What's The Point?
When you focus on why you're strength training in the first place, it's easier to prioritize it.
One of my clients wants to walk the Camino de Santiago across Spain. One plans to play tennis three times a week throughout retirement. One aims to stow her suitcase in the overhead bin without assistance. One is chasing a better golf swing. One fancies camping in the north Georgia mountains. One is trying to keep up with her twin grandchildren. One hopes to ski without injury. One aspires to avoid assisted living. And so on.
They all seek strong muscles and bones so they can remain active and independent for as long as possible. Few of them adore strength training for its own sake. For most, it’s a means to an end.
If you aren’t a natural gym rat, sometimes it’s hard to remember why you’re training for strength. Your job is crazy, the fridge is empty, the kids are sick, the laundry is dirty, and you didn’t sleep well. On days like that, it’s easy for “lift weights” to slip off the to-do list, and for you to sink into the sofa.
Maybe “lift weights” shouldn’t be on the to-do list in the first place. Because when we strength train, we’re not just grunting our way through squats, deadlifts, and bench presses; we’re taking meaningful steps toward achieving our life goals.
So instead of “work out,” perhaps our to-do lists should say:
Step onto the Camino de Santiago.
Swing the tennis racket.
Board the plane to Paris with a capacious carry-on.
Drive the golf ball.
Summit Springer Mountain.
Piggyback the grandbabies.
Hit the slopes.
Stay in the homestead.
When we focus on the point of strength training, it’s easier to prioritize it. And good news — the sofa will be waiting when we’re done.