Paving the Way for Something Greater Than Just Visible Muscles

Paving the Way for Something Greater Than Just Visible Muscles
– Why I believe exercise is more important than you could ever imagine

Let’s be clear from the start—this is a strong opinion piece. But it’s rooted in 20+ years of experience, both as someone who exercises and someone who has coached hundreds of others in a gym setting, specifically in strength training.

Strength training really kicked off for me when I was first introduced to kettlebell training in 2003, and while my journey has had its share of stops and starts—pregnancy, loss, life, and yes, even lack of motivation—I've always come back to the consistent foundation of exercise. Specifically, resistance training and strength workouts. It’s not because it’s trendy or because I own a gym in Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, but because it’s one of the few things that always gives back more than it takes.

Strength training doesn’t require perfection–I’m not talking about form. It doesn’t demand extreme effort every day. In fact, when done with intention, it can become one of the most sustainable and empowering practices in your life. For me, it’s as vital as hydration and nutrition—foundational, accessible, and transformative. I try to keep the three (strength training, hydration, and nutrition) in alignment with each other. 

I understand that what feels simple for one person can feel overwhelming for another. Sleep, for example, might be your strength or your struggle. For me, strength training has always been something I can lean into—even when everything else feels off.

Why Do I Keep Showing Up for Strength Training?

Because life gets in the way. Regularly.

And yet... lifting weights brings clarity. Moving your body changes your mindset. Feeling physically capable builds emotional resilience. I’ve experienced it. I’ve coached others through it. And I’ve seen people transform not just physically, but mentally, through the simple act of showing up at the gym or in a personal training session and lifting a little heavier than last week.

You gain physical strength, yes. But you also gain something intangible:

• The ability to hoist your own suitcase into the overhead compartment without asking for help.

• The confidence to move a heavy cooler full of ice and the food you’re trying to save when you lose power in a storm.

• The pride in unscrewing a stuck hose nozzle when no one else can.

Those everyday wins? They’re real—and they feel damn good.

Strength Training Changes Your Relationship with Yourself

It’s not about skipping brunch or waking up at 4 AM. You can work out and still have fun, sleep in, and enjoy your life. Some days your workout might be 20 minutes. Other days, you’ll push for more. The beauty of resistance training is that it adapts with you, and the habit of showing up, over and over again, rewires your brain just as much as it reshapes your body.

Here’s a big thing: self-doubt is trainable.

In the gym—especially in a space like Urban Athlete, where you're surrounded by supportive coaches and a real community—you learn to listen to your body. You learn when to go heavier and when to go lighter. You learn that no one’s watching but you. And you learn that the win is in the showing up, not the weight on the bar.

Leading By Example

Setting the stage for my kids to want to lead an active life is really important to me. Almost every time they see me exercising at home, they join in for a few minutes. It’s not about the length of time exercising for them, it’s them seeing me become a stronger version of myself. And, them–in their words–also wanting to be strong. 

Kids are always watching. If they’re going to mimic what I do, I want to be sure that exercise is one of the things they are mimicking.

The Science Is Real, But So Is the Feeling

We could talk about the research: how strength training supports bone density, slows muscle loss as we age, and helps reduce injury risk. That hands-down matters. However, just as important is how it feels to move through the world, day to day, knowing you are strong—physically and emotionally.

Group training can add another layer: connection. Training alongside others with similar goals—whether at a boutique gym or in a community-based program—reminds you that you’re not alone. Sweat has a funny way of bringing people together.

If you’ve ever felt out of place in a gym, you’re not alone, in fact you’re probably in the majority. Not all gyms are created equal. And when you find one that fits—when you feel supported, seen, and challenged in the right ways—you’ll show up differently. You’ll build consistency. You’ll stay. And you’ll grow.

Strength Training as the First Domino

When you start strength training regularly, it creates momentum. Suddenly, you’re also drinking more water. You’re choosing better meals. You’re prioritizing sleep. You begin to believe in your ability to change habits—and that spills into every part of your life.

I’m not saying this blog will be the thing that gets you to stick with it forever. But maybe it’s the nudge you needed to look at it a little differently.

Pick up the weights. I think you’ll be thankful you did. I know I am.