I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but I have a love-hate relationship with weight lifting.
Love: Lifting weights…you know, the actual act of lifting weights. I feel strong & powerful & a little bit awesome.
Hate: Planning out & writing down a routine…and then carrying it around with me to make sure I get in all of the sets I want to do.
Love: The results I see when I strength train regularly.
Hate: Actually being in the free-weights section of the gym. It’s absurd actually because I feel fine when I’m working…it’s between sets that drives me crazy. I feel like everyone’s staring at me and like I’m Even with a written out plan, I just don’t feel like I am getting in a good workout because I feel so blasted self-conscious. (Plus, all of the muscle heads annoy me.)
Tangent: Years ago I loved EVERYTHING about weights…but that was back when I could afford a personal trainer. I absolutely loved every single workout she put me through – I felt STRONG, I learned proper form and quite frankly, I felt like a bad-ass! (I miss you Leslie!)
Lately I’ve been wanting to add strength training back into my routine…but without a personal trainer I know I wouldn’t consistently go to the gym to lift on my own.
Enter: Muscle Works at the YMCA
A friend of mine convinced me I needed to try it out. She assured me it was a great full body workout and not intimidating or boring at all. She was right.
There’s about a billion women (and a few men) that take the class each week – and now I’m one of them!
Pre-class…everyone setting up their own “space”
Each class is different – some weeks we use stability balls, sometimes weighted bars, sometimes hand weights…but always ALWAYS a stepper and an abs focus at the end.
Yeah…it’s blurry…I am still not brave enough to take action shots & sneak them instead!
After 6 weeks now (I think…maybe only 5?) I’m still extremely weak – apparently I have the upper body strength of a 3 year old – but I’m starting to see changes!
- My quads, glutes & hammies are stronger
- My arms are definitely more toned
- Even my abs feel a bit flatter (underneath the layer of “fluff” I still have though…)
I’m still not sure I’m seeing any carry-over in to my running, cycling or swimming performance. But I’m 100% convinced it’s just a matter of time.
After all, stronger legs = more power for running, right? And a faster turnover in cycling, right? And stronger arms = more power in the water, right?
WHAT ABOUT YOU: Do you strength train regularly? Do you do it in a group fitness setting, or brave the free weights?
Keep up the good work! I was just on the phone with my local Y about starting a membership. I really want one but boy howdy is it expensive. I’m going to make my way down there to fill out a scholarship application.
Is it worth it versus a regular gym?
I think the most important – not $$ related – factor in picking a gym is the atmosphere. For me, I’d rather have nice people & a friendly atmosphere over brand new equipment. The YMCA definitely isn’t the most flashy gym out there, but it has everything I need an it’s full of friendly people – not just muscle heads & ditzy girls trying to pick each other up…which seems to be the trend at a lot of chain gyms in my town.
Plus, most of the chain gyms near my house don’t have pools, so I probably would have never gotten into triathloning if I didn’t join the YMCA! (And I’m lucky, the prices here are pretty reasonable – I pay less for a couple membership at the YMCA than I would at a local chain gym for a single membership. )
I couldn’t agree more on being comfortable at the gym, it seems to be the most vulnerable, non glamorous part of the day. Thanks for the insight
I fought weight training for years, it just bored me to tears….but I finally committed to doing it regularly and umm the results have kept me going! I don’t do a ton, but like you I found if I could do a video or something like Gabby Reece’s workouts it would at least get me through a very solid 20 min lifting session. I don’t do much legs because of running, but that’s just me
I thought my legs were strong enough from the running & cycling I’ve been doing, but I was SO surprised when I started strength training again. I’m definitely feeling muscles that don’t get worked during run/cycling. I’m hoping it’ll help me become a better runner in the long run!
We are SO the same!! I wish the Body Works class at my gym fit what I needed – maybe when we join the Y (once my current contract is up!) I’ll find something I like – or get more comfortable in the weights section!! Looks like a fun class
Hope you find one that works for you – it’s basically impossible to make me take a class that I don’t actually *enjoy* doing or like the feel of. (…um, hello Zumba! I just can’t get into it even though I’m sure it’s a GREAT workout!)
All those flags in your gym are cuh-razy!!! My strength training is basically Bodypump three times a week, which I love. They just started a new class at my gym called CXWorx that is all core and I did that for the first time yesterday. I am really feeling it today! Since there is a core track in Bodypump, plus a core track in Bodyflow (which I do twice a week), I thought my core was at least in OK shape. But CXWorx killed it! I’m so sore but I guess that’s good. I don’t remember the last time my abs/obliques were sore. Your class sounds great! I really like group fitness for resistance work. So much less boring that free weights or machines.
I loved Bodyflow when I was a Lifestyle member! That’s probably the only thing I miss about my old gym. Otherwise the YMCA has been perfect for me, especially now that I’ve discovered Muscle Works!
Strength training is the best thing you can do for yourself as an athlete in my opinion. I think that class looks great! Keep doing it! You’ll see huge improvements in your running too!
I know deep down my running has suffered because I wasn’t doing strength training. I’m hoping this class mixed with weekly yoga will help me see results!
I’m a cardio junkie. I wish I loved (even liked) strength training. I absolutely hate it. I know I need to do it, but I can’t get myself to. I always choose yoga, zumba, the elliptical, pilates and everything else over weights. I used to work out with a trainer years ago and he always made me do weights but ever since him I’ve stopped. I know i need to learn to love it. That class at the Y looks great!
Depending on what kind of yoga you do, I totally consider it strength training! So many classes are all about using your body for resistance, so all of those flow classes & long poses definitely build muscle. Pilates too!
I love strength training. I workout at a small gym and there aren’t a lot of people there when I go so my weight sessions can get pretty intense. I also teach a class that incorporates strength and cycling and I love how awesome I feel afterwards!!!
Oooh – that strength and cycling class sounds great!
Good for you for the strength training – it will really help amp up your overall exercise routine – looks like a great class!
I completely agree with you about being intimidated in the weight room, even if I know what I’m doing. Classes not only make me work harder, but make me feel more comfortable, too. I’m really into a TRX class right now – but this Muscle Works class looks fun!
There’s a TRX class at my gym but unfortunately it doesn’t work with my schedule. I’d love to try it someday though – I’ve heard it’s a killer workout!
You know how I feel about strength training
Keep it up! It’s awesome that you’re getting back into it. I think there are cross-over benefits of doing weight training. I hardly do cardio but I weight train pretty hard, and my endurance is really good. And I *think* it’s from weight training. The more variety you have with your workouts, the stronger and more athletic it makes you, too.