Inspiration du jour

[rydra_wong]

I LOVE THIS VIDEO SO HARD:

IMHO, this is worth viewing for everyone, regardless of size or where your head is at re: weight issues. This is someone who's passionate about being in her body, and strength training as a way of loving her body.

It's also a lovely opportunity to see a whole range of lifts, including Olympic lifts and other barbell lifts, done by someone who's really rocking them and really enjoying them (my favourite bit is the little victory dance after her personal record deadlift).

"It takes dedication. And it takes loving and care for your body."

Comments

[nanila]

Fantastic. I like how the video also emphasizes that everyone in the gym is either being supportive or is too busy working on their own bodies to pay attention to the recording. This is one of the things I think people (fat, thin and in between) feel really self-conscious about when going to the gym. I know I did when I first started going.

[rydra_wong]

Oh yeah. I still feel really self-conscious sometimes, even though the rational part of my brain is aware that most of the time no-one is paying any attention to me at all.

And one of the nice things about the free weights room is that generally, everyone is just doing their own thing.

[thalia]

Great video, thanks! I can only dream of lifting those weights. And her form is terrific, too!

[rydra_wong]

I'm in awe of her Olympic lifts. I've only just begun trying things like hang cleans, using only the bar, and the idea of throwing really heavy weights up over my head like that scares and thrills me. That's power!

[laurashapiro]

This is a thing of beauty. Thanks so much for posting it!

[rydra_wong]

It's really amazing seeing someone who's so present in their body.

(Especially for someone like me, who tends to default to brain-in-jar.)

[mschaos]

This is so freaking awesome!

as a fat chic who tries to focus on strength rather than what the stupid scale says, this is really a great thing

[rydra_wong]

I found it at Live Once, Juicy, which I found in turn via some random linkhopping -- I can't remember where the chain started, but I suspect it was The Fat Nutritionist (thefatnutritionist_feed), who is a deep source of wisdom for people of all sizes.

Anyway, you might be interested in her "defiant athlete" stuff:

http://liveoncejuicy.com/tag/defiant-athlete/
http://liveoncejuicy.com/2011/03/12/a-list-of-defiant-athletes/

[sophiap]

That is truly awesome. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[rydra_wong]

As soon as I saw it, I was all: I HAVE TO POST THIS I HAVE TO POST THIS NOW.

[daedala]

Awesome. Thank you!

[magister]

Agreed with all the above.

One of the reasons I've avoided gyms and swimming pools is self-consciousness. I've never been fond of how I look and so the idea of wandering around in a pair of trunks filled me with terror. On the other hand, support from the right person does help.