Welcome to a New Kind of Strength
Hi! I’m Anne Marie Chaker—a Wall Street Journal reporter-turned-professional bodybuilder and author of LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives, slated to hit shelves on June 17, 2025.
I’ve come to believe that we are all wired for strength. But too many of us have spent years—maybe a lifetime—chasing a narrow ideal that was never meant for us. We’ve been told to take up less space, to be small, to “fit in.” And the cost? It’s been high. It is time to release those expectations to reconnect with who we are.
This newsletter is a haven for any woman who’s ready to step into the best version of herself—physically, mentally, spiritually, and yes, unapologetically. Here, we talk about what it means to build strength and resilience, embrace aging with courage, and let go of the shame we’ve carried about our bodies not being enough.
Muscle is not to be feared. Quite the opposite: Building physical strength leads to resilience, longevity, and a sense of self that no one else can define for you.
If you’re ready to come home to yourself and own the strength that’s always been there, join me. Let’s be brave, bold, and beautifully ourselves—lifting each other up every step of the way.
My Story
I’m a lifelong athlete and veteran journalist; I was part of The Wall Street Journal newsroom that won the Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the September 11 attacks. For the next two decades, I covered everything from education to politics, to health and wellness, careers and the workplace, writing stories that regularly topped the paper’s most-read lists.
I began strength training in 2017, after a cycle of stresses and losses–postpartum depression, the end of my marriage and the sudden death of my father–led to some unhealthy choices. After hitting rock bottom, I was inspired by a woman exercising alone one day in a hotel fitness room as she lifted weights with determination.
Soon, I began working with her coach and shed some old habits. I began eating more, better food and lifted regularly. Strength training had a profound effect on me—it transformed my confidence and reshaped how I move through the world.
Eventually, Coach T suggested I enter a bodybuilding competition. And so I competed at the OCB Big Apple in 2020, won a coveted pro card—and wrote about the experience for The Wall Street Journal.
That story led to a book deal with Penguin Random House. The book, titled LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives, is about the story of the ‘skinny’ ideal, the unheralded power of muscle, and why women should build—rather than diminish—themselves. It is slated to appear next spring.
Why Subscribe to LIFT?
LIFT is a space for women who are ready to embrace their inner strength — not just the kind that shows up in muscles or through endurance training, but the strength that lives deep, the kind that emerges when we face challenges. This is where we explore what it means to look, feel, and be strong, with thoughtful, well-researched content. More than just musings, LIFT is about offering actionable, balanced, and science-backed insights to help you tap into your own power and resilience.
If that feels a little different from the hard-news grind of The Wall Street Journal — you’re right. After spending over 20 years in the newsroom, I’ve found a sense of freedom in writing from the heart and connecting with this community. I’ve stepped away from the headlines to explore something more personal, more relational, more real. The newsletter format gives me the space to do that: to connect with readers, to go deeper into the topics that matter to us, and to share my own journey of learning, growth, and strength.
I believe in the power of community and the richness that comes from sharing experiences. I’m here to build relationships with you — with fellow readers, writers and creators who are all on their own path to being a little better and stronger each day. This space is for learning from one another, supporting one another, and growing together. So, are you ready to lean in and get started?
Join the LIFT Community
When you subscribe to LIFT, you’re not just signing up for a newsletter — you’re joining a community of people who are committed to showing up, getting real, and supporting each other. You’ll receive updates from me a few times a month, straight to your inbox. You can also follow my bodybuilding journey on Instagram at @annemariechaker for behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it looks like to push past limits.
What’s the next step?
For just $5 a month or $60 a year, you’ll become a paid subscriber and help sustain this work. Your support allows me to continue creating content that goes beyond the surface, diving deep into real stories of strength, vulnerability, and transformation. As a paid subscriber, you’ll receive everything I share with my free readers — plus an exclusive weekly edition that’s just for you.
This subscriber-only content might include a live workout with me or a recording of my weekly check-in with Coach (yes, you’ll get to hear about how I’m training, struggling, and growing). You’ll also get to meet a new badass each week and learn about how she gets sh*t done—as well as insights on how she balances work, family, and her health. It’s raw, honest, and full of wisdom that we can all apply to our own lives.
But that’s not all.
Paid subscribers also get access to exclusive perks like:
- A regular *Ask Me Anything* session where I’ll answer your questions — nothing is off-limits.
- A signed bookplate for your order of LIFT when it’s released.
- For PowerLifters (founding subscribers): A one-on-one consult, where I listen to how you’re doing and can offer guidance and suggestions on such topics as fitness and nutrition.
There’s more in the works, too — I’m excited about exploring live radio, podcasts, chats, and comment threads where we can interact in real-time. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
A Special Thank You
I am deeply grateful to the loyal Lifters who have been with me since the beginning, in particular supereditor Sam Fakahany (who has held my hand patiently as I continue to learn this incredible platform). Your support has allowed this project to grow and evolve from a spark of an idea into something real and meaningful. For those of you who want to take your support a step further and become a founding member (or Power Lifter), you’ll receive special LIFT swag and a goodie basket as a token of my appreciation. Your generosity will help shape the next chapter of LIFT.
Thank you for believing in the work, for showing up, and for being part of this community. Let’s keep lifting each other up, together.
