Fitness Update

I'm trying not to be a total girl about gaining muscle mass. But it's definitely happening. For the first time since I started eating healthy and exercising, I am no longer losing size, but gaining it.

My quads no longer fit into my jeans.  Note: I don't call my thighs "thighs" anymore- I call them quads, because, well, that's what they are mostly. Actually, I call most of my body parts by their muscle name now.

And it isn't just my lower body.  My upper body is so much bigger than it was a few months ago that my shirts (with sleeves) aren't fitting well anymore.  They don't go down as far over my waist since they are being stretched around a bigger set of shoulders and a broader chest. When I lift my arms, they look way too short. 

I know guys are usually thrilled with this sort of thing, but it's messing with my head a little bit since I am a woman and culture says we aren't supposed to get bigger, etc.

I am trying to focus on my diet, getting as much nutrition as possible in every bite, having real foods, not processed "foods," and choosing my carbs wisely. I'd like all this new muscle to help burn off the fat that's still lingering around my waist. That way, I can be sure I am, at least, as small as possible.  But I plan to continue trying to gain strength.  

I am still enjoying my workouts, especially my Bodypump workouts. Those workouts remain my favorite.  I am trying to do three Bodypump/ weight lifting workouts, three cardio, and at least one day of stretching every week.

I praise God for the body I have even though it is not perfect. It's strong and it's getting stronger by God's grace. I credit God because I believe He made this natural world where my physical body can adapt to the demands I place on it. I also credit Him because He gave me the wisdom and motivation to start putting those natural processes to work to get healthier.

I consider every muscle fiber a gift from Him. Now my gift back to Him will be to continue using my strength to serve my family, my friends, and all the people who come to my fitness classes. I always hope those people will become my friends, too.   

Fitness is a journey and I am trying to enjoy every step. I am looking ahead and I have so many steps more that I want to take, but I want to take a moment now and be thankful for where I am right now and take a picture, of course.

I've already come a long way from where I started, but someday ahead I want to be able to look back at even this post and the picture above it and say once again, "Wow! I've come along way since then!"

By the grace of God, I want to keep going!

She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and senses that her gain is good.  Proverbs 31:17-18

If you want to read about my fitness journey from the beginning, click here.