Congratulations to our personal training client Erin Hazen, July 2014’s “Badass Betty”. This July Erin managed to conquer not one but two fitness events that would have completely horrified her. And yes although it was still very scary for her she managed to enter and complete her very first Spartan Race in St.Albert. Not only did she do something she would have never physically been able to do in her adult life, she also conquered a fear that so many people have, being intimidated by going to the “heavy lifting” area of the gym where a lot of those scary looking big guys train. But Erin had a workout do to, so she managed to conjure up her courage. In fact here is what she had to say about that experience.
“Comfort zone: 0, Erin: 1 (Barely). Tonight, for the first time ever I almost walked out of the gym without working out. I have some pretty ambitious weightlifting goals that Robin Mungall Fitness is helping me achieve (and I am super excited about, yay Rob!!), but that means that I need to be lifting heavier weights than I have at home, and more frequently than once a week at Rob’s studio. So, to the gym it is…no problem right? (This is where my comfort zone gets all antsy…anticipating I am about to mess with it).
Usually at the gym I am either running, taking a class or have a circuit to complete using equipment that is relatively mobile. I find a corner, bring my “supplies” and get it done. Tonight was my first workout at the gym where I needed to use the heavy artillery (for the guns…get it? HA.).
Anyyyyway. My gym has two areas with the equipment I needed, so I scouted out each – seeking the least busy, least beef-cakey one. Area one was about a 7/10 on the “dude bro” scale (sorry dude bros, I am sure you are very nice), but area 2 was jam-packed with “super dude-bro-yo-whaddyabench-ers” (I am likely projecting here, I am sure they are also very nice people).
So I passed them both. Twice. Looped around the gym like I was LOST. Literally had a movie moment where that voice in your head says “maybe tonight’s not the night. it’s busy and the dude-bro’s will be annoyed that you are deadlifting in their territory. the exit is riiiiiigggghhhhhtttt there…” And I almost listened. I almost got changed at 9:30PM, drove to the gym, put on my tunes, warmed-up, looped the gym twice and walked out. Because I was uncomfortable and intimidated.
But instead I stared at my workout binder (Rob’s Transformation Tracker), stared at it HARD for a solid minute (further reinforcing the theory that I was a lost, hearing voices AND confused) and remembered that I was allowed to be there…in the zone with all the clanky weights. I have a goal, and if I listen to CS (comfort zone, we are on a nickname basis you know) it will ALWAYS talk me out of the boundaries I need to push to get there. Like, consistently. CS is kind of a jerk.
So I went back to the area that I at least felt LESS intimidated by and began to set up my deadlift bar – of course completely blanking on how heavy the straight bar was (dammit!). So not only am I uncomfortable, now I need to ask for help (double dammitttt!!!).
But I am in it now, no turning back. “Um, dude-bro?” (Okay, I didn’t say dude bro) “Can you tell me how much this bar is? I need to get to 85lbs.” And (of course, because people are always nicer than CS leads me to believe) he said “you bet, the bar is 45LBS so you will need 2 10LBS on each side.” WELL whaddya know, he didn’t say “GET OUT OF MY SPACE LADY” or “PFFFT, AREN’T YOU LOOKING FOR THE ZUMBA CLASS?” (no offence, I lurve me some Zumba). He answered my question and went back to his business. Because the truth of this entire experience is, no one else really gives a flying flip what I am doing. They are handling their own shit.
So I did it, uncomfortable and intimidated, but I finished my workout. And next time it will get easier. And the time after that, maybe someone will ask ME how heavy the straight bar is because I look like I belong with the clanky weights. That jerkface comfort zone almost bested me, but not tonight.
*I should note that I am aware that loads of awesome ladies weightlift without incident in the clanky weight zones. This is just a reflection of my experience tonight and I look forward to being completely un-intimidated by lifting-ladies in the near future (HA.)”
Having courage means being afraid and doing it anyways. Erin has found her courage in droves, and by stepping our of her comfort zone, has become more successful and more confident in her fitness abilities. Will you be next Badass Betty?
“Standard Disclaimer: These are the experiences of individuals, your results may vary“
