Sharing a list of those “live and learn” kinda moments.
Hi friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful morning. I have a couple of appointments today and then it’s the mom uber shuffle later this afternoon. 
Today, I wanted to chat about something that comes up all the time with clients and in DMs, especially from women who are just getting started with strength training:
“I’m working hard at the gym, but I’m not seeing results.”
I feel this in my soul, because I’ve definitely been there.
When I first started my fitness journey, I was super motivated, consistent… and also making quite a few mistakes that were slowing my progress way down. The tricky part is that a lot of these mistakes are things we’ve been taught to do (especially as women in the early 2000s fitness era… anyone else remember hours on the elliptical? I used to prop my textbook on the elliptical and *study* as a I pedaled my little heart out)
Today I wanted to chat about some of the biggest beginner strength training mistakes I personally made, so you can skip the frustration and start seeing results faster. (lil note: even though I’m a certified personal trainer, Women’s Fitness Specialist and Corrective Exercise Specialist, this is not personalized fitness advice. Check with your doctor before making any changes to your routine.)

Beginner strength training mistakes I made
1. Doing way too much cardio
This was probably my #1 mistake.
I thought the formula was:
Sweat as much as possible = better results
So I’d stack:
Long cardio sessions
Group fitness classes
Maybe a little bit of strength training… as an afterthought.. and I’d use teeny tiny lil weights.
The problem? Too much cardio can actually work against your goals, especially if you’re trying to build muscle, boost metabolism, and change your body composition.
When you’re constantly in a calorie-burning, high-stress state:
– Your body doesn’t prioritize muscle building
– Cortisol can stay elevated
– You can feel constantly depleted (and CRASH in the afternoon)
What I wish I had done instead:
Focus on strength training as the foundation, with cardio as support.
Now, I usually recommend:
3 – 4 days of strength training
1 – 2 days of cardio (or just daily walks + lifestyle movement)
2. Not eating enough (especially protein)
This one is huge and I see it all the time.
Back then, I was:
Under-eating overall
Skipping meals or eating super “light”
Not prioritizing protein at all (I thought one egg was protein and that peanut butter was also protein)
Behold, a 2014 lunch:
Read more