all right gang, it’s time for a health and wellness checkup. the first three months of 2019 has been crazy busy here at the blog. but i didn’t want you to forget that my fitness journey continues. even when i’m on the road, and i hope yours does too. from time to time one of you will email or comment on one of my social channels. and the sentiments are more or less the same “thank you for sharing Faster Way to Fat Loss i signed up, lost weight and more importantly have more energy.”
this is what a pilates reformer looks like. this photo was taken during a class at Pure Balance Pilates in Athens. pilates is one of my favorite forms of exercise especially as i age. it’s invigorating and low impact which is perfect for me as i struggle with chronic arthritis. sometimes when health issues step in the first thing we do is pull back from exercise. but maintaining an active lifestyle is crucial for our health and happiness.
here are some facts about our aging bodies: 4 out of 5 adults over the age of 50 suffer from at least 1 chronic condition. we also lose muscle mass, lose strength, see an increase of body fat, loss of density in bones, loss of agility, loss of endurance, loss of balance, and an increase in possible joint injuries. but there is a solution. exercise. ladies, we have to move it or lose it.
here are the benefits of regular exercise: reduce the risk of developing conditions and disabilities, lower blood pressure, increased balance, increased mobility, weight maintenance, increased flexibility. exercise also helps with chronic conditions including arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. i can personally attest to the fact exercise is the key to combating my chronic arthritis. my joints may be stiff but they need to move and a regular exercise regimen helps me stay on course. a commitment to exercise is essential to living a healthy life.
there’s no question exercise is important to a healthy lifestyle but what we eat is even more important. there is no way you can out-exercise poor nutrition. this is a concept that i struggled with for years. it’s been said that it’s 80% kitchen and 20% exercise. Faster Way to Fat Loss helped me put this into perspective. and i’ve been learning week-by-week, month-by-month, and year-by-year. the program is simple to follow, and that’s the way it should be. here’s a photo of me in January 2018. the first day of my fitness journey.
here’s a pilates selfie that was taken before class yesterday. see a difference? it may be subtle but my sixty-year-old body has been given a healthy overhaul.
Faster Way to Fat Loss has also taught me the importance of a good night sleep and water intake. yes, i’ve learned to make friends with all of the restrooms in town! that’s how important water is. in fact, water runs the show as it regulates our thermostat. as we drink water, it circulates through our body naturally helping us to perspire and sweat which regulates a temperature pattern. if our water intake is low, our body can’t properly regulate its temperature. our body perceives this as trauma then figures out a way to adapt by hoarding and collecting fat to act as insulation to control our temperature. if our water intake is low, we will hoard fat. if our food is perfect, but our water intake is low our body will hoard fat. what?! yes, that’s why WATER runs the show.
to help keep my water intake on track throughout the day i carry a 30 oz Yeti tumbler. it’s the perfect container as it keeps my water cold, keeps it from spilling with a mag slider lid, and helps me remember how much water i’ve consumed. i typically fill it up between a minimum of three and up to six times a day.
smoothies have been added to my daily routine. not only are they delicious but they’re a great substitute for breakfast or lunch. daily harvest is popular. smoothie box has recently come on the scene and they include a packet of collagen peptides with their shake. both daily harvest and smoothie box are subscription programs
now for a healthy snack recipe because we all need a nutritious alternative to chips or cookies.
if you are interested in signing up for Faster Way to Fat Loss the next round starts April 8th. here are three reasons i love this program besides the fact i feel great and have more energy:
ONE – every detail is planned out for you. the online workouts have exact directions and links to watch the moves. but if you love working out at The Barre, or have another workout routine, or you’re used to Spin Class no problem. there are options, ladies, options. my workout routine consists of two sessions per week on my Peloton, two Pilates Reformer session, and one aerobic weight training class with Amanda (the mastermind behind FWTFL). the great thing about Faster Way to Fat Loss is you can make it work with your lifestyle!
TWO – this is a lifestyle, not a diet. we use My Fitness Pal app to track calories and macros, but the mentality is progress, not perfection. the goal is to eat dairy free, grain free and gluten free as much as possible but again, there’s flexibility. do i have a cocktail or glass of wine on occasion? absolutely! are there sweets and treats on special occasions? yes. as i mentioned, Faster Way to Loss is a lifestyle change, not a diet. it gives me the tools and resources to stay or get back on track. this program teaches how to cut fat and gain lean muscle while living life to its fullest.
THREE – it is a proven system that helps women and men (yes, there is a program for men) lose fat. and there’s no age limit! actually, you’ve heard me talk about the importance of exercise as we age. my goal is to live the best life possible regardless of age. and exercise is key.
registration is open for the next round that starts April 8! sign up here.
is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.
She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.
Have been doing Pilates twice a week for about 8 years or more! Great exercise. Have had back issues for a while and have added a trainer to also help build up back and strengthen the glutes
i can’t say enough good things about pilates. that is if you have a good trainer. it’s so important to check out your studio and their credentials. that’s fantastic that you have a trainer to boot. weight training is sooo important. xo
Altho, I haven’t been commenting lately, I want you to know I’m still reading your blog daily. I just want to tell you that you are looking wonderful, and congratulations on your weight loss. The first photo of you above is amazing! Love all of your different styles, and love Fridays with beautiful Oscar.
it’s good to hear from you bonnie! thanks for stopping by. xo
Thanks for the info! Also, where did you get those adorable shoes?
the shoes are about 15 years old from adidas. xo
Thank you for the encouragement. I’ve turned 67 in February and have embarked on a new journey for me – working out with a trainer 2 times a week. This is my first week and have two session under my belt. Although I’m sore today it’s a great feel knowing I’m doing something good for me.
that’s fantastic, mary lou! keep up the good work. there’s a sense of accomplishment once that workout is finished. xo
Looking good! I’m such a firm believer that it is lifestyle, not “diet,” per se. That’s great you’re keeping up with it. I have my second knee surgery Monday, and I so hope I can soon go a lot longer than I can with this one remaining bad knee. The good news is–the body really does want to heal itself! If you support its efforts, improvement is amazing.
hooray for the second surgery! you will be a new woman in no time, sue. wishing you a speedy recovery. xