*Anna Jenkins, founder of women's health and fitness club, We Are Fit Attitude. Photo credit:* Ray Burmiston

Anna Jenkins, founder of women's health and fitness club, We Are Fit Attitude (WAFA) found herself trapped in a perpetual cycle of starting and stopping diets, grappling with an unhealthy relationship with food and her body, all intertwined with low self-esteem and confidence. In her 40s she decided to embark on a journey of transformation, retraining as a personal trainer. Then in 2018 she transitioned to working with groups of women, using her own life experiences to help them foster self-love, strength and confidence through the power of exercise and helping them to break free from the constant cycle of yo-yo dieting. Her relationship with her body and exercise has been a journey of discovery, challenge, and ultimately, transformation not just physically but mentally as well.

Here she talks extensively about the benefits of strength training and how it can positively impact your health and wellbeing.

It’s refreshing to see the conversation shifting towards promoting strength training as a positive way to support women’s health, rather than perpetuating the outdated misconception that it will ‘bulk’ women up. Additionally, there’s a welcome move away from the emphasis on cardio as merely a tool for staying thin and burning calories, with a greater focus on using weights to build strength, tone and confidence beyond body shape.

‘Had I known what I know today, I would have started strength training in my 20s and stopped counting the burned calories with every minute I was working up a sweat!’

*Strength training is a positive way to support women’s health.*

Accessibility of Strength Training: The reality is that most women simply don’t have the financial means to hire personal trainers or access exclusive gyms. Affordable local gyms often lack the resources to properly educate members on safe and effective strength training techniques, leaving many women to either figure it out on their own or avoid it altogether. This can be both intimidating and potentially unsafe. If only the government invested less in pharmaceutical solutions like Ozempic and the NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme, and instead channelled funds into helping people develop healthier lifestyle habits. This could include supporting access to affordable, healthier food choices and making better use of independently run facilities like WAFA or local council gyms.

Alternative Resources: Clubs like WAFA offer valuable support for women looking to learn strength training in a more accessible and supportive environment. Online programmes and independent gyms can also provide essential guidance and education, especially for those who cannot afford one-to-one training. However, it’s crucial that these programmes include thorough onboarding processes to understand the physical limitations a woman may have when stepping into strength training for the first time. Many affordable online programmes are on-demand, which often lack the educational component needed to ensure women are learning to strength train safely, effectively, and at a level appropriate for them.

*A set of dumbbells and bodyweight exercises can be just as effective as an 80kg barbell.*

Focus on Technique and Consistency: While lifting increasingly heavier weights may be perceived as the ultimate achievement, it’s important to recognise that strength training isn’t about lifting the heaviest possible weights. What we should be doing is helping women understand that manageable strength training, which can fit into a busy schedule, is crucial for the ageing body. It’s like an ISA for their future selves, increasing longevity and independence to continue with daily chores—simple everyday things like carrying shopping bags, lifting kids, getting up the stairs, or doing gardening. Consistency, proper technique, and fitting a routine into a busy woman’s life are the real keys to building a strong and healthy body. A set of dumbbells and bodyweight exercises can be just as effective as an 80kg barbell for helping women maintain the strength and energy needed for daily life.

Moreover, it’s likely that those training with such heavy weights are dedicating a significant chunk of their week to this, something the everyday woman simply doesn’t necessarily have the capacity to do. On top of that, there’s the time it takes to get to the gym to access this sort of equipment, whereas celebrities very likely have at-home gyms that are as well-equipped as a local gym.

*Celebrating strength and different body types and fitness levels is a welcome move a way from unhealthy diet culture.*

Diverse Representation: “Perfect” slim and toned bodies may not resonate with everyone. A more balanced perspective would be to celebrate different body types and fitness levels; women who are strong and fit that don’t necessarily conform to traditional beauty standards. It’s time we move away from using body shape as the primary marker of a woman’s health and success.

Diet and Genetics: Diet, genetics, and other lifestyle factors play a much more significant role in women’s physique and appearance. While celebrities like Victoria Beckham are undoubtedly a great role model and have certainly gained muscle through strength training, we need to move away from relying on celebrity status or fitness influencers to convey this message. It’s important to set realistic expectations, so women understand that bodies like Victoria Beckham’s aren’t simply achieved by lifting a few weights.”