Stronger Together
It started quietly, the way so many meaningful things do, a simple decision and shared intention. Last year, as I stepped into my strength training journey and I knew I didn’t want to do it alone. I wanted support, encouragement, and someone who understood that showing up for your health isn’t always glamorous, sometimes it’s hard, messy, and deeply personal. That’s when my friend Kitty decided to join me.
What neither of us could have known then was how much this partnership would matter, not just for our bodies, but for our hearts, our consistency, and our belief in what’s possible when you don’t go it alone.
From the very beginning, Kitty and I became more than workout buddies. We became accountability partners in the truest sense of the word. For over seven months now, we’ve been each other’s support system, sounding board, voice of reason, and biggest cheerleaders.
When one of us has a rough week or a low-energy day, the other holds steady. When one of us celebrates a win, lifting heavier, feeling stronger, hitting a step goal, the celebration is shared. And when one of us is falling behind on daily steps? Oh yes… we absolutely call each other out. Not in a shaming way. In a loving, I’ve-got-your-back kind of way. That’s the magic of accountability, it’s not about pressure. It’s about presence.
Our partnership extends far beyond the gym. We swap recipe ideas, talk through food choices, and encourage balance instead of perfection. One of my favorite memories from this journey was our meal prep day together.
We planned four different meals and two sweet treats. Made our ingredient lists. Did the grocery shopping. Then met at her house for an evening of cooking side by side. The kitchen was full of laughter, seasoning, chopping, stirring, and teamwork. By the end of the night, we each walked away with 18 freezer meals and a few days worth of sweet treats, along with full hearts and bellies from one of the soup recipes.
It didn’t feel like work. It felt like community. And isn’t that what sustains us?
Even on the days when we can’t physically make it to a strength training session, we don’t let the connection drop. We do over-the-phone workouts together, encouraging each other rep by rep, and breath by breath. It’s not perfect, but it’s powerful.
I truly believe one of the reasons we’re still going strong is because we don’t want to let each other down. And more importantly, we don’t want to let ourselves down, because we’ve witnessed what’s possible when we stay committed together.
Surrounding yourself with like-hearted people matters. When you’re walking a health journey, whether it’s strength training, nourishment, movement, or mindset, inspiration grows when it’s shared. Accountability becomes lighter when it’s mutual. And motivation lasts longer when it’s fueled by connection instead of willpower alone.
Here’s the life lesson I keep coming back to, we were never meant to do hard things alone. Yes, the work is personal. Yes, the commitment is individual. But the journey? It’s richer, steadier, and far more joyful when shared.
So if you’re feeling stuck, unmotivated, or tired of starting over, consider inviting someone to walk alongside you. A friend, a partner, or a like-hearted soul who understands your “why” and believes in you even on the days you don’t.
Because sometimes the difference between quitting and continuing is knowing someone is walking with you.
And as I reflect on this past year, the strength we’ve built, the laughter we’ve shared, and the consistency we’ve created, I’m reminded of this simple truth; we show up better when we show up together.
That’s the heart of it. That’s the power. That’s why this journey has mattered so much. In the end, it’s not just about lifting weights or hitting steps. It’s about building a life that feels supported, connected, and sustainable, because we are truly stronger together.
xo, Sheryl
PS… Thanks Jodie for keeping us motivated and laughing. Click here to learn more about Jodie’s Needham’s strength training programs.
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