Strength Training Has Clear Benefits, It’s Worth Being a Beginner

It’s remarkably easy to get caught up in the world of public opinion on the internet. No matter what the topic, there are self-proclaimed experts, personal anecdotes, and numerous TikToks discussing what you should do or how you should think about a certain niche. This is particularly true within the wellness space—the hot takes, myths, and uncredentialed influencers just keep coming. 

While the entire health spectrum quickly falls into the world wide web’s trap of conflicting information, strength training is one topic that stands out as being misunderstood and often intimidating for beginners. From concerns about weight lifting resulting in “bulking up” to the activity only being for men to lighter weights not doing anything for your body, we’ve heard it all. Despite the confusion surrounding strength training, we’re huge fans—and continue to shout strength training’s goodness from the rooftops. 

The fact of the matter is, focusing on building strength can (and should) be tailored to each individual. There is no one size fits all, meaning if you don’t want to load up the squat rack with the heaviest weight plate you can find, you don’t have to. You can focus on lighter weights and repetition, you can do an entire workout with resistance bands, or you can stick with bodyweight movements. The point isn’t how you strength train (though we are thrilled to help you with those nitty-gritty details), it’s that you understand how growing stronger contributes to your overall well-being. 

I find it helpful, particularly when trying to overturn previous assumptions, to find my “why” for a new activity or habit. This helps me to block out the noise coming from unsolicited advice and stay motivated. While my strength training “why” has shifted over the years, the reason that has endured is that growing and maintaining strength helps me thrive in the everyday activities I love to do, and want to be able to do for the rest of my life. Exploring new cities, helping my friends decorate their apartments, and volunteering for my community—none of those require me to deadlift a certain amount, but maintaining physical strength will allow me to charge full speed ahead for many years to come. Strength training helps me build habits that fill my life with physical and mental stamina.

We’re not here to tell you to make strength training your entire life, we’re here to help you see how it can benefit your life, no matter what your “why” is. From kettlebells to medicine balls to a fully decked-out weight section of your local gym, there is a strength training style for everyone. We’re here to help you focus on your strength training needs, with workouts, product recommendations, and the motivation you need to keep getting stronger every day. 

Lily Moe

Editor, Verywell Fit