Why do I keep seeing ads for fasting apps? Has misinformation spread so far as to make the average person believe that withholding meals will actually benefit their health? Even more prevalent than these toxic advertisements are the heinous video demonstrations that pop into my feed.

No, these are not tutorials by professional athletic trainers. They are at-home videos showing women in tight clothing doing body-weight “exercises” (I prefer the term stretches) that are supposed to increase the size of your booty and nothing else. With the popularity of these fads increasing online, how are people supposed to know how to become genuinely healthy and fit?

In a time when we’re overwhelmed by sources presenting conflicting information, weight training remains a steadfast method by which to get strong and healthy.

During my first year at St. Joe’s, an injury forced me to give up running, my primary form of exercise, and replace it with upper body workouts at the gym. Over time, I moved from machines to free weights.

Not only did I like how my flabby-ish arms started to grow more muscle, but I also liked how I actually felt strong.

I appreciated how the process of muscle growth and repair burns calories over time in contrast to the instant calorie burning that occurs in cardio exercises.

When my dad started to compete in state and national powerlifting competitions during my junior year, I decided that this was the next step for me. Joining the St. Joe’s Powerlifting Club gave me a sense of
community on campus as I trained to join my dad on the platform. I competed this past June in York, Pennsylvania and won first place in the state for the bench press in my category. I am now training to compete again in February.

Although weight training doesn’t have to become competitive like it did for me, it can open doors for you that you never once considered. It may not get your heart pounding as much as cardio, but I can
guarantee that, with a good diet, it’s the most efficient and effective way to get healthy.

If you are unsure how to get started with weight training, I recommend reaching out to the SJU Powerlifting Club on Instagram (@sju.powerlifting) or checking out Alan Thrall on YouTube. There are many lifters out there who are eager to teach others how rewarding weight training can be.