Strutting (or Stumbling) into the Weight Room: My Hilariously Awkward Fitness Journey

Ever walked into a place and thought, “Did I just crash the wrong party?” That was me, marching into the weight room for the first time—armed with nothing but my trusty water bottle and a mountain of self-doubt. I’d spent years in group fitness classes, where the only heavy lifting was my own spirits. The weight room was not unfamiliar, just not the place I frequented. But then I decided to level up. I wanted to join the 1%—not the billionaires, but the rare breed who actually stick with competitive bodybuilding. Spoiler: It’s harder than it looks.

So, there I was, surrounded by guys in shirts so tight they looked like they’d been painted on. My husband and I call them “2T” (as in toddler size 2T), but honestly, these muscle-bound superheroes became my biggest cheerleaders. Turns out, the only thing smaller than their shirts was my confidence. But hey, we all start somewhere!

The gym quickly became my sanctuary—a place where I could sweat out my frustrations, flex my resilience, and occasionally pretend I knew how to use the cable machine. Every day, I showed up, even when my brain screamed, “Let’s just go for coffee instead!” I made a promise to myself, and I wasn’t about to let me down.

Life threw me a curveball when my mom’s health took a turn. As her caregiver, the weight I carried outside the gym felt heavier than any dumbbell. But lifting in the gym made me stronger in every way. I learned that sometimes, you have to do things scared. Sometimes, you have to show up when you’d rather hide. And sometimes, you have to laugh at yourself—especially when you accidentally set off the lunk alarm.

So, if you’re standing at the edge of something new, feeling like an imposter, remember: We’re all just making it up as we go. Fear is loud, but your determination is louder. Show up, do it afraid, and don’t be afraid to laugh along the way. You might just surprise yourself—and maybe even outgrow your own “2T” shirt.