“What was last week’s weight?” I ask Joaquin, my training partner. “107.5 kilograms” he answers. “Ready to try 110?” “Yeah. We can do it” We load the bar. Each of us grabs a 20-kilogram plate and loads it on each of its ends. Then another one and finally one 5-kilogram plate on each side too. Four 20-kilogram plates, two 5-kilogram ones plus the weight of the bar, another 20 kilograms. It adds up to 110. “You go first” says Joaquin as he gestures towards the bar. I slide under it, placing it on my upper back. I grab the bar, firmly, with my elbows back. I inhale, arch my back, contract my core and take the bar from the rack. I take a few steps backwards and place my feet shoulder width apart, with my toes pointing slightly outwards. I then …show more content…
However, this resulted in no progress and I became frustrated, but I did not give up. Instead, I decided to educate myself on the topic of becoming fit, and did so with every resource I had at my disposal. I researched online and consulted fitness professionals in order to understand what would be the most efficient way to achieve my goal of becoming fit. Eventually, I joined a gym and fixed my diet. As I stuck to my workout program and carefully controlled my daily calorie and macronutrient intake, results came my way and I attained the best shape I had ever been. However, weightlifting did not only change me physically. Apart from finding a hobby in it and an outlet for stress, training with weights has also taught me several lessons. Weightlifting has shown me the importance of consistency and discipline; of setting realistic goals and working hard and with humility towards them; of being patient and perseverant, and most importantly it has greatly improved my self-confidence. Many times have I wanted to give up in the middle of a workout, but only by being disciplined and pushing myself to keep going have I discovered what it takes to overcome the challenges we undertake every day and to reach the goals we set for ourselves. Since then, I’ve applied this philosophy to every aspect of my life: work hard, persevere, stay consistent, be patient and you will find
I joined my school’s cross country team in the summer. At the beginning we performed pre-season workouts. The training was tough, but my proud personality and the very thought of what I had to gain kept me motivated and helped me push through the pain. Every time I felt like giving up or quitting, I would say to myself, “This pain is only temporary; remember that the reward will be permanent, and it will be worth the pain that I endure today.” I was able to push through the
James, Michael. "Bulk Up, Up, and Away Go All Your Dreams. Even the Most Muscular Athlete Can't Win From a Hospital Bed." High School Sports. Feb. 1989. pp. 18-22
Physiologically there are many benefits to consistent weight training. This includes muscle size, tone, and overall strength. Not only this but lifting weights has also been shown to improve psychological health as well. This is done by increasing self-esteem, conf...
Growing up my parents ran a little lake on the outskirts of my hometown of Shelbina here in northeast Missouri. I was the "tough" one out of my family by the time I was in the ninth grade I could use two weed eaters at the same time and pick up the back end of a golf cart. At 5'3 and wearing size 16 I was big girl and was often made fun of by my peers. I wanted to be something other than the "fat girl" at school. So I became stronger than an ox and used that to my advantage. My high school coach seen me one day bench pressing a picnic table and begged me to join the weightlifting program. I excelled at the class and became known as "Pipes" I went from being the chunky girl to being the girl that was respected for my bench pressing and squats. My coach believed in me and that was all I needed to continue to do my best. That year I made a C average except for weightlifting where I got an A and earned the respect from my peers and my coach.
In the 1940s there were bodybuilders such as John Grimek and Steve Reeves who had little access to steroids, had very few competitions, and had a hard time making a living off bodybuilding. Now there are bodybuilders like Kai Greene, Jeremy Buendia, Calum Von Moger, Phil Heath, and Rich Piana (whom is now dead) who have easy access to steroids, have many competitions, and have a much easier time making a living through bodybuilding. As we can see bodybuilding is a lot different and easier than it was in the 40s. Now, even though it has changed a lot. Bodybuilding is very important to a lot of people, including myself. According to Kai Greene “It’s therapy.” (Tiwari) and is held deeply to many people. That is why bodybuilding is still considered to this day one of the greatest sports of all
Over the last 8 years I have been in the positions to learn many different skills and ways of approaching various situations. My interest in as an Exercise Physiologist intern with Henry Ford Health Systems I assisted in cardiac rehabilitation and exercise stress testing in addition to providing patients' education for proper physical activity and event lifestyle modification as a weight management consultant. Since finishing the internship I have been a practicing personal trainer since 2007 working with many types of clients from the everyday working mother keeping in shape to the athlete trying to reach the next level of competition. Recently, I finished a summer internship with the Central Michigan University Strength and Conditioning Department.
