The weight room can be an extremely intimidating place. But, when you actually ask yourself "Why," often times the answer can seem silly. We sat down with QLIFT to hear how they are breaking down this stigma and empowering women's weight lifting at Queen's University.
Q. Can you Tell us about yourselves and what inspired you to start QLIFT?
Mary: I have always admired women who lifted weights, however, when I arrived at University, I found the gym to be an incredibly intimidating place, especially the weight sections. In January of first year, I built up the courage to go to the weight room, but only at 6:00am on Monday mornings, to ensure an empty space, free of judgment. Looking back, I laugh at how ridiculous that is. It took all of first year and the following summer to realize that the gym does not have to be the scary place that it imagined it to be.
After second year, my sister kept talking about her membership in a fantastic women’s fitness club at her junior high school. I quickly looked into joining a similar club at Queen’s, and that is when I realized none existed. So, I decided to start one, and gathered Lauren, my co-president, and the rest of the executive members on board. QLIFTs purpose is to encourage women to be stronger and healthier, and the best part is that we get to do it together. QLIFT is not about training beginners in the gym, It’s about building a support network of women who share the same goals, and fostering friendships along the way.
Lauren: My inspiration came from growing up in competitive sports. Then, when I quit ski racing, I realized I had no experience working out in a gym setting by myself. The transition out of competitive sports and into university was challenging, but QLIFT is giving me back that same sense of community and accomplishment that came along with competitive racing.
QLIFT is about inclusion. I have heard the Lifting Zone referred to as many things, for example, “the scary room downstairs,” “the varsity room” and even “the men’s room.” We are really hoping to dispel the trend of thinking that women’s health revolves around cardio and salads. When I first started working out in the Lifting Zone, I made Mary come with me every time, because otherwise, I would probably be the only girl in there. So, that’s why we started QLIFT; to create a means where girls can feel comfortable in the gym, and to build a network of women who care about each other and their health.
Q. As a relatively new club, how have you managed to grab traction with Queen’s students?
Fran Moore, our social media coordinator, has been incredible at spreading the word of our club. She runs our Instagram, which already has over 550 followers, and runs our Facebook page. They post videos of the execs and general members working out, as well as recipes and transformation photos. These posts let our followers weight change possible and realistic; it encourages them to get out and exercise.
Our other executives April Christiansen, Sonja Lake, and Izzy Young have also been vital in sharing our club’s goals with other students.
In the last few years, weight training has become less stigmatizing and more common for women, so we think there has definitely been an increasing interest in the sport. Big brands like Reebok, Gymshark, Nike, and so many more are creating such a positive presence on social media for women to weight-train, and we think that such platforms have really helped us gain traction.
Q. As co-presidents, how do you plan to grow QLIFT for the next year? Where do you see QLIFT in the future?
Our highest goal is to obtain a physical space in a gym for a few hours each week where our members can workout together. Right now, QLIFT is mostly a social club where we support one another, share stories of our transformations and fitness journeys, and make new friends.
While the club already has over 60 members, we definitely still see room to grow through set gym times and enough funding for fresh merchandise. We also hope that women at other Universities can become inspired to create their own versions of QLIFT. Concerning events, we have already co-hosted a successful event with QPOW - Queens Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting club, called “Curls 4 a Cure” We managed to raise over $600 for breast cancer research in just four hours! We are currently planning other events, like a clothing drive to donate fitness gear to local high schools in need, as well as some other exciting events and giveaways.
Q. How would you encourage those who are not currently a part of QLIFT to work towards their fitness goals?
We want to stress the importance of focusing on progress instead of perfection. It is okay to not be an “expert” at working out. Nobody is born knowing how to execute the perfect squat, for example, and even people who train for years still mess up. Sometimes, we enter the gym, feel intimidated, and have to remind ourselves that everyone at the gym is there for one reason- to better themselves. We believe that being mindful of your diet, eating well but in moderation, and exercising in a way that makes you happiest is the key to a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
Q. Is there anything you would say to students thinking of pursuing their own club at Queen’s?
If you want to start something, start it, and don’t let anyone say you can’t. For every person you think would not want to join, there are likely two people who would. Our application numbers far exceeded what we had initially planned, and made us realize there was a substantial unmet need at Queen’s. You will have people telling you no, you will receive criticism and questions, and you will face setbacks. That being said, do not let other people’s ideas of what your club represents dictate how you think about your club. Your vision is yours to create, and yours to accomplish. If squirrel watching can get ratified, so can you.