Why I Lift – Diana Tebby
Posted by hamiltonbarbell | Interview, Like A Girl, Why I Lift | No CommentsToday we talk with soccer athlete and lawyer Diana about lifting and life!
What’s your athletic background?
I have played high level competitive soccer since I was 6. I’ve played for McMaster and Windsor Universities.
Did you do weight training for soccer? What effect did it have?
Weight training was just something on the side in the winter. The programs were not sport specific and no one really taught us how to truly utilize lifting. This summer I started CrossFit and Oly lifting. My soccer skills improved ten-fold. It sucks that it took this long to realize the benefits but comparing the two I can see a noticeable difference when you add lifting in. Sports and lifting pretty much go hand in hand.
At first I bought into the mind frame of “weight lifting makes you big/bulky and that thin and toned was the way to be”. But while I was in law school, I hit a plateau – I wasn’t getting any better (stronger, leaner, toned, etc). Nothing was really pushing or testing my body and what I could do. It was the hum drum same old workouts; I needed a change.
I was introduced to CrossFit and Olympic lifting and saw girls my size throwing up 3-digit figures up over their heads and some of them outperforming men! It was insane so I gave it a try and I got hooked. So I’d say it affected my entire life from confidence to eating habits etc.
Not only do I feel more confident about myself, eat better and probably I am in the best shape of my life (only 27 years but still) I am also a more humble person. Oly lifting takes patience and a real understanding of yourself and your body. You can know a movement and understand how it should be executed perfectly but to pull it off takes a lot of practice and time.
I am a perfectionist and this was so hard to learn but now that I have the basic tools (ie. coaching and accessory movements to practice) I am able to continue to push myself. Some weeks you have to accept that you’re stuck at a weight but work on your form. It’s knowing when to fight or graciously bow out for the time being.
Lastly, thanks to lifting my clothes don’t fit right but now the reason means I have gains and I couldn’t be happier. Plus I get to shop so it’s like a double bonus!
Thanks for sharing your lifting story Diana, and congrats on hitting a power clean personal record while shooting this interview!