Hey Team,

Thanks for another great week at the gym.  It’s certainly ALL been happening – classes, Christmas parties, Ice Baths even!  I really do appreciate everyone for getting along and supporting events such as these (and the recent Summer Slam Challenge)…I know the gym is about the ‘day-to-day’ but being able to do some different things from time-to-time really does break it all up, give everyone something new to try and just generally lift the overall mood.  With the Ice Baths, we’ve invested in some equipment to allow us to do this semi-regularly (shower, baths, freezer)…exactly ‘semi-regularly’ looks like right now I’m not sure but your support at the session today meant a lot.

Last week I sat here and wrote all about how BoxPlus should be your go-to training session (I mean, after all this time it’s still mine so I’m biased!).  This week though I’m doing a 180 and writing all about how strength training can change your life!  This started out as a ‘Ladies need to Lift’ post but we’ve all heard the clichés about women lifting weights: ‘It won’t make you bulky,’ ‘Strong is the new skinny,’ ‘Weights are for everyone,’ and so on…and that was how my post was sounding (and I thought it kinda sucked!).  That said, while it’s tempting to roll your eyes at all of those overused phrases—they’re repeated so often because they’re true. Strength training really does change the game for women, from building confidence to improving speed and resilience, to making everyday life feel just a little bit easier. At Round 1, we know it’s not just about the results—it’s about how you get there.

So here’s my spin on why everyone needs to get a barbell on their back!!

“Confidence” is a ‘DOING’ word!!

Let’s bust one of the biggest myths about strength training right here: You don’t need to feel confident to get started. Confidence doesn’t come first—it comes from doing.

Think about it: How many times have you put something off because it felt intimidating? Strength training can seem that way at first—like a secret club where everyone else knows what they’re doing. But the reality? Every single lifter started somewhere. Once you take that first step—picking up a dumbbell, trying your first squat—you realize it’s not as hard as you thought. And that’s when confidence takes over.

“Being a beginner is actually a GOOD thing”

One of the biggest myths about strength training is that you have to know what you’re doing before you start. At Round 1 Fitness, we think that’s nonsense. In fact, not knowing is where the magic happens, because it means you get to learn—which is good for you from top to bottom…good for the soul, good for the brain, challenging for the body!  Plus the reason the coaches are coaches is because they want to TEACH you how to move…

When you head in for a strength class, we’re not going to leave you wandering around, wondering what all the machines do. We’re a coaching gym. Our job is to take you from ‘I’m not sure what to do’ to ‘Look what I just accomplished!’ Whether you’re a total beginner or simply new to lifting, our coaches will guide you every step of the way.

“Strength Training is for Everyone”

Here’s the thing about being strong: it’s never a disadvantage.  The AFL draft was on last week and I head all of these 17year olds being criticised for stuff they can’t yet do (funny that, they’re like, 17!!).  Not one person was referred too as “TOO STRONG”!  Positive words used like ‘powerful’ and ‘explosive’ though…I wonder how you add those things to your kitbag??  I mean, whether you’re training for a triathlon, prepping for a netball/football season, thinking about ‘maybe’ running a half-marathon or just planning a pre-Christmas trip to CostCo being stronger makes life better.

Strength training isn’t just about muscles—it’s about what those muscles do. Runners who lift weights get faster. Swimmers can stroke harder for longer. If you’re playing team sport, you bounce back from bumps and knocks WITHOUT being injured…and if your sport is life? Well, let’s just say that Costco bags never stood a chance.

Strength isn’t just physical—it’s mental too. Women who lift weights often say it’s not just their bodies that feel stronger—it’s their sense of self – to be honest, this is the biggest feedback we get from parents who have their kids in our Developing Athletes program as well…”He/She has really come out of themselves…they’re so much more ‘CONFIDENT’ in everything they do…”

New Strength On-Ramp Program

Still feeling unsure? We’ve got you covered. Our new Strength On-Ramp program includes 5x 1-on-1 coaching sessions designed to help you master the basics, build confidence, and feel 100% ready to join any class. Think of it as your personal strength training kickstart—because everyone deserves to feel strong and prepared.  This is a genuine ‘Get Started’ strength program and you’ll finish up with all the skills you need to set up a rack (any rack!!) as well as deadlift, squat, bench press and overhead press – maybe not with the “best” of them but certainly well enough to feel comfortable walking into a strength focussed group training environment.

“Confidence” is a ‘DOING’ word??? “ACTION” is a doing word!!

As with all things – thinking about stuff you think you maybe SHOULD do isn’t the same as doing it.  To move forward you have to make a decision to move forward…reach out and let’s get started.

See you in the (strength) gym!

Michael.