My Personal Lifting Journey: Building Strength Over Aesthetics
Lifting isn't about shrinking yourself; it's about building your capacity. Here is a raw look at my training, the technical breakthroughs, and the mindset shift from obsession to performance.
Pushing my limits on the squat rack. Every rep is a battle, and the encouragement from my coach and community makes all the difference. This is what it takes to get stronger.
A beautiful deadlift rep. The smile at the end says it all. Finding joy in the process of getting strong is what it's all about.
A glimpse from my upcoming film. BASE is a voice amidst all the noise, a place to focus on what matters: getting stronger, healthier, and building a sustainable lifestyle.
I'm sharing 10 mistakes I made as a beginner, from setting illogical goals to overtraining. I hope my journey helps you make better decisions in yours.
Hitting a 107.5kg squat. This is the result of consistent effort and trusting the process. Every session is a step forward.
People ask if it's worth it to travel 60kms twice a week just to lift. For the 8 best hours of my week where I get stronger and have fun? Absolutely.
When your coach screams 'Up', you have no other option. Hitting a 110kg squat personal record at a bodyweight of 62kgs. This is what happens when you trust your coach and push your limits.
A 140kg deadlift at 7.5 RPE. This lift felt smooth and powerful. It's a testament to consistent training and smart programming. Long way to go!
Squats are hard. That's why people avoid them. But there's no substitute for the results they produce. Here's me hitting a 105kg PR.
A workout is more than just the main lifts. It's the accessories, the warm-ups, the cool-downs, and the time spent focusing on your goals. That's why we spend hours in the gym.
About My Personal Lifting Journey
Seeing me hit a 140kg deadlift or a heavy squat in these videos doesn't mean I was born with a barbell in my hand. It means I stopped trying to starve my way to a physique and started training for function. Most people land in my HSR gym looking for a quick fix, but what I teach is the long game. If you're tired of gyms where the focus is on vanity rather than your ability to move well, you're in the right place.
My lifting journey hasn't been a linear path of constant PRs. It's been a series of hard lessons, from realizing that under-eating was ruining my strength gains, to understanding that technique is the only thing that separates a PR from an injury.
Why Strength Training Matters
At BASE, we don't care if you want to lose weight or gain muscle, as long as you're getting stronger. When I post videos of my training, it’s not to flex; it's to show you what's possible when you stop viewing your body as a problem to be solved and start seeing it as a machine to be built. Whether it is PCOS strength training or preparing for your first powerlifting meet, the mechanics remain the same—you must load the movement, eat properly, and recover.
The HSR Layout Difference
My facility in HSR is intentionally raw. We don't have mirrors on every wall or fancy spa music. We have competition-grade racks, calibrated plates, and coaches who know how to spot you properly. This environment is built to remove the intimidation factor, especially for women who have been told by mainstream fitness culture that they shouldn't lift heavy.
Taking the Next Step
If you are coming to me, you are likely done with the guesswork. You want a program that accounts for your hormonal health, your lifestyle, and your specific history. I don't give generic advice. We assess your movement, review your blood work if needed, and build a program that moves the needle on your strength, not just your weight. Stop punishing your body and start training it.
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