I’ve been hitting the gym hard this year. OK ok, I do every year! But this year, I’m guided.
This isn’t going to be another shout-out to my inspirations and coach — I thought you might simply like to know what exercise I’ve been enjoying and why.
For background:
Competitive swimming as a teen
Mountain biking when I lived with my parents
Indoor public gym when I moved to Mexico
Kickboxing once I moved near to a local centre
Scoliosis diagnosis + pandemic lockdown
Isolated weight training to heal injury
And now…
Powerlifting.
I’m not training for a competition of course, I couldn’t with my wonky back. But I can become stronger and more confident — to the point that I walk into a room like “yeah I could squat all o’ yous.”
How is the split?
I’ve been combining powerlifting with bodybuilding exercises, treating the latter a bit like accessories when I’m tired from the main meal. I do one day of deadlifting, one day of low-bar back squats, one of chest press, and one [horrific] circuit training which my coach slipped in for conditioning. After those, I do everything from suitcase lifts to cleans and chops!
My favourite is not the squat day but I’ve been really enjoying the new modality, just being able to rest the bar lower puts more strain on my hamstrings than my back and balancing it on my shoulder blades has been a whole new skill to learn!
If it’s hard to imagine what that looks like, you can click this button to see the difference:
The most important part of training is to challenge ourselves mentally.
Chest press was entirely new to me, I never thought I’d be able to lift more than the bar so just didn’t bother trying! Turns out — I can lift the bar plus two tiny disks on either side! It feels empowering to do that, I dare you to try it.
Feeling confident in the weights section is a totally different challenge for most women. While I’ve been gradually inching into it since the pandemic made all the cardio machines be shut down in Mexico City gyms — i.e. the only thing to do was weights — feeling like I belong there is a new feeling. If you’ve felt the same as a woman who trains drop a comment!
Now, my favourite part of working out is just picking up the Olympic bar and walking it across the gym before I load it. Loading the bar is not my favourite part… The first bit of the setup is the biggest ego-boost you can imagine though.
My objectives do include aesthetic reasons, but I’m also interested in being able to carry my groceries when I’m 90 and hovering on a public loo if I choose for as long as I can stand! Not to mention the mental health benefits.
I’d love to hear how this made you feel, and if you don’t aim to build muscle — is there a reason?
P.S. A never-before conversation took place between and me and we discussed the physical limitations I’m overcoming. It drops tomorrow, May 30! If you want to hear that, follow the InflamMed newsletter.
I think we have the same aims Nadine 🤣
Squats are not my fav either.
Happy weekend.
I know for sure that I would never be able to lift more that the bar!! This is great!! And inspiring. I will get out the door and power lift my legs right up the hill RIGHT NOW!