I weighted in at 179.75 today! Woo! I'm down 8 lbs since April 30. 2012!
Current weightlifting numbers:
Squat 80lbs (started at 45, could barely do 55)
Bench press 70lbs (started at 55)
Deadlift 80lbs (started at 60)
Press 50lbs (started at 40)
Power Clean 50lbs (started at 40lbs)
Like I mentioned before, I'm following the "Starting Strength" plan. It's really fun and focused on building/developing the most important muscles. Several beginner workouts I've looked at try to teach you to do muscle groups (back and triceps, chest and biceps, legs, abs and shoulders, for example). At the front, I thought that would be a good approach since it seemed to cover all the bases.
I don't necessarily think it's a bad approach, but I didn't like it when I tried it. I liked the actual lifting, but there was something about how it felt...I didn't feel like doing biceps curls contributed to my overall health, you know? I didn't get the notion that calf raises or leg extensions would make me more able to carry a load of groceries up the stairs.
It felt like I was specializing before I had gotten the basics down.
For people who are already strong, and people who want to bulk up certain areas of their body, that may be a good approach, strengthening and toning individual muscle groups.
And it may be a good approach for beginners, too--but for me, I wanted to feel WHOLLY strong, as I have mentioned before. So why not free weights, then? They are really whole body exercises when you do it right. Well, was too intimidated to approach the free weight racks area of the gym.
*record scratch*
INTIMIDATED?!
Fuck me, intimidated?!
Let me let you in on a little bit of history. When I was in high school, I was an enthusiastic member of the powerlifting team. I absolutely loved that damned weight room (paltry as it was given our small school finances). I remember being so comfortable in the high school weight room with all the grunting sweaty boys. I remember them really incorporating me into the fold and cheering me on when I was trying my heaviest yet squat. Even if I was lifting 150lbs less than them, they were just as excited for me to hit MY goals as they were for their own. We had one or two "machines" (leg curl/leg extension, I think), but all the rest was free weight racks.
As soon as I identified my intimidated feelings, I decided to meet them head. fucking. on. Bah. Intimidated. Fuck that.
I'm feisty, but I'm not stupid. I did my research first so I wouldn't hurt myself. I know what it feels like when I will need a spotter if I add 10 more lbs. So here I am, with what might be regarded as "pitiful" numbers for all of my lifts.
I admit, I gave a thought to how stupid it might look with a squat bar on my back and teeny little 2.5lb weights on each side when I was trying 50lbs. Maybe it did look stupid. But I did it. A big, friendly, beefy guy came over after a tough bench set and asked if I'd want a spotter for my next set. I might feel embarrassed that he noticed my prior struggle, but really, he WANTED me to succeed. He wasn't making fun of me for being weak. I saw him benching what must have been 200lbs, but he was enthusiastic to help me with my 65-er. Maybe I did look weak to him, but I'll bet he paid more attention to the fact that I'm actively trying to be stronger than how weak I am.
I've got potential to be powerful, damnit. I'm making my way there.
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