Our mission has always been, first and foremost, to help women get into strength training. We’ve experienced first hand what that does to an individual, and it’s what keeps us going day in and day out. And, frankly, we’ll never stop shouting about it - strength training is a one-way ticket to a better, stronger, and more empowered YOU.

…but we know this might sound a bit abstract. So today we break it down for y’all -  here are the top five ways lifting will seriously change your life for the better (according to us… and science!)!

A mindset makeover 

The magic of strength training is that, among other things, it’s a mindset shift. It takes you from "How much weight can I lose?" to "How much weight can I lift?". And that change is so profound because it shifts your attention from what your body looks like to what your body can do. Your goal? Crushing your personal bests, not your self-esteem. 

The ultimate mood booster

We’ve all heard anecdotes about people who say that the gym ‘keeps them sane’ and ‘is their therapy’. And while we don’t condone this (no type of physical activity can replace professional mental help, duuuh), we do agree that there’s some truth to these cheesy statements.

And science says so too: according to a meta-analysis of 33 clinical trials (over 1,800 subjects) published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Psychiatry in 2018. It found that participants who performed resistance training showed a significant reduction in symptoms of depression.

Oh, and let's not forget the brainpower bonus: lifting enhances cognitive function, making you sharper and more focused. 

Muscles, bones, heart

No beating around the bush here - lifting helps your muscles get bigger and stronger. And as for your bones - strength training supports bone density, which becomes more and more important as we age. A little known fact is that lifting is also a great way to improve cardio-vascular health - a 2019 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that people who did at least one hour of strength training per week had a 40 to 70 percent lower risk of heart attack or stroke compared to those who didn't.

Fitness for everyday life

Ever had to carry a suitcase, a backpack AND your iced latte up the tube stairs? Us too. This is what we like to call ‘fitness for every day life’ or in simple terms - training your body not for aesthetics but to enable your body to face some of the day-to-day challenges life throws at us. Lift heavy sh*t in the gym so you’ll never have to ask a man to carry your groceries for you again!

Say no to cardio! Lifting can help you achieve your fat loss goals

We just want to start with a huge disclaimer that fat loss is not the sole reason why a woman should start lifting. In fact, it might not make the list of reasons at all. So if this doesn’t apply to you - just skip over to the next paragraph!

Okay, okay, bear with us here as it’s bound to get a bit nerdy. Lifting can help you lose fat in a sustainable way, and here is an *oversimplified* explanation:

Lifting helps you build muscle mass
→ more muscle mass
→ more energy needed
→ more calories burnt
→ fat loss

That’s it. This type of energy optimization is important if learning how to lose fat and gaining muscle at the same time is one of your fitness goals.
You might come into the gym expecting to see loads of treadmills, steppers and bikes - but that’s just not how we roll. We KNOW what works and we want to help you get out of your comfort zone and become your best badass self!

You’re joining more than just a gym

While lifting might start as a solitary affair, more often than not people make life-long friends along the way! We’ve seen it over and over again at StrongHer … your Warrior buddy becomes your bestie, the woman you were paired up in that LVL Up class last year becomes your Saturday morning brunch companion, the girl who showed you how to use the GHD machine in the gym becomes your dog sitter! You’re not just joining a gym, you’re joining a community!