Fitness Files :Women, Weight Training & Supplements (Contd.)

Once I got back into the routine of weight training, the kilos and inches almost miraculously started melting away. I was still feeding my baby and hence could never really watch my diet but my work out regime was such that for the first time in my adult life, my weight came down to a mere 47 kgs which at my almost 5'7 height was too low. I was also facing calcium deficiency due to exclusively breast feeding all these months and hence once my son touched the 8th month mark, I finally introduced him to formula. Free from the restrictions of feeding timings, I could finally hit the gym and work out at leisure. Exercising is quiet addictive you see, the more you do and regular you are, the more you crave it. I was hooked to my daily runs by now and for the first time in my life enjoying strength training as well.

Me, six months post partum

However, there was one drawback to all this excessive exercising. If, I ever took a break of say, three days between my workouts due to travelling, once I came back to the gym, the weighing scales would tip generously to the right. It was shocking to me that just a small break could make me heavier by nearly 2 kilos. This is when I realised it was time to educate myself on the kind of training I do and the quality of diet I eat. I had found out the hard way that all that cardio, which had definitely contributed towards my stamina and endurance levels, had adversely affected my muscle mass. This was the turning point in my strict regime as finally while concentrating on my cardio, I decided to challenge my body with the uphill task of gaining muscle mass. I started lifting heavy weights while religiously taking my post work out whey shake. Initially, only on the weight training days and later post every run as well.

Me weighing 47 kgs. in August 2010

Just 2 weeks into the new routine and I was lifting like a man. Well almost! My body was getting taut and toned. The cuts of my shoulder blades and quads more defined. In fact, I was looking much leaner than before. Of course, my weight went up too, I had reached the stable 52kg. mark but was getting a lot of, "Have you lost more weight?". I realised that while the increase in muscle mass had contributed to the gain on weighing scales, I also had some massive inch loss, which after all was what I had wanted all these years!

Protein Supplements had done the trick you see. The fuel that my body needed post each workout to build the most important lean muscle mass was finally being received. My strength had increased and contrary to popular belief that runners should not weight train as muscle is bulky and slows them down, I was running faster, longer and also on hilly terrain.

Thats me today! Weighing 51 kgs. Check out those toned arms and pins!!

I have written this post not to boast about my work out routine or success. Neither am I a qualified physical trainer or medical expert. I am just another common Girl like you, dear readers, who thanks to the miracles of physical exercises was able to bring about a 360 degree turn in my life. Being fit is not about fitting in a skinny denim or being a certain size just because the world tells you so. It's about the sense of achievement you feel at the end of each run or when you challenge yourself to lift your best. It's about the inner strength and peace and the feel great endorphins that flow through your body post each work out. All these things are what drive me to workout with almost religious dedication each morning. A fab body is just another pro of the hard work you put in.

Hope you have enjoyed reading this post and feel the push I'm sending towards you to go out there and take up any physical activity you enjoy. Challenge yourself and push harder with every routine! Remember, Impossible is Nothing.