Topic: what makes you feel strong?

There are days when I feel drained--just plain weak. On those days, I head to the gym and do what I call my Olympic bar workout. I perform any exercise I can with an Olympic bar. I'm 5'2", and lifting that large bar reminds me how strong I am.

I was wondering, does anyone have an activity or a mind trick that makes her feel strong and powerful?

From: Clare Ryan

Squats, squats and squats! Also, doing a wide-grip pull-up with virtually no assistance at all last week made me feel pretty damn good!

From: Ekaterina Slivko

I did 60 push-ups in a row yesterday--and boy, did I feel strong! (Not to mention the amount of admiration I got from other gym-goers :)).

From: Adrienne Goodman

I like doing hanging leg raises without the arm supports. Those make me look and feel strong because no other girl [in my gym] does them! :)

From: Maddy Barroso

When friends ask me what I'm doing after work and I tell them, "I'm off to the gym," that makes me feel strong since most of my friends wouldn't step foot inside a gym.

From: B Barrett

I feel like the strongest person in the world when I'm in my martial-arts class and we have to do a V-sit, legs at 45 degrees and hands hovering on our knees. I love that I can hold this longer than anyone. I just roll my eyes at Ben (my instructor), as if to say, "This is supposed to be hard?" Everyone else is quaking in their boots! Weight training has its distinct advantages!!!

From: Lauren Taylor

Girl, just walking into my gym (which was founded by Bill Kazmeier, World's Strongest Man) makes me feel strong. Not only am I one of very few female members, but I'm one of only two or three who step down into that room of steel and iron and lift. That gym is predominantly gigantic men, and they love it when little-bitty me walks in and tells them to get out of my way. Lift hard, or go home!

From: Alison Lackner

Every time I see or feel the scars on my back--the ones about which the doctors said, "Because of these you will never be able to run/skate/lift/play sports." The doctors are amazed that every day I do one of the "forbidden" with no trouble.

From: Lori C

I just remember going through 12 1/2 hours of totally natural childbirth (a 9 1/2-pounder!) at home. :P that's me panting ... LOL! Peace.

From: Beckie Alexander

Beating the daylights out of the punching bags in the gym gives me a real sense of power, since a few years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of doing this!

From: Victoria Anderson

Being able to lift more than a lot of guys I know. Also, looking at my lats in an "infinity" mirror setup (so that I can really see them). I've increased my chest/back measurement by 2 inches in three months--and it isn't fat, because my cup size is the same :-). So I'm really proud of that.

From: Sue Jones

Honestly, a quick biceps flex in the mirror reminds me that I'm strong. Some days, I go so far as to grab another mirror and do a nice little flex from the back, too! I'm getting there; I see that pretty little triangle in the middle and I know I'm doing something right!!!

That makes me feel strong, and when I feel physically strong, I feel mentally and emotionally strong as well!!! They go hand in hand for me! :)

From: Jen S

Every time someone calls me tiny (I hate the word skinny, too!), I start to feel weak. Then I get to the gym, whip my shirt off and see the abs that were never there before, and those arms/shoulders. That makes me feel strong. I think to myself, these people have no idea what they're talking about! If only they could see me now!

I agree: Strong in body helps spirit and mind. Sometimes I feel invincible. :)

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