Category: Strength Training

In which I lift heavyish objects

I love lifting weights. No, actually, let me rephrase – I LOVE lifting weights. Strength training is so damn satisfying to me, for a number of different reasons. The process itself of picking up and/or manipulating something heavy requires me to focus on every move that I make. I don’t have the mental space for criticizing how my body looks when I am lifting something heavy above my head – my inner critic is completely silenced by how hard I am working. And oh my god, the silence is so fucking beautiful. I wish I’d known years ago that focusing on lifting heavy weights would drown that critic out.

I also love that the results of strength training are visible – I can actually see my body changing as I put on muscle. And this is incredibly gratifying especially because I don’t see changes quite as quickly when I run. I can lift heavier and heavier each week – I can’t run further or for longer quite as easily. So for me, having success in weight training is critical, because I don’t feel as successful in my other fitness activities.

Have you experienced fitness silencing your inner critic?

 

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In which I resume running

Running and I – we don’t have a great relationship. I’ve half-attempted to run a 5k every year since the Hot Chocolate Run came to San Diego – and I got a 5-year legacy package last year, so it’s been at least that long. (Oh, and I didn’t even participate in last year’s race, but that’s another story.) By “half-attempted” I mean that I’ve downloaded the Couch to 5k app, started the program, failed to complete the program, and failed to run the race.

This year, however, I vowed to stop quitting on running, and – more importantly – to stop quitting on my goals. I began 2019 at my heaviest recorded weight, ever, and that really shocked me into prioritizing my health and fitness. Hence, the return to running. Thus, this blog.

This blog will cover my running adventures, as well as my experiences with weight training (which I also have a shaky history with). I may also discuss food, since nutrition should and will play an important role in this journey toward improved health. It’s bound to get a little whiny, for which I apologize in advance. But I hope it ultimately documents a change in my approach toward my health and my lifestyle.

For those of you reading along and on a similar journey, you are not alone, and you’ve totally got this!

To your health,
Hanna

Posted on by Hanna 0