Do you ever wonder why you do it?

[FitFossil]

Do you ever wonder why you do it?

No, but other people do! It feels good, it looks good, and I CAN! Now it's a habit, I can't imagine NOT doing it.

I love the energy and the strength, and I love walking into my closet knowing anything will fit. I used to have "fat clothes" and "skinny clothes" and both were pretty droll and boring. I bought myself new fun clothes and gave away the rest (with my husband's blessing - LOL).

My physique is in between a fitness competitor and fitness model. This suits my frame and my goals, and there's still room for improvement w/in this. My husband and dad really like it. My mother tells me I "need to do more yoga to lengthen my muscles". (She likes the smooth tubular look of fashion models.) Sorry Mom, no can do, cus I've found a way to have my cake and EAT it too - it took me 38 years to be happy in my body, and there's no goin' back now!

 

[Gladiola]

The fact is if you have to give up a part of yourself to appease anyone, eventually whatever feelings you do have turn into resentment. Love is about acceptance, and compromise but not if you have to give up on those things that are inherently what make you, you.

Thanks, FB! Great post, I whole-heartedly agree with everything you wrote!

Matter of fact.. I tell him this all the time, "Some things I can & should change (like bad things), other things are part of me... parts I consider GOOD parts. So if you love me, you accept that! You don't have to like it, but you do have to accept it!"

I will only change what I WANT to change (and I want to change it b/c *I* think it SHOULD be changed... moodiness for example). But the stuff I view as good is there to stay & he better accept it!

Currently, although my bf doesn't exactly like my delts & bis, he accepts it. He just doesn't want me to rub his face in it by flexing in front of him (actually he doesn't think flexing is sexy for a woman at all anyway) so I'm cool with that & that's our compromise. I'm not compromising who **I** am tho!

That make sense? That sound healthy? I think it's a good healthy & strong relationship... but I've certainly been wrong before.

 

[dudelift]

Oh gladiola, god, ya gotta do it for yourself, and as for the dudes that can't take it, hell with em !!

I would be thrilled to death to be with a woman who wanted to build her body and not be afraid to show her muscle and strength, woah so sexy !!!

Muscles add so much to a woman, say so much about her, confidence, power , and some mystery , wow !!!

 

[dudelift]

God it's great to be here, where women WANT to be bigger and stronger !!!

 

[Sapphire]

To all the girls on this board....more power to ya! Especially Glad and KB....it sucks to feel so good about yourself and in one instant have someone take it away from you with a look or comment. We all work hard to feel good about the way we look, so keep your chin up and keep training.

I used to be embarassed to show my arms in public because I have a fair amount of muscle and strength too. I would see people look when I wore a tank in the summer and stopped wearing them for a while. Then I decided f**k them...I'm strong and I like it

 

[Sapphire]

Spats - agreed, but it happens more often than you'd think unfortunately. Self esteem among women is still not at its peak...I see it in many young girls striving to be model thin and beautiful, these are 10 yr old girls for gods sake! If they don't look just so, they are not in the "in" crowd....and there you have it, someone's stolen their self confidence...starts way to early and is a hard pattern to break sometimes as you get older.

 

[Hannibal]

I call bullshit. NO ONE can take anything from you....you can let them take it, but that's your own fault.

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

 

[Gladiola]

If they don't look just so, they are not in the "in" crowd....and there you have it, someone's stolen their self confidence...starts way to early and is a hard pattern to break sometimes as you get older.

Agreed. Human Beings are social animals and EVERYONE wants to be accepted and approved of by *someone* in *some* way...

whether it's approval in the form of doing well in a contest, or at work, or approved of & accepted by our family, friends, and Significant other.

Yes, you do have to CONSENT to *let* it bother you if someon disapproves, but it's human nature to seek approval & acceptance.

 

[sheez_ripped]

Hannibel....u took the words out of my mouth!

Great minds must think alike!

I agree with what everyone else has said....gotta do what makes u happy with your body...

thank god...i have a man who luvs muscle....and doesn't care how muscular i get....he thinks Chynna is HOT! but then he's into lifting himself....we're both tall and broadshouldered...so we get some stares....but at 6'-4" 250 and me at 5'-9" 175....don't nobody say nothin to us! lol!

of course my mom hates it....but then shes a size 16.....

 

[sheez_ripped]

Spatts we were definitely separated at birth!! lol!

So who's the power lifter??? Hmmmm....inquiring minds wanna know......perhaps his name starts with a H???

Does your mom hate your muscles as much as mine??? And my mom has really narrow shoulders so she's like a 12 top with the 16 bottom.....zero muscle....complains about how even though she "diets" that she can't lose weight! I've learned to just keep my mouth shut!!!....and my Dad....does the "grapefruit juice aka Mayo Clinic" fad diet all the time....makes me wanna tear my hair out!!

oh..and in case I haven't told ya...you're looking good gurl!!!