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What is the single greatest benefit you've noticed about your pursuit of your fitness goals? This applies no matter how you pursue them: Running, lifting, crossfit, yoga, etc. Anything is fair game.
I ask this because I recently noticed something about myself that has shot past all the other benefits I've noticed. Here's my story.
I used to be into long distance running and would train with weights only as an augment. As I've mentioned elsewhere a series of knee surgeries and severe ankle injuries have rendered me pretty much unable to pursue the kind of running I used to do. Consequently almost a year ago (~ March of last year) I switched from running as my primary fitness focus to weights. I was no stranger to the weight room, but for the first time I was actually making it my primary focus. This meant lifting heavier and in a much more comprehensive manner.
It was nice to see myself get stronger, and my upper body, which wasn't too bad looking to start with, really begin to bulk up. But the best part came last week when I noticed something in the mirror. You see, I've always had a very slight curve in my upper spine. A natural slouch in my shoulders. It was very slight, but it took a conscious effort to keep it straight. But now, due to all the heavy lifting targeting my back, I seem to have corrected it. I asked my wife if it was just my imagination, but she agreed it did appear my back had a lot less curve in it.
Honestly, fixing this has been better than hitting any milestone, any muscle gains, etc. I wasn't weak to begin with, so while nice, progress with the weights is just something I naturally expected. But this is a real improvement that once I noticed it, really drove home the benefits of what I was doing. In many ways, those leg injuries may have benefited me in the long run.
Have you noticed anything like this for yourself? Share your success stories here!
This is pretty high up there for my wife, too. Her workout partner and her family are like family to us now. My wife's workout partner even refers to me as her "other husband" and my wife and I joke about my "other wife." All in good humor, of course, there is nothing going on there. It's pretty special to meet a complete stranger at the gym and in relatively short time become like family.
My spinal curve has diminished as well. But I don't even do much heavy lifting - just a moderate amount of weight training. I do a lot of other activities (yoga, belly dancing, bike riding, walking) also. Another thing, I have lost a good bit of weight since I started kettlebells workouts. And for the first time in my life I have a little bit of ab definition, even though I am not super slim and do still have fat on my belly. But I have actually had several compliments on my stomach in my belly dance class.
Oh, and I too enjoy meeting new people at the gym!
Exercise gives me the ability to manage my stress/tension/anxiety better than any drug could.
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