charthegreatest

My last blog tells the story of a guy who interrupted my workout to "warn me" that I should really be careful that I don’t get too manly looking.  It was infuriating.  I know he was utterly wrong and out of line, but it affected me a little bit.  I started to question my workouts, my goals, and the progress I was making.  Do I really look like a man?  Can a woman be too muscular?  I want to be sculpted with sexy muscles, but I still want to be ultra feminine.
The answer to my question came last week.  I confided in a few guys at the gym, told them what happened and asked if he was right.  Was I on my way to manliness?  Am I honestly starting to look like a boy?  Not only did they answer with an emphatic "NO", they encouraged me to work harder.  They are constantly helping me in the gym now, making exercise suggestions to build more muscle, correcting my form, and pushing me to do more! I’m so thankful for them and for everyone out there who appreciates the beauty of a muscular, fit woman.

As for the dum dum who tried to shower me with his wisdom…well, he gave me triceps advice yesterday.  Go figure.

Someone actually said that to me this morning while I was working out.  He took the time to stop and interrupt one of my sets to give me this pearl of wisdom.  Can you believe it?!?  Yeah, I can’t either.  I realize that there are still “lightly educated” people when it comes to women and bodybuilding, but I have to be honest…I’m really tired of it.  This encounter was wrong on so many different levels.  To begin, I can’t imagine approaching anyone else in the gym except to say hello or give words of encouragement.  Next, if you have something to say you should probably know what you’re talking about.  Maybe do a little reading about women and bodybuilding.  Learn the facts - women who lift will not get big muscles like men.  I want to quote Tina Marina in her article, Training Myths and the Female Athlete:

“We have all heard this one from some woman at one time or another. Ladies, no - lifting weight will not make you develop muscle like a man. Quick lesson in anatomy:

Both men and women have hormones coursing through their bodies. These hormones are testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and DHEA. For those of you who are not aware, men and women share all of these; however men have a much higher number of testosterone and DHEA than women do and women have a much higher concentration of estrogen and progesterone.

Testosterone is a very powerful hormone, this is one (if not the) primary factor that enables men to build muscle the way they do. Are there women in this world who lift weights and look like men? Yes. Why? They take testosterone or other androgens to help them achieve that look. Does the average woman who wants to get in shape and attain a ’sexy’ body have to supplement this way to achieve her goals? NO.”

So, that’s that.  I just needed to vent to whoever will listen.  I would bet the farm that there are other women who deal with this ridiculous nonsense all the time.  On the brighter side, he has encouraged me to work even harder. Tomorrow, I’m going to do an extra set of push-ups just for him, then blow him a kiss when I’m done. 

For the past few months, I’ve been seriously training to transform this body into a work of art.  I hope to start competing in the fall, but I have a problem.  I have no idea what class I should compete in.  Do I compete in a bikini competition or figure or both?   I know you should have more muscle tone for figure, but how much more?   How do you know when you are ready for figure, if at all?

It looks like I’ll be doing a lot of research over the weekend.   Rats, I really just wanted to hang out and bask in the sun.

This morning’s workout was HARD CORE.  Normally it takes a few minutes for me to get moving (because it’s 4:30 am), but this morning it wasn’t an issue.  The anger I felt at the firing of Willie Randolph by the NY Mets (my favorite team through all eternity)  gave me the extra boost to push through.  I know that everyone has an opinion on this…he should have been fired…he should not have been fired.  I have my own opinion.  I love Willie Randolph and think the Mets made a HUGE mistake and I will miss him.

But that’s not the reason for my post. I took away a life lesson from Willie’s dilemma.

Ever since the Mets’ colossal collapse last year, Willie’s job has been on the line.  For months and months, the media and some Mets fans have been relentless in demanding Willie’s firing, criticizing and second guessing every move he made.  It was brutal.  But now that Willie actually HAS been fired, the tide has turned.   The media is on his side and Mets fans are "shocked" at the poor way that Willie was treated.  I don’t get it…the very people calling for his removal became his staunchest allies after the ax was dropped.  Huh??

During some prayer time, I saw the light…and the lesson.  People are fickle.  They like you one minute, the next they don’t.  People’s opinions of you can change at the drop of a hat, whether you’ve done something to deserve it or not.  The key is to do what Willie did.  He did not put a real value on what people said or thought about him.  He just kept doing his job, kept doing what he enjoyed, kept doing what he knew was right.

In my own life, I can’t tell you how many people have given me a smirk or an odd look when I tell them of my interest in bodybuilding and my goals.  Sometimes I’m approached out of the blue because "they heard it from someone else and just had to ask."  I hear the same things over and over…why do I want to look like a man, normal girls don’t want muscles, I shouldn’t get too big, etc.  I find myself constantly explaining the facts of women’s fitness, or even worse, trying to assure them that I’m not going to turn into the Hulk.

All of this stops today.  I’m going to take this God-given wisdom and do what Willie did.  I’m not going to be overly concerned or put a real value on what people say or think about me.  I’m just going to keep doing my job, keep doing what I enjoy, keep doing what I know is right.  Thanks Willie.

So, I guess this is where I start.  I’ve been "seriously" training for almost 3 months now.  I was a runner that constantly experienced injuries.  I finally did enough damage (acute tendinitis - both ankles) that my doc told me to join a gym, get a trainer and start rehabbing.  He recommended strength training.  That was over a year ago.  In the past year, I have been getting leaner, stronger and more muscle tone.  I love it!  In March 2008, I decided to get serious…make a plan…find a competition and start training.  I went to a Bodybuilding show (by FitnessAtlantic.com) to see what I was in for when I chose to compete.  I was overwhelmed by the accomplishments of everyone I met.  I knew that I wanted to accomplish what these ladies had…beautiful physiques and a deep confidence in themselves and in their hard work.

Although I don’t use a trainer anymore, I rely on the advice from Bodybuilding.com and others at my gym.  I also have a few friends and family members who know my personal goals and continuously support me.  I certainly need it - this is truly hard work and I’m determined to do it.  Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers…this is just the beginning of something greater.   Keep well, Char