Women Who Want Muscle

“Everything has improved since being in WWWM. The support from everyone is unreal. The self-efficacy that I have built in the last 9 months is powerful. My stress level is way down (and that is saying something as the last year has been the most stressful of my life). And a bonus is that I have nice definition in my arms and legs! To say WWWM is life-changing is not an overstatement.”

She is a 46 year old social worker in the field of addictions. She has been lifting in the WWWM program for over a year now and is proud of her consistency with training. “My snowboarding capacity has significantly shifted for the better. My stamina has greatly increased, I have less aches and pains during and afterwards”, says Amanda. She is looking forward to continuing in the program this year because of the structured programs that are personalized when needed and the wonderful community. She is also getting married in September!

Diane was a total beginner to lifting before the program and is proud of her consistency. “I feel much stronger, and it shows in increased stamina and dexterity in my tennis game”. She has the goal "to be able to lift with barbells at some point - just to be able to say that I did it!"

Andrea is a 54-year-old empty nester (with frequent messy visits!) who is soon to retire from teaching to launch her own business. She has been with WWWM for 15 months and has appreciated how the program has helped her “beat the mental game of working out”. She enjoys “the adrenaline rush after a workout,” and the knowledge that lifting “is a must” keeps her going. Thanks to her strength, she was able to hike the Juan de Fuca Trail last year, and her goal is to get back to skiing.

“Embarking on this adventure, I was excited yet uncertain about the outcomes because it had been three years since I did any serious lifting. Little did I know it would become a transformative experience that has left me feeling empowered both mentally and physically. 

My strength increased with each workout and overall, my energy was great. I have a hard time with sleeping well and the physical exercise of heavy weights seemed to help with better quality sleep.

One particular accomplishment stands out as a testament [of ] the program's effectiveness: my deadlift journey. In June, I hesitantly approached the barbell, lifting about 63lbs. It had been three years since I had attempted this particular exercise, and my starting point felt humbling. I stuck to it and by the fourth week of the program, I was proudly deadlifting 5 sets of 6 reps @ ~123lbs.

The feeling of accomplishment was great. This achievement wasn't just about the numbers on the weights; it was more about the effort, consistency, growth and strength.”

In 2022, at the age of 65, she began running races. Initially a 5k, the next year a 10k, now she is training for the Army Run half marathon in September. All this amidst caring for her aging dad.  She joined the WWWM in January 2025 hoping to build her strength for this challenge. She says “WWWM has already reduced the aches and pains and also improved my muscular strength. I now say “bring on the September challenge!”

A 52-year-old dental hygienist and founding member of WWWM. She started lifting two years ago as a complete beginner. Since then, her strength training has boosted her performance in skiing, trail running, cycling, and swimming—without adding extra training in those sports. Her goal is to complete a 50K trail race! 

Joanne credits lifting for better posture, core strength, and body awareness. Her proudest win?“Gaining confidence by doing something hard and new, even when I wasn’t great at it. And seeing muscles grow!”

“I recently told a friend that I joined the program to have a good weight training program and to connect with women in my age group. But I've been pleasantly surprised!

I really enjoy the weekly topics and discussions, which I find to be life-changing. The information shared and the topics discussed resonate with me - there are no trendy diets or programs, but rather a focus on developing habits that actually work, taking into consideration physical, psychological, environmental, and societal aspects.

The sharing is based on peer-reviewed science and provides excellent resources.”

Mackenzie is a 48 year old mother of two teenage boys who first began lifting when she joined 8months ago. She is the Health Education Director for a U.S. based non-profit public health association and her job involves long hours of desk work. Mackenzie has completed a ½ marathon in the past and notes that physical activity helps make her a “much happier, less anxious and better mother and wife if [she] get in some sort of physical movement everyday!” Since adding regular resistance training to her exercise routine she has noticed that her mobility is improving and the amount of weight [she] can lift has increased! She credits the WWWM program for helping her stay on track thanks to “a band of likeminded women, realistic workouts, and a supportive coach to cheer me on!”

“Today marks my one year anniversary beginning with this wonderful group. I keep all of my logs, and wow, what progress. I have learned so much and have become much stronger and more able.

I thank this community for your support and especially Tina for her guidance and encouragement. I hope to become a lifelong lifter and this program is really setting me up for this.”

Beverly is 65 and she shared, “I have to tell you I had my first Dexa scan yesterday [...] and my appendicular lean body mass index (ALMI) was in the 91 percentile for my age group. The doctor high-fived me and said I need to thank my strength coach. I agree! So thank you Tina!!”

Jenny is a 46 year old mother of 2, who lives in France with her spouse and is caring for an aging parent. She works in Human Rights in a high stress, high demand environment. She has always maintained her health through running and yoga and added resistance training when she joined WWWM 5 months ago. She has noticed an improvement in her posture, her muscle awareness, confidence and mental health. She says: “Weightlifting makes my muscles and bones work better for running, skiing and yoga, too. The weekly sessions about lifting and general health make the program holistic.”

Jane just celebrated her 61st birthday! She is a retired teacher and mother of 2. She joined WWWM this past January and has already noticed how much stronger she feels!  She is an avid alpine skier whose goal is to be able to keep skiing for as long as she can and enjoy a good quality of life as she ages. She loves that WWWM provides her with structure, support and a peer group. She says “I live in a beautiful part of the world where places to ski, bike, and paddle are right out my door.  In the past I didn't prioritize being active and making time in my day.  I have made a conscious decision to make time every day to be active.”