How does being 'strong' help you?

UpEarly

After reading this post about how much MFP women are lifting (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/412516-girls-how-heavy-do-you-lift), I thought it would be fun to share (brag!!!) on how strength training pays off in our everyday lives.

It's one thing to be able to bench press, squat or deadlift heavy weights at the gym, but how does being STRONG pay off for you in real life outside your workouts?

I'll share a few of mine:

1) I'm a better, more efficient backpacker. I can easily carry 45 lbs on my back all day without feeling tired or sore.

2) I can carry two 30 lb. bags of dog food through Petco and out to my car without needing a shopping cart.

3) I can carry a week's worth of our household's groceries up three flights of stairs in a single trip.

What are some of the things you can do?

thecrossfitter

I'm currently nannying for a 13 month old while I work on my master's degree. Last week, the gigantic BOB stroller had a flat and I took it to a bike shop for repair. Once you walk into the bike shop, you have to walk downstairs to get the repair area. When I went to pick it up, I had the baby with me (20ish pounds) strapped to my front in a baby wrap. When I was leaving, the man at the store asked if I needed any help getting the stroller upstairs. I politely said no thank you, picked up the stroller while the kiddo was strapped to me and carried it up the steps like it was nothing

I could help my boyfriend carry a full sized book case up 4 flights of spiral stairs into our apartment. We were able to split the weight pretty 50/50 and he didn't have to call a friend for help!

koosdel

Saving for later..

engineman312

Saving for later..

ditto

Contrarian

I can open jars like nobody's business!

vs1023

Lifting my 50lb 6 year old and swinging her around like it's nothing
Carrying arm-loads of groceries in the house in one trip
Dog food is another one


Just everyday activities are easier.

iplayoutside19

Short answer is, everything is easier.

fakeplastictree

Saving for later..

ditto

And this is why I love both of you.

CaptainGordo

1) I'm a better, more efficient backpacker. I can easily carry 45 lbs on my back all day without feeling tired or sore.

2) I can carry two 30 lb. bags of dog food through Petco and out to my car without needing a shopping cart.

3) I can carry a week's worth of our household's groceries up three flights of stairs in a single trip.

Hot, hot and hot.

Beyond how great muscles look, let's give three cheers for functionality! Well done.

Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused

It has greatly improved my midget tossing abilities. I recently won a gold medal in it.

3GKnight

It has greatly improved my midget tossing abilities. I recently won a gold medal in it.

Pics or it didn't happen.

tangal88

dogfood and groceries, cases of water..... for sure.

Moving furniture to rearrange or clean under is easy, and do not need to wait for husband to get home.

Helping husband haul furniture and big bulky stuff into the house, or off his truck.

Getting the heavy packages from UPS or FedEx - no help needed.

This weekend, my step daughters car was stuck in the mud in the drive way, tires just spun - and I was able to push her out - not with my car - but by bracing my legs and pushing the front of her car to allow her to roll out of the mud area and onto the gravel drive 20 feet away.

I am 5'2" so that was pretty cool, since no one else was here to help her. I know most guys could easily do the same, but not many women of my size.

Secret_Agent_007

I don't even know how I managed to snuff the rooster before weight training.

california_peach

I can replace the bottle water on out water cooler. I used to have to wait for my husband to do it. Also, if I drop a sock on the floor while bringing in the laundry I just squat down and pick it up. I used to go back for them. I still can't open jars...go figure.

Barneystinson

dogfood and groceries, cases of water..... for sure.

Moving furniture to rearrange or clean under is easy, and do not need to wait for husband to get home.

Helping husband haul furniture and big bulky stuff into the house, or off his truck.

Getting the heavy packages from UPS or FedEx - no help needed.

This weekend, my step daughters car was stuck in the mud in the drive way, tires just spun - and I was able to push her out - not with my car - but by bracing my legs and pushing the front of her car to allow her to roll out of the mud area and onto the gravel drive 20 feet away.

I am 5'2" so that was pretty cool, since no one else was here to help her. I know most guys could easily do the same, but not many women of my size.

Pushing a car is pretty badass :glasses:

My muscles help me with carrying kitty litter from Sam's Club -> Car -> Home. My kittehs love me.

Also, huge help with backpacking, hiking, and rock climbing.

And lugging my luggage around an airport. Especially when my flights get booked to closely together and I have to run through the airport. Oh good times.

