What does strong mean? It’s a good question, and one I can’t answer with a neat, single definition. Some questions are easy to answer: What would be your weapon of choice during a zombie apocalypse? A samurai sword. If you could pick one career, what would it be? A professional Jason Bourne. Who’s the best Care Bear? Birthday Bear. But answering “what is strong?” is more abstract. For some, strength is about how you look; for others, it’s about how much weight you can lift; and for some, it might even be how many tacos you can eat in one sitting. As a strength and conditioning coach, I think strength, in the grand scheme, is more a feeling than a number.
Showcasing Strong
Recently, actress Rosamund Pike shared a video from a Boston shoot—while filming her latest movie—where she hits a personal best of 100 pounds in a multi‑rep deadlift, looking smooth and in control. I’m not actually calling myself a celebrity trainer, but it’s clear she came to the weight room with plenty of experience and wasn’t a newbie. I was thrilled she posted the video because it shows women that they can lift meaningful weight without turning into Conan the Barbarian after one set.
I’ve long advocated for women to strength train and to recognize the many benefits it can provide: genuine strength and better life readiness; improved performance; healthier body composition; stronger bones; more confidence and a better body image; better mental health and stress relief; and a willingness to push back against limiting social norms. Unfortunately, mainstream media often muddies this message, flooding us with images of women lifting dainty weights. One stock photo I saw suggested for “strong” shows a woman with a very light weight, which sends the wrong signal about what strength looks like.
The reality is that whether someone trains with a heavy lift or lighter resistance depends on their injury history, ability, and goals. For me, the question isn’t whether someone has certain anatomy; it’s about supporting them to reach their own potential. In Rosamund’s video, her character is imagined as a lioness who needs to be strong, and the trainer celebrates the strength of every person he trains, helping them find more than they knew they had. Strength is a sentiment with many roots and inspirations, not just a single metric.
So yes, strength isn’t just a number. It’s about purpose, progress, and what you’re aiming to accomplish. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a nod to the idea that someone could cure baldness—I’ll claim a small share of that credit.
