Hmm…you would think the above statement (aka the title of this post) would be some kind of cheesy pick up line. Something you might hear at the bar, club, or some similar place. Something a girl might here from a guy desperate for a number? Not quite. Today I did in fact hear this. From a guy. At the gym. And it was in no way a pick up line.
One of my newer coworkers at the store, Justin is also a personal trainer at the gym I go to. I’ve been meaning to go to his abs/lower body cardio class for a while so today I decided to go. It was an awesome class. Lots of plyometrics. I love mixing strength with cardio. So anyway the class was great but we were doing jump squats and okay, I can squat a decent amount and I can squat to a bit below 90 degrees but then my outer hips just lock and refuse to go any lower. So while doing the squats Justin walks by and says “geez, you have some seriously tight hips”. Yes I know. Tell that to my IT Band.
It’s really interesting considering I can sit in the butterfly position with my legs completely flat on the ground quite comfortably like so.
i make that face too.
I have pretty good turn out yet the outsides of my hips are a different story. They lock up very easily and cramp up too. For example, if I try to do those crunches with the ball between your feet, its not my abs that feel it, its my hips (holding it between your legs makes you tense your abductors and adductors). They cramp real bad sending a shooting pain through my hip and thigh.
this is a no go.
So it seems my next goal for running is to loosen my hips. They have been this way forever so I know they won’t get better overnight but I’m hoping a lot of extra stretching, strengthening, and foam rolling will help me avoid any more ITBS (death).
Oh and by the way, I was just flipping through channels and came upon MADE on MTV and noticed my old cheerleading coach is the coach on this episode. Funny, considering I’m pretty sure she in the reason for most of my in thigh flexibility (ie. she forced me into a full butterfly stretch in 7th grade). Fun to watch her torturing another group =)
This is the episode HERE in case you were interested.
that is so interesting that in one direction your hips are flexible and the other they are tight. i wouldn’t even know where to begin with that
hope you figure it out soon!
My hips give me trouble a lot too so I feel your pain
Funny timing. I was just thinking tonight I need to do some work on my hips.
im pretty sure all of us runners have tighter hips than usual. Mine are especially tight after the marathon. i tried stretching them out but it doesnt work haha… i guess with time it will get better. I am going to get a deep tissue massage tomorrow with Mary so hopefully that will help?! I have read that if you can open up the hips and stretch them out and that it will improve performance- i need to get back into yoga…i fell off the boat with that one!
I’ve been religiously following a stretching routine for my hips for a couple of months now. It does the trick, and it was very much needed!
OH, someone who understands my pain! I’m on a running sabbatical while I battle the evil ITBS right now. I have the exact same problem – very flexible inner hips and inflexible outer hips. One way I’ve found to help alleviate the tightness is with plies. Yep, good ole plies from ballet class. Also, crossing one leg in front of the other before touching your toes works well too. If you have any other suggestions or tips, let me know! I want to work out some of the tightness so I can get back to my love – running!
Run on.