On the shoulders of strong women

There’s a favourite quote of mine that says, “boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

And as a Bolder Woman I like the idea.

But honestly, I have to ask myself, “How can I be bold in my life right now”?

That’s the topic for this week.

But before we dive in ...

The Strong Woman Project is launching this month (OCTOBER).

This new program is for committed women who want to make a real change to their health, body, and life.

The whole idea can be summed up in three main points.

1. Stop Restricting: Learn how to break free from a lifetime of stressful calorie restriction and discover how to truly nourish your body for life.

2. Start Lifting: Whether you love running, hiking, cardio, yoga … by lifting weights you’ll live a better life and transform your body shape.

3. Do Amazing: By being properly nourished and stronger you’ll be more confident in your body so that you can not only take on new adventures, but your everyday life becomes better. From simple tasks like shopping to the intimate experiences with your partner.

Right now you can join the ‘early bird’ list and get a founding members discount when we launch.

Deep Dive: How can I be bold in my life right now?

Synonyms for bold include daring, courageous, brave, and valiant … at least these are the ones I like.

And right now in my life I have lots of opportunities to be these things.

I think we’re all juggling multiple complex responsibilities at this stage of our lives … with our children, our husbands / partners, our friends, our work, our parents, and our community.

Not to mention what we personally want and need and like!

And there’s no doubt in my mind that for us to live our lives according to our values then we are required to be bold.

We need to be daring if we are to change our career or try a new sport or step into a new role.

And we need to be courageous if we are to stand up for what we believe is best and have our say, because not everyone wants to hear what we’ve got to say, and so it does take courage.

We need to be brave if we’re facing financial hardship or if our parents or family members have serious health problems.

And we need to be valiant and determined to take control of our health and wellbeing.

I believe it’s a great time to be alive as women because of all the bold women who have come before us and shown us how it’s done.

I’d love to share just a few examples (of which there are so many).

I’ll start with one out of Biblical history. It’s about Ruth who was a widow and chose to be responsible for her mother-in-law in a foreign country. Despite being marginalized, Ruth boldly stepped into a working role that was physically demanding and potentially dangerous to ensure their survival.

I always liked that Ruth was a bold and determined woman, something I aspire to be.

Next is the story of Katie Sandwina the first ‘strong woman’. The year was 1902 and she lifted 300 pounds over her head in New York, whereas the famous ‘strong man’, Eugen Sandow was only able to lift 300 pounds to his chest.

And yet despite becoming a curious circus act … Katie held on to her femininity and paved the way for all of us to be bold enough to believe that women can lift heavy weights.

Fast forward almost 100 years and Womens Weightlifting was included for the first time in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

The first-ever Olympic Champion in women’s weightlifting was Tara Nott from the United States.

Then we have Professor Belinda Becks from Griffith University in Australia. Belinda is the first researcher to demonstrate that lifting heavy weights can reverse osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.

Belinda is one of my heroes because she broke through the female stereotypes of a male-dominated industry and got ethics approval from her University to get women lifting heavy enough to actually make a difference.

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about 40 or 50 year old women lifting heavy weights for the first time in their lives.

The youngest woman in this research was 58 years old. She’d never lifted weights before, and started lifting weights like:

• Deadlift: 160lbs

• Squat: 130 lbs

If post-menopausal women can learn to lift heavy weights for the first time in their lives to protect their bones, then I think we can too.

And lastly, I have to mention my friend Rhoda Lucas from the Strong Woman Project. Rhoda is such a ‘leader by example’ and if you haven’t followed her on Instagram yet, then I’d suggest you do.

You can find her at @therhodalucas

Of course, history is full of inspiring, bold women calling us to be bold in our own lives.

When we think about how we can be bold in our lives, we can draw on the inspiration of all the women that have come before us and been bold enough to give us more opportunity to live a rewarding and fulfilling life.

Bite Size Snacks

Habits instead of willpower → Women who follow at least 4 out of 5 key habits before the age 50, live an average of 34 more years free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

A quick drink before bed → Alcohol use is associated with poor sleep quality and predicts poor sleep quality later in life.

Lift to live amazing → Remember to join the ‘wait list’ for the Strong Woman Project and secure founding members pricing.

MEME of the Day

Summary of issue

Embrace the magic of boldness!

Dare to dream, be courageous in your convictions, and embrace the brave, valiant spirit within you.

As we juggle the complexities of life, let’s remember that being daring opens doors to new opportunities.

Stand tall, speak your truth with grace, and fearlessly face challenges that come your way.

Take charge of your well-being. Draw inspiration from the incredible women who blazed trails before us, like Ruth, Katie Sandwina, Tara Nott, Belinda Becks and Rhoda Lucas.

Their stories ignite a fire within us, reminding us that we too can make extraordinary strides in our own lives.

So, let your boldness shine, step out of your comfort zone, and let the world marvel at the incredible woman you are still becoming.

Reflection (to ask yourself)

Am I embracing boldness in my life? Reflect on whether you are actively stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and pursuing your dreams with courage and determination.

Amy and the team at
Bolder Women

How’d we do with the newsletter this week?