For most of my life, I was all about cardio. I ran track in high school, taught aerobics after college, and you could almost always find me on the treadmill or elliptical at the gym. I’d pick up light weights every now and then, and knew strength training was important for building muscle and staying healthy, but I just didn’t prioritize it; I thought cardio was the gold standard of fitness.
In my 40s and 50s, I did my cardio workouts at a small gym where everyone knew each other, and there was a trainer who would always joke about when I was finally going to let him teach me how to strength train. For years, I laughed it off and didn’t think much of it, but during the summer when I was 57, I had some extra time on my hands, so I decided to take him up on his offer. I realized that as I got older, it was time to focus on building muscle through strength training so I could stay independent for as long as possible.
So, we started training together twice a week, using a mix of free weights and weight machines, and I still did cardio on the other days of the week. Each strength session targeted a different muscle group—like glutes, hamstrings, back, or shoulders—and I learned about proper form, progressive overload (increasing the variables to challenge my muscles over time), and the importance of recovery. I also began tracking macros; I’d always maintained a balanced diet, but since I’d started consistently lifting weights, I increased my protein and carb intake to better support my training and muscle growth.
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