Effortless Strength in the Wild: Why Lifting Means Never Struggling in Real Life
posted on: February 04, 2026. posted in: Fitness, Strength training
So I was in a cafe yesterday, and this lady came up to me and asked if she could have the table next to me.
I thought she meant to sit next to me, so I said, "yeah, of course, go for it."
But instead she picked the whole table up, and carried it to the other side of the cafe, where she was meeting with friends.
And not just carried it. Carried it like she was carrying a toy, making it look completely effortless.
Here's the thing...
I knew that table was heavy.
Why? Because I'd had to move the exact same table to sit where I was currently sitting, and it was pretty damn heavy, around 20 to 30kg. Not heavy for a deadlift or squat, but seriously heavy for a bicep curl, which is exactly how she picked it up and carried it.
So watching that woman curl it, carry it, and move it to the other side of the cafe, I just knew she strength trained. Or maybe she's a horse rider, they have serious strength. But that raw "I can pick stuff up like it's a toy" is unmistakable when you're a coach. And most people couldn't do what she did, but she made it look easy.
My point is this...
I try to sell the benefits of strength training all the time. I've been trying to sell the benefits of strength training for decades.
✅ The benefits for metabolic health
✅ The benefits for mental health
✅ The benefits for recovering dieters
✅ The benefits, nowadays, for GLP-1 users, trying to preserve or regain their muscle mass.
But I think people forget that strength training is about STRENGTH, and getting stronger. And for me, one of the absolute biggest benefits is that every day activities, like moving a table to make more space for friends, can just be done so confidently and effortlessly.
I know it's only moving a table.
"No big deal Liam!" you say...
But it's not just moving a table.
It's carrying that heavy shopping free from pain. It's carrying that heavy suitcase free from fatigue. It's picking up your kids or grandkids, and knowing you can do it easily and confidently, without putting your back out and ending up in A&E.
It's confidence. It's independence.
And I call it...
Effortless Strength In The Wild.
Liam x
Rebelfit
p.s. If this resonates with you, or if you've got your own experience of ESIW, share your story in the comments! 💪😅
