It is not unknown that I love to pick up heavy sh!t. I enjoy lifting, feeling strong and pushing myself both physically and mentally. Though I adapted how I lift over the years to ensure the longevity of my body, movement is by far one of the best things for my mind, body and soul. In my lifting career, I will tell you it has been an absolute privilege to inspire and empower others to challenge their body, as well as their mind, to what is possible. Let’s be 100% honest, our biggest obstacle to achieving what seems impossible is our mind. 

Recently one of my clients shared her lessons learned from strength training:

So allow me to give you some context here. My client that I am going to share with you started pushing her limit the day she watched me deadlift more than my bodyweight and she said “I could never deadlift my bodyweight” and I said, “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!”. That was the end of that conversation and a start of a new journey. A journey of helping my client to explore her own limits. And man, she has overcome so many! Allow me to set the stage:

Background:

-She started lifting later in life as she was born and brought up during a time when the only sport that ALLOWED women to participate was cheerleading

-She started strength training later in life, 50+

-She has rehabbed and come back from a rotator cuff tear and shredded bicep tendon

-She competed in her first powerlifting competition at the age of 64 (post shoulder rehab)

When I asked her recently for her inspirations, this is what she shared:

One of my inspirations is from watching the young teens lift. Such determination. 

Another is the young woman that lost her lower left leg. Her courage to lift after such tragic circumstances is powerful. 

The 30 something man that wanted to have a picture with me, because he wants to be like me when he’s older. He was a lifter himself! 

The teenage girl that told her mom, “See, it’s never to late to start something new!” 

The comments that I received from the crowd are so encouraging. This is truly a sport (powerlifting) that I have grown to love.

My dream, is to one day go to a competition with both my daughter and granddaughter. 3 generations. 

Some days are hard. I don’t want to go in to train. I’m always glad that I do. 
I am so grateful that I found you as a role model, motivator, trainer and friend.

She has worked through both physical and mental challenges that have come her way over the years. From fatigue, overuse injuries, and what we call “Mental f#ckery”; when the brain tells you all the things you can’t do, that you failed, the “what if you can’t keep going”, all the things. She has literally not accepted defeat and she continues to work through the ups and downs that are thrown her way. But what she does not do is give up. She asks questions, she learns new ways to understand how her body is working, how it is moving, and how modifications or adaptations are needed as you progress through life. 

The mental fortitude of this woman over the years is something that I aspire to have throughout life. She is truly an inspiration and I want to share her story with everyone who thinks that there is an age where we must stop. She makes me cry every competition when I watch her overcome her limits and push herself. When I see someone come up and talk with her about lifting and how she inspires them. Then we learn that conversation helps inspire someone to start their own journey.

So what am I hoping you get out of this…

You, and only you, set your own limit. First and foremost, your mind is your obstacle. And the first step is understanding the “stories” that you tell yourself to keep you from achieving something. And secondly, that YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ALONE. There are individuals out there ready to help you along your journey, no matter what it is. There is this idea that in order to overcome obstacles and get a high-five, it has to be done alone. Absolutely not! Everyone has assistance, whether it is direct or indirect. You must CHOOSE to accept and ask for the helpz

Then, anything is possible.

And this is truly when Audrey Hepburn meant when she said.

Whether she is the one who truly said this or is just credited for it, the meaning is still there.