The Day I Stopped Running from the Weight Rack (And Started Running Toward It)
- Z-MealPlanner
- Nov 5
- 5 min read
Confessions of a former cardio queen who was terrified of getting "bulky"—and what actually happened when I finally picked up the weights.
The Treadmill Trap
For years, I had a very specific gym routine: cardio machine, more cardio, maybe some abs, and then... more cardio. The weight section? That was for the guys. The serious lifters. The people who wanted to get huge.
Not me. I just wanted to be "toned."
Sound familiar?
I'd watch women confidently loading barbells and think, "That's not for me. I don't want to look like that." Meanwhile, I was spending hours on the elliptical, eating like a bird, and wondering why my body wasn't changing the way I wanted it to.
Here's the truth I wish someone had told me sooner: I was afraid of the wrong thing.
The Fear That Keeps Us Small
Let me paint you a picture of my first time approaching the weight rack. My heart was racing. My palms were sweaty. I felt like everyone was watching me (spoiler: they weren't). I picked up the lightest dumbbells—like, the pink ones—and did some half-hearted bicep curls before retreating back to my safe zone on the treadmill.
Why was I so scared?
The "bulky" myth. I genuinely believed that if I lifted anything heavier than my purse, I'd wake up looking like a bodybuilder.
The intimidation factor. The weight section felt like a boys' club, and I didn't know the secret handshake.
The fear of doing it wrong. What if I looked stupid? What if I hurt myself?
But here's what finally pushed me to try: I was exhausted. Exhausted from endless cardio. Exhausted from eating 1200 calories and still not seeing results. Exhausted from feeling weak when I carried groceries or picked up my kids.
Something had to change.
What Actually Happened When I Started Lifting
Okay, real talk time. Here's what I discovered when I finally committed to strength training:
1. I Got to Eat More (Yes, Really)
This was the game-changer I didn't see coming. When you build muscle, your body burns more calories at rest. Suddenly, I wasn't starving myself to maintain my weight. I could actually fuel my workouts, enjoy meals with my family, and—wait for it—have seconds of my abuela's tamales without the guilt spiral.
More food. Better results. It felt like I'd discovered a cheat code.
2. My Body Got a Shape (Hello, Curves!)
All those hours of cardio had made me smaller, sure. But smaller isn't the same as stronger. Or shapelier.
When I started lifting, something magical happened: curves appeared where there weren't any before. My shoulders got definition. My legs got shape. My glutes actually existed (praise hands emoji).
I wasn't just losing weight—I was building a body that felt powerful and looked the way I'd always wanted.
3. I Didn't Turn Into the Hulk
Here's the plot twist: I didn't wake up bulky. Not even a little bit.
You know why? Because getting "bulky" requires deadlifting and squatting hundreds of pounds, eating in a massive caloric surplus, and often, years of dedicated training. I'm over here doing goblet squats with a 25-pound dumbbell and Romanian deadlifts with 40 pounds, and guess what? I look feminine, strong, and healthy.
The "bulky" fear is based on a myth that needs to die. Women don't have enough testosterone to accidentally become bodybuilders. Trust me, if it were that easy, every guy at the gym would look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Real Goal: Stronger Than Yesterday
Here's what I tell my clients (and remind myself): The goal isn't to become a female version of the Hulk. The goal is to be stronger than you were yesterday. Last month. Last year.
Strength training isn't about lifting the heaviest weight in the gym. It's about:
Carrying all the grocery bags in one trip (because who has time for two?)
Playing with your kids without getting winded
Feeling confident in your body
Having energy that lasts all day
Building bone density for your future self
Creating a metabolism that works for you, not against you
It's about being the strongest version of yourself—whatever that looks like for YOU.
My Strength Training Reality Check
Let me show you what my actual strength training looks like, because I think we need more realistic examples:
Monday - Lower Body:
Goblet squats: 25-30 lbs
Romanian deadlifts: 40 lbs
Walking lunges: 15 lbs in each hand
Glute bridges: bodyweight or 25 lb plate
Wednesday - Upper Body:
Dumbbell chest press: 15-20 lbs each hand
Bent-over rows: 20-25 lbs
Shoulder press: 12-15 lbs each hand
Bicep curls: 12 lbs
Friday - Full Body:
Kettlebell swings: 20-25 lbs
Push-ups: modified on knees
Step-ups: 15 lbs in each hand
Plank holds: 30-45 seconds
See? Nothing crazy. No 200-pound deadlifts. No Olympic lifting. Just consistent, progressive effort that's building strength and changing my body composition.
The Transformation I Didn't Expect
The physical changes were amazing, don't get me wrong. But the mental shift? That's what really changed my life.
I stopped seeing my body as something to shrink and started seeing it as something to strengthen. I stopped punishing myself with exercise and started celebrating what my body could do. I stopped being afraid of taking up space.
Strength training taught me that I'm capable of more than I thought. And that lesson shows up everywhere—not just in the gym.
Your Turn: What's Holding You Back?
So here's my question for you: What's keeping you from trying strength training?
Is it the fear of getting bulky? (Spoiler: you won't.)
Is it not knowing where to start? (That's what I'm here for.)
Is it feeling intimidated by the weight section? (Girl, I get it. But you belong there just as much as anyone else.)
Whatever it is, I want you to know: you don't have to be strong to start. You just have to start to become strong.
And trust me, the version of you who's lifting weights, eating more, and feeling powerful in her body? She's worth meeting.
The Bottom Line
Cardio has its place. I still do it. But if you're only doing cardio and wondering why your body isn't changing, why you're always hungry, or why you feel weak—it's time to pick up some weights.
Start small. Start scared. Just start.
Because the only thing you'll regret is not starting sooner.
Ready to build strength without the overwhelm? My 6-Week Strong & Confident Program is designed for women who want to lift weights, build curves, and feel powerful—without spending hours in the gym or eating like a rabbit. Let's build the strong, confident version of you together.
What's your biggest fear about strength training? Drop a comment below—I read every single one, and I promise, you're not alone in whatever's holding you back.
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