10 Struggles Only People Who Lift Understand
It might sound like a massive cliche, but life changes when you start lifting. Most of these changes are for the better. You feel fitter, healthier and stronger than ever before. You’re more confident, and you know what makes you happy. Food and lifting, right?
But there are a few struggles only people who lift will understand. Here’s our top 10 - how many can you relate to?
1. When You Have to Wear Normal Clothes
Lululemon, Inov8s and Stance Socks are your life now, why is that so hard for everyone else to understand?!
Putting on “normal” clothes for work and social events feels like a huge chore these days. You’ve probably even considered quitting your job and ditching non-gym friends so you don’t have to do it anymore.
That said, getting dressed up is such a rare event these days, you do feel pretty special when it happens...
Maybe you’d do it more often, if it weren’t for the fact that….
2. You Can’t Find Jeans Clothes That Fit
A wise man once said:
“You can have jeans or an ass, not both.”
You used to love shopping, now you dread it. Finding jeans on the high street feels like a near-impossible task, and those awkward changing room moments got you like:
Thankfully, Barbell Apparel have changed all that with their jeans for people who squat. Now can someone please invent dresses for women with lats?!
3. You Miss Your Old Hands
You’re proud of most of the changes that happened to your body when you started lifting, but your hands are a constant source of pain and/or embarrassment.
The first time you ripped your hands, you wore them like a badge of honour. But that got old pretty fast!
These days, you’ll do anything to keep your hands in good condition. In fact, you’re pretty sure your hand care routine almost takes as long as your food prep.
4. Poorly Timed Pre-Workout
It’s happened to all of us. You have a new pre-workout supplement you can’t wait to try, so you take it right before you’re due to finish work.
As you’re about to leave, your boss corners you to talk about the project you’ve been working on. Then you get stuck in traffic, just as the pre-workout starts to kick in.
You can’t feel your face. Should you even be driving right now?!
5. The Trade Off Between Sleep and Training
What do you love more, sleep or training? This is a debate you have with yourself daily when your alarm goes off at 05:00, 05:05, 05:10, 05:15, and 05:20.
Sometimes sleep nearly wins, but the thought of missing out on whatever your coach has planned for the 6am class always pulls you in.
6. People Who Don’t Lift
“Aren’t you afraid you’re going to get too bulky?”
“Oh, you shouldn’t eat too much coconut oil. It’s full of calories!”
“I’ve heard squatting is bad for your knees?”
“Do you ever talk about anything else? Your Facebook is FULL of food photos and gym updates.”
People who don’t lift is the biggest struggle. We get it. Some people just aren’t into lifting, and that’s cool - but does that give them the right to critique our every move, muscle and Facebook update?
7. Eating Enough Food to Keep Your Metabolism Happy
Food is your favourite, and you eat a lot of it… But some days, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t keep up with your metabolism.
You used to spend all your money on going out and holidays, now it all seems to go on your weekly food shop. Add to this the fact you have to prepare the food when you get home, and eating is basically your entire life now. But you love it.
Oh, and don’t even get us started on how hangry you get when you haven’t eaten for a couple of hours…
8. Life Before Lifting
We love a bit of Timehop. There’s no better feeling than seeing all the PBs you hit two years ago, and thinking about how far you’ve come.
But what about all the stuff you posted before you started lifting?
Thankfully, the days of endless cardio, fat-free meals and “just wanting to be a bit more toned” are long behind you.
9. Rest Day
You know how important rest days are, but that doesn’t make them any easier.
You’re constantly testing the limits of active recovery, and have suffered the consequences.
Seriously though, how do people have fun on rest days? Does a WOD really count if it doesn’t involve a barbell?
10. Life After Leg Day
Leg day is always our favourite. The 48 hours afterwards, not so much.
These are our top 10 struggles. What are yours? Let us know in the comments.
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