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Nice Arms Lady


weight training woman


Has someone ever said something to you that replays in your mind later on? That happened recently to me at the gym when “Nice Arms Lady” and I had a quick conversation. I don’t know “Nice Arms Lady” by her actual name but any time she walks by I am in awe of her perfectly toned arms. So when I bumped into her in the locker room and had the chance to talk to her, I just had to ask, “What do you do to have such amazing arms?” Her response was, “I lift weights.” Simple. Obvious. Not what I wanted to hear.

 

I struggle with lifting weights because my cardio is really the thing that makes me feel like I’ve burned calories. Although lean muscle mass does burn more calories, I count on my cardio workout not only for the calorie burn but also for the cardiovascular benefits. So with my cardio routine as my top priority, here is where (surprise, surprise) my excuse for not lifting weights comes up. I just don’t have the time to fit both in. If I add in the weight training, my workout is longer because I also have to do cardio.

That is what I thought, and that is what I told Nice Arms Lady. Her response, “Can you increase the intensity of your cardio and fit arms in one day a week? That way, you’ll burn the same calories, get your strength training done, and still be finished in in 45 minutes.” I smiled politely, thanked her and walked away, thinking ‘thanks but that idea just isn’t going to work for me.’ But as I headed into the gym for my workout, there she was – in my head. I got on the elliptical and increased the intensity and surprisingly, I could work harder.

Obviously I’m not advocating that you push yourself harder than is safe. But I am saying that if you’re anything like me, doing the same old routine is sometimes not enough to get the results you actually want. Although my fitness goals have been different over the years, I realize that I always need to be asking myself if what I am doing is really helping me accomplish my weight and fitness goals? Am I bringing my “A-game” or am I bringing my “C+ game” and expecting an “A” anyways?

After this experience my workouts have been harder, since I’m taking the time to ask myself “can I do better?” Sometimes I’m tired and can’t, but more often than not, I realize that I can. I am hopeful that someday someone will come up to me and ask me what I do to get such nice arms and I will tell them “I lift weights.”
  

 

by Chrissy78 on 05/16/2012 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Weight-Loss, motivation, exercise

About the Author

Chrissy78

Chrissy has worked at HMR since 2003. She started in the Consumer division, and is now in New Business Development. Chrissy has been a personal trainer, a group exercise teacher, and an on-again, off-again dieter who doesn’t always like what the scale reports.

Comments (6) Post a comment
NIce job Chrissy. Those strength workous add up to a stronger and healthier body over time! Rembmer: Stronger is Better!
by MyMEDFITNESS on 09/18/2012
Great Blog!! Thanks for being real and honest about your experience. I think we can all relate to aspiring to be able to do and have something we see and sometimes it just takes a small tweak to our workouts (easier said than done, I know). Good for you for making the small changes to achieve the results you're looking for.
by SandiBraithwaite on 06/04/2012
Chrissy, great blog and so easy to relate to. It's hard to push yourself! I .know it helps me having someone's voice in my head, too. Thank you Arms Lady and everyone else who helps us push ourselves to new heights.
by NancyA on 06/01/2012
Hi Chrissy, I can relate! Even though I do feel good and especially feel that my posture/carriage is improved after strength training, I still prefer cardio. I've just recently added accountability in the form of a few sessions with a personal trainer, to help me follow through with what I KNOW I need to be doing, but don't make happen often enough. BTW, your arms look pretty good in your photo!
by NancyRNfit on 05/21/2012
Great Blog Chrissy - I can so relate to making excuses to not exercise. Since the start of the year I have been doing tapes and a variety of cardio work outs. The varying intensity has been good for me but my overall fitness and endurance have improved. We all need to be reminded to balance our workouts as the benefits go beyond calorie burning.
by ChristineWeithman on 05/18/2012
Chrissy, really motivating blog! Easy to relate to as well...but really provided me with a push to start challenging myself more :)
by sailGirl on 05/16/2012