What It Means To Be Strong

Strong

Adjective
1. Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
2. Able to withstand great force or pressure

While there are many other definitions of strong, these are by far my favorite. Being strong doesn’t have to be associated with being super muscled up.

When I was little, Disney’s Hercules was one of my favorite movies. Hercules was known for his strength.  My dad was strong because he could lift me above his head with ease. I associated strength with lifting things and that was as far as it went. My niece is six years old. I asked her what she thought it meant to be strong. You know what she said? She held up her arms and tried to flex and she said, “Be like aunt Rye-Rye.” Aunt Rye-Rye is my little sister, the same one who was mentioned in my first blog post.

I asked my sister (who is seventeen) the same question. She answered with one word: Overcoming. I asked her to clarify and she said, “It’s getting over something you didn’t think was possible.” She likes being in the gym every day and has the goals to get really toned. Hence my niece’s answer.

Then I asked my mom and dad what they thought it meant. They listed several ways you can be strong. “You can be strong willed, strong minded, strong physically…” Strong is kind of a loaded word and it can be applied to almost any situation.

I’ve seen people struggle but continue to persevere. Strength can come from almost anything. Having a good diet and exercising has many benefits including making you stronger mentally and physically.

A healthy diet helps by lowering the risk of chronic diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. It also helps with depression because certain foods call for certain chemical reactions in your body when you eat them. One source listed chickpeas as a good source of tryptophan, which is a precursor of serotonin, also known as the feel-good hormone. Besides the more scientific benefits, having the control over your diet and having the discipline to stick with it also makes you stronger. I almost left out the most important part! EATING FOOD GIVES YOU ENERGY! How on earth are you going to go to the gym and have a successful workout if you don’t eat?

Working out will obviously make you stronger if you are consistent. Weightlifting will make it to where you can lift more with time. Cardio will help with stamina and endurance. Exercising also releases endorphins that will make you feel good and enhances your mood.

The key takeaway is that you must be consistent with workouts and maintain a healthy diet. By doing both, you will start to notice how much stronger you feel.