Strong For Life

It's no secret that I love strength training.  And, while pumping some iron is easily one of my favorite past-times and could go on and on about the list of benefits-both physical and emotional- that come along with lifting weights, I realize not everyone wants to/needs to test their strength or striving to be a powerlifter.

Nonetheless there is no denying that the benefits of strength training, even at moderate levels, can spill over into everyday life often.    So you don't want to be a strongman?  Totally cool!  But wouldn't it be nice to be able to perform a variety of movements and tasks in life with strength and confidence and without injury or help? Simply put, strength training makes everything easier.

Sure bragging about deadlifting 300 pounds may sound cooler than, "I carried a bag of ice melt.".  I mean who puts up photos on social media bragging about how many grocery bags they can carry in?  Really, who does that?  Wink, wink.

All kidding aside, as much as I'd love to keep increasing my strength in the deadlift, I also want to be strong for life.  I want to be able to carry my kids when they're too tired to walk, shovel my own driveway, put my own luggage in the car and so much more.  I'm in this life for the long haul and at the risk of tooting my own horn, I came up with 20 ways strength training has made my everyday life easier and strong for life.  

See example #2.  This is light weight---anyone have anymore bags I can carry? :)

1.  Carrying big bags of pet food, garden soil, or ice melt is no issue.

2.  I can bring everything in from the grocery store in one trip, regardless of how many bags there are.

3.  I can trek a toddler and kindergartner up and down stairs when they both want to be carried…at the same time.

4.  I can mow the lawn with ease…without using the self propel feature.

5.  I can carry a toddler and a trike back to the car when my kid decides he's too tired to bike the rest of the way home.

6.  When the FedEx guy offers to carry a large package into the house for me, I can politely decline and carry that sucker in like a boss.

7. I can lift one side of the couch high enough to search for missing toys just to avoid a meltdown.

8.  Loading heavy luggage into the car is not just a job for my husband.

9.  I'm happy to change the water cooler jug.

10.  I can move most furniture myself to vacuum under it…if I wanted to.  Not that I actually do that.

11.  Helping a friend push a stalled car to the side of the road is something I actually find fun.

12.  Climbing the stairs 25 times in one night while trying to teach my little boy to sleep in his big boy bed doesn't phase me.

13.  When I want to go canoeing, I can pull a canoe from a rack without help.  It's a little awkward, but I can do it.

14.  I often find myself asking myself if random people needed to be pulled from a burning car, could I do it?  The answer is typically "yes".

15.  I can swing a baby carrier with smooth rhythm to calm a crying baby…without throwing out my back.

16.  My strong legs can help me sprint along side my five-year-old while teaching her to ride a bike.

17.  I can demonstrate how to do the monkey bars instead of pointing and telling.

18.  Helping our old, 175 pound, English Mastiff into the car for vet check-ups isn't exactly fun, but I can do it.

19.  I can pull myself out of the water easily when my not-yet-ready-for-deep-water-but-refuses-to-wear-a-life-jacket son takes off spiriting for the deep end.

20.  I can pick up a 40lb, tantrum throwing, screaming toddler up off the ground in Target, while wearing a 15lb diaper bag on my back, holding an Americano and not spill a drop, hurt myself or my child.  ;o)

Your turn:  How has lifting weights made you strong for life?  I'd love to see pictures hear stories about how weights have changed your life.  Tag me of Facebook, InstaGram, #StrongForLife