"I don't want to look like THAT!"

Found these gems in storage today. From my body building days (NABBA Ms Figure USA 2004 - 16 years ago)! It reminded me of a time about 15 years ago, when I was doing a consultation with a prospective personal training client. A woman probably in her late 60s early 70s. These photos were hanging behind me as I spoke with her. When I asked about her goals, she glanced up at the photos with a look of disgust on her face and said, "Well I certainly don't want to look like THAT!" My response (after picking my jaw up off the floor): "If you are able to look like "THAT" with two or three 45-minute training sessions per week then you need to quit your day job and become a professional body builder." I have heard it throughout my career in the fitness industry - women afraid of getting "big" or "bulky." I've got news for you. Women who look like "that" (yours truly) TRAIN to look like that. They WANT to look like that. It doesn't just happen by chance or accident. Every training session, every exercise, every piece of food that I put in my mouth was to look like that. It requires a program with very specific acute variables - weight, reps, sets, tempo, frequency, duration, intensity, rest, and recovery - to achieve that level of muscularity and leanness. So if fear of getting big or bulky is what's stopping you from getting into weight training, I'm here to tell you it's not going to happen UNLESS 1) you want it to or 2) you have a meathead trainer who trains you exactly the way he trains himself because it's all he knows. So be sure to do your research before hiring a trainer. Ask about their background, experience, credentials, etc. And don't be afraid to ask for a complimentary training session to be sure you like their vibe!