The Zen of Weightlifting
Member Magdolna Laszlo explains how lifting heavy weights has transformed her life as a busy mom.
Sports have always been a part of my life, but it wasn’t until I turned 40 that I got involved in the one for which most people know me: Olympic-style weightlifting.
After giving birth to my third child in 2013, I started gaining weight. My lifestyle was crazy: work, school runs for three kids, little sleep and I wasn’t eating well. We were also living in Dubai, our first stop abroad as a family, so navigating life as an expat added to the challenge.
My husband, who always motivates and encourages me, started doing CrossFit. He said it was fun and we should do it together. I went, but it was absolutely terrible the first few times. Soon, however, as I got to know other people, it became fun for me as well. It was intense, but I loved the camaraderie and having others cheer me on.
CrossFit has weightlifting elements, and there was a group focused just on weightlifting, coached by a guy who competed in the London Olympics. It’s not something I had considered, but I joined and the people in that group were so much fun. That’s how I got started down this path. And luckily, I was able to continue when we moved to Tokyo in 2017, thanks to fellow Member Randy Laxer coaching me.
People often have an image of weightlifting, but it’s really quite different from what they think. It’s like meditation. Every rhythm, every little movement counts. If you’re not in the moment, not focused, you’re going to miss your lift.
Lifting such weight might seem difficult, but the more you do it the more your body gets used to it. I remember my last workout in Dubai. I lifted 100 kilograms. I was so proud of myself. I had started with about 40. Today, I can snatch 40, clean and jerk 60 and deadlift 120.
But the time I spend lifting isn’t just about physical fitness. It’s also a mental exercise. When I discovered weightlifting, I had that crazy home environment. The time I spent lifting just calmed me down. Some people do yoga. I lift weights.
Those benefits have become a key part of my life. When I work out in the morning, I’m in a good mood all day and I can concentrate a lot better. When I can’t do so, I feel antsy.
It also helps me vanquish feelings of depression. Like so many women my age—I turn 48 this year—whose hormones are undergoing change as they approach menopause, I sometimes have symptoms of depression. I find that the release of endorphins, triggered by weightlifting, brings happy feelings that get me out of that dark place and really lifts my spirits.
I very much recommend exercise—whether its weightlifting or something else—as a way of keeping your mind sharp and spirits high. If you’re considering lifting weights but think it looks difficult, don’t doubt yourself. You’ll be surprised by the things you can achieve.
As told to INTOUCH’s C Bryan Jones.
Top image of Magdolna Laszlo: Kayo Yamawaki
December 2022
