This week’s article will be different from most of what you’ll see on this site.
I have, since 2009 when I opened RevFit, had the incredible privilege of working with some shockingly strong and inspiring women.
It’s one thing to be on the coaches side of what happens here and helping any woman find that strength, harness it, and watch it grow.
It’s another thing to watch how it can transform some women, not just in attitude, confidence and performance but in the way they speak about themselves.
As a business owner, it’s always a great feeling when you know someone has had a good experience working with you.
Some might share it with you personally, some might leave your business a positive review, and then some people, like our very own, Gina O., will take the opportunity to not only share their experience but use it as a platform to lift other women up as well.
I was pleasantly surprised by and left in awe with a post that Gina made on her Facebook page recently. I asked her if I had permission to share her words so that more people could see what she had to say.
So, the rest of this article is written solely by her, and I’ve said it to her directly, but I’ll leave it here for the record: I couldn’t possibly have said any of this any better and the fact that it’s coming from a woman out to any woman who can absorb it makes it all the more impactful.
Gina, I’m so grateful to you not only for entrusting us with your training but allowing us to help make your children, Dominic and Julia, respectively, be the strongest and most confident versions of themselves to carry into this world.
I’ve already written too much. Gina, the rest is you:
Editing to tag my gym Revolution Fitness And Therapy, because sales is in my blood, and I know referrals are everything and I passionately would recommend my gym.
Sharing some thoughts after leaving the gym.
This March will mark two years since I tried something new: I hired a personal trainer and started strength training. For those of you who know me well, you know I’ve never been an athlete—ever. But there’s something magical that happened when I found my own physical strength in strength training. I’m not even sure why I’m sharing this today—some people might roll their eyes—but I felt compelled to write it anyway.
As a woman, I used to associate things like bench pressing and deadlifting with being masculine or athletic—neither of which I’ve ever considered myself. But now, I know it’s not about that at all. I’m a feminine woman, and strength training has been transformative for me, both physically and mentally. I am an athlete. I am strong. I can do hard things.
One of my favorite parts about going to the gym is that it’s not easy. Some days, it’s f@&$ing hard. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things I do each week. I have a group of people who cheer me on and celebrate my progress, which is AWESOME. Strength training often makes me think about other aspects of my life, especially my work in sales.
Sales is a lot like going to the gym. Most people only see the big wins, but there’s so much that goes into achieving them. You set goals, do tasks that suck, and face countless rejections. At the gym, my trainers make me do things I hate—things that sometimes I don’t even understand why I’m doing. Some days, I set a goal that feels achievable, only to find it’s WAY harder than I imagined. Other days, I surprise myself with how easily I reach it. There are times I can’t even get the weight off the ground and wonder if I ever could. But then there are days when the same weight flies up, and I think, “Why was I struggling so much before?” Those moments mirror my personal and professional life in SO many ways!
I realize hiring a personal trainer isn’t for everyone, and it’s easy to find reasons why the gym “isn’t for you”—whether it’s a lack of time, money, not being a morning person, or something else. But I truly believe strength training could improve the vast majority of people’s lives if they stick with it. It’s not easy, but that’s also what makes it so rewarding.
As a woman, I’ve been conditioned—like many of us—to believe the goal is to be thin, petite, or tiny. A few years ago, I committed to myself and lost a significant amount of weight. When I started strength training, I was at my lowest weight. Since then, I’ve gained a little back—not a lot, but enough to drive me crazy. But here’s the thing: I’m physically stronger than I ever imagined.
Some days, I look in the mirror and see broader shoulders, bigger arms, or bigger legs, and I wrestle with the idea that being “bigger” isn’t bad. Do I feel better? Yes. Do I feel stronger? Absolutely. Is it okay if I’m a little bigger than I was two years ago? I’ve come to accept that it is. My blood work and overall health are the best they’ve been in probably 20 years. Sure, I’d love to shed a few pounds of fat, but the truth is, I feel the best I ever have—physically, mentally, and emotionally. That strength has a lot to do with the gym.
This post isn’t about bragging or saying, “Look what I’ve done,” even though I’m proud of my progress. So please don’t comment congratulating me or anything like that. It’s about encouraging anyone who has had that little nudge in their mind to try it. If you’re my age—or really any age—and especially if you’re a woman, I can’t think of much that’s more rewarding than doing this for yourself.
Whether it’s finding a program online, going with a friend, or hiring a personal trainer, I’d strongly recommend giving it a shot. And if you’re local, check out Rev Fit. Their trainers have made SUCH a difference in my journey.
You’re stronger than you think.
