Strong is the new skinny
I’m not a morning person. At all. I go to bed every night dreading the moment I have to wake up the next day. My alarm has at least five snoozes on it and I’ve tried literally everything. I’ve set the alarm to the most obnoxious ring tone I have. I place my phone as far away as possible to me so that I have to get up to turn it off. I try to go to bed earlier so I have more sleep (Am I the only one who counts how many hours of sleep they are going to get before they go to bed? And then has a mini-meltdown when it is anything less than 8?).
Nothing works. Nada. Zilch.
I sleep through the snoozes. I kinda now like the alarm ring tone (or maybe coz I sleep through the snoozes it doesn’t even matter). I somehow find myself back in bed once I’ve turned it off, covers thrown to the side and limbs askew.
Evs is the complete opposite. The alarm goes off and he’s up before the tune finishes. Practically skipping. It’s revolting to see how chirpy he is in the morning. I am lucky in that he graciously lets me sleep to squeeze every last minute out while he has a shower or goes downstairs in the freezing cold to turn on the heating coz I can’t won’t get out of my warm cocoon.
Today was no different. But I woke up to the sound of rain against the windows and buried myself deeper in the covers. Which would have been totally fine if it wasn’t for the fact if I didn’t move my ass I’d be seriously late (and I was also kind of suffocating under the blankets).
I dragged myself out of bed and in a fit of inspiration did Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred. And proceeded to die. I thought doing Level 1 the night before was hard – this was 20 minutes of pure torture. I hate planks, I hate push ups and my arms are sore now. However, I now have definite biceps. Booya!
Whenever I get biceps, I tend to make everyone who is near me feel them. Yep, you heard that right. I WILL go up to you and ask you “feel my biceps”. And even if you are secretly thinking “WHAT biceps??!” please humour me and cop a feel.
Every time I Skype with people at home, I show them off. It’s come to the point where my Dad and I compare biceps every time we talk LOL. I don’t even bother with Evs. His biceps look like he is smuggling tennis balls in his arms and practically the size of my head.
So yesterday I naturally asked my colleague from Melbourne who was sitting next to me to have a bit of a squeeze. I ignored the WTF face she was giving me and extended my arm out to her which she then tentatively touched my bicep. I flexed with all my might and was pretty damn proud if I may so myself.
Still with the same expression on her face, she asked me “Why do you want biceps?”
I looked at her incredulous and deflated my arm. “Why WOULDN’T you want biceps?! To be strong!”
Her face hadn’t changed at all. “Why would you want to be strong?”
Now it was my turn to give her the WTF face.
I don’t understand. Why would you NOT want to be strong? Muscles are sexy. Toned, strong arms are sexy. I love the feeling when I do weights. I love it so much more than cardio. I love knowing that I am just as capable of lifting heavy things without any help, that my body can support and take me anywhere.
Ok don't look at the triceps – they're still a work in progress 
- Yes I kiss my guns
Over the last few years in all of my weight loss attempts, I never focused on getting my body fit and healthy. It was all about the number on the scale. No matter how I got there and believe me I have tried it all. Now, I know better. I’m aiming for fit, for healthy, for strong. If I lose weight as part of that then that’s a bonus. I’m doing what I can here in HK, but when I get to Melbourne I plan to get straight back in it. For the moment – Jillian is more than enough .
Maybe I’ll do a post one day on the benefits of weight training – I really can’t recommend it enough – especially if you are trying to fast track your weight loss. It will get you lean, increase your metabolism, replace that fat for muscle and get you strong.
It’s something us women should all keep in mind – Strong is the new skinny.
Do you weight train? And are my biceps not awesome??!
23 Comments on Strong is the new skinny
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snippetsnscribbles
July 1, 2011 at 12:18 am (689 days ago)TOTALLY sexy!!! I love the biceps and your dress….awesome!!
Methinks you’re going to give Jillian a challenge at this rate
How awesome would it be to see Jillian break a sweat on 30Day Shred with SiggySparkle 
Take that Jillian 
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 12:34 pm (689 days ago)Thank you!
It’s actually a top and pants lol – but yes it looks like a dress LOL. Thank you anyways.
Hahaha I think Jillian would kick my butt a hundred times over but man do I want do it back to her when I am doing those exercises!
eep
July 1, 2011 at 12:33 am (689 days ago)Looking good!
I’m still acquainting myself with the gym equipment. Do you think I can start on weight training without the guidance of a trainer?
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 12:32 pm (689 days ago)Thank you!
I think you could BUT if you are completely new to it, I’d get the gym staff or trainer to show you how to use the machines and weight exercises first. Form is very important – to work the right muscles but more importantly so you don’t get injured!
Once you know the basics, you can go for it. There are some great resources out there for women getting into doing weights as well like this book called “The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women”. It shows you all the exercises and even has a training plan in there too.
