I agree with what @Psych101 said! Lifting is so empowering, and I'm kind of addicted to it. When I'm on my "rest" days, I'm thinking about it and how to improve my form, etc. Also, I really want my friends and more females to get into it. Girl power and all . It's also made me more aware of my body and it's imbalances. Now it's hard to sit at work for long periods of time. I get antsy and have to get up and move or I feel stiff and lazy. I also feel more in charge of my life and I'm more confident and self assured. And last, I'm more comfortable with pushing my own limits now. It's a great feeling.

I love what every woman in the article said about lifting but especially number 4 regarding exercising to be strong rather than to be small.

I have always hated when girls acted weaker and dumber than they actually were to attract guys, but has never thought about actually my developing physical strength beyond what I could already do. And to be honest, I only started lifting because I wanted to lose weight and didn't want to look flabby.

But in the short time that I have been lifting (only 6 weeks according to my app but it feels so much longer!), there is already there is a huge difference in my goals, confidence, and general outlook on exercise.

Over the last year or so I have gradually started to appreciate and love my body for the things that it does for me rather than being so focused on its flaws in appearance. Lifting reinforces this every day. It is incredibly empowering to exercise for health and strength rather than to fit an aesthetic ideal. I know and accept that, like most people, I will never have a perfect looking body and I am okay with that as long as I have a strong and healthy body. I feel a lot more motivated and enjoy going to the gym more now that my goals have shifted from merely looking good to getting stronger and reaching that next 5lb increase.

From the first day that I conquered my fear of using the free weights in a room full of burly men to every day after where I have increased the weights I can lift, I have felt a huge sense of accomplishment and desire to do more. This has not happened with the hours upon hours of cardio that I've done for years.

And lastly, a few weeks ago I mentioned to my friend that I have big quads. She asked if I wanted big quads and said she would not want big quads and would stop working them out if she was me because she just wants to look toned and slim. I was so shocked that I did not know what to say to this. I cannot imagine purposely losing any muscle on my body (even my disproportionately large calves which I used to hate and always cover up) when it is what helps me to run faster, hike up a hill, and lift stuff up every day. This article reassures me that I am not the only woman to think this way.

I love number 4, "Treating exercise as a means to be more, as opposed to viewing it as a never-ending struggle to be less, is absolutely a game changer." I've heard recovered annorexics say something similar in that they are here and no longer wish to take up less space. Lifting has made fitness more to me than being smaller and lighter. It's made me aspire to be a stronger and better version of myself.

I need to work on number 6, "On days when I’m unsure of myself, I remember how much stronger I am than my emotions.” I'm getting better but my reaction to most setbacks is still automatically that the worst possible outcome will happen and I won't be able to handle it. It's such a good point to tie your strength in the weightroom to your mental and emotional strength. I need to remember this.

Love this.
Weight lifting has taught me that my body is powerful and useful. I have thick thighs and big shoulders. Even when my waist was 26.5", my thighs were 23" -- each. I was not meant to be skinny. I will NEVER be skinny. Not ever. I was meant to be strong. And that is not bad.
When I am lifting, I feel free. I feel powerful. I feel that I can do anything -- anything! I can hit my weight loss and fitness goals, get the job I want, whatever.
I realized today that the feeling I get after lifting or just exercising generally is the same feeling I get after drinking a good glass wine with friends or family: a general sense of relaxation and well being. Imagine that -- buzzed on lifting.