Start Here: A Simple, No-Nonsense Case for Strength Training

Reclaiming the Basics of a Strong Body, One Lift at a Time

Fitness culture can be noisy—quick fixes, aesthetic goals, thirty-day transformations. But underneath all that, strength training remains one of the simplest, most effective ways to build a body that feels good and works well.

You don’t need to become a powerlifter or spend hours in the gym. But if that’s your thing, great—I love seeing people push themselves with intention. Personally, I’ve found a lot of value in learning the foundational movements often emphasized in powerlifting—like squats, deadlifts, rows, and presses—and using them as a base to build from.

This article isn’t a pitch for one “best” way to train. It’s just what I’ve done and seen work—especially for people who want to get stronger but aren’t sure where to begin.

Strength Training Isn’t a Fad. It’s a Foundation.

At its core, strength training helps your body do what it was designed to do: move, lift, carry, stabilize. With the right kind of resistance and consistency, your muscles grow stronger, your joints more supported, your posture more reliable.

It’s not just about building muscle—it’s about building function.

And whether you train in your garage with dumbbells, at the gym with machines, or outside doing pull-ups on a park bar, the principles stay the same: challenge your body with purpose, and it will respond.

Letting Go of Pride and Starting Light

Growing up, I played a lot of sports and spent time in the gym. I lifted weights—mostly focused on the “mirror muscles” like chest, arms, shoulders, and abs—with the occasional leg machine mixed in. It wasn’t a bad start, but I never really learned how to squat or deadlift with proper technique.

When I decided I wanted to, I felt stuck. I didn’t feel stable or confident enough to squat with a plate on each side, but I also didn’t want to be the person squatting with just the empty bar. So I made excuses. I told myself the leg press was better for me anyway.

Eventually, that mindset felt like a dead end. So I started over. I squatted with just the bar. I deadlifted with 25-pound plates. I focused on form instead of what it looked like.

And I’m glad I did. Adding those foundational movements—slowly, and with good technique—made a real difference. Not just in strength, but in posture, mobility, and how I felt in everyday life.

What Strength Training Actually Does

What sets strength training apart from other types of exercise is its direction—it’s not just movement for movement’s sake. It’s training: intentional, progressive, and focused on building something over time.

While other forms of movement may focus on endurance, calorie burn, or stress relief (all good things!), strength training helps your body become more capable—long-term.

Here are just a few of the benefits:

More lean muscle, less body fat
A higher resting metabolism (muscle burns more calories at rest)
Better posture and joint support
Smoother, more pain-free movement
Improved physical capacity as you age

And perhaps most importantly, strength gives you margin. Margin to lift what needs lifting. Margin to bend, reach, and carry without strain. Margin to recover more quickly from everyday physical challenges—because your body is trained for them.

So… Where Do You Start?

Strength training is for everyone. You don’t have to be a professional powerlifter or bodybuilder to benefit from it. But if that’s the path you’re pursuing, more power to you—it’s always inspiring to see people push the limits of what the human body can do.

At the same time, strength training isn’t just for athletes or gym regulars. It’s for parents lifting toddlers. It’s for people who want to carry groceries without strain, kneel on the floor without discomfort, or simply feel more at home in their own body. Whether you’re starting from scratch or easing back into a routine, strength has a way of making daily life feel more manageable.

For many people, the hardest part isn’t the workout—it’s knowing where to begin. There’s a temptation to copy the routines of advanced lifters or fitness influencers, hoping that doing what they do will produce similar results. But progress usually comes from something slower and more grounded: basic movement patterns done well, repeated often.

Over the years, I’ve tried a handful of programs and training styles. Occasionally, friends have asked me to help them come up with a plan. And when they do, I don’t offer anything revolutionary—I just point them to exercises that have stood the test of time: squats, rows, presses, deadlifts. Nothing flashy. Just solid movement and consistent effort.

Eventually, I pulled those ideas together into a simple A/B workout format that makes it easier to stay on track and build strength without needing a new routine every few weeks. It’s not a silver bullet—but it works.

I’ll walk through that plan in the next article.

Final Thoughts

Strength training is one of the best long-term investments you can make in your health. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to be great at it right away. You just have to begin.

Start light. Be consistent. Build over time.

And if you’re unsure about how to do a particular movement, look it up. There are countless helpful videos on YouTube that break down proper form and technique. Seeing it done, hearing cues, and watching it in motion can help a lot. Even better, if you can work with a good coach—even for just a session—or ask a more experienced lifter to give you a quick form check, take the opportunity.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to earn the right to start. Just begin—and keep showing up.