Deep Dive: Getting Started With Weightlifting

Sharing What I've Learned So Far

Hey there, readers—Thomas here. Coming off the incredible response to our biggest post ever, Julia's “What Actually Made a Difference in My Health & Fitness,” and after seeing Julia share her workouts on her IG Stories in my home gym (aka “Treehouzz”), we received an overwhelming number of requests for more guidance on starting weightlifting, and Julia asked me to dive deeper into this topic—a subject I'm truly passionate about.

Why Weightlifting Matters

Lifting weights has been a part of my life since I was 13 (I played Division 1 college baseball, so I’ve always prioritized staying strong and performing at my best). I’m not the strongest guy in the gym (unless I'm working out at home), but I’m comfortable there and I'm always looking for ways to improve. Lifting consistently—three times a week—has proven to be the most effective way I know to build genuine strength and muscle.

Coming Up Next: The Practical Steps to Get Started

In the rest of this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to structure your first workouts, whether you're training at home or in the gym. I’ll also cover how to choose the right weight, how to progress safely, and key strategies to stay motivated.

That said, it’s important to note that everyone has different considerations and goals, especially juggling family, work, and other demands of life. I’m sharing my perspective as someone who’s seen real benefits from weight training, not telling you what you have to do. If this sparks ideas or helps you get going, I’ll consider it a win.

Note: This post is quite detailed. If you’re the type of person that prefers to just jump in and learn while doing then I’d highly suggest starting with something like Future app which provides virtual private trainers for way less than the cost of in person trainer.