It started more as a way to get "girl time" and socialize. It didn't take very long before I started feeling better and stronger. I started to see visible results from the weightlifting. In the past, I had joined gyms and mostly used cardio equipment. The free weight section was always too intimidating. Once I saw the muscle growth I was achieving from the little time we dedicated to free weights in the group classes, I was hooked! I decided I wanted a lot more time lifting and less time doing cardio. It was then that I decided to join a big gym and hire a personal trainer. My love for fitness quickly morphed into setting a goal of owning a gym one day. This year I took a leap of faith and closed my dog training business after 24 years and bought 3 Anytime Fitness locations.
How do you define your fitness goals, both short-term and long-term? My fitness goals have remained consistent for the last 5 years. Most importantly I want to be healthy and strong. I try not to use the words "skinny", "slim" or "small". I focus on "fit". I often set short-term goals relating to a muscle group. I'll focus on better abs, bigger glutes, or a more defined back. With those short-term goals, I'll work the body part extra sessions in a week. I also set short-term goals involving a strength gain. It can be wanting to hit a specific weight in a lift, like squats or bench presses. Or it can be a goal of achieving a number of pull-ups or sit-ups. My long-term goals have remained consistent. I look to stay healthy, fit, and strong. I want to be a positive role model for my 2 children. I want them to see my commitment (even when it gets tough) and my discipline (which sometimes wanes).
This story is from the Muscle and Fitness Hers May 2024 edition of Muscle and Fitness Hers South Africa.
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This story is from the Muscle and Fitness Hers May 2024 edition of Muscle and Fitness Hers South Africa.
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