I am a mess. I have bunions in both feet as well as bone spurs in both heels. I was in a very bad car accident (I was rear ended) 15 ish years ago that I WAS TRULY BLESSED to walk away from that permanently injured my back and hip. Fitness has not always been a passion, honestly most of my life it felt like a chore so I never critiqued my physique, just did cardio in my younger days. Without realizing it for about 10 years after that car wreck, I favored my right hip. I always shifted my weight to the left side, pushed off from the left, balanced on the left etc.  I realized probably about 5 years ago that my glutes were not symmetrical, the right being significantly underdeveloped compared to the other, that’s when I discovered the hip problem.  I pushed harder to make changes-or so I thought. I kinda just followed blind instruction and believed what I was doing would make the changes I wanted to see in my glute development. I did mostly plyometric movements and some light dumbbell work. Dumbass. I was also doing cardio, a good amount. After a few years (4), I realized with all my work, there wasn’t much growth or symmetry (no duh). So, last year I got myself a gym membership and while admittedly a little intimidated by the equipment and not knowing how to do what exercise, I sucked it up, went in and started pulling heavier weight. Youtube, Google images and Instagram were my bff for a couple months. No one ever really talked to me about mind ➡️ muscle connection. I realized I was just running through the motions for years, I guess I thought the faster I was at something, the better Id be at it. WRONG. I started doing more reading, about nutrition, about what exercise works what, about how many sets and reps, more than anything about glutes. What chic doesn’t want a bangin ass??? I eat, read, slept lifting, I was a sponge, I wanted to learn more-still do and am. So for many months (10) I did my plyometric type stuff in addition to the lifting in the gym (still not too heavy-never a spotter so I didn’t feel like I could push myself too hard- I was just scared) and yes, all that fkn cardio. In that 10 mo span, I did my second stage competition. I felt great, but still didn’t take first. So, a few months ago (about 4), I finally was honest with myself and decided some major adjustments needed to be made to my regime, because obviously I wasn’t seeing the changes I wanted. Some other significant changes were happening in life at that time and it just forced me to be real with myself. It’s my body, I’m working to mold it into what I want, I get to decide what I put it through. So with the help, guidance, and support from a woman I stumbled across via Bret Contreras’ blog (aka the Glute guy), I implemented those changes (ask me about her-she’s amazing). I’m doing more reps and more single leg work to really focus on the development of that right side. I’ve never put more focus into the time the iron is in my hands than I do now. I love the burn, I crave it. I’m excited to get through a workout so I can do the next. Because I feel the changes. The glute activation is so strong, it excites me to know what my backside will look like with 6 months of this. My cardio is minimal. My nutrition is on point, I can eat anything I want as long as it fits in my numbers, the scale reads a number but I don’t care what it is. I’m strong, mentally, spiritually and physically. I’m healthy. Im growing just like I’ve always wanted to.  My hip still bothers me a lot, but I’m way more conscious about it now, and yes, careful.  Still not symmetrical but closer.  

 As a woman, sometimes I question my progress or if there have been any changes. Which is why pictures are so important to take, to monitor progress.  Almost a year to the day apart (the pic on the ⬅️ is today), I’m approximately 10# heavier (maybe 12) now, I’d say I’ve made some gainz. 
   
 
Have an ass slappin Thursday!