4 lessons weight training taught me about life.

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Resistance training, for me, is bigger than something I do to stay fit as I age.

It’s taught me more about life in general than anything else I’ve done and, paradoxically, helps me remain laser-focused on whats important to me outside fitness.

I advocate resistance training for health, but am a resistance training evangelist because of what Ive learned from it about living fully.

1. If you wait for the perfect facility opportunity you’ll always find an excuse not to start.

Ive trained in less than ideal conditions.  Central American gyms stocked with rusty dumbbells.  Dilapidated college weight rooms.  Outdoors in Oakland with homeless on one side & muscle-bound men on the other.  These experiences taught me to expand my definition of “perfect gym.”  They also sparked me to realize when I claim to be waiting for “perfect timing” it’s really paralysis by analysis.  It’s merely an excuse.

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2. Change is how we grow.

Initially I did the same weights routine day after day & plateaued.  I knew what I was doing wasn’t working, but the pain I “knew” felt better than the painful risk of change.  Eventually I realized I required a new routine to grow & Ive applied this notion to my life.  Change in routine.  Change in perspective.  Change–in fitness and life—is the only way we wont stagnate.

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3. To succeed you need mind/body connection.

If you’d asked me to flex my biceps 20 years ago–Id not have been capable of making the muscle contract.  After months of lifting Id have struggled to flex on command.  It took time, patience and focus to formulate the mind/muscle connection crucial to successful resistance training.  Only after acquiring that skill did I began to live *in* my body in all aspects of life.  I started to eat intuitively.  I learned to exercise intuitively.  And, very very slowly, I tapped into my ‘gut’ and lived intuitively.

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4. We create ourselves and our lives.

I don’t have good physical genetics.  My body prefers to be soft/not muscular.  I watched as women with better genetics gained muscle swiftly and easily. I came to a crossroads where I could either grow jealous or grow focused.  I chose the latter.  Resistance training taught me I am the sculptor of my body and my life.  I may not achieve goals as rapidly as some— but if I work tenaciously & tirelessly I’m ensured of progress.

 

  • What surprising life-lessons have you learned from fitness?
  • Did you, too, discover your voice in the weight room?

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Comments

  1. I isn’t a popular opinion I don’t think but running has changed my life but I don’t know it has helped me with perspective.
    I’ve practiced pushing through which is good but not always.

  5. I’ve discovered so many things though running and racing. Probably the best thing is how much I’ve learned to love myself and that I am enough.

  6. I truly think I do my best thinking while working out…running and lifting always quiet the crazy thoughts in my head and let me just ‘be’….and it makes me remind myself I am STRONG…I can tackle the world. lifting weights changed me and made me realize inner and outer strength is more important than any dress size or weight

  7. Lessons I’ve learned:
    There isn’t just one path, so try a few to find the one you love to keep doing.

    Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you have to search for a new path and the best one is one you avoided because it really didn’t look like a real path…

    (not sure if I have the wording right, I always saw Yoga as a time waster and not really exercise. Now since doing it fairly often, I’m surprised to be happy at it and am getting stronger and maybe even finding a bit more emotional stability.)

  9. Running, lifting, etc has taught me that i may not be capable of everything, but I am indeed capable of way more than I thought. Fitness has also taught me that a little hard work and dedication, a bit of stubbornness, and a lot of smarts can take something that you never thought you would like into a passion.

  10. I’m not very good at training on my own–but for the last 2 years I’ve been working with a crossfit coach to get stronger. And wow, has it worked! This old runner is seeing PRs and AGs. Who knew? Plus it makes me feel extra bada**….

  11. I’ve learned that I am stronger than I think and if I can’t do something if I keep at it through the hard eventually I can .

  12. I’m so happy your posted this Carla. I’ve been doing light weight training for years. I’ve been thinking about changing things up a bit and you’ve motivated me to look into resistance training.

