How long will it take?
Everyone has a different timeline… here is mine
After 12 years of lifting, 10 years of competing in strength sports, and at 34 years old, I have become a PRO STRONGWOMAN!!!
Everyone’s journey is different. I've heard some new lifters in the gym get jealous of others, saying, “Ugh, she JUST started Strongman last year and is already better than me?!?” Yes, because she may have played years of sports as a teenager, have a background in powerlifting or CrossFit, and/or just simply have better genetics. That's why you CAN NOT compare your journey to others.
I want to share my journey with you, not to encourage comparison but to demonstrate that reaching my goal took time and effort. There were many years when I struggled with my injury and felt like giving up. If you're feeling discouraged because you're not progressing as quickly as you'd like, remember that my story is just one example of what you can overcome with perseverance.
Why did this take so long?
It took just as much time as I needed! I don’t have a background in sports. In fact, I was the girl who would always skip gym class in high school. I was a self-taught lifter with a lot of bad technique, and then once I started competing, a lot of time, years, were wasted pushing through pain rather than actually healing. I made a lot of mistakes, but this process was necessary for me to learn. I'm glad I went through it because it makes me a better coach and more experienced for my clients.
Back in 2021 at Nationals, if the 160 sub-class had been recognized as a pro class, then technically I would have become a pro earlier. But I am SO glad it wasn’t at the time. I was still pushing hard through my injury because I did not want to slow down. If I had become a pro then, that would have made me push even harder through the pain with even heavier weights, and I don’t think I ever would have reached my potential. I am much smarter and more patient now. I know when to push and when to pull back.
So, what's your timeline?
Seriously, write it down. See how far you have come. Be proud of your journey! I will tell you what: becoming a pro doesn't feel different. But I can recognize how rewarding the journey has been to get here!