These Fitness Stories Will Inspire You to Start Lifting Heavy Weights

Katie Crewe

The now-trainer and Insta star used to find weights intimidating so she stuck to cardio classes. But once she picked up a dumbbell, she realized the body she wanted couldn't be achieved with three-pound "toning" exercises. "My 'gains' came very slowly," she writes on IG. "It took me a really long time to start doing full push-ups (especially darn triceps ones)." Crewe's story and her weight lifting photos and videos are proof that when you get past weight room intimidation and result frustrations, hard work will pay off eventually.

02 of 07

Kathryn Nash

Kathryn Nash started reaching for dumbbells as a way to max out after BBG workouts, but pretty soon, the weights became her favorite part of the workout. After ditching HIIT to go all-in with lifting, it took almost a year for Nash to build up her muscle, she says. "Don't be afraid to lift heavy and EAT, ladies!!!" she says. "You can't grow if you neglect either of them. Muscle growth takes time and a whole lot of patience, but it is so worth it. Gainz are nice and all, but nothing beats the adrenaline rush you get from lifting heavy a$$ iron." (

03 of 07

Abby Pollock

Over the past four years, the Canadian fitfluencer has built her booty with a mix of heavy lifting four times a week and strategic cardio. "A structured weight lifting routine that has you progressively doing 'more' over time will deliver the best and most predictable results," she writes. (Learn more about how progressive overload can help you attain the same results.)

04 of 07

Sia Cooper

Cooper, a NASM certified trainer and creator of the Strong Body Guide, switched up her workouts after the birth of her first baby. "My tummy was soft, my thighs were blown, and I just simply didn't feel like me anymore," she writes. "Most of all, I didn't think I could ever get my 'body back." So instead, she decided to build a new one. "I began doing something that I had never done before: lift weights!" she adds, noding to the shift that jumpstarted her fitness evolution.

05 of 07

Jennifer Patton

In 2015, Pattan decided to join a CrossFit box. Three years later, she's PRing jerk thrusters at 170 pounds and has totally transformed her body (and confidence!) by learning to lift. Talk about a huge fitness transformation! Take one look at her Instagra photos (and fun, helpful lifting video tutorials, btw!) and you'll understand how body recomposition is the reason why so many people think of utilizing weight lifting for weight loss. It's not that you're losing weight, rather you're changing the ratio of fat to lean muscle in your body.

06 of 07

Kim French

After having two kids, French tried to get back in shape by eating 1,200 calories a day and upping her cardio — unsurprisingly, she didn't have a lot of muscle to show for that restrictive eating and sweat. Now, she lifts heavy four times a week and fuels with at least 2,100 calories — and says she feels better than she did even before having children.

07 of 07

Phoebe Hagan

Hagan used to focus only on cardio and bodyweight training. "I always used to have an issue of thinking that muscle = manly which isn't feminine," she wrote. Five years later, she competes in competitions with these gorgeous guns and has totally transformation how she thinks about what fitness and feminity can look like. "Results won't happen overnight, it takes time and a lot of consistency," she adds. "So give yourself time to grow, don't rush anything, be patient and the results will slowly start to follow."

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