Hey everyone!
32 y/o F. I started training in 2015 but had no idea wtf I was doing. Typical story. Cardio bunny. Under-eating. Same old stuff. I hovered around 115-120 for most of my 20's but was super soft and "skinny fat". I'd say my views on training and nutrition changed in 2018 when I decided that I wanted to feel strong. I decided to try my first bulk phase but definitely over-did it lol!!! Pair that with starting a full time big girl job for the first time and the weight packed on. I think I topped out around 136. I know that may not sound like a lot to most, but I didn't even know I was capable of putting on that much because of how twiggy I had been (surely from under eating and overtraining). I wasn't thrilled about the fat gain but I appreciated having a bit more shape. I also started to feel amazing in the gym and felt strong for the first time in my life. Go figure. Who knew eating properly would be magical.
I proceeded to educate myself on macros and other training approaches and began to see changes in my physique over the following years.
In 2019 I started focusing on compound lifts as opposed to the Instagram influencer cable workouts I had been following and was in love. Then came the pandemic. I tried my best. I was in the middle of my second bulk phase at the time and had no idea what to do. I had no idea that I would be gym-less for as long as I ended up being. After about a month of lock down my dumbass decided to cut.....I know......I stayed in a deficit for the majority of 2020 w/o weight training. I did what I could w/resistance bands but yea....was not happy w/my body composition.
Then finally the gyms opened up. I knew it would be a while for my lifts to get back to where they were, but it was not clicking. It was disheartening. My deadlift in particular was really struggling and I had no trust in myself. So I said fuck it and decided to find a proper strength coach. I surfed around online until I found a gym close to me that focused on strength training. I had no idea at the time how much it would change everything. The term "powerlifting" intimidated me as I'm sure I had some sort of subconscious bias against it assuming I'd get "bulky".
Fast forward to now. I've hovered around 125-130 the last year or so but my body composition is completely different and I feel strong AF. I even flew out of my comfort zone and did a powerlifting meet
I've only recently started tinkering w/the idea of AAS. Not interested in taking AAS to boost my lift numbers. In fact, I would probably stop competing in meets if/when I go for it. But I would love some help in the muscle-building department. I'm in no rush, but I'm not not down lol.
Anyway! Long ass post. If you made it this far, I think we're best friends now. I appreciate this forum! Thanks for having me!
32 y/o F. I started training in 2015 but had no idea wtf I was doing. Typical story. Cardio bunny. Under-eating. Same old stuff. I hovered around 115-120 for most of my 20's but was super soft and "skinny fat". I'd say my views on training and nutrition changed in 2018 when I decided that I wanted to feel strong. I decided to try my first bulk phase but definitely over-did it lol!!! Pair that with starting a full time big girl job for the first time and the weight packed on. I think I topped out around 136. I know that may not sound like a lot to most, but I didn't even know I was capable of putting on that much because of how twiggy I had been (surely from under eating and overtraining). I wasn't thrilled about the fat gain but I appreciated having a bit more shape. I also started to feel amazing in the gym and felt strong for the first time in my life. Go figure. Who knew eating properly would be magical.
I proceeded to educate myself on macros and other training approaches and began to see changes in my physique over the following years.
In 2019 I started focusing on compound lifts as opposed to the Instagram influencer cable workouts I had been following and was in love. Then came the pandemic. I tried my best. I was in the middle of my second bulk phase at the time and had no idea what to do. I had no idea that I would be gym-less for as long as I ended up being. After about a month of lock down my dumbass decided to cut.....I know......I stayed in a deficit for the majority of 2020 w/o weight training. I did what I could w/resistance bands but yea....was not happy w/my body composition.
Then finally the gyms opened up. I knew it would be a while for my lifts to get back to where they were, but it was not clicking. It was disheartening. My deadlift in particular was really struggling and I had no trust in myself. So I said fuck it and decided to find a proper strength coach. I surfed around online until I found a gym close to me that focused on strength training. I had no idea at the time how much it would change everything. The term "powerlifting" intimidated me as I'm sure I had some sort of subconscious bias against it assuming I'd get "bulky".
Fast forward to now. I've hovered around 125-130 the last year or so but my body composition is completely different and I feel strong AF. I even flew out of my comfort zone and did a powerlifting meet
I've only recently started tinkering w/the idea of AAS. Not interested in taking AAS to boost my lift numbers. In fact, I would probably stop competing in meets if/when I go for it. But I would love some help in the muscle-building department. I'm in no rush, but I'm not not down lol.
Anyway! Long ass post. If you made it this far, I think we're best friends now. I appreciate this forum! Thanks for having me!
and as far as AAS go, you have the rest of your life for it to help. If you are young, get all the mileage you can without AAS/TRT.