In his essay, “7 Reasons To Add Strength Training to Your Workout Routine”, Chris Iliades discusses the various reasons for the necessity of strength training in all workout plans. Iliades uses an array of evidence provided by research studies in order to display the benefits of strength training beyond a bodybuilding mindset throughout his paper. It is these vast amounts of benefits for the general population that lead Iliades to believe they should be brought to light, and become a staple in everyday life. To communicate this message to the audience, Iliades successfully incorporates all three of the argumentative appeals of writing, and effectively persuades the audience to support his proposal.
This will prove to be especially important as I move on to college, and as I embark on my journey of being a student athlete at the University of Nevada Reno. I know that being a student athlete will be challenging in the sense that I will have so many obligations and so little time; however, this mentality will further help me achieve my goals both athletically and academically, as I refuse to settle for anything less that what I am capable of achieving. I know that at times it will be tough, but I also know that quitting is not an option. If I were to stop in the middle of a race right when it got tough, I would never be able to experience the triumph of finishing. In the end, the glory of the fight is one of the most rewarding elements of
Evidence of lifting weights can be traced back to the origins of man. As far back as cave painting and scrolls, there exists evidence of weightlifting. Initially as an expression of strength, to competition and functional training, weightlifting has carved its path through the ages. It has taken on a new role in the modern world; athletic training. With an entirely new emphasis in sports on speed, strength, and flexibility; weightlifting is more popular than ever. Unfortunately, young athletes often do more harm than good by injuring themselves lifting. When these uneducated lifters try to jump right into a program, lifting more than they should, an injury is imminent. What is overlooked, is that when weightlifting is done correctly, it has a great potential to prevent injuries instead of cause them. Understanding how the body works, using proper technique on the appropriate lifts, and participating in regular physical activity can greatly reduce the risk of athletic injuries.
I honestly did not know what I was getting myself into when I first decided to enter the fitness world. Although I had seen many people getting into shape and was told what the journey was like from others, I did not know what to expect the first few months. I had never been overweight, but I was never confident or happy in my own skin. The fitness world was extremely
Without progress, your “goal” is just a dream. Setting attainable goals is an integral part of your transformation in your fitness journey, and those goals you set for yourself NEED to have a deadline. For example, you may have a goal of losing 8 pounds, but in how long? If you don’t have a set date then you’re likely to slack off and forget. This is one of the best gym quotes because it teaches you to set a realistic yet challenging deadline and to work your tail off to crush your goal before
When you 're designing your personal fitness program, consider your fitness goals. Think about your fitness likes and dislikes, and note your personal barriers to fitness. Then consider practical strategies for keeping your fitness program on track. Regular exercise can help you control your weight, reduce your risk of heart disease, and strengthen your bones and muscles. But if you haven 't exercised for some time and you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor before starting a new fitness routine.
Common misconception adheres to the idea that weight training is the action of becoming a body builder, with the purpose and intention of looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, or Yaxeni Oriquen. While these bodybuilders do perform high intensity weight training sessions, the actual action of weight training is not pre-defined to have the sole purpose of looking “huge” with large muscles. In reality, weight training is defined as physical training to develop strength, size of skeletal muscles, and improve one’s overall fitness; the condition of being physically fit and healthy. With this being said, one must than ask themselves how weight training specifically improves ones’ overall
Proper action plus proper timing equals desired results. Physical training is a lifestyle that requires commitment, determination, and discipline. If you already eat well and exercise, using this system will feel natural. If you do not already eat well and exercise, using this system will take some adjustment. Commit to your execution of the nutrition...
When I first began to exercise, I was primarily trying to add size on to my body. At the time I only weighed about one hundred sixty pounds and I was six foot one inch. I was also eight teen and feeling that my lack of participating in school sporting events, as well as my abuse of alcohol and less than ideal food choices, had stunted my physical potential. With this new found feeling of inadequacy I set off on a journey that would change my life forever. The first thing I noticed when I began searching for ways to change my body, was that I was obviously going to have to buy weights if I wanted to look like the guys in the gym. So I set out and purchased the cheapest bench and set of weights I could find. I began to mimic exercises that I had seen people do on television or while walking past the gym. In a period of about a month I had already noticed a huge difference in the amount of weight that I could lift. Within the first year of unorganized lifting, as well as no change to my eating habits, I h...