The Joy of Strength Training: Oh Wait, That's Not a Thing?
When Strength Training Feels Meh—Here’s How to Stick With It
Is strength training supposed to be fun? This question came up in a listener Q&A, and it’s worth unpacking. A general sentiment I often hear is—I know this thing is super important—life saving and life changing even—I just don’t really enjoy it. Hm.
Sometimes as a coach I do this really annoying thing where I answer a question with a question. In this case: In order to do something that’s objectively good for us, does it have to be fun?
A few months ago, my 12 year old son enthusiastically joined something called "Fitness Club” at school. It started off with a bang—the novelty of using weight training equipment for the first time, getting his little pump on with his buddies— but after a few weeks he reported that "Fitness Club is boring. It’s so repetitive and we just keep doing the same thing every week.”
My husband and I couldn’t help but laugh—yea bud, that’s kind of how it goes. We tried to explain to him that while he may not find all those reps and sets exciting, that’s exactly what’s going to make him so much better at all the things he loves doing like playing sports and tackling his little brother. Not to mention, it’s more time with his friends and less time with his parents (which we knew would be seen as a huge perk to our independent little tween).
We’re not all that different from kids sometimes. We want instant gratification, and if we’re going to get out of bed for something we want it to be worth it. Even when we know it’s important, even when we want to do it, it can feel hard to love at first. It’s unfamiliar, it’s humbling, and it doesn’t offer the immediate rush of, say, a high-intensity class that leaves you drenched in sweat (or an action packed lacrosse game if you’re 12).
But we’re not kids anymore. We don’t need things to be exciting to know they’re worthwhile. At some point, you made the very wise adult decision to start strength training. Why? Probably because you’ve learned that it’s one of the most powerful tools to increase your lifespan, protect against disease and injury, and improve your overall quality of life. You’re sure if you just can just commit, you’ll be able to move more confidently, more powerfully, and more independently now and as you age. And yea, the idea of increasing metabolism and losing belly fat also sounds pretty great.
So, you need it to be fun to stay motivated? Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk—I just need to be honest. And while I sincerely believe from the bottom of my gym rat heart that you will one day grow to love and appreciate your strength training routine for reasons you can’t imagine yet, the love of it might not be what gets you through the gym doors quite yet.
So what do we do in the meantime? Because as compelling as the data is, for some reason it’s just not clicking. Shake it off, go back to the drawing board, and ask yourself again (because you probably ignored me the first time I said it):
In order to do something that’s objectively good for us, does it have to be fun?
Now make a list of all the things you have done in your life that you didn’t do for fun, but were still rewarding or brought you joy or growth in some other way. Name one. How is your life better now for having stuck with it even though it wasn’t fun?
My dad is a retired lawyer. He was great at his job, built something meaningful, and was successful by any measure. But he was always quick to point out that he didn’t love the actual work of being a lawyer. Forty plus years is a lot of time to devote to something that you’re not crazy about. What he really loved was the life that his job provided—stability, purpose, the ability to build a life he loved outside of work. It’s my opinion that he also enjoyed the relationships he created, the leadership he offered, and the personal growth he experienced (although he would never speak of work in such a touchy feely way).
Growing up I saw a man who was proud of what he did from 9-5, but would have preferred to be in a million other places—playing hockey, reading history books, woodworking in the garage, growing potatoes in the backyard, camping with his kids— just to name a few. And I really think that most Americans have this relationship with their professions which can feel problematic or inspiring depending on how you look at it.
We’re going the inspiring route, because that’s what I do. My retired dad is now a woodworker, a gardener, a hockey player, a Lego aficionado, a history buff, and more. He’s a grandfather of seven, and a father of four who gets to spend his time visiting his kids who have grown into capable adults pursuing their dreams—all thanks to a guy who did a job he didn’t even like very much.
Strength training is your new job—and it will probably be as grueling as it is rewarding. But isn’t it kind of exciting to start something that you know is going to kick your ass a little… but in a survivable way? In a potentially life altering way?
If you’re rolling your eyes thinking “Ugh she’s so hardcore.” No, I’m not. I’m just describing a very human process that I know you’ve gone through before in some capacity. I know you have. And you came out on the other side thinking “Damn. I can’t believe I did that.” Is there a better feeling?
I’m not going to spend the rest of this essay giving you all the tips and tricks on how you can make going to the gym more enjoyable (check out Episode 22 for that convo). I’m going to simply end by asking you to figure out if can you show up for something that matters—even when it’s not fun.
For the full conversation on the joys 😉 of strength training, check out the latest episode of The FitSister podcast:
Episode 22: Nat joins a gym, how to make strength training fun, and a conversation about coaches
Interested in coaching? I’m always available for a free consultation call. No pressure, no catch—just an opportunity to connect. Check out www.thefitsister.com for more information or click below to book a call now!
