I have been lifting heavy weights for 2 and 1/2 years now and I have worked incredibly hard to build as much muscle as possible. As you can see, my progress has not made me look like a man. During this time of intense work, I have been bombarded with comments about “bulking up”, as if it’s something that would sneak up on me when I least expected. I couldn’t have worked any harder to build muscle unless I quit my job. My workouts are intense and long in duration and I am continually increasing them to make progress. Trust me. Women don’t get to “looking like a man” easily or by accident. When we lift heavy it requires a total commitment of time, energy and resources. Muscles are not going to sneak up on us in our sleep. I should be so lucky.

Just yesterday I was asked, “How can I lose weight QUICK?!?” I replied, “That’s the worst thing that you can do, for a lot of reasons.” When I first began David’s Way, I was at the goal weight that was required for me to attend weekly meetings free with the weight loss company where I worked. I was traveling a lot and was skipping workouts and losing muscle. When I began heavy lifting, I was weak. I asked David how long “It” would take and he answered me “The rest of your life.” No truer words have ever been spoken. Fitness does not creep up on you in your sleep. Although, I would have much preferred to get ripped fast, it’s just not possible. You may find a way to make the scale drop quickly but you won’t drop fat and build muscle quickly. If you make the scale drop too quickly, you will lose muscle mass and that’s the worst thing that you can do. You need as much muscle as you can build naturally for strength and mobility. I promise you, you won’t look like a man unless you do some deliberate, crazy stuff intentionally to do just that. I am a natural athlete so since I am female, I will never look masculine. The only women who get that look are using substances that I will not use and do not condone and even then, it’s deliberate, hard work. They don’t just wake up like that.

While I love lifting weights, it’s not for everyone. Unless you truly love it, don’t bother. It’s dangerous and isolating. Most people don’t want to associate with a lifter unless they lift, so it has to be your priority. If you are a social butterfly, always wanting to flit from one friend to another, it’s probably not for you. To progress, you must be completely dedicated in your nutrition and your workouts and get as much rest as possible in between. There is no time for bar hopping and eating in restaurants every day. You rough up your muscles when you’re lifting and repair them in your sleep. Heavy lifting is truly a lifestyle. You must work out with ambition and intention. Please don’t worry about some 5 pound dumbbells making you look like a boy. If you use them religiously, you may get some “toned arms” and that’s about all. Any resistance training at all will increase your muscle mass and metabolism so any at all is good as long as your doctor approves.

Whatever exercise that you choose to do, keep a written record of your workouts and your progress. Make progress pictures all along the way. These pictures here are some that I made for myself to gauge my progress. Whenever you are having a bad day, finding it difficult to begin your program, you can look at your photos and see how far you’ve come. While your pictures may not look like the professional photos that you are accustomed to seeing on Instagram, they will show your progress and that’s what you need to see. We, especially women tend to confuse attractiveness with perfection. They are not the same thing. We are so bombarded with professional photographs in the media that it’s easy to look at those images and say, “Um, I could never look like that. What’s the use in trying?” Remember, those are professional pictures that were created to help professionals gain endorsements because that’s their livelihood. You are right in thinking that your selfies probably won’t look like those. You can still see your progress in your pictures, and be very proud, as you lose body fat and build sexy muscle in body recomposition. Don’t be discouraged by marketing ploys.

I am appalled at how quickly people accept their demise just because another year rolls around. There is no expiration date on fitness. Without a concerted effort, we will all fall prey to the ravages of time, but with focus and dedication most of us can maintain our health, mobility and attractiveness if we are willing to work hard. We often remind you that nothing is as hard or as expensive as allowing yourself to deteriorate to the point of ill health and obesity. Age is not an excuse to throw in the towel and accept your slow demise. As life begins to seem harder, you should dig in and dedicate yourself to maintaining and improving your body and mind. As you become more fit, your self-confidence will increase and that’s a natural anti-depressant. It’s hard to be depressed when you have a good sense of self-esteem.

Never accept the idea that physical deterioration is inevitable. As soon as you do that, you are on your way to becoming a stereotypical “old person”. It is realistic to be aware that with age, it becomes necessary to have razor focus on your goals. State your goals clearly and pursue them with your whole heart. We offer you a free, healthy method to manage your weight. Read about it here and get started with your doctor’s permission. We have the Calorie Counter Pro to help you discover the number of calories that you should eat each day. We strongly encourage you to go for 1 pound per week loss instead of 2. It’s easier to do and easier on your body. Remember, this is for the rest of your life. It’s not a diet. It’s a healthy way to live. You can contact us through the Contact button or in the comments at no charge. Get started today. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.