them feelings.

When I signed up to lift as part of the Weightlifting Academy team, I knew that I would have to participate in 3 meets every year. The thought of that terrified me. The last time I was part of a team was when I played soccer in 9th grade back in 2003...but because I had literally just had 2 steel rods put in my back, I didn't get a ton of playing time (and also because I had never actually played soccer before...ever). I've never been considered an "athlete", I've never really wanted to be one, in all honesty. I thought that title was reserved for people with rock hard abs and gold medals and I didn't really think about "average" adults being considered athletes. I thought it was weird when USAW classified me as a "senior athlete" when I registered with them. First of all I'm not a senior and second, I'm not an athlete. But actually the definition of athlete is " a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina." While I don't FEEL particularly skilled, I think weightlifting qualifies as strength sport that does require skill. I know that I'm harder on myself that anyone would ever be, but being significantly overweight for the majority of your life takes a psychological toll on you. You start to believe that you really can't do things, and that it's not even worth trying. I'm really glad I decided to not listen to the part of me that said "just go home" the first night I walked in to the gym. I would have missed out on such a good thing. Something that makes me feel athlete(ish) with people who make me laugh and people who make me want to be a better lifter. 

The meet on Saturday was probably the most fun I've had in a while. Well, since the ETSU meet. The team Nick and Tamara have put together is pretty damn phenomenal if I do say so myself. I snatched 33 and clean and jerked 38. I was only 1 kilo off my PR total. It was fun, and I am so happy to get to be around people who are so supportive and good at what they do. I never thought I would be excited to get on a platform and lift, but I am. It's not a source of stress, it's actually fun. I know a lot of people don't want to compete until they think they're good enough. If that was the case, I wouldn't have 3 meets under my non-existent belt. Being a 75+ lifter, I should be putting up more weight. But here's the thing, I also just started weightlifting in May and I'm pretty proud of where I've gotten in 6 months. No snatch to a PR of 35 kilos, no clean and jerk to a PR of 40 kilos and no front squat to a PR of 53 kilos. There was a quote I saw that said "if you wait until you're ready, you'll be waiting the rest of your life" and I think it's pretty true. You'll probably never feel like the time is right. I tend to think "what's the worst that can happen?" and unless the answer is "I could die", I typically try whatever it is that I'm considering. And since I'm still here writing this blog, I haven't died yet. 

Speaking of dying, you can't spell diet without die. I'm having a really hard time sticking to any kind of diet recently but it's my own fault. I can say no, I just choose not to because I'm an emotional snacker. I've gotta knock that off, because I was doing so well. Tomorrow is Monday (diets can't ever start on any day but Monday, FYI) so it's a clean slate and I intend to do well with it.