| Hey,
Sometimes there’s more to getting fit than just losing weight. Sometimes you may just want to get strong! Meet Linda W the strongest lady at Boot Camp pound for pound. Linda has been attending Boot Camp for approximately a year and she has blown up the dead lift. She currently dead lifts 205 lbs. and could probably lift more. In the process she has built muscle, gotten stronger and positively changed her body.
So Linda I could tell the first day you dead lifted that you had done this before. Can you tell us about it?
Yes, I use to weight lift in my 20’s. I got married and started having a family and gave up on my lifting. After turning 40, I starting gaining weight slowly. I tried every diet there is out there, from Jenny Craig, weight watchers, 17 day diet, I can go on and on with the diets. I would lose 5 lbs and gain 10, I was lacking in exercise and had no motivation to get out and do anything.
Did something specific happen that caused you to start training again?
Getting older has made me realize I need to be as healthy as I can get. I want strong bones and health to take me into my later years. I don’t want to be one of those people who fall and break a hip. My goal is to be at my physical best by 60, I only have 3 more years to get there.
Do you have a favorite type of training?
I love weight lifting, it is challenging for me to see how much I can lift. I also run with a friend, but I do not like running for long periods.
What have been some of the toughest challenges for you so far?
I find the weight loss for me and other ladies over 50 is very hard. Even now with working out since October the weight for me as not been that much. I have seen a lot of change in my body size. I’m one of those people who carries their weight all over, from head to toe.
What can you tell me about your diet strategy?
I typically have 2 egg omelet for breakfast or a Greek yogurt with granola on top. For lunch I love to eat a grilled chicken on a salad. I use lettuce, carrots, cucumbers and tomato’s. For the dressing I just use balsamic vinegar. For dinner, I have a meat and vegetables, either steamed or grilled. Oh and I have 1 Dr. Pepper a day.
Do you have a favorite meal?
My favorite is Chicken coated with Parmesan cheese, fresh green beans, or frozen when they are not in season and beets. I typically have to cook my family, some pasta, potatoes or rice to go along with the chicken or they think they are being abused.
How do you measure fitness/weight loss success?
I measure my success, by not giving up on my exercise and sticking to eating properly. That doesn’t mean that I don’t cheat once in a while, because I do, but I pick up and do the best I can the next day.
Do you have advice for people contemplating starting a fitness journey?
I would tell them to never give up on getting fit. It gets harder and harder the older you get. Also, don’t get discouraged when the weight doesn’t fall off as fast as you think it should. If you eat properly and work out, you will see changes in your body and it will all be worth it. I have.
Seeing your scale weight decrease is the Holy Grail for most people on a weight loss journey, however I encourage everyone to look at things other than scale weight. Don’t measure fitness and health success by a number on a scale. Measure success by how strong you become, measure success by how well you move, measure success by how your clothes fit. Most important is measure success the way Linda W does, measure it by each day you work hard in the gym and by each meal you eat the right type of food. Thank you Linda for sharing YOUR story!
Inspiring You To Take the Challenge,
Jeff |
