So, there’s this blogger that I love to read. Martha is her name and she is a fitness blogger for her blog, What Up Chickenbutt. Her fitness forte is weight lifting. And I mean HEAVY weightlifting. And she’s obsessed—in a good way.
I started reading her blog back in March when she started it up. And since I’m a runner and only lift weights when I feel like it, I enjoyed reading Martha’s blog for the humor and I had a definite appreciation for her love of fitness. So, even though we had different fitness loves, Martha and I hit it off just fine.
Now, mind you, I am no stranger to weights. That’s pretty well why I only do them when I feel like it. I know all too well the effort it takes to “lift some heavy stuff,” like Martha would say. You may think this is crazy, but I’d rather run a marathon than lift some heavy stuff.
But then, something started creeping up on me.
I liked the way Martha talked about “throwing some weight around” and I liked the muscles I saw on her legs when she took progress pictures. I started toying with the idea of lifting some of my own weights.
After I thought about it for a while, I then took to commenting on Martha’s blog about how I was going to do it. After about four months of that, and continued reading of Martha’s literary fitness genius, I actually did something she suggested.
I went out and got an app.
I must say, it helped that I had also been reading Cheryl’s blog, Geek Girl USA, who reviews apps regularly and always tells us about free ones. Before reading Cheryl’s blog, the only app I ever downloaded was . . . well, anyway. So, I now had app-bravery from Cheryl, and Martha’s wise instruction. So I did it. I got an app.
And I love it.
Ok, I admit, I have only used it one week—I downloaded it last week and played around with it a bit and I’ve only done three workouts this week, but I’m on track for muscles like She-Ra. Because you know how much I like her. The thing is, I have to KEEP doing this if I want to KEEP muscles on my body.
With training for a marathon, you train, you run the race, you are done. You can choose to stop running for life if you want (not that I will, I’m just saying . . .). but with lifting weights, where’s the end? In my mind, there isn’t any. Because once I put the effort in to build a muscular body, I’m not gonna want to give that up. Would you?
So I’ve taken the challenge on. And I must say, I’m loving it already. I can feel my muscles growing, literally, because they hurt. But I’m liking that.
Lately, I’ve noticed Martha referring to herself as “just a creep in her basement, throwing some weight around.” Or, something like that which involves the usage of the word, “creep.” And I realize, that thing I said that creeped up on me? I think it was Martha’s writing. So, now I’ve been thinking of Martha as the Fitness Creep. Because if you don’t be careful, her fitness enthusiasm will creep up on you. And you just might find yourself throwing some heavy stuff around.
**Image taken by jontun on Flickr via creative commons license.
Bethany, SOOO happy for you!!!
I started by reading “New Rules of Lifting for Women” which gave me huge amounts of confidence at the gym. It’s a complex program, but there’s an awesome support group on Facebook. For me, it was a perfect intro program.
Now I’m doing a boring one like Martha.. so you have to throw random things in there to keep it interesting.
I’m looking forward to your posts about it!!!
Thanks Jennifer!!! Actually, you were person number two in my list of weight lifting influencers, so I will probably write about you too–watch out!!
I bought two books–one is the Bodybuilding Bible for Women and the other is like weightlifting exercises you can do to deter injuries. I will check out this New Rules book and community on FB.
Are you doing the Madcow? That doesn’t seem boring to me. At any rate, right now it’s all new (at least the idea of doing a program and sticking to it is new), and all exciting!!
Ahhh! This post totally made my craptastic day at work suck a million times less!
I’m excited for you and your journey – it is going to be a blast. You know I’m always handy if you ever need to bend my ear or bounce some ideas my way.
You are such a sweetheart and I’m glad I could inspire you in anyway, because you constantly inspire me with your thoughtful, universally applicable posts. I’m thankful we crossed paths – and I’m glad I can be a creep in a non creepy way
Thanks again – a million times over!!
Awww . . . I’m glad you liked it!!
Thank you for the shout out! I am so glad you commented on my site so I could find your new site. I am thrilled for you. Now get me that email subscribe so I don’t miss anything. I hate it when I am the last one to arrive to the party. LOL
No problem! I love your app notices and reviews. I never thought I would be much of an app girl until I started reading your blog.
I have a new blogger to checkout… WOO! HOO! I do light weights every now and then. More now than then… LOL. I have been lax of late with my walking. No real excuses just haven’t been doing it. Now I’m back at it, thanks to you, you little motivator you…
Are you serious? I’ve helped you get back on the bandwagon of walking?! that’s awesome!! I feel so proud. Walking is great for you.