At one point in most of our lives we feel like we have lost control. Perhaps because of our jobs, our lives, or our personal appearance. Some things we keep the same no matter how miserable they are. Some things make us take notice and force us to change. We all have the power to change. Some of our beliefs were instilled in us when we were young. Some of us have developed beliefs based on books, friends, and experiences. The happiest of us are those who have had to work, change and challenge our own beliefs. Those of us who set goals, stick to them, and achieve them are only a few. I am going to share some of my past beliefs and how I changed them to become a healthier and fitter adult. You can do this too. We all have the power to change. Follow a plan, set small achievable goals, and believe in yourself.

I grew up in a home where healthy eating was normal. My parents were active and young. They were not on diets, they were not overweight. Just before I turned 30, I saw a picture of me in Paris with my brother on vacation. I could not believe what I was watching. He had gained over 20 pounds, and at 5 feet tall, he showed. How could this be? He did aerobics 5 times a week and lived on tuna fish sandwiches! He also ate late at night, was a social butterfly, and partyed a lot. I guess it never occurred to me that he might gain weight at a young and active age. He was wrong, and he wasn’t willing to accept it. I had to change, the only problem was that he needed to change my mind to get what he wanted for me.

Not only did I really want to change, it had to start happening now. He was mad at myself for letting it go this far, and he was ready to do whatever it took. The aerobics class I normally did was going to have a substitute teacher that night, so I almost didn’t make it to class. Fate was on my side that night, because the moment the sub came in, I was mesmerized. She was a little younger than me, but she had this lean, defined, strong body, and confidence with a smile to boot. I nearly died in her class trying to keep up (so I could look like her) and couldn’t believe the different moves we did. It was all a squat, lunge, jump, or pushup in her bodyweight aerobics class. She was shaking, excited, exhausted and I knew that tomorrow she would be able to move. One thing was for sure, I knew this was different, and not what my body was used to. I now know that this is exactly what your body needs to initiate a change.

I stayed afterward to meet her and she told me her secret. I could hardly believe it when she said that she never did aerobics! She said that she only worked out 3 times a week, for about 30 minutes per workout. All she did was body weight exercises like we did, or she lifted heavy weights! I was all ears. My successful father taught me (whether he knows he taught me this or not) that when someone shows you a proof, you don’t “try it your way” but do what they do. That is why they are successful and you should at least learn from them. So I was on a new journey. Weightlifting and strength training.

To be honest with you, I really felt something new and great when I started this journey. The good thing was that I was ready and excited. Excited to do something different, and a little compelled to do it. I started following some books and watching some videos on how to lift weights for women, and then the craziest thing happened, I started seeing and feeling results in 3 weeks. Of course I felt sore and tired at first. But I started to feel strong, not long after feeling weak. Then I hired a trainer to show me the right way to do things. Wow, did that make a difference? I felt what I now know as “microtrauma” to my muscles. When you lift weights, you are actually breaking down muscle tissue. That’s why it hurts. When the muscle is healing, it is rebuilt.

As you keep doing this over and over again, your muscles get bigger, they get used to the load or work you put on them, and you do something a little heavier or more difficult. Unfortunately, this is where many women give up. Too hard, too sore, I don’t want to be “bigger”. All the myths about something they are not sure about.

I am now a certified fitness trainer, co-own a gym with my husband, and have competed in 2-figure competitions in the world of bodybuilding. This is how far I have come in the world of change. The best part, I did both at age 50. See, you’re never too old to start making your body better, stronger, or more vital. Now I understand why so many women stop lifting weights. Unfortunately, women still have the idea that they are going to “get big” by lifting weights. Is not true. Well, actually what they feel is that their muscles are being used for the first time. They feel a tightness, which sometimes feels “heavy” at first. So they stop. Or they look at women in magazines who have had plastic surgery, or are on steroids and think they don’t want to look like that, so they stop. The best thing you can do for the future of your strength and metabolism is to start a weight lifting program.

Women do not, I repeat, do not have the high amounts of testosterone that men have to have really big muscles. Muscle is denser than fat, so it feels tighter. For every pound of muscle you pack on, you increase your resting metabolism. Bigger muscles burn more calories even at rest. When you have more muscle than fat in your frame, you need to eat more calories to support those muscles. That is also why diet sabotages our body. Cutting calories slows down your metabolism. Adding muscle makes your metabolism go up.

I urge you to investigate the healthy, smart, and empowering world of strength training and weight lifting. Even your own body weight is enough to exercise. Many trainers who are not flab and fit do most of their training with bodyweight. Find videos, books on women and strength training, and a lifestyle where you eat foods that fuel your body, give you energy, and keep you vital. Forget doing cardio. Make a plan. A little plan at first. One where you maybe hire a trainer for a couple of sessions. Or a class that uses weights, not just movement. The idea is to add more muscle, burn more calories. Oh, and did I mention? By the time you’re done doing cardio, your body will have finished burning calories. When you’re done with an intense weight training session, research shows that your body can burn calories for up to 36 hours afterward. Now this is how you get results.

After all, when we are not happy with something, we can only change ourselves. When we take on a new task or lifestyle, we do it because we want results.

Start a strength training program. I assure you that you will see a difference in your attitude as you get stronger, in your body as you lose weight, and in your perspective as you look towards a vital future.