Motivation - JJ Strength & Fitness

10 years of lifting: a love letter

Mar 11, 2026 12 min read Motivation

A funny thing happened on the way to my thirties. I fell in love, against the odds, with weightlifting. Last week I reached 10 years of strength training (and with seven years as

Book recommendations [updated]

Jul 8, 2024 3 min read Tools

This is a list of my 9 favorite books for a thoughtful, inclusive look at fitness, exercise, and food! Over the last three years, I've learned loads from these authors and

My clinical depression (or feeling fit AND sad)

Apr 2, 2023 12 min read Motivation

Exercise is one of my lifelines, and right now I'm dangling from the end of the rope. It's been 12 days since I last worked out. That might be

Podcasts for a fuller view of fitness

Mar 27, 2023 2 min read Tools

Podcasts are a wealth of knowledge, and I think the right voices can make a college course feel like a friendly hangout. I also believe in valuing voices beyond those privileged by the

Why I'm a vegan who loves to eat

Mar 20, 2023 14 min read Food

Four years ago in 2019, I made a New Year's resolution to eat less meat. I had read about the environmental impacts of meat production and the ways it wasted land