2025 marks 10 years since I began lifting weights.
And I keep thinking that I should do something to mark this milestone. I've built up a bunch of ideas in my head: writing a big ass, dramatic, love letter to lifting that I can share with the world, creating a new offer, making an ice cream cake, making IG and TikTok posts. I keep getting this creeping feeling that I need to do something significant to celebrate.
And I will probably do all of those things. But as I continue considering exactly how I should (there's that word again) be honoring 10 years of what started as a hobby and has become (to me) my life's work (and to others nearly my entire personality: shout out to my friends' moms who refer to me as "Stronger With Sara"), I'm realizing something.
That I have been honoring the way lifting weights changed my life. Because I get to share training with people every day. With my online coaching and training clients, my in-person clients, the students I coach, and all of the wonderful people I connect with online each day (sending a big virtual hug to my parasocial friendships, I appreciate you more than you know!).
I decided to become a personal trainer so I could share strength training with others. Lifting weights helped me transform my mental health, my relationship with food, my relationship with my body, my capacity for self-trust and resilence, and my confidence in all areas of my life. You may have heard me talk about that before. And if not, now you know why I never miss an opportunity to talk about the benefits of lifting. But I'll control myself--we won't get into that now.
When I sit back and reflect, I couldn't be more grateful for all of the opportunities I've had to help others do the same since becoming a trainer.
To me, sharing something you love with others is one of the coolest ways to express gratitude for that thing. Especially when it has the potential to change someone's life. To share something intentionally is to honor it.
So while I was contemplating exactly how I should (ugh, three strikes--new rule: no shoulding) write this love letter, I started realizing that I've been writing it since the beginning. Since I started offering training tips to my colleagues at my government job when they asked for advice, since I started training my friends and family before I had any clients, since I became a certified trainer and began working in a dope small gym with amazing people, since I became a certified nutrition coach, since I started training people virtually when the pandemic began, since I started my fitness and nutrition coaching business, since I trusted myself to go all in on my business, since I started unlearning the BS that enshrouds the conventional wisdom we have about bodies, movement, food and the systems of oppression under which we live and move our bodies, since I moved across the country to live with my now husband and kept trusting that I could live my best and most adventurous life, since I moved again and started working with teens and learned that I LOVE coaching young people. I'm grateful for every employer, client, friend, colleague, and family member that created opportunities, encouraged me, supported me and trusted me. Stronger With Sara wouldn't exist without every single one of you. I am the coach I am because of you, and I'm a better coach because of you.
If you're reading this, my love letter to lifting is really a love letter to you. Thank you for being you, and thank you for the ways you've shown up along the way. It means everything to me.
Cue awkward, teary transition!
Anyway... let's move into some recent g.r.o.u.n.d.i.n.g.!
As a reminder, g.r.o.u.n.d.i.n.g. is a roundup of the following:
- growing: tools I'm using to work on myself
- reading: books, articles, etc that I'd love to share with you
- offering: reminding you about my business offers, both evergreen and upcoming :)
- unlearning: lessons I think are worth sharing
- nourishing: food strategies and recipes that keep me feeling good
- discovering: new fun stuff I've found, from music to I don't even know what, you've been warned
- improving: sharing progress toward my personal goals!
- nurturing: self-care tools I'm leaning on, or things in life I'm prioritizing
- giggling: what is life without laughter? funny stuff and stories
growing: I recently completed my Trauma Informed Weightlifting Certificate Program and while I could dedicate an additional love letter to that experience, I'll say this: TIWL is probably the best continuing education in which I've ever taken part. I'm immensely grateful for such a meaningful, helpful and impactful program, and I encourage EVERYBODY (even if you're not a movement professional or mental health professional) to learn from their resources and support their research. Here's more info about what trauma-informed coaching means to me.
reading: Some books I've been reading over the last few months..
- On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder: I listened to the audiobook, some digestible and helpful reminders about ways you can not give in to fascism. Unfortunately relevant, I recommend listening.
- Mutual Aid by Dean Spade: I also listened to this one, and I think being reminded of (or introduced to) the power of mutual aid when it's really easy to feel overwhelmed and/or helpless is powerful. Direct aid is simple (and often not very difficult, it can be as simple as contributing a small amount of money to a community member in need or cooking some meals). I also think it's helpful to be reminded about the ways mutual aid differs from the concept of charity. I recommend listening!
- Never Whistle At Night (edited by Shane Hawk + Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.): I borrowed the physical copy of this indigenous dark fiction anthology from my library. Eek!! The visceral reaction I felt reading the stories, the storytelling, the rekindling of a love for short stories I had in college... I highly recommend reading. Even if you're not into feeling creeped out or scared by what you're reading, I think you'd enjoy many of the stories in this anthology.
- Consumed by Aja Barber: I'm currently listening to this! If you care about overconsumption, specifically in the context of clothing/textiles, I urge you to support Aja Barber's work. She shares her own experience in the textiles industry, and connects the dots between overconsumption/ waste, colonialism and racial and social inequities worldwide.
- Tender at the Desk and Stove: I've been reading Laura Khoudari's newsletter for awhile now. You may know her as the author of Lifting Heavy Things (another book I super-highly recommend!). I so enjoy her writing and I think you might too. :)
offering: I still have some available spots for my 6-Week Spring Virtual Group Training! If you've been thinking about it, I invite you to sign up. There's one week left to register, click below for more info!
SPRING 6-WEEK VIRTUAL TRAINING PROGRAM DETAILS + SIGNUP!
nourishing: I've been traveling lately, and that means moving the goalposts and using my tools. Between trips, in my short time home, I'm relying on frozen veggies (no waste!) and rotisserie chicken. During travel, I'm making sure I take my daily vitamins/supplements and use anticipatory eating--which simply means I'm making sure I eat in the morning or between meals when I know I'm going to be hungry in the near future instead of saying "I'm not hungry now, so I just won't eat" and end up HANGRY within two hours. Oh, and I always have a snack (or 5) on hand.
discovering: I recently purchased a pair of climbing pants from Pangoo Apparel! This small, woman-owned business set out to create pants that people could actually feel GOOD and COMFORTABLE in while being outside, and Sara (the owner) totally nailed it. As someone with a butt and hips, outdoor clothing has always felt uncomfy and restrictive. Most women's outdoor clothing is made for very thin people, not athletic, curvy or large bodies. These pants are so, so, lovely.. I actually feel comfortable and free in them while playing outside. If you're in the market for climbing/hiking pants, I recommend supporting Pangoo!!
improving: Amazon, Target and Walmart boycotts continue strong. Thrifting is a great alternative (e.g. I replaced a broken coffee carafe with one from Goodwill, yes it fits a bit weirdly but it works!) and buying direct from a brand's website (e.g. buying the tealight candles I like from the brand directly and getting a loyalty discount and free shipping on my purchase, instead of buying off Amazon) has been helpful! Also, I just buy less stuff and that feels pretty good.
nurturing: I've been using Downtime on my phone. It's like intermittent fasting, but actually helpful. I can only access my InsightTimer meditation app until 9am (mornings are when I tend to scroll). So effective so far, especially compared with time limits on individual apps--I highly recommend.
giggling: I'll just leave this here, haha.
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If you made it this far, THANK YOU! I'm so glad you're here. And I love hearing from you, so please feel free to respond to this email!
Thank you as always, much love!
Sara
PS: Happy Earth Day! Remember, buying services from fitness professionals you like and trust is a great, earth-friendly way to invest in your health and well-being. In fact, I have a video about it here--feel free to check it out. 😘
SPRING 6-WEEK VIRTUAL TRAINING PROGRAM
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