Scott613

I can toss midgets further now.

Troll

love it! 1. I dont need help when i buy 50lbs of cat litter. 2. When my fiance works on his classic car, i can lift heavy parts for him. 3. I can walk my 3 dogs at once, even though they outweigh me by almost 50lbs. 4. When i work with my horse i dont worry about her dragging me around.

caveats

Strengthening my core has helped me EVERYWHERE -- I can better hold yoga poses (and for longer!) and I recover quicker on my snowboard (just yesterday, my board snagged on a shrub and instead of flipping like I normally might have, I kept my balance and kept going down the hill ... whee!) Also, I used to flip to my knees to push myself up after strapping in at the top of the lift ... these days, I take the opportunity to just sit up because it is SO MUCH EASIER now and it keeps working that core. :bigsmile:

For arms -- we have 4 cats, so I buy food and litter in bulk. No more wrestling with the cases/bags/litter buckets out of the trunk of my car!

Avalonis

I can toss midgets further now.

Repost. Sublime beat ya to it.



Oh, and I can now break free of my bed restraints. True story. Bent the metal ring.

LorinaLynn

A year ago, I was carrying 35 extra pounds and looked like my before picture:



I'd rather carry the 35 extra pounds like this:

Yanicka1

I can carry a box of kitty litter from the store to the car and from the car up 2 flight of staires in high heels.

Same thing for a full week of food for my family.

Can pick up and toss my 5 years old.

LorinaLynn

I love that so many of us are talking about lugging the pet supplies. :laugh:

So much for the stereotype of the frail old crazy cat lady eating 9 Lives!

UpEarly

These are all so great! Well... except maybe the midget tossing. ;-)

MrsCon40

I can unload and stack hay by myself.

I can muscle a trailer onto a hitch that's not exactly where it should be.

I can carry a saddle, bridle, grooming kit, helmet, and whip to the barn in one trip - and open and close the gate.

I can carry a 50 pound bag of dog food into the house.

I can stack and unstack bankers boxes full of paperwork in a skirt and heels.

I can pick up my 86 pound Golden Retriever when he's being Emo.

I can kick the *kitten* of both my husband and my 12 year old daughter when we have family wrastling night.

anubis609

I can now plunge my toilet in 10 seconds or less.

Rae6503

Summer 2010 I just had a baby. My then 4 year old was 35 pounds. It was becoming REALLY hard for me to pick her up. I kept trying to explain to her that she was too big to pick up which was hard for her to get because I could still pick up her siblings.

Now she weighs 41lbs and picking her up and NO problem at all. I can dance around with her, throw her on the couch, hang her upside down by her feet, everything I can do with her 25lb siblings (yes, the 3 year old and the 1 year old weight the same). It's great.

Also, I had to laugh when a guy at the pet store offered to help me with my pounds of dog food as they were no problem. And I totally flew with a way too heavy carry on the other day and could easily get it up and into the over head bin.

juscallmeb

When someone asks for help to pick up heavy boxes, I do it, even when all the IT guys are walking up, I am carrying boxes in heels.

I also dont need to use the hand truck for boxes at work.

being strong also helps me feel better about myself in many ways. I love how it feels punching and kicking the punching bag.
I love how i feel stronger when i run too.

juscallmeb

ps: great post!

questionablemethods

I can replace the bottle water on out water cooler.

Yeah. I always chuckle a little bit when a guy tries to rush in and help me change the water bottle. I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't need help, thanks.

HeidiMightyRawr

1) In my old job it helped me to carry heavy stuff about, push heavy cages about. Guaranteed, the size/weight they were I would've needed help if I hadn't lifted before.

2) Large bags of dog food from the shop weigh 15kg (33lbs) and I don't always have my bf to carry it for me to the taxi / bus for me. I like being able to carry it without a problem, and say "no thanks" when the person in the shop asks if I need help.

3) Taking my very strong dog for a walk and not being instantly pulled to the ground (it's close.. but it hasn't happened yet)

4) The time when I decided to rearrange the living room (for the better) while the bf was at work which involved moving a sofa into the other room and pushing my bf's 50kg (110lbs) plates under it - even though it pushed me further back than I pushed them forward I still moved them LOL

5) Carrying a big delivery into my house instead of expecting the postman to do it.

crux

I can hit a golf ball further