Strength training isn't necessarily about bulky muscles
For a lot of people when it comes to strength training, it’s usually forgotten about because a lot of us associate it directly to building bulky muscles – I used to be one of those people. That changed for me in 2019, when I noticed that even though I thought I was strong from a health perspective, my endurance and overall ability to lift larger items wasn't exactly be where I wanted it to be. I did a lot of research and realized that in order to build endurance, I needed to improve my strength. I didn’t realize I could build strength, and not end up with huge muscles. I had serious images of bulky arms and increased weight gain because of extra muscles, that kept me from starting my journey in the first place.
Getting started
So, I started small! A few days each week, I carved out time (usually 30-45 minutes), headed to my gym and only did weight training, focusing on smaller weights, and getting the reps per set perfected. Each week I was able to analyze how the weights felt, and if it was time for me to move to a heavier weight.
I used my Fitbit app to get guidance on how to perform a set of strength training exercises, and a big part of analyzing if my strength was improving was around how much easier it was for me to hike a huge mountain with my new found leg and core muscles that I had spent time conditioning. This allowed me to do any type of cardio exercise for longer periods of time without feeling completely sore and exhausted!
Progress
Within just a few months, I felt like my body had better definition, my clothes fit better, and my physical and mental endurance spiked positively. The Fitbit app also gave me great encouragement, because I didn’t realize how many calories I burned from weight training - it's more than you'd think! The app kept me accountable, and honest with myself.
By the end of 2019, I went on a big adventure to New Zealand and Australia. During this time I did a lot of hiking, and physical activities. I noticed that I was never sore, or felt overly exhausted – my recovery time was astounding, and I definitely would not have felt this way earlier in the year. I am so happy I took the time to invest into my overall strength, it has really paid off!
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