Strength comes in many equations. It has a variety of connotations, meanings, and values.

The initial thought that comes to mind with strength is based around lifting weights and being physically strong. Someone who looks the part, has defined muscles and appears to be fit.

What about mental strength?

What about determination?

What about desire and will?

Without the other strengths we often overlook, I think physical strength stands to lose it’s chance in battle. And that’s coming from one strong chick. (Yes, I just referred to myself as a chick!)

There’s a balance our lives need where strengths and weaknesses feed on another, and in order to be our strongest, we need a variety of strengths to be whole.

It’s easy to use your strength training to increase your determination, desire and will, but it’s also important to grow these attributes in regard to other aspects of your life. Again, it’s about balance, and not everything can revolve around one component.

If you can deadlift 500lbs but can’t stand up for your own beliefs you lose a sense of pride about yourself.

But…

If you can stand up for what you believe in and be passionate about something that’s important to you but only deadlift 250lbs, your strength isn’t even comparable. At least in my opinion.

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Whoa! Two words that aren’t usually put together. And when they are people are worried about the feedback they’ll get from it.

Here’s the truth…just because you’re skinny does not mean you’re healthy and fit.

I’m writing a little bit about this for a friend of mine, she’s funny, she’s sarcastic, she’s like my little sister, she’s attractive, she’s thin, but in her own words (not mine, although I’m familiar with the term) she’s skinny fat.

For the first time since I’ve known her ( and that’s been over 10 years), she’s taken huge steps to better her health and fitness.

She quit smoking.

She started eating better.

She started running.

She wants to start weight training.

BUT…

She’s getting a lot of ridicule from friends and family, asking her while she’s bothering? Which brings me to the point of this post.

Just because you’re skinny doesn’t mean you’re fit and healthy.

Being fit is more the knowing that you can accept any physical (or mental) challenge proposed to you. You can tackle it without any observation.

When you’re fit you know you can take the stairs, sounds simple, but most people can’t.

When you’re fit you feel healthy, you feel alive, you feel strong, and you have energy.

I’ve always tried to fall back onto this one phrase I heard a long time ago, ‘Nothing tastes as good as lean and fit feels.’

Although the two comparisions are almost unequal, comparing food to a 5k or a max effort deadlift. I’m not saying they are the same, but when you know you’ve worked really hard to accomplish something, you tend to walk away from those flavorful temptations.

You know you worked really hard, so why ‘ruin’ it with not eating properly. Fitness and nutrition support each other 100%.

Ironic? Perhaps.

Nonetheless, if you know someone who is trying to better themselves, make themselves stronger, even if you don’t think they need to, be supportive.

Proper exercise and nutrition go a long way.

Get out of the rut, give it a try, it might just be eye-opening.

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It’s about that time again.

I’ve decided to compete again. I spent some time with my friend Buiu in Miami this weekend, and the space he has created for people to train in is absolutely amazing (I’ll post photos soon) but after contemplating the tournament prior to my visit, my visit solidified that I wanted to get back at it.

It’s funny, you know. You train so hard for something…then you let it wither away.

Why?

If you remember, this all started with training hard for something.

Life isn’t easy, and we aren’t all blessed with an abundance of extra time, but when we are, we should use it to make ourselves better.

We should train, so we last a day longer.

We should not only strengthen our bodies…but our minds…the visualization of achieving what you desire.

Here’s a brief clip from my first session back, of straight conditioning, under someone’s coaching (Thanks JCB!)

I’ve got roughly 5-6 weeks depending on how you play it…

I’m excited.

I’m devoted.

I’m just gonna do it!

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Last month I started posting one full body conditioning workout a month for you to try. Each time I will chose a different piece of equipment to use, knowing that not everyone has access to all the pieces of equipment I might, and some of you may have greater access.

This month’s workout uses dumbbells and is a 4 minute full body workout, that should be completed for 3-5 rounds depending on your skill level and ability to endure high intensity workouts.

Each round is 30 seconds of

Dumbbell Thrusters Right
Dumbbell Thrusters Left
Dumbbell High Pulls Right
Dumbbell High Pulls Left
Dumbbell Push Presses Right
Dumbbell Push Presses Left
Dumbbell Renegade Rows Left/Right Alternating Sides

Each round is 4 minutes long, take 1 minute rest between rounds. Try to complete a total of 3-5 rounds. If you are able to do 5 rounds without much exhaustion increase the amount of weight you are using.

Let me know how it goes in the comments section below.

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I’ve always prided myself on being strong.

When I hit my first 32kg kettlebell snatch I knew I could do more. When I deadlifted 295lbs for the first time I knew that one day I’d do more. When I finally got that 40kg turkish get up, I still wanted more.

I’m so thankful to get to work with this group of women at the gym so closely on their strength training. To see where they started with their training…then to see where they are today puts a huge smile on my face.

I’ve written about it before, I’ve mentioned it on the Urban Athlete website, I love it when the people I work with see what their potential is…the look on their face when they’ve done something they’ve never thought about doing (or only dreamed about doing before) it’s amazing, it’s beautiful, it’s empowering, and it puts a smile on my face. (I know, the second smile…that means I mean it!)

In fact, my good friend, Alicia, had an awesome training session just yesterday, and she did the best push ups I’ve seen her do, and she couldn’t believe how happy I was for her. It’s a milestone.

Watching people do things they never even thought about doing before is absolutely breathtaking.

Here’s a video (it’s a little long) of three different women on strength training programs, and their progress with the Turkish Get Up.

I’m proud of their efforts. Great work ladies!

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