  14. My relationship with fitness has had many ups and downs. There were times when I was using it to escape my feelings and to gain control in one area when the other parts of my life weren’t where I wanted them. Then I had a breakthrough and realized the damage I was doing and why. I focused on my recovery again and was able to learn how to use exercise for good rather than evil.

    Today I love the peace it brings me and after recently working more on strength training I have learned to love how I get stronger every day.

  15. In love with this post. I am someone who is constantly finding the connection between what we do and life, so this really resonates with me. I don’t need to be a weight lifter to understand the connection and reap the benefits from what you bring to us. I’m hormonal right now, but it brings a tear to my eye… why aren’t you my neighbor?

  16. “Change is how we grow” – yes! That’s why I’m making a point of doing several different fitness classes each week, instead of the same one over and over. Gotta keep those muscles guessing!

    Also so important to do what you love. Finally figuring out (remembering?) that fitness classes are totally where it’s at for me (doesn’t matter if it’s cardio or weight lifting… just has to be a class!).

  20. It’s so funny you say that about your genetics b/c to look at you, you look like someone who easily builds muscle. The older I get, the more I am appreciating strength training and seek out ways to ramp mine up. It does my body good, complementing running which does my soul good!

  21. I agree with #1! There’s never a “Good” time to start losing weight/exercising etc. There’s always a reason to postpone it but it’s SO important to just do it and make it a good habit.

  22. “I came to a crossroads where I could either grow jealous or grow focused. I chose the latter.”

    I need to rememeber a whole lot of this right now. 😉

  24. I used to truly be terrified of change, now I embrace it – and even though life at times can be scary, for the most part, it’s awesome!

  26. this post could not be more timely. to stay fit, i tend to do whatever works for me wherever i am – go to the gym, run outdoors, do stretches and calf raises while in a bathroom or waiting for public transit, etc. but in reading this post, i think i am realizing that my idea of “fitness” is fueled by a perfectionist mindset. it is probably unrealistic and unreasonable to think that ritualistic gym attendance is the only way to stay fit (although i do love the gym). the benefit of change is that i’m constantly adapting my fitness routine to match my life, so i guess i don’t get tired of my workout routine.

  27. I think resistance training works when you make your everyday living also about movement and lifting, yes? That’s my intention and ultimate goal.

  30. Everything I have learned about life and people, I have learned by being with special needs kids and their parents in my classrooms the past 39 years. I have taught out of a renovated school bus in rural Ohio, where we would have to use a blowtorch on the door in the winter just to let me in my “classroom). I have taught in dozens of schools with hundreds of children, staff, administrators and support personnel. I became fast friends with the custodians. Having to think about others instead of myself has helped me through health issues (Grave’s Disease), a bad divorce and obtaining a Master’s degree while being a single parent. Teaching gave me the mindset and endurance to be a decent competitor in running, swimming and triathlons, and more….

  32. Weight training is my voice as well.

    I took a Vinyasa class yesterday and while not the same thing, I realized I get the same *mind* benefit when I lift. I like to lift heavy and that requires me to check out and let go of things that are pulling on my mind.

    Awesome post 🙂

  33. Thank you Carla its a nice post and encourages me to keep on exercise to keep my body in shape at my age…

  34. Strength training…running…yoga…has made me realize how strong I am both physically and mentally. It has made me realize what I am capable of. It has taught me how to nourish my mind and body…what works and what doesn’t work…oh this list could go on and on!

  37. Picture no.2 is so crazy. How do you do that on the chair?
    I’ve learned from yoga and running that I am stronger than I think . I learned how to change my world. Sometime to burn up the crazy 🙂 smile

  38. Strength training is definitely my favourite form of exercise (other than an actual game of something like Squash). I loathe slogging away at cardio machines but I have always been drawn to the weights. It makes me feel strong and I can physically feel the muscles pump up and that feels good 🙂

  40. Yes, I love the ‘paralysis by analysis’. I can completely relate to that concept. Fitness, esp distance running, has really taught me A LOT about patience. It’s my least favorite virtue, but I’m working on it.

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