03/06/2026
If you’ve ever stood in the gym staring at the rack of dumbbells wondering…
5 pounds? 10 pounds? 12.5? Should I go heavier? Lighter? More reps?
You’re not alone.
Even experienced lifters struggle with choosing the right weight — not because they aren’t capable, but because many of us have been taught the wrong things about strength for years. Adrien Cotton reminds us that women, in particular, often underestimate what they are truly capable of lifting.
For decades we were told the same formula:
Light weights. High reps. Sweat more. Cardio equals success.
But science — and experience — are telling us something very different.
Muscle is medicine.
Building strength supports longevity, protects your bones, improves hormonal balance, sharpens the brain, and helps your body recover faster from injury.
And here’s the empowering truth:
Most of us are far stronger than we think.
The goal isn’t to choose the “safe” weight.
The goal is to challenge your body enough that it adapts, grows, and becomes stronger over time through progressive overload — gradually increasing the demand placed on your muscles.
Strength training is not about punishment.
It’s about possibility.
It’s about discovering that the limits you believed in yesterday might not be your limits at all.
When you lift heavier than you thought you could…
When your body surprises you…
When you realize your strength is expanding every week…
That confidence doesn’t stay in the gym.
It follows you into your work.
Your decisions.
Your leadership.
Your life.
Because strength is never just physical.
If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the right weights for your workouts — and how to finally stop second-guessing yourself in the gym — this article is a must read.
Read it here:
https://alexandriastylebook.com/alexandria-stylebook/adrien-cotton-how-to-choose-the-right-weights-for-your-workouts
Your future self is stronger than you think.
