Size Doesn’t (Always) Matter
WHY BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS A BAD THING
Ok, so we have established that the number on the scale can depend on any number of variables and therefore heavier does not always mean bigger (Muscle vs Fat). Now, lets talk about the fact that bigger is not necessarily a bad thing. If you have been eating well, and hitting cardio and strength at the gym you are going to get stronger and your body composition will most likely change. If you have transformed your legs from soft and weak to firm and strong you are going to feel and look significantly better, so why does it matter if your legs are a little bit bigger? Instead of worrying that your legs/butt/insert body parts of your choice are getting bigger, be proud of the fact that you are getting fitter, stronger and look amazing as a result.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE
The other day I put on an old pair of jeans and guess what, they were a bit snug on the thighs and butt, but here’s the thing…
Over the past 7 months, I have dramatically stepped up my training, picked up a new sport (Olympic Weightlifting) and gotten significantly faster and stronger. Yes, I did gain about an inch on my thighs (yep I measured) but I took my backsquat from 195lbs to 240lbs and my deadlift skyrocketed from 215lbs to 295lbs, two achievements that make me way happier than fitting into size “x” jeans.
I know that having read this some people will still be uncomfortable with the idea that heavier and bigger can be a good thing and may look better, but don’t flat-out reject the possibility just yet. It’s a common fear (especially among women and people trying to ‘slim down’) that weightlifting will make them to bulk up, which can lead to an exercise regime that avoids strength training like the plague and focuses solely on cardio (very ineffective but I’ll get to that another time). I also know that while I love being strong and muscular not all women want to be a weightlifter and there is nothing wrong with that, but this is not an excuse for to avoid weights. Yes my legs, arms and butt got a little bigger this summer, but I was doing some seriously heavy lifting several times a week, sometimes moving upwards of 10,000lbs in a single session. Without training sessions of similar intensities/loads it is extremely difficult to bulk up (and keep in mind, even I didn’t bulk up that much), especially for women since we simply do not have enough testosterone in our bodies to support muscle growth on that scale.
I know it is unrealistic to expect everyone to ditch their scales, start lifting weights and ignore the fear of getting bulky, but I do have 2 requests.
- I want you to take time to think it over, let the idea settle in, and rewire your thought process from bigger and fatter, to stronger and fitter
- Lift weights. If you already are that’s great, lift more, lift heavier.If you aren’t lifting weights, start. Don’t worry about looking silly or not knowing what you’re doing, google a new movement, or ask someone to show you. We all had to start somewhere and if we never did anything for fear of looking like an idiot we wouldn’t get very far in life.
Check out the full article here.