MissWhiplash’s BodyBlog

I have discovered two obstacles through my feverish reading the last few days.  They can be overcome, for sure, but they may impede my progress rate.

1. Money.

This is expensive!  My gym at the community center is apparently inadequate.  There are no in-house trainers, no barbells, limited dumbells and a modest bench.  It has a ton of machines but I was unaware they aren’t very effective.  My only supplements are multi-vitamin drink mixes that are $10 a box.  My training shoes are duct-taped Chucks (high top, of course). I’m poor! I can’t afford shoes that aren’t sold at Payless and I definitely cannot afford to enroll in a $50 a month gym.  My husband has suggested that I haunt all the pawn and second hand shops to purchase a set of weights myself then use the community center for the cardio machines. This makes sense, because the machines are low impact and thus reduce the need for spendy shoes. I do most of my plyometric exercises barefoot anyway. Then we have supplements, which apparently I desperately need for protein because….

2. I’m a vegetarian.

I have been for 19 years and it ain’t gonna change.  I have always detested the texture, taste, and concept of eating flesh so this isn’t hard for me. I keep hearing the phrase "eat clean" so while doing research to figure out what that meant I discovered that vegetarians aren’t exactly regarded highly in the forums here.  I have read so many positive articles about vegetarian nutrition and building muscle mass, seen lots of great role models that have amazing bodies; I find it hard to believe that building huge muscles without meat is impossible.  So perhaps I won’t look like Ah-nold in a year as I had hoped, but it isn’t worth gagging down meat to expedite the process.  I’ll purchase the protein supplements and eat lots of tofu. In the mean time, I still haven’t figured out how to eat clean. I’m guessing it’s cutting out garbage (sugar, saturated fats, extra salt, phony food) and concentrating on whole foods in specific combinations.
SO…  since I’m not looking to enter a bodybuilding competition (I am not getting a tan, either!) I guess that I can make some adjustments to meet my strength training goals without becoming homeless. I am not discouraged, but I am surprised by these things that I didn’t expect.  One thing I have learned, "Look for solutions, not excuses."

This entry was posted on Friday, January 2nd, 2009 at 6:01 pm and is filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.