Where being strong is a lifestyle
You’ve walked by the weightlifting area every week for a year on your way to your cardio pump class. You always glance at the people lifting weights – some are standing in front of the mirror with a laser-like focus, others are grimacing, sweating, and grunting or even yelling as they hoist large weights over their bodies. If people see you, you imagine them laughing inside because clearly you don’t belong there. You’re just passing by. But you know how to {Read More…}
The fitness industry can be confusing, misleading, and scary. Or it can be full of wisdom and encouragement. What’s your perspective? Leah Segedie (@bookieboo) over at Mamavation.com asked her blogger audience to write a post about what could make the fitness industry more approachable and friendly to everyone. As she explains in her widely read blog, she was previously overweight and extremely intimidated by working out in gyms. Everyone seemed to be thin and/or athletic and she felt very self-conscious {Read More…}
I can tell what a person’s workout identity is just by watching him or her for a few seconds in the gym. It’s clear who doesn’t have a weight lifting identity… They flop dumbbells up and down in a noncommittal way and try to blend in. It’s not that they don’t know what they’re doing; it’s that they aren’t sure if they should be doing it. People who do have a weight lifting identity – that is, they view themselves as someone {Read More…}
I’ve been lifting weights on and off for 15 years. I blog about what’s worked for me and what I’ve learned on my own and as a personal trainer. I know how to get stand-out muscle definition, how to lift safely, and how to eat clean. There are two more things I know about: How to have fun lifting weights, and how to be a woman in the weight room. Many, many women are intimidated by the weight room. Both {Read More…}
When you’re ready to grow in some aspect of your life, you usually know on some level that means trying something new. Whether it’s your job, your relationships, or the way you manage your finances, you know when it’s time to adjust your focus and learn. Your workout routine needs to grow just like other areas of your life, so why do we walk past those mystery machines in the gym day after day and always forget to bring those {Read More…}
Last winter, about six months after I’d started lifting weights again, I realized I’d hit a plateau. I hadn’t seen any results for awhile and was getting frustrated. Every weight lifting session felt futile. I began to wonder if this was something I could even fix – did I really have enough knowledge to get past this point? But since I did possess a solid foundation in fitness knowledge, I decided to research ways to break out of a plateau. This {Read More…}
