Today was a sweaty (and FUN!) day in terms of exercise and it got me thinking about my journey back into (consistent) fitness. I was SUPER active in high school and then kind of fell off the consistency wagon after that. I had a few seasons of more activity, but 3 or 4 years ago I was watching the Olympics and told myself....I'm going to do that one day. I've been telling myself this every time I watched the olympics, but something really clicked the last time I watched them😂 It was (and is) kind of silly and a lot delusional, but me saying this out loud over and over allowed me to be more active and more intentional with exercise. I don't actually think that I'll be in the olympics BUT maybe I'll be in the senior olympics one day---one can dream. Aaaanyways, all that to say, that that was the beginning of my strength training journey as an adult! Strength training isn’t just for athletes or gym lovers — it’s one of the most powerful ways to support physical and mental wellbeing at any age. Whether you’re lifting weights, doing bodyweight movements, or using resistance bands, you’re teaching your body to move with purpose, balance, and resilience. You're also becoming more attuned with your body! an opportunity to zone in. (In the past, people engaged in more physical type of work (natural strength training)..now we have to choose to engage in strength training intentionally). 💪 The Pros of Strength Training -Improves muscle tone and strength: Helps with everyday movements like lifting groceries, climbing stairs, or carrying kids. (We want to be functional!) -Boosts metabolism: Muscle tissue burns more energy, even when you’re resting. -Protects bones: Resistance training signals your body to build stronger bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. (as a woman, with iron and calcium deficits, I'll take any help that i can get, lol) -Supports mood and focus: Exercise releases endorphins, lowers stress hormones, and can improve overall mental clarity. (love starting the day off like this!)