OMG.
Thanks for all of the great compliments ladies!
:
SusanB and Elisa: You certainly are in our league! You would be surprised what your own muscles look like under stress.
Midwife: I could hear your squeal all the way over here in Columbus, Ohio. I did the same thing when I looked into the tiny frame of my camera and saw this picture. I think I may have embarrassed myself as well as anyone around me. (I'm a rather quiet and unassuming person at the gym. Unless its a grunt no one really hears much out of me.
) But it was the first time I had seen myself in this way. Ever! Yeah, I was pretty excited. My goal was never to develop definition nor a little mass. I had never hoped for anything such as that when I began. My whole focus was upon just becoming healthy but a welcomed by product. I showed these pics to my 84 year old grandmother last weekend. She sucked in her breathe and said, "Oh, now, I just don't know if you outta be
doin' that." Course she also thought I should be wearing socks with my sandals and pointed out that my ankles look like they are retaining a little "water."
But I love her anyway.
Fran: I really don't know my BF%. I'm not sure I want to know. I did have it done electronically last spring and it was around 24 to 25%. I
think. Anyway, I was much leaner as the summer continued. This winter my composition changed for the worse after my bilateral knee scoping.
So I'm kind of on my way back now. The gym is offering a BF analysis through water displacement on June 7th. Two things. It's totally submersion and I hate to hold my breathe under water, and it's the same day that I turn 40. I'm toying with the idea but I'm not sure I really want to know.
As far as comparing this photo shot with a specific BF% I want to share something with you. I think that me at a specific % is going to be different than someone else at that same level. I really don't carry my weight above my waist. I may have collarbones now and it's easier for me to see definition in my pecs, shoulders, waist, but I am really small chested. Eh, it's a tradeoff. I do love it though that I can throw on a sports bra and run like a maniac if I want without anything getting in the way. However, sometimes its a bummer when shopping for a nice dress. It just doesn't look the way it was intended by the designer.
The other downside of this is that all of my weight is in my hips and thighs. Look at the photo again.
Who is wearing pants. There is a reason...I've got work to do yet.
Anyway, thanks for sharing the pics Mel. I'm glad you put our unflexed photo up too. I think that it is important for other women who may be interested in lifting but uncertain about all of the myths of bulking up that you really don't look that way unless you are under a load and working. The rest of the time, I think we all look pretty
ahem, dare I say, "
toned".
Have a great morning everyone!
Lift and Chat: May 16 - 31, 2008
