I have to admit that normally I’m a big advocate for not weightlifting. I hate to be a total girl, but there it is—I’m a total girl. I don’t even like lifting heavy boxes.

Over Christmas Break, though, something gave me a reason to do some reps. My parents and I visited an MC Sports looking for a recumbent bike for my dad, and they immediately spotted a new weight bench for themselves (on sale). Right next to it, on even more sale, was a lavender weight bench. I love purple. Best of all, it had a set of matching lavender weights. I’d been telling them for months that it was too hard to lift weights without a weight bench, so they bought it on the spot. I had to pretend not to see it all the way home.

This lovely piece of equipment functioned as an extra chair in my dorm room for about four months. When we finally moved into our new apartment I set it up near the “living room area.” There were no more excuses; I had plenty of space, a cute weight bench, and a copy of Lady GaGa’s album. This week (after last week’s failed attempt) I have successfully made it through 4 of the 5 weightlifting routines set out in Five Factor Fitness. Tomorrow is day 5.

I’m just hoping that the pain that I now constantly experience in my arms and legs will eventually mean that I am totally buff.