One thing I am intentionally carrying with me into the new year is weight lifting.

If you had told me five years ago that I’d be lifting heavy weights and actually loving it, I would have laughed. My wellness journey didn’t start with barbells or dumbbells—it started in 2020, stuck at home during the pandemic, with way too much time on my hands.

Before that, exercise just wasn’t my thing. Honestly, the only reason I think I stuck with it at all is because my husband loves working out.

Before lockdown, he went to the gym daily. When everything shut down, he had no choice but to bring the gym home. He ordered weights, set them up in the house, and committed to working out at home every day.

I, on the other hand? I had zero interest in lifting weights. In my mind, that was something men did to build muscle—and I wasn’t interested in any of that.

So I started where I felt comfortable. My “workouts” consisted of walking up and down the stairs in our house. Eventually, I bought a rowing machine. I wasn’t really pushing myself, but I figured something was better than nothing…right?

Then my husband suggested getting a Peloton bike.

I ordered it—and surprisingly, I loved it.

Cycling quickly became my thing. Having instructors, structure, and encouragement made a huge difference. I wasn’t just hopping on a bike and guessing how long to ride; I had classes to follow and goals to hit.

After a few weeks, I started to feel different. I had more energy. I felt stronger. That led me to explore the yoga classes in the Peloton app. I had tried yoga before on my own, but having instructors guiding me was a total game changer.

Over time, we added the Peloton treadmill, and I even learned to love running.

From 2020 to 2024, my routine was mostly cardio—cycling, running, and yoga. And honestly? It worked for a while.

But in 2024, everything changed.

In February, I experienced a layoff that completely threw me off track. It sent me into a spiral. I stopped prioritizing my workouts and healthy habits. I overindulged in takeout, junk food, and alcohol, and I stopped showing up for myself the way I had before.

By the start of 2025, I weighed more than I did in 2020—and I felt miserable. Physically and mentally. My energy was low, my motivation was gone, and I wasn’t as present with my family as I wanted to be.

Around that same time, my husband decided to turn our extra room downstairs into a home gym. He moved my Peloton equipment into the same space and started working out there daily.

Having him home—and working out at the same time—gave me motivation I didn’t realize I needed.

That’s when he suggested I try weight lifting.

I already knew, from my own research and podcasts with doctors, that strength training becomes incredibly important as we age—especially for women. It helps prevent injury, supports bone density, and combats muscle loss. And as someone entering perimenopause (I’ll be 40 in six months), I knew it was something I should be doing.

So I decided to give it a try.

And let me tell you—I started from the very bottom.

I could barely curl a 5-pound dumbbell. I couldn’t bench press the bar without additional weights removed. Squats were bodyweight only, and push-ups? I was on my knees.

But I didn’t stop.

I kept showing up. I kept trying. Little by little, I added reps. Then weight. Then confidence.

By the end of 2025, I was bench pressing 100 pounds and squatting 190 pounds.

But the biggest changes weren’t just physical.

I noticed it in everyday life.

When I travel for work, I don’t need help putting my suitcase in the overhead bin. I can walk into the pet store, grab a large bag of dog food, and carry it to my car without struggling—or needing a cart or someone’s help. I can carry my son up the stairs without feeling out of breath or strained.

Those moments matter more than any number on a scale.

Every time I lift a little heavier or do something I once thought was impossible, I get genuinely excited. Seeing definition in my arms still surprises me—in the best way.

Weight lifting has completely changed how I feel in my body and in my life. And I can’t wait to see what I’m capable of in 2026.

If you’re on the fence about strength training, let this be your sign: start where you are. Five-pound dumbbells count. Showing up counts.