After decades of swearing by workout classes, I switched to weightlifting. I never expected to be so impressed by the results.

After doing workout classes for decades, I decided to switch to a strength-training program. Alexandra Frost 2026-04-13T18:12:16.773Z Share Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Despite doing frequent workout classes for over 20 years, I felt weak at 37 years old. I started weightlifting at my local gym and gained strength surprisingly quickly. Eight months into my regimen, I feel better in my body and have a healthier perspective on fitness. AI-generated summary Summaries are generated by an AI model trained on Business Insider's articles. AI may make mistakes or provide inaccurate/incomplete information. We're unable to load that answer right now. Please try again. What are the mental benefits of weightlifting? How does weightlifting differ from cardio? How can weightlifting support joint health? Why do people plateau in group fitness? What is a "weightlifting high"? For as long as I can remember, I've been a workout-class enthusiast. Loading audio narration... When I was 17, I followed my mom to Jazzercise classes, and at 30, I was in boot-camp classes trying to figure out how anyone "bounces back" after pregnancy.I was still loyal to group fitness in my late 30s, but at 37, I felt weaker than I'd like to. I wondered: For someone doing so many classes, shouldn't I be — or at least feel — a lot stronger? I'd been lifting the same 10-pound weights for decades, never progressing to a heavier set. And when one of my five kids asked for a piggyback ride up the stairs, my husband was always the one to oblige (partially due to my pesky back condition).Eventually, I took a more critical look at my workouts, examining their frequency and the actual movements I was doing. I thought about the strong, fit people I knew my age and realized they lifted weights. So, I researched the closest gym and chose one purely based on proximity to my house, ready to try something new.I walked into the gym as a complete beginner After years of group fitness classes, I focused on weightlifting.

Alexandra Frost On my first day at the gym, the owner convinced me that I was exactly where I should be, walking me through a slow and steady onboarding program. I tried not to compare myself to the extremely fit people, who looked like they came straight out of a Navy SEALs brochure, and did my best to ignore the clank of the heavy weights hitting the ground.The staff logged my baseline abilities as I bench pressed, squatted, and performed other strength-training moves. Although I had done countless leg lifts, crunches, and planks, I'd rarely done traditional weightlifting. Knowledge came with time. Soon, I learned about one-rep maxes (the maximum amount of weight a person can lift for a single exercise), bought proper lifting shoes from Puma, and started studying form tips on Instagram after class. The muscle soreness I felt after each gym session reaffirmed that I was working my body in ways that I hadn't during my group fitness classes.Although I had plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was in the right place, I told myself that being the least experienced person in the room was a good thing. As I'd learned in the business world, this can be the best place to learn. Shortly after I started lifting regularly, I felt better in my bodyI began taking weightlifting seriously last summer and noticed results fairly quickly.I didn't lose weight or have a dramatic visual transformation, but my body felt different; I had a structure that supported my frame rather than just a weak core that felt like it went somewhat dormant between pregnancies. I considered my weight less important than my ability to pick up heavy things without feeling pain. Another benefit I didn't expect? I left the gym each day with a weightlifting high that lasted at least 24 hours.Lifting weights changed my definition of what it means to be fit My local gym draws members of all ages, from teenagers to retirees.

Alexandra Frost The biggest surprise of joining a weightlifting gym was seeing who I was exercising next to. Although some of the mega-fit athletes initially intimidated me, I came to understand that my gym was for everyone. I've lifted with retired women over 70, teenagers, moms, and people fighting off medical conditions.As I watched all of them lift heavier weights than I thought possible, I realized that a fit, strong body comes in many different shapes. I also learned that weightlifting is about doing big, powerful moves along with exercises that work smaller muscles to fortify my joints.By following a consistent program and surrounding myself with people who held me accountable, I gradually built strength, going from bench pressing 80 pounds to 115 pounds. Eight months into my regimen, I no longer feel out of place at the gym. My knees don't hurt and creak on stairs. Most importantly, when my preschooler asks for a piggyback ride up the stairs, I no longer have to say, "Go ask Dad."