Whether I'm at the gym or getting in my post-workout food, these are seven things that I constantly hear from other people. While I, personally, love lifting and a good protein shake, not everyone understands the lifestyle. I say lifestyle because lifting isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life for a lot of us girls. The things people say to me on a daily basis make me laugh, and I hope that the list I have compiled here will make you laugh, too.
1. "Are you sure you can lift that much?"
Yes. I know how much I can lift. Thanks for the concern but this 225-pound bar and I are basically best friends. I wouldn't lift something that I know I couldn't -- safety is key.
2. "Do you want help lifting that?"
Thank you for offering, but no. I can lift just as much as you can and I've got this handled. Especially in the gym, this really irritates me. Like I'm here lifting, too. We are here for literally the same reason.
3. "Aren't you worried that lifting that much will make you look manly?"
Am I a man? No. The only thing that can make me look manly is being a man. It doesn't matter how much is loaded onto my bar, all that this lifting is going to do is tone me up and make me stronger.
4. "Do you think you can lift more than me?"
Probably. The only actual way to find out is to hit the gym and lift together. It doesn't matter who can lift more though, what matters most is enjoying lifting and being fit.
5. "Are you really going to eat all of that food?"
Yes, I am going to eat every single bite of what's on my plate. I love my food just as much as I love lifting. Plus, the more I eat, the heavier I lift.
6. "Do you only drink protein shakes?"
While protein shakes are consumed on the daily, I do eat other things. I enjoy almost everything that everyone else likes. While they may not be the exact version of what you eat, I still indulge. Especially with DoughBar Donuts.
7. "Do you own clothes that aren't meant for the gym?"
Well -- no. I live in my gym clothes. Let's be honest, though, they're way more comfy than regular clothes. Leggings make our asses look nicer than jeans do anyway so there's no real need for jeans. Also, Lululemon and Nike are life.
These are just seven of the most common things that I hear from those around me on a daily basis. Girls who lift are beautiful and strong women. We love our gym clothes, our protein shakes and we especially love leg day when we get to load the barbell up to our max weights. We love pushing ourselves mentally and physically and we strive to be the best versions of ourselves possible. Embrace girls who lift, because, if you don't, we will probably just pick you up and walk around with you over our shoulder until you decide to love us.