How lifting weights changed my life

One writer shares how lifting weights changed her life.

Weights are for men and will just build bulky muscles, right? Up until two years ago, these were my thoughts about weight training and what lifting would do to my body. I would refuse to set foot in the free weights area guarded by muscly men in Gold’s Gym vests and head straight to the cardio machines. What I didn’t realise is how many calories you burn using weights, not to mention the added bonuses that come with it!

It was my personal trainer at the time who started me on my weight lifting journey. He taught me the basics of deadlifting and free weights, to the point that I would now not consider training without weights in my session and feel comfortable in the free weights area. Don’t attempt to lift weights unless you have been taught how to by an instructor. Lifting incorrectly could do a lot of damage to your body, so it’s good to understand how to hold your posture by hitting a body pump class or by speaking to a personal trainer.

One of the first benefits I noticed in the first few months was how dramatically my strength improved. I’d not really considered myself to be ‘weak’ before, but this new strength took me by surprise. Tasks that I found difficult in my everyday life were now not so difficult.

As the months ticked by, I started to notice the effect lifting was having on my legs. They started to look so much more defined and toned, that then started to radiate throughout my whole body. In the two years since, my bum has lifted and shrunk from the squatting involved with lifting weights, my arms look toned, my back is defined and my core is stronger than it has ever been.

It doesn’t have to be the grunting, sweaty show that you often see in the free weight section. You can gracefully tone by doing high reps with a low weight. Squatting using the assisted Smith machine gives the added security to both beginners and advanced gym goers. Using weights in your workout instead of focusing on cardio machines alone is a great way to tone all over and it doesn’t require a huge raft of exercises; just perfect a few.

I have also noticed that my stamina has increased. Running upstairs at work, being propelled by my stronger legs, was easier and I was much quicker than I used to be. It has benefited my warm up too as I find I can run faster and don’t struggle with breathlessness.

All of the benefits that weight lifting has given me in my everyday life, my health and my fitness has added up to one main overriding feeling: I was getting the body I dreamed of. I am by no means ready to compete in a weightlifting challenge and there are bits that still wobble but slowly I am sculpting me the best me.   

Finally, the best thing about lifting is that the challenge can be adapted as you develop, plus it really is an all-over body workout so you don’t have to traipse from machine to machine to complete your workout, you can just grab a space and get to work! So, what are you waiting for?