BBB is a community of weird, wonderful & beautiful woman. It is our ladies that breathe life into our four walls. It is our ladies that fill our space with love and support.

We love the diversity of our community and all that they bring. Let’s have a chat to Barbell Babe Courtney. Courtney has been training with us for the last 2 and a half years. Over this time we have seen Courtney evolve, grow and tick off multiple goals.

1. What made you decide to start strength training?

Actually, I didn’t even decide that I wanted to start strength training. One day I joined Goodlife Preston, and the lovely membership consultant (who happens to be one of our babes, Nicole) told me that for my kickstarter PT sessions, she will put me with Ro. She said that she could already tell that we would get along like a house on fire.

I was in a very depressed and vulnerable state at the time, as I had recently gotten out of a toxic and abusive relationship. I had no idea who I was, how to exist in the world (and if I am honest, I didn’t want to) and was well and truly lacking a sense of self worth. Then I had my first session with the absolute power woman that we all know as Ro….Instantly, I was HOOKED.

2. What do you like about strength training?

One of my most favourite things about strength training is how it has the ability to strengthen your mind as well as your body. It has helped me to build my character, my confidence and the love for myself. I was a completely different person before strength training, I don’t even recognise that person anymore.

Putting in the work every session and moving weights that I never thought possible…it is an indescribable feeling. I love that there are no limits on what you can achieve. I think that was the most important lesson that strength training taught me, especially as a woman. There are so many spaces and people that will tell you that you can’t do certain things, but that just isn’t true.

3. What do you find challenging?

Hmm apart from Swiss Ball Leg Curls (please no), I find it hard to break through that mental barrier on days where I feel too exhausted to train. I know that I always feel fine once I get into it, but pushing myself to get there, I find that a challenge. However, that’s the point where lots of progress is made.

4. Tell me about some of your wins since starting here?

One of the biggest wins was meeting all of the amazing women I now call my best friends. Having this incredible squad behind you, cheering for you while you hit a PB or encouraging you during training, its irreplaceable.

Another win for me has been locking in a comp date! This has been huge for me as I had been contemplating competing for about 2.5 years, but was lacking consistency and determination.

5. Where was your mindset at before starting strength training with us? And where is it at now compared to that?

Before starting with BBB, I was lacking confidence, never put myself first and I had already given up on my career goals before even graduating from uni because I didn’t think I would ever be good enough. There is literally no comparison between who I am now and the person I was before strength training. Now I am sitting in my dream job, was offered a promotion after 3 months, am prepping for a comp in March and love myself more than I ever have.

6. Why specifically do you think your mindset has changed?

My mindset has changed because strength training pushed me to have a go at things that I never thought were possible. Putting a weight on your back that you had never felt before is extremely daunting, but once you make that lift, you feel unstoppable. The more I smashed my lifting goals, the more my confidence grew. I could then apply that same mindset to goals outside of the gym. I was no longer afraid to push myself into unfamiliar situations, because I had become more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. I realised that the only way to succeed is to actually try, if I never pushed myself, I would never get anywhere.

The BBB community also played a huge role in my mindset shift. I used to have a lot of very negative people in my life who were not supportive of my aspirations nor did they celebrate my wins. The coaches and babes at BBB are always behind me 100%, whether it be in or out of the gym. Everyone wants to see everyone succeed. It is an incredible and rare community that I value so incredibly much.

7. What do you think it is that makes coaching with BBB different?

Training with BBB is like nothing else you’ve ever experienced. The love and support you receive from the coaches is incredible, and it doesn’t just stop at the end of your session. Any time, day or night, whether it is in regards to training or not, these women are there for you. They care so deeply about every single one of us, and go above and beyond to provide us with the tools to help us realise what fierce kweens (queens) we are. The knowledge that they pass on in regards to training and physiology is second to none also. It is an extremely comprehensive experience that you won’t get anywhere else.

8. What do you now see as possible in the future?

I can now see that I have the potential to be a competitive powerlifter, competing multiple times a year. I can also see that I can achieve the career goals I have set myself, and that they aren’t just a fantasy like I once thought.

9. What advice would you give to girls who are new to strength training? The advice that I would give to women who are new to strength training is to not feel intimidated. Strength training may be daunting at the beginning, seeing so many others lifting heavy and knowing what they’re doing around the gym. But remember that they started exactly where you are as well, and had the exact same fears. Especially with BBB, you will see instantly that this space is nothing to be intimidated by, and these gals will be your biggest supporters. The second piece of advice I would give would be to trust the process and know that you too will be hitting numbers that you never thought possible. Building strength takes time, but when you put in the work, the results will really surprise you. Strength training is one of the best things I have ever done. The confidence that it builds is life changing. If you’re not sure whether you want to give it a go or not, step out of your comfort zone and just do it. You will most definitely thank yourself later.

10. Were there any things that you had heard about strength training that held you back?

Honestly, I hadn’t really heard anything about strength training. One day I wasn’t doing it at all, then the next day it was my entire life haha. Then nothing was holding me back.