The dizziness has not fully passed, so I have revamped my workouts. Eliminated all exercises that require me to be horizontal. I find this is a very powerful change for me, because I am getting challenged in the new exercises. Something as simple-looking as bench dips, where I use my arms to raise and lower my body beside a weight bench, requires using muscles that were not as involved in the previous exercises I did. So by accident I am discovering the benefit of periodic shifting of my routine.
I work out at a University gym and the students have returned. I was not the only woman in the free weight area this week, which was nice. I am used to the men, and in fact asked one of them about a weight technique he was using. He was very helpful.
I got exasperated with one young woman at the gym. She was sitting on a weight bench next to me, during a fairly busy time, but she was not working out. She told me that she'd just come back to school, and had been going to the gym with friends at home that summer. They had motivated her to work out, and now she did not feel like doing anything. I told her she needed to motivate herself. That I give myself one minute only between reps, and then I start the next one. As I continued with my workout, I saw her just sitting there, taking up a bench that someone else could use. I had a hard time reconciling my reaction of "don't do that, it's what people expect women to do at the gym!" and wishing there was some way I could move this girl to want to work out for herself. I hope she finds the inner desire to continue. Without that, and without her friends there to bring her along, she will no doubt give up.
I have had some wonderful responses from people who are visiting this journal. This inspires me to continue to share my progress on this journey. If even one other woman makes the decision to build her best body ever, and follows through, it will be the icing on my non-fat cake!
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