⚖️ As an #athlete who competes in a weight class #sport (#powerlifting), I am generally mindful of my #weight.

.

.

⏰ It doesn’t have a huge impact on my daily life (as anyone who has ever been out to eat with me knows, I’m a bottomless pit), but I do generally keep track of my weight - especially when I’m close to #competition.

.

.

🚶‍♀️I compete at the #63kg weight class, which means I need to weigh in under 63kg 2 hours before competing. So, I like to maintain my “walking around” weight slightly under 63. I tend to stay between 60-62 all year, without much effort aside from making good choices.

.

.

🎈However, one thing completely out of my control is water weight gained during my #period. I don’t know about other women, but I find this suuuuper frustrating. I generally have no idea exactly how much I’ll gain, and so far the timing has not impacted my competition schedule so I haven’t really thought much about it. Until this year.

.

.

👯‍♀️ It’s come up in a few conversations with other female lifters, and at a recent #powerlifting seminar, so I know I’m not alone.

.

.

I’m sharing this because at a recent competition a fellow female lifter and I were helping at weigh-ins, taking about period bloat and a (male) competitor (and coach) joined the conversation.

.

.

🏮When asked if I have trouble making weight (as he was about to weigh in), I said “nope, except when I’m on my period.”

.

.

✂️ His reply: “Well just cut down to a weight where you don’t get your period anymore. Problem solved.”

.

.

I was almost too shocked to respond. Not only is this problematic in so many ways from both physical and mental health, to sexism, but I never asked for any of his advice.

.

.

😳 I did end up saying: “I’ve done that before, it was also not good.” And he replied: “why, you solved your weigh in problem?” And then got called in to weigh in so the conversation stopped.

.

.

I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I’m hoping it was a joke (though it did not seem that way at the time). If this is what female athletes hear from their coaches, it’s possible they could actually cut to an extreme level of leanness - just to avoid a situation that might never even be an issue. .

.

So many female athletes already have heath complications (#femalathletetriad) and body dysmorphia from competitive sport & societal expectations. Even if you’re not a coach, giving unsolicited health related advice should be a non-starter.

.

.

🚨 Sharing here for 3 reasons

.

.

1️⃣ if you’re a female athlete and your coach says this to you, PLEASE seek out another coach

.

.

2️⃣ if you’re a coach, PLEASE take the time to learn about female athletes and the health implications of extreme levels of leanness for women, including the female athlete triad

.

.

3️⃣ no one automatically has the right to comment or advise on anyone else’s health or fitness choices (male, female, athlete or coach, mind your own business)

.

.

❣️ Day 2 of my period in this photo, weighed in at 62.9kg this morning. Still rocking a #bikini since it’s FINALLY clear enough to spend time at the pool!

.

.

#fitover40 #xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #womenwhopowerlift #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #teamgpt #wogpt #powerbuilding #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #rpowerlifting #traineveryday #fearherfightunited #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter via Instagram ift.tt/2UTjGtn

Most competitors will get tested during a comp at some point, especially if they win. But getting called in for a random drug test usually only happens for national team members, or those competing at high level events. (Somehow, that is me!)

.

.

Despite having someone watch me pee into a cup inside the bathroom with me (not super fun, although the lady who went in with me was so nice), this process was actually really interesting. The SAT team didn’t touch anything related to my sample, they just directed me through the whole process.

.

.

✅ I picked out the cup to pee in from the pile.

.

✅ I picked out the testing kit.

.

✅ I unpacked the kit to make sure everything was inside & labeled properly.

.

✅ I poured my sample into the two testing vials: sample A for the first test, sample B to be saved for later testing (if there are questions or methods improve).

.

✅ I packed it all back up & taped it shut.

.

.

Kinda felt like a scientist!

.

.

Huge thanks to NAT from @thaipowerlifting for being our translator & taking good care of of us!

.

.

@unifiedstrengthmethods @charmacpt

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #homegymsetup #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #homegym #homegymhacks #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter @thaipowerlifting

Most competitors will get tested during a comp at some point, especially if they win. But getting called in for a random drug test usually only happens for national team members, or those competing at high level events. (Somehow, that is me!)

.

.

Despite having someone watch me pee into a cup inside the bathroom with me (not super fun, although the lady who went in with me was so nice), this process was actually really interesting. The SAT team didn’t touch anything related to my sample, they just directed me through the whole process.

.

.

✅ I picked out the cup to pee in from the pile.

.

✅ I picked out the testing kit.

.

✅ I unpacked the kit to make sure everything was inside & labeled properly.

.

✅ I poured my sample into the two testing vials: sample A for the first test, sample B to be saved for later testing (if there are questions or methods improve).

.

✅ I packed it all back up & taped it shut.

.

.

Kinda felt like a scientist!

.

.

Huge thanks to NAT from @thaipowerlifting for being our translator & taking good care of of us!

.

.

@unifiedstrengthmethods @charmacpt

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #homegymsetup #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #homegym #homegymhacks #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter @thaipowerlifting

Most competitors will get tested during a comp at some point, especially if they win. But getting called in for a random drug test usually only happens for national team members, or those competing at high level events. (Somehow, that is me!)

