The start date on my gym membership card is 4/20/2000. I was 15. My attendance was spotty those first few years, but around the time I was 19 I started going to the gym regularly. I’m in my 30s now and I don’t think I’ve ever gone longer than a week without working out. It’s […] Read more…
The machine area of the gym is like a kiddie pool. It’s where beginners can get their feet wet and wade in shallow waters where it’s safe and comfortable. But if it’s significant body change you’re after, you might want to try taking a dip in the deep end. That means getting off the machines […] Read more…
Forget crunches and sit-ups. Those exercises are so ’90s. And even though the ’90s have made a comeback, the exercise methods of that decade should stay in the past. Despite what you might’ve learned in PE or at a Body Pump class at your local gym, crunches and sit-ups aren’t ideal core exercises. They put […] Read more…
During a recent discussion, my mom mentioned that she never wanted to put on any muscle. Although I’m on a crusade against this sentiment, I still understand where she’s coming from. The idea of women wanting to build muscle is a relatively new concept for the general population. And an athletic or sculpted figure was […] Read more…
Ah, pull-ups, the holy grail of upper body movements. They’re a benchmark of strength for many. Getting your first rep can feel like you’ve finally gotten on the list at Club Strong. Now, this club isn’t as exclusive as some might think, especially when it comes to pull-ups. Getting into it isn’t so much […] Read more…
In the beginning, there was negligible muscle on my doughy, 19-year-old body. At this point, I didn’t have the information. Then I did, thanks to FigureAthlete.com (RIP). I started to lift free weights in an effort to get stronger and more muscular. I followed 5×5 for a while. I played around with set and rep […] Read more…
In my last blog post, I posed the idea that strength training has become a thinking person’s sport. Now I want to dig a little deeper and discuss what it means to be a woman who lifts weights. My original post was inspired by this article that suggests that educated urban professionals see strength […] Read more…
I recently read this article about how strength training is seen as a lower class pursuit. To quote the article: “Upper middle class Americans avoid “excessive displays of strength,” viewing the bodybuilder look as vulgar overcompensation for wounded manhood.” The author goes on to present mostly anecdotal evidence that educated urban professionals tend to snub […] Read more…
Being in the fitness industry, it’s a struggle to not give into the hype. And by that I mean the vapid marketing hype that brings in clueless clients. Stuff like, 6 pack abs in 30 days! Lose 10 lbs in 5 days! Double your butt size with this simple movement! People want to believe […] Read more…
So you want to start working out and get in better shape or maybe just be healthier. You might not necessarily be interested in getting super strong or muscular, but you wouldn’t mind tightening up a few spots, feeling better, or dropping a couple of pounds. You’re ready to take the dive, but there’s just […] Read more…