triggered and I was ready to no longer let my weight dictate everything I did with my life, or rather what I didn’t do. This is when dramatic changes in my body happened.
The secret to losing weight...
Two words. Diet. Exercise. No magic answer. The only way to lose weight is through proper nutrition and exercise. I busted my butt on the treadmill and adhered strictly to a diet that kept me in a caloric deficit to finally rid myself of the excess fat. Mind you, if I were to do it again, I’d certainly do a few things differently, but this was my method and it worked. Today, I focus on eating a fairly clean diet with loads of fruit, veggies and protein. I’m learning to enjoy food without shame or guilt and trying to live with the attitude that no food is inherently “good” or “bad”, and there is a time for everything.
I've developed a new passion along my weight loss journey. No longer will you see me running countless hours on that treadmill in the back corner. Today you’ll find me in the “guys room” as I used to call it in my fat days, lifting heavy and working hard to build a new physique.
Overall, my desire to live a healthy life has made this change a permanent one. A favourite saying of mine has been...the pain of discipline far outweighs the pain of regret. How badly do you want to reach your goal? What’s standing in your way? Food will always be there. Know that perseverance and dedication to making small changes will reap huge benefits.
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard
Back in 1996 I'd convinced myself that chocolate was one of the five food groups. Jelly beans, and jujubes were an afternoon snack. For years I watched the scale climb and felt helpless and hopeless. Depressed, yet determined I decided it was time to lose the weight. How I used to long to just be thin. So with my newfound determination I’d embark on a new “starvation” diet and throw in a little exercise for good measure. I’d lose anywhere from 5-10 pounds and manage to keep it off until I went through my next cycle of body image/diet frustration. This yo-yo dieting went on for ten years. My so-called grand epiphany happened in August 2005 when something in me triggered and I was ready to no longer let my weight dictate everything I did with my life, or rather what I didn’t do. This is when dramatic changes in my body happened.
The secret to losing weight...
Two words. Diet. Exercise. No magic answer. The only way to lose weight is through proper nutrition and exercise. I busted my butt on the treadmill and adhered strictly to a diet that kept me in a caloric deficit to finally rid myself of the excess fat. Mind you, if I were to do it again, I’d certainly do a few things differently, but this was my method and it worked. Today, I focus on eating a fairly clean diet with loads of fruit, veggies and protein. I’m learning to enjoy food without shame or guilt and trying to live with the attitude that no food is inherently “good” or “bad”, and there is a time for everything.
I've developed a new passion along my weight loss journey. No longer will you see me running countless hours on that treadmill in the back corner. Today you’ll find me in the “guys room” as I used to call it in my fat days, lifting heavy and working hard to build a new physique.
Overall, my desire to live a healthy life has made this change a permanent one. A favourite saying of mine has been...the pain of discipline far outweighs the pain of regret. How badly do you want to reach your goal? What’s standing in your way? Food will always be there. Know that perseverance and dedication to making small changes will reap huge benefits.
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard
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1996
2007
2008
1 comment:
Great work Greta. You are my HERO
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