It’s customary for non lifters to think that women who lift heavy weights must have something oddly wired in them that causes them to believe they should get ‘that strong’. Why do you want to get stronger? Aren’t you going to hurt yourself? Can’t you do something more feminine like Yoga?
I don’t hate on those people. It’s fine. It’s stereotypical. And stereotypes exist for a reason. They do hold some truth.
I do want to get ‘that strong’. For me, that could mean ‘as strong as I was yesterday” on some days and “strongest I’ve ever been” on other days.
The barbell holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I overcome my fears of the unknown; where I challenge myself to grow as a woman.
Warm up sets on the barbell are routine. They’re like the day to day actions that we take that we are all too familiar with. Wake up, brush our teeth, grab some coffee from the same deli every day, say good morning to the AMNY paper man, hop on the train and head to work. My family and friends are healthy, my boyfriend loves me and the dog is in daycare. All is good in the world and I know what my day’s going to look like.
Nothing unordinary; we’ve been here before. Empty bar, Squat two sets of 5 reps; add 25lbs to each side, a few more reps; go up to 135lbs etc. Habit. The norm.
Lifting weights heavier than you’ve done in the past — getting stronger — is different.
It’s the moment when the routine ceases to exist. Warm up sets are over; the mundane tasks of daily life end.
It’s the moment when shit’s about to hit the fan. When you don’t know if you’re going to succeed; when opportunity comes knocking and you are simultaneously one step away from getting what you want and one step away from a place you’ve never set foot in.
As human beings, the unknown is scary. Whether it’s stepping out on stage to speak in front of 10,000 people, moving to a foreign country without a community of friends by your side or running your own business – the outcome is uncertain.
For women in leadership, this is especially true. Preconceived notions of how a woman should behave, how she should look and what line of work she should be in exist in society. Challenging the status quo, going after your dreams and causing impactful change in the world can be frightful.
This is precisely when the best of you is about to come out. You can either choose to cave in and let it get the best of you, or call upon your strengths and believe that you have what it takes to get through it. To overcome. To take the step into the unknown. To succeed.
The barbell is my opportunity to practice the unknowns of life. Every day that I get stronger in the weight room is another day that I know I can handle the unknowns of life that’s going to come my way and be OK with whatever is in front of me.
If that’s not also sexy and feminine, I dunno what is.
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Special thanks to Michele Kelber for the inspiration to write this post.
Follow Dana’s Fitness Journey on fitID.
*Dana’s mission is to empower women worldwide to create the Fit Life that they deserve. A sought-after Fit Life Coach, she has the innate ability to coach you in reaching your fitness goals and simultaneously drive you into discovering what you truly want in all areas of your life and directing you on how to get there. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of fitID and is on the Starting Strength Seminar Staff. Click here to inquire on how to work with Dana in-person in NYC or virtually*