What Strength Training Has Taught Me (Beyond Muscles)

Strong Body, Clear Mind

Fifteen years ago, I came to strength training in a pretty dysfunctional way. Here’s how it started, what I’ve learned, and the role movement plays in my life today.

Finding Strength in the Fog

In 2010, my mom passed away. I was 22—already a mom to a toddler—and completely heartbroken. My family had just watched her battle a devastating neurological disease, and we were left shell-shocked.

Somewhere in that fog, I started running on my treadmill at night and following a strength training video a few days a week.

I wish I could say I started for healthy reasons. But honestly? I’d heard that people who lost loved ones often got depressed and gained weight, and I was terrified of that. My motivation was mostly fear and vanity.

But deep down, I think I was also searching for control. Getting pregnant at nineteen, then losing my mom soon after, left me feeling like my life was unstable. Movement gave me something to hold onto.

And for that, I’m grateful—because what began as a coping mechanism became one of my greatest teachers.

What Movement Gave Me

The first thing strength training gave me was confidence. Yes, some of it came from physical changes—but more than that, it came from showing up for myself. I built my discipline muscles, learning to do what I needed to do, not just what I felt like doing. That consistency rippled through every part of my life—parenting, work, relationships.

It gave me structure—predictable routines I could count on when everything else felt uncertain.

And it helped regulate my mood, long before I knew the science behind cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin. I just knew I felt better when I moved.

Over time, as I returned to movement again and again through different life challenges, I learned two powerful lessons:

1. Consistency over time outweighs mistakes.

2. Strength isn’t about muscles—it’s about stability.

Can you maintain your form when things get heavy?
How quickly can you return to balance when you’re thrown off course?

Both apply just as much outside the gym as they do in it.

My kids roll their eyes when I start with my “life-is-like-the-gym” analogies. Thankfully, my teen loves training too, so he can follow the logic.

Why I Train the Way I Do

For me, going to a gym each week isn’t realistic. I’m raising kids, working, and doing my best to stay afloat. So I mostly train at home—or with friends in theirs.

That’s why the strength routines I teach inside Yummi Mummis are designed to be:

• Achievable

• Adaptable

• Accessible for anyone

You can scale up or down—go lighter or heavier, add reps, adjust rest days, or train anytime that fits your life. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or a gym membership. Your kids can be right there in the next room—no babysitter needed!

What I love most is the return on investment: when you train with intention (and don’t overdo it), you get back exactly what you put in. That kind of fair exchange is rare.

Just remember—results take time. Be patient. Your effort will compound.

The Confidence Ripple

There’s something powerful about watching your body get stronger—seeing your capabilities grow, your posture change, your energy shift.

But the real magic? That confidence spills over into everything else. It’s like the sun rising over a quiet valley, slowly illuminating all the beauty you hadn’t noticed before. You become this resilient, steady version of yourself.

And if you fall off?
Fitness is always waiting for you to come back. No judgment.

Evolving With the Seasons

My relationship with movement has changed over the years. I’ve softened. I’m drawn more to outdoor workouts, gentler routines, and a slower pace. And I’m okay with that. My practice flows with my life now—and I let it.

What started as control became connection.
What started as fear became freedom.

Through it all, investing in myself through movement has been one of the most rewarding choices I’ve ever made.

I’m grateful I get to share that with others now.

If you’re just starting—or starting again—welcome.
Let’s get strong from the inside out.

With love,
Sam

Ready to Start Your Strength Journey?

If this spoke to you, now’s the perfect time to take the next step.

💪 Our new strength training courses launch this November!

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Whether you’re beginning, rebuilding, or ready to level up — you don’t need perfection, just a willingness to show up.

Let’s build strength from the inside out.

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