Strong, Not Skinny

Reject diet culture and find your power

Photo by John Arano on Unsplash

It’s late February, which is usually the time I give up on my New Year’s resolutions. This year was different. My only goal was to feel stronger. Every health article I read mentions resistance training as the key to burning fat, boosting energy, fighting depression, etc. But where to begin? Trying to lift weights alone at the gym was a non-starter—I felt like every bro in room could see me floundering.

Then a friend told me about a personal trainer who offers small group classes exclusively for women. Each half-hour class costs $10. Most of the students are in their 40s or older (one just celebrated her 60th birthday). I was shocked by how much I liked it.

Amy, the trainer, often plays Annie Lennox and Brittney Spears, giving me a nostalgic adrenaline boost. She lets me use the lighter weights. No one judges my outfit or my belly fat. One morning I forgot to brush my teeth before class, and no one noticed.

This gym is a politics-free zone, full of women who high-five each other and don’t ask too many questions. We often chat about our kids and hormones while squatting and curling. On a recent Friday, the subject of Elon Musk accidentally came up, and Amy quickly shut it down. Thank God, because I really don’t want anything to ruin this for me.

I attend class twice a week, and can feel my back and stomach muscles strengthening already. My favorite exercise is what I call the “rage slam,” lifting a 10-pound medicine ball above my head and smashing it to the ground.

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A post shared by @drmaryclaire

You may ask: Are you losing weight? Because of course, everyone on the internet is peddling a new way to drop pounds. But I haven’t checked. I’d rather be strong than skinny.

It’s not that I’ve escaped the ongoing struggle with my mom bod. I’m just tired of being achy and tired. I like being able to swing my 32-pound son over my shoulder. And I’m thinking of my future self. Menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver says strength training is necessary to preserve bone density, stability and overall health as we age.

This is a crucial time to build our defenses. I don’t want to be weak and hungry while battling oppression and authoritarianism. I’d rather slam some medicine balls and get back to work.