The Strength Lesson that Took 20 Years to Learn

If you had asked me about my fitness routine anytime in the last two decades, I would have told you I was working hard. And I was. I have been consistently going to the gym for over 20 years. But looking back, I realise I spent the vast majority of that time running in the wrong direction, literally.

I started exercising at a gym when I was 17 for one reason: to lose weight. That goal followed me into my mid-20s, accompanied by a stubborn, deeply ingrained belief: the only way to change your body is to stop eating and do hours of cardio.

For years, that was my life. Running, spinning, group exercise classes. I was constantly moving, yet I was always starving. And despite the hours logged on the treadmill, I had no muscle tone. I was exhausted, but I was terrified to stop.

The Shift

The cracks in my "cardio-first" mentality started to show when I moved to the UK in 2018. I started working with a trainer who told me something that sounded like heresy at the time: "I would rather have you lift three times a week and do a little bit of cardio than any other exercise."

I was incredibly skeptical. My brain was programmed to believe that unless I was drenched in sweat and gasping for air, it didn't count. I thought the only path to being in "great shape" was through HIIT workouts or F45. The irony? I hated doing them. I dreaded them. But I didn’t think there was another option.

It took a breaking point to finally make me listen.

After my first year at Brawn, due to a perfect storm of personal circumstances, I had gained the most weight I ever had. I was physically uncomfortable, but mentally, I was just done. I was sick of the cycle. I was sick of being overweight, and I was sick of the starvation tactics that never seemed to last.

The Breakthrough

I reached out to an old colleague who connected me with a trainer. He put me on a three-month program that looked nothing like my old routine. The prescription: four strength training workouts a week, one cardio day, and nutritional guidance.

I decided to trust him. I stuck to the program religiously.

Weeks passed, and something strange happened. I was losing weight, but I wasn’t miserable. I wasn't dying of starvation. I didn't dread going to the gym because my workouts weren't HIIT death traps anymore.

After 20 years of working in the fitness industry and hearing the advice to "lift heavy," I finally let myself believe it.

What’s Different Now

For the last three years, I have remained consistent with my strength training routine. The panic about "not burning enough calories" is gone, replaced by a focus on getting stronger.

The timing couldn’t be more important. As my body changes - going into peri-menopause and generally getting older - I realised that cardio alone wouldn't have saved me. I now have the tools I need to stay healthy as I continue to age. I’m not just training for a number on a scale anymore; I’m training for longevity.

Why This Matters at Brawn

This shift in my own life has brought me even closer to Brawn’s mission.

At Brawn, we are working to make strength training easily accessible to everyone. We are providing a service aimed at women exactly like me - women who know they need to do something for their health but might be stuck in the old "cardio and starvation" trap.

It took me 20 years of trial and error, fatigue, and frustration to figure this out. I don't want other women to have to wait that long. I want them to have the tools it took me decades to find.

One Tip for Starting Out

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: Don’t fear the weights.

You don't need to destroy yourself in the gym to see results. Consistency beats intensity every single time. If you can find a strength routine you don't hate, you'll show up. And showing up is the only thing that works.