I have heard that consistency is key…it is one of those phrases that people say and don’t really think about. At least I didn’t think about it, not until I started really training consistently!

I should have guessed really, there are even gym quotes about it, but the problem with those as I lump them into the same pot as “motivational quotes” and the like and totally ignore them.

Anyway, as you will know if you have been a regular reader of this blog for a while, I have been consistent at doing some exercise, but not necessarily consistent about what sort it was…

This is good in that it stops you getting bored, but not brilliant if you want to get really good at something.

Well, since I instigated Project gym every day for lent (Project 44) which led straight into Project lockdown fitness (which is still going on I have just lost track of the days…) I have made much more progress on my strength than I had in the past 5 years!

It took 5 years to get my deadlift 1RM from 92.5kg to 102.5kg, then 8 weeks to get to 115kg. This is entirely down to consistent training and focus. I have seen similar increases in all of my lifts and both strength and stamina progress in things like farmers carries and pretend yoke walking. This is all down to consistent training and actually following a plan rather than just doing a bit of what I like to do then getting distracted by shiny new exercise types all the time.

In my defence, in that 5 years I have done such things as run a half marathon, walk some long distances, dance (a lot), become an insanity instructor, do lots of yoga, have plantar faciitis, break an ankle and injured a shoulder…

My point is, that since lockdown started I have lifted between 4 and 7 times a week and I have made a lot of progress towards that truck pulling goal of mine 😀 I have done lots of cardio too, so if I get to pull my truck, I might be able to do it quicker than I thought too.

Which brings me to the truck pulling, log lifting strong woman competition I had entered… I am still entered into it, but we are currently not sure when it will be going ahead… It has had to be postponed due to the public gathering limitations set on the venue 😦

Hopefully I will know when it is going to be held soon and I will keep you posted!

In the meantime, I found another local competition to enter 😀 just in case one strongwoman competition wasn’t enough…

This one is called Sussex Strength’s Strongest and is being run by the manufacturers of excellent looking strongman equipment 🙂 I don’t get to pull a truck in this one, but I do get to try atlas stones…

I am now, excited all over again…and scared and I am still going through phases of thinking that this whole thing is a pretty ridiculous idea…

I swing between thinking I am strong enough to take over the world, and thinking I am as weak as a tiny kitten and shouldn’t be trying. I suspect the reality is somewhere in between…

Of course the post would not be complete without some training picture montages 😀 so here they are…

I will of course, keep you posted on progress!