I still remember the first time I walked into a weight room. I was completely, totally, and utterly overwhelmed by all the chunks of metal and clanking machines. I was a run-on -the-treadmill-and-duck-out-ASAP sort of person. A sometimes pilates girly. But I thought I\u2019d at least take a look. A friend was with me, and they walked me through a handful of the contraptions, but I still left feeling like weight lifting wasn\u2019t the right space for me.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Fast forward a good decade\u2014many HIIT, boxing, and barre classes later\u2014and I was forced to find a new gym when my own closed down abruptly. This was a few years ago, right on the cusp of the weight training boom (especially among women), so I signed up for a circuit-style, weightlifting-meets-cardio studio called F45. And I loved it. My confidence grew around all the bells\u2014dumbbells and barbells and kettlebells. I got stronger. And it inspired me to venture into what I now call \u201cthe big gym.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
The Surprising Side Effects of Lifting Heavy <\/p>\n
With this newfound self-assurance, I decided to start experimenting with heavy compound lifts\u2014specifically deadlifts and squats. The first time I did a weighted squat, I remember experiencing a feeling of sheer power followed by a curiosity to see what else my body could do.\n<\/p>\n
Since then, I\u2019ve been slow and consistent in \u201cthe big gym,\u201d pairing this time with classes at my F45 studio. In the last 18 months, specifically, I\u2019ve really focused on perfecting my form and gradually building weight. Today, I\u2019m routinely putting in 245-pound working squat sets, which, when I really think about it, seems wild. That\u2019s more than my husband weighs, and encroaching on double my own weight! But more than sheer strength and power (and more than the beauty of focused alone time), the lessons have actually been pretty profound for me.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Performance Driven, Not Body Obsessed <\/p>\n
Lifting heavy shifted my relationship with my body from being super appearance-focused to way more performance-driven. Yes, I still want to look good and feel confident in my clothing, but my top priorities now involve feeling stronger and wowing myself with new personal records (PRs). It also got me thinking more about my internal health. My recent blood panels have notably gotten better from years past, and I do credit consistent strength training with the improvement.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMuscles are responsible for glucose metabolism, maintaining blood sugar balance. It is important to build as much muscle mass as possible to combat insulin resistance that occurs during estrogen decline,\u201d explains Wendie Green<\/a>, LPTA, clinic director at Bethesda Physical Therapy. She adds that muscle building can even prevent disease processes and slow problems commonly associated with aging, including heart disease, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, and even cognitive issues.\n<\/p>\n All that said, weight training has quieted my physical critiques and helped me see my body as something to nourish, care for, and build (not shrink or torture).\n<\/p>\n I\u2019m Thinking About My Granny Self <\/p>\n One of the first reasons I got into weight training was because I knew it was important from a longevity standpoint. Strength and independence in old age are inextricably tied together. A strong body with robust stabilizing muscles, joints, and tendons will make everyday tasks\u2014like walking, carrying things, getting off the floor, hoisting my suitcase into the overhead compartment\u2014manageable (maybe even easy?) as I get older.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n This is something I\u2019ve especially thought about moving into midlife as a woman, as hormone levels shift dramatically and affect things like my muscle mass and bone density.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n