Do you even lift? | Things to expect as a newbie weight lifter

Who would have thought that weight lifting could come with such drama? I mean come on really it's just like lifting and putting down, reset and repeat right? Wrong! Ever since I ventured into THAT part of the gym many dare not go I have noticed a number of things that happen when you start lifting weights, from unfortunate gym misogyny which you can read in a bit more detail about here, to the dramas you actually take home with you. So if you are considering venturing as I have maybe take note of some of the following things you'll be sure to notice.

1. Drying your hair becomes the struggle of all struggles. Whether you have long hair, short hair, thick or thin you'll struggle to keep your arms up long enough to become bone dry, in fact any holding your arms above your head becomes a daily struggle. Want to put that tin of soup in the top shelf of the cupboard? Nope! Want to reach for the stars and your dreams. NO!

2. Flexing your new, albeit teeny tiny muscles becomes your new obsession. You're sitting at your desk, flex. In for a coffee, flex. Everyday you'll see how much more you can flex and hey you'll still be working a muscle of some description.

3. You develop all new and anger inducing pet peeves. Think the most annoying thing about the gym are machine hogs? Oh honey it's about to get so much worse. I give you the weight hoarders, the hiders and my personal favourite the dumbbell ditchers who don't seem to know how a weight rack works!

4. Sweat isn't just a disgusting bodily function any more. Instead think of it as a glistening medal of your achievements from that hard hour of weights! 

5. ALL OF THE PROTEIN. Got to repair those growing muscles yall, where before you thought protein bars smelled and tasted like hamster food you'll suck it up and it's all for the gains. (Trek bars are my best friends just FYI!)

Well guys as I'm sure you can tell this post contained a few satirical undertones, but not about the hamster food, that shizz is real! But I hope you have found it entertaining, informative or maybe even true to your own experiences. If you're a newbie weight lifter a bit like me I'd love to hear what you have found to be true? Have you struggled to reach and stretch to your tall cupboards after a workout? Maybe getting dressed is your real struggle, whatever you have found be sure to leave your experiences in the comments below, come have a laugh and a natter about them on Twitter with me or if you'd just like to keep check of my expanding muscles and major gains (ha!) be sure to keep track of Granite City Girl on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, girl do you even lift?

H.Elizabeth x

Aberdeen Events | Kevin Bridges at the AECC

Comedian of the moment Kevin Bridges may be gracing our television screens more than the Kardasians these days and packing out arenas and concert venues up and down the country but he has by no means forgotten about his humbling roots in Scotland as he brought far more than a chuckle and a few cheeky stories to Aberdeens' Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) this November with his hotly anticipated, 'A different kind of story,'

It isn't often I get to see a comedian in concert, in fact I think the last person I saw was Eddie Izzard about 2 or 3 years ago, so when the AECC team came a callin' and asked if I would like to attend dinner and a comedic set for none other than Kevin Bridges, not only did I jump, I back flipped, leapt, pranced, somersaulted and did a trapeze act of such skill you'd think I had won the lottery. And so it was Granite City Girl would indeed attend the show after all.

The dinner was lovely and intimate (and no, Kevin Bridges himself was not in attendance - something a few people had asked before the evening) and before I go further I would just like to thank the catering staff at the AECC for their hospitality and amazing presentation as well as their pr and marketing manager Leigh-Ann for putting on such a great event (and braving the queues running back and forth for wine and delicious beverages!)

It's a very rare thing when you can connect and identify with a stranger and there is no medium by which this is better achieved than comedy and Kevin's particular brand of observational comedy struck all of the right chords with the audiences in Aberdeen that evening. Not only are his observations about life in Scotland, school , wider political issues and seemingly minute encounters totally spot on and relatable but are delivered with such passion and ease that the evening felt like a chin wag wee an old pal despite his Scottish Kardashian like stature.

Chants from the crowd of 'one more joke' could undoubtedly be heard in the surrounding neighbourhoods as Kevin prepared to depart but thankfully returning once more for his encore during which he read Tweets and answered questions from the crowds in attendance, something I personally have never seen a comedian or act do in all my years but was pleasantly surprised by his use of new media (that's me with my PR hat on!)

I returned home that evening with 'sare chicks' from smiling and laughing so much and next time Kevin visits the Granite City I'll be dragging my other half along, though I'm sure he won't take too much convincing. Kevin Bridges continues his A Whole Different Story tour throughout the UK for the rest of November and part of December and if you're interested in some relatable comedy with a Scottish flair get yourself along!

Were you lucky enough to see Kevin Bridges in concert this time around? I'd love to hear what you thought in the comments below. Otherwise you can catch me hanging out tweeting and twittering away on Twitter and if you'd like to see more of my 'sare chicks' be sure to follow Granite City Girl on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, laughing my lower 'chicks' aff.

H.Elizabeth