Being “shorter” and lifting
Up through high school I had a huge hangup about my height. I hate, hate, H-A-T-E-D how short I was. My buddies that I hung out with were almost all at least six feet tall. They all just towered over me and it drove me nuts. As I got older I found that life has a way of teaching you what is and isn’t important and being tall isn’t one of them. Now I could care less about my height, which is great.
I was looking at the front page of BodySpace and I noticed something interesting. Four of the top six guys are around my height. That kind of blows my mind a little even though it shouldn’t. What other athletic endeavor is there where being "shorter" is actually helpful? I never would have guessed it when I first started. It never ceases to amuse me at how many misconceptions I had about lifting before I started.
- I’m the most unathletic person in the world. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do this. WRONG
- I’m concerned that I might be too old to make any real progress. WRONG (I actually did think this BUT I was never let it going to stop me from trying. I just took a “screw it, I’m going to try anyway” attitude!)
- I’ll stick out like a sore thumb and be uncomfortable in a gym full of fit people. WRONG
- I don’t like to eat much and I’ve never been over 145 pounds. I doubt I could get any bigger than that. WRONG
I could go on all day. I’m just thankful that none of them kept me from starting!
June 30, 2009 at 9:23 am
Hey you’re doing pretty good for a short guy. Keep charging.
June 30, 2009 at 9:28 am
I hear where you’re comng from but to be honest, I never really saw being short as an issue. Funny thing b/c a lot of other people do.. i get the short jokes (I’m 5′3) sometimes and they make ne laugh b/c that’s usually the only thing people can come up with. And to be honest, when i sit down with some heavy dumbells on my lap and the guy next to me who is 2 or 3 times my size is doing the same ones, I use that as motivation (and a bit of an ego boost).
June 30, 2009 at 9:34 am
That is so true. Last night was chest night and that happened to me!
July 7, 2009 at 11:15 am
Nothing wrong with being on the short side. Worry about what you CAN change!
July 7, 2009 at 11:21 am
It bothered me up through high school. That was 20 years ago. No worries here!
July 23, 2009 at 11:39 am
man…you never told me you were….umm….short. This changes things! Man! Now you are old and short! Bwahahaha!!
In all seriousness, I have never worried about my height, but I did get my @ss kicked by a short asian dude when I was 12…true story
September 24, 2009 at 6:43 am
oh 5′8 ain’t short 5′7 is haha