The main theme of this post is: LIFT HEAVY!
There's a reason why I throw that hash tag (#) in with all the other ones on all my IG fitness posts (not that you read them all, it's a ridiculous amount of hash tags) and the reason is not to show off the badassness that is me : P, it's because it is a major reason why I've started to see major results and improvements in my physique. I spent too many years signing up for gym memberships and going in to solely use the cardio equipment or do some mindless workout, not seeing much change, and eventually not going at all anymore. I was so scared to really use any equipment or god forbid any of the free weights because I had it so fixed in my mind that, well fuck, I don't know how to use any of that shit and I really didn't need it because all I really wanted to do was "tone". Boy was I so wrong. The term "toning" now drives me up a fucking wall. Know why? Because there's no such goddamn thing. Listen up and listen hard because the advice I'm giving you right now is fucking GOLD. You will never get the firm body that you want if you don't BUILD MUSCLE.
-NO You're not going to "bulk up" or "get big". Women physically are not built to bulk up like men. And the women who do, train for years to look that way. (Can we just stop and give those women a round of applause for a moment, seriously, they work so. damn. hard. to achieve their idea of perfection and are constantly ridiculed by people who don't agree with their physique. Fuck yeah ladies!!!! Keep on keepin' on!)
-NO You should not be lifting lighter weights with more reps. Unless you have a physical limitation that does not allow you lift heavy weight, well... Lift some fucking heavy weights. By all means do 40 reps of bicep curls with a pink little weight in your hand that by the end of, you're wondering why you barely felt anything. Or the next day you're wondering why you're only a little sore or maybe not sore at all. Keep doing that if you want results to start showing up twice as long as it would take if you were pushing yourself...
Did you read that part? Let me repeat that again. Lifting tiny ass weights will take you TWICE as long to start seeing results. And I know you ladies ain't got time fo' dat. I don't. I'm impatient as hell. I want results and I want them now, like all other women. So why not give heavy weights a chance??
If you're wondering where to even begin, here's the advice I give that has worked for me thus far. In general (not always) I follow what's called the 8 to 12 rule. If you can't perform at least 8 reps of an exercise at the weight you're using, try a lighter weight. If you are easily able to perform more than 12 reps with the weight you're using, try a heavier weight. That's it! And I usually end up doing 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
So when I say heavy weight, it doesn't necessarily have to be heavy. What I may consider to be heavy may not be shit compared to the guy next to me. But fuck that guy anyway. He has nothing to do with my workout, so zone him and his stupid fucking smug look on his face out... Anyway, more on that and dealing with gym intimidation in my next post (stay tuned!). What I'm trying to say is simply: Push yourself. Do it for you because dammit, you deserve the best. You deserve to see what you're capable of. You deserve to know what it feels like when you're ready to go up in the weight and know just how damn good that feels. So give it a try. Not for him. Not for her. Not for me. For you.
-Alyss