.

.

Despite having someone watch me pee into a cup inside the bathroom with me (not super fun, although the lady who went in with me was so nice), this process was actually really interesting. The SAT team didn’t touch anything related to my sample, they just directed me through the whole process.

.

.

✅ I picked out the cup to pee in from the pile.

.

✅ I picked out the testing kit.

.

✅ I unpacked the kit to make sure everything was inside & labeled properly.

.

✅ I poured my sample into the two testing vials: sample A for the first test, sample B to be saved for later testing (if there are questions or methods improve).

.

✅ I packed it all back up & taped it shut.

.

.

Kinda felt like a scientist!

.

.

Huge thanks to NAT from @thaipowerlifting for being our translator & taking good care of of us!

.

.

@unifiedstrengthmethods @charmacpt

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #homegymsetup #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #homegym #homegymhacks #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter @thaipowerlifting

Most competitors will get tested during a comp at some point, especially if they win. But getting called in for a random drug test usually only happens for national team members, or those competing at high level events. (Somehow, that is me!)

.

.

Despite having someone watch me pee into a cup inside the bathroom with me (not super fun, although the lady who went in with me was so nice), this process was actually really interesting. The SAT team didn’t touch anything related to my sample, they just directed me through the whole process.

.

.

✅ I picked out the cup to pee in from the pile.

.

✅ I picked out the testing kit.

.

✅ I unpacked the kit to make sure everything was inside & labeled properly.

.

✅ I poured my sample into the two testing vials: sample A for the first test, sample B to be saved for later testing (if there are questions or methods improve).

.

✅ I packed it all back up & taped it shut.

.

.

Kinda felt like a scientist!

.

.

Huge thanks to NAT from @thaipowerlifting for being our translator & taking good care of of us!

.

.

@unifiedstrengthmethods @charmacpt

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #homegymsetup #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #homegym #homegymhacks #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter @thaipowerlifting

Most competitors will get tested during a comp at some point, especially if they win. But getting called in for a random drug test usually only happens for national team members, or those competing at high level events. (Somehow, that is me!)

.

.

Despite having someone watch me pee into a cup inside the bathroom with me (not super fun, although the lady who went in with me was so nice), this process was actually really interesting. The SAT team didn’t touch anything related to my sample, they just directed me through the whole process.

.

.

✅ I picked out the cup to pee in from the pile.

.

✅ I picked out the testing kit.

.

✅ I unpacked the kit to make sure everything was inside & labeled properly.

.

✅ I poured my sample into the two testing vials: sample A for the first test, sample B to be saved for later testing (if there are questions or methods improve).

.

✅ I packed it all back up & taped it shut.

.

.

Kinda felt like a scientist!

.

.

Huge thanks to NAT from @thaipowerlifting for being our translator & taking good care of of us!

.

.

@unifiedstrengthmethods @charmacpt

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #homegymsetup #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #homegym #homegymhacks #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter @thaipowerlifting

✌Went in for my second opinion last Saturday and the new doctor is a million times better than the first. She had the same recommendation: hysterectomy, but she spent about an hour with me explaining why, and doing another exam & ultrasound to make sure she knew what was going on.

✂️ Because I have several complications, she was leaning towards having to do the abdominal incision (instead of laparoscopic surgery), and she had me come back yesterday for a biopsy (not fun) to make sure there are no signs of cancer.

After the procedure yesterday she feels more confident that laparoscopy will be possible & that the results will be benign. But the actual pathology report comes back on Sat.

Until then: no lifting, no competing, try to rest & recover from the biopsy and all the stress.

I kinda lost my 💩 during training this past Monday when it all hit me (swipe to see that look). But I’m slowly starting to get my brain around it.

➡️ Surgery sucks, but this is a relatively common one, and I feel much more confident & supported by this doctor.

➡️ Missing this meet sucks, but it’s just one, there will be more.

➡️ Time off lifting sucks, but I’m grateful this was caught now before it got any worse.

One day at a time!

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #masters1 #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter

It’s been a hugely stressful week. Found out I have to have major surgery for something completely unexpected on Monday.

Went in for what I thought was a very simple thing on Sat, doctor did some extra tests, but didn’t have time to tell me the results when I was there.

So she called me on Monday and told me, transitioning from “did you know you have fibroids” to “they’re so advanced you need a hysterectomy” to “do you want the scope or the cut” in under 5 minutes. On. The. Phone.

I’m not interested in signing up for major surgery on the phone, so I’ll be speaking to another doctor tomorrow.

For right now, appreciating my patience off the floor & building the confidence that I’ll pull the weight once it actually starts moving.

Hope I can still compete in 2 weeks.

@charmacpt @unifiedstrengthmethods

#xxfitness #powerlifter #girlswhopowerlift #gwpl #deadlift #masters1 #mastersathlete #womenwhopowerlift #fitover40 #homegymsetup #squat #bench #powerliftingwomen #thisisfemalepowerlifting #thaipowerlifting #powerlifting #homegym #rpowerlifting #unifiedstrengthmethods #oldladygains #masterslifting #femaleathlete #femalepowerlifter

via Instagram ift.tt/33V9jGn