Dee
July 1, 2011 at 2:19 am (689 days ago)Ooh la la.. Hot, hot, hot
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 12:29 pm (689 days ago)Hahah thank you
Zara
July 1, 2011 at 5:17 am (689 days ago)Came across your blog while I was looking for this picture of “Strong is the New Skinny” and love your post.
I feel that many women are concerned only with the number on the scale instead of being concerned of their body composition and look.
OH and I totally count the hours of sleep I’ll get before going to bed. Then freak out and decided not to get out of bed the next morning.
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 12:28 pm (689 days ago)Hi! Welcome – I love that pic – I actually got it from my Pinterest board which I have titled ‘Motivation’
The scale is a great tool to check how you are going if you have a certain goal in mind, but it can easily get obsessive. Trust me, been there. Now I don’t weigh myself – only maybe once a month but I tend to go by how I feel and my clothes etc.
Hahah you do too?! LOL, wish I had the option of doing that. I love my sleep
The Bride
July 1, 2011 at 10:21 am (689 days ago)Whoah you did two days and got biceps? I did athletics half my life and never got biceps. Then again I never did weight training… I can imagine myself saying the same thing as your friend. I’m all for strong, but I’ll take skinny too. By the way you look strong and skinny.
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 12:25 pm (689 days ago)Hahah kind of. But to be honest, I do tend to regain my bicep definition and strength pretty easily compared to other muscles. Triceps are a case in point lol.
You should! Weight training is crucial if you want to change your body shape – cardio will burn fat but you will end up with a smaller version of your original shape. Doing weights will get you lean – doing both if you can is the best!
Aww and thanks – still got a long way to go
sc
July 1, 2011 at 2:28 pm (689 days ago)I’ve only just begun. Yeah well its been almost 3 months of 5 days a week for 1 to 1.5 hours. Got on it to lose weight. Have had some success but the part i love is the way the body feels end of it you know, the pain and all. And the sound sleep at night plus this zippy feeling through the day. Muscles will take a while but i am on it. The work you’ve put in shows, very nice.
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 4:57 pm (689 days ago)Nice! Good stuff
Totally understand about the feeling after – hahah I miss it! But thank you – if only I could make the rest of my body like that
Childwoman
July 1, 2011 at 4:23 pm (689 days ago)DUDE. What biceps yaar!! Saaaxxyyy!!! I am going to pump up my muscles too now!
Sig
July 1, 2011 at 4:58 pm (689 days ago)Hahah thanks! Definitely think about adding it in
Childwoman
July 1, 2011 at 8:54 pm (689 days ago)Sigster, I wake up look at the watch and think, I got two minutes more to sleep. And its literally two minutes to sleep. And I STILL sleep!!
And after I have had overslept, I scream, Why didnt anyone wake me up????
Sanjana
July 2, 2011 at 9:58 am (688 days ago)why would people not want to be strong?!
My shoulder muscles are so weak that I suffer all the time!
You go girl!
Keep pumping that iron!
Sig
July 2, 2011 at 5:37 pm (688 days ago)Hehe…exactly! Get your pump on!
Jack Point
July 7, 2011 at 4:36 pm (683 days ago)Those are excellent biceps, if I may say so. I do love women with a bit of muscle. Not too much mind you, just enough to be toned and fit. Bony and thin is no fun at all.
Weight training is recommended for women, it helps maintain strong bones (prevents osteoporosis).
Sig
July 7, 2011 at 4:44 pm (683 days ago)Why thank you
I don’t think I could ever get the point of too much, but would love to be toned and fit. Getting there…
I am totally on board with it and the benefits are huge as you have mentioned. Wish more women would get on it as well 
Nicole Quernemoen
November 19, 2011 at 10:31 am (548 days ago)I smiled the whole time reading this. You inspired me to get Jillian’s 30 day shred. I am just starting my “toning”. I want to lose a little more weight and be strong. (I have a two year old and a four year old. Still dropping the second ones baby weight). Any tips? P.S.I am posting your picture on my
bathroom mirror for motivation
Sig
November 21, 2011 at 11:25 am (546 days ago)Hey that’s great! It’s a great program to do esp when you’re short on time and can’t get to the gym etc.
In terms of tips, as the post states – weight training is key for changing your shape, but obviously taking into consideration your own priorties and committments – I’d say start off small. Make a promise to do something active for at least 20mins a day – do the Shred, go for a walk etc. For fat loss you DO need to do cardio, but you shoudl do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) – short bursts of cranking up your effort and then moments of rest in between. Maybe I’ll post about this in more detail
Importantly, also have a look at your diet – from my experience it’s actually more 70% eating, 30% exercise. Keep your eats ‘clean’ (i.e. try for minimally processed foods, whole grains, lots of veggies and lean protein) and you’re more than halfway there! Good luck!