I know I seemingly talk about my girlfriend a lot on this blog (what can I say: she’s the shit), but today I have a story that I think a lot of the ladies reading will appreciate.
Lisa (said girlfriend) is a fitness enthusiast who likes to train, eat dead animals, and who also teaches a few spin classes throughout the week for the heck of it (and for the free gym membership). It’s serious business for her. The night prior to every class she’ll make a new playlist, figuring out which songs should be used for sprints, seated climbs, as well as which ones she’ll use for their general awesome factor.
Not surprisingly, as someone who talks the talk and walks it, Lisa’s classes are routinely jam packed and she has her own “cult following” of spinners who follow her religiously. Rain or shine.
She also has a fair share of newcomers who sporadically attend her class, and she’s always welcoming and more than willing to offer feedback and advice.
As it happened – and this actually happens quite a bit – last week Lisa was approached by a woman who attended her class for the first time and asked whether or not she (Lisa) also teaches an “arms class.”
For a visual reference, see picture below. Lisa is the one who’s not wearing blue. And has hair.
Looking somewhat perplexed, Lisa was like “excuse me?” The woman then said, “you know, an arms class…..kickbacks, bicep curls, etc. What did you do to get your arms!?”
Always playing the modest card, Lisa said “thank you,” and matter-of-factly stated that she lifts weights 3x per week and got her arms by doing a lot of chin-ups and push-ups.
Probably not the answer the woman wanted to hear, but such is life. If you want to actually look like you lift weights, or even if you don’t and all you want is to give your body some semblance of shape, contour, or definition (I can’t bring myself to say “toned”), you NEED TO LIFT APPRECIATE WEIGHT!!!!!!
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Which is why I’m STOKED about Nia Shanks’ new product:
Lift Like a Girl Guide
Nia and I have been friends for a few years now, I respect the hell out of her, love everything that she represents, and I consider her the ambassador for female training.
Like myself Nia has long been telling women that they should focus more on training for PERFORMANCE, even if their goal is fat loss.
Even if you want to lose fat, setting achievable, measureable goals like being able to perform ten push-ups, deadlifting 1.5x your bodyweight, or working up to your first-ever unassisted chin-up, is the key.
If you want that toned (there I said it), athletic look, you need to drop the pink dumbbells and Zumba class, and lift real weights.
***And not view food as your enemy (which Nia also addresses)
The Lift Like a Girl Guide is Nia’s opus, and something I feel is going to open the floodgates for a lot of women with regards to learning HOW to train and eat the right way. Not to mention set them up for a world of confidence moving forward.
Funnily enough, Nia sent me an advance copy and as I was listening/watching her first presentation last Sunday afternoon out on the patio, Lisa was within earshot doing some food prep in the kitchen.
Repeatedly I kept hearing her belt out “AMEN!!!!!” in response to everything Nia was saying. After about 20 minutes Lisa walked out to where I was sitting and said, “this is such a wonderful message to give women.”
I think of Nia were in the room at the time, the two of them would have shared a Thelma and Louise moment for sure.
So if it’s any consolation to anyone reading, Lisa gives it a HUGE thumbs up.
The objective here is simple: to get stronger, leaner, and healthier in the shortest amount of time possible. That way there’s more time to do stuff that girls like to do. You know, stuff like watching clips of Ryan Gosling being Ryan Gosling, and talking about “feelings” and what not.
Okay, just kidding (but not really).
What’s more, not only are you going to learn how to lift like a girl, but Nia also discusses how to EAT and THINK like a girl, too.
And, to throw a cherry on top: Nia says that if anyone who follows this program gets “big and bulky,” you can go to her house and personally Sparta kick her in the kidney.
It’s really a win-win. What have you got to lose?
—> Lift Like a Girl Guide <—
