I’ve had a long and tumultuous history with weight lifting and dieting, starting back in my late teens, and I can confidently say, if you’re reading this article – you’ve probably gone through some kind of love-hate-toxic relationship with the gym or exercise too.
It’s no secret that women are put under serious pressure for most of their lives to look good, and I’ve spent hundreds of hours, and hundreds (thousands?) more dollars all in the name of trying to be ‘hot and fit’, which I can now attest to being a ‘canon event’ as a Gen Z would label it. It feels like every woman must go through this cycle to finally understand that exercising should work for us, not the other way around.
I felt done with the gym, physically, mentally and emotionally. I was calorie-counting, trying to lose fat and tone up, battling my inner thoughts day in and day out – and relying on myself to stay motivated to follow a half baked workout plan I found online.
So when Fitstop entered my life, I was eager and willing to give it a shot. The classes promised an hour to come in and be told what to do, how to do it and be encouraged to lift heavier, go harder, or take a break if I needed. I didn’t have to rely on my ever-wavering motivation.
Fitstop, for the uninitiated, is a functional group training gym that mixes strength, conditioning, and sweat-based sessions.
I decided to train at the Innaloo Fitstop location. At first, my body was confused like, “What is this madness and why are we doing it?” but then, weirdly, I got used to it. In fact, it was kind of like my body told me, “Ohhh, I really needed that.”
The first session was a spicy mix of lunges, push-ups and barbell cleans. The second one brought deadlifts, running, and let’s be honest, I’m pretty sure my soul tried to leave my body during the ski-erg. But what caught me off guard was the energy in the room. The type of energy I assumed was invented by pre-workout companies… A grounded, infectious sort of community happiness that made me want to keep going and keep showing up each day.
♥
The thing is, strength and conditioning training isn’t just about aesthetics or being able to lift heavier stuff (though that part is pretty satisfying). It’s one of the most effective ways to improve your overall health, physically, mentally, and even hormonally.
Strength training increases lean muscle mass, which helps boost your resting metabolic rate: meaning you burn more calories even when you’re doing absolutely nothing. It also improves bone density, which is crucial, especially for women, in preventing osteoporosis later in life.
Compound movements like deadlifts and squats don’t just work one muscle at a time, they activate entire chains of muscles, improving coordination, balance, and functional strength you actually use in daily life.
There’s also the endorphin hit. Resistance training has been shown to increase dopamine and serotonin, the “feel good” neurotransmitters that help regulate mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. No wonder everyone seemed weirdly happy.
So yeah, my legs felt like jelly and my arms were shaking, but it was the kind of exhaustion that came with progress. And once I understood what was happening inside my body, that it was adapting, strengthening, repairing etcetera, it made me want to go back and do it all again.
♥
Trying something new when you’re already managing a complicated relationship with your body is brave and messy. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll miss the comfort of your old routine. You’ll have days where you feel like you’re going backwards. But, the trainers were kind, the music was good and the people were supportive. Fast forward a few weeks and here’s the truth: I’m still not the fittest in the room. I still look at myself in the mirror some days and wonder if I’m “doing enough. But, when I’m lifting at Fitstop, I’m not thinking about the size of my thighs, I’m thinking, damn, I’m pretty strong. That’s a rare, beautiful thing (for me anyway).
Guided strength training has given me something I didn’t even realise I was missing, a sense of capability. Lifting weights has helped me build confidence, regulate my mood, and create a healthier relationship with movement.
♥
Fitstop reminded me that progress is not just physical. It’s showing up when you don’t want to. It’s learning to love your body for what it can do, not just how it looks. It’s wobbling through lunges, adding 2.5kgs to the barbell (this still counts), and sometimes only showing up to pat the dog out the front.
If you’re thinking about shaking up your routine, Fitstop has helped me move my body without thinking too hard, and walk away feeling proud. And that’s good for me.
Find your local Fitstop studio here, and head on over to Instagram to let us know if you’re keen to give this workout a go!
Be well,
Chloe
xoxo
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