Diet Culture really romanticizes strength training. It’s as if there’s some kind of unwritten law that you must do it to be healthy, and that if you don’t – you’re lazy, unhealthy, or even weird to not do it.
Don’t get me wrong. Strength training IS great for you, and I will always encourage it.
However, after 12 years of coaching people, I also realize that not everyone has the physical capability to do it, nor the time or energy to add it into an already busy life.
So does that mean you’re destined for a subpar life?
Of course not!
Think of it this way…
Strength training is just one of many healthy behaviors you could incorporate into your life.
I could make an argument that if you only have an hour a day to add a healthy behavior into your life, focusing that hour on reducing stress, hanging out with friends, or even doing nothing at all and relaxing, could actually be just as, if not healthier than strength training.
Remember that health is multifaceted. There is physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. All of these affect your quality of life.
When you have limited time, energy, or physical capability (injury, pain, etc), you have to make a decision on what you can add into your life. Because you can’t do them all.
Here’s a short list of healthy behaviors you might or might not already be doing…
- meditation
- journaling
- engaging in a hobby
- laughing
- spending time with loved ones
- learning new skills
- rest and recovery
- practicing self-compassion
- learning stress management techniques
- practicing gratitude
- listening to music
- practicing your religion
- exercising your brain (puzzles, leaning a language/instrument, etc)
- volunteering
- setting boundaries
- cleaning
- professional development
- therapy
- exploring spirituality
- improving your financial health
Every single one of these behaviors has scientific proof that they improve your mental/physical health, well-being, and life experience.
Many affect our physical health via improving our mental health (ie. stress reduction activities). Because stress can be an even bigger killer than lack of physical activity.
But you can’t do them all!
So don’t feel bad if you just don’t like strength training or can’t do it right now. There is plenty you can do.
Double down on healing your relationships with food and body instead, or add in one of the many healthy behaviors above. Or just do some other form of physical activity, if you can, such as walking, yoga, gardening, swimming, etc.
Leave the door open for strength training, but understand that you don’t need to follow the herd mentality that strength training is the be-all-end-all for your health.
Talk soon…