I have let my strength training pretty much slide right off the map as of late. I got so tired of feeling sore ALL THE TIME. Now, I understand that muscle soreness for one or two days after a workout is a good sign; it means that you are actually accomplishing your goal - building muscle. And for almost a year and a half I looked forward to that post workout soreness. But I have one of those bodies that does not gain muscle easily or noticeably. I could tell I was stronger, but I was the only one who could tell a difference.

Upper body strength has always been something I lacked. I was very active and athletic as a child, and played a few sports in school and college. I even looked forward to the President’s Physical Fitness Tests - remember those? I passed all the running, jumping, climbing, sit-upping, everything except that upper body torture, I mean, hang, that the girls had to do. The boys were lucky and just did a few chin-ups. We had to hold our chins above that chin-up bar for close to 20 seconds. It was torture. And I always failed.

I do like feeling stronger, and even enjoy pumping the iron. But there are times, like now, when I need a little inspiration That’s when I head to Krista’s weights. This is, er, a brassy little website chock full of information on weight lifting for women. There is the occasional descriptive profanity, so if that offends you, you have been forewarned. I especially like the section on “mistressing the push-up” and how to gradually train yourself to execute one, or several, to perfection.

Now I don’t know if I’ll ever be a “guerilla grrrl of the gym”, but it is nice to use any inspiration I can get to keep me, my muscles, and bones (yes, perimenopause is definitely here) in the best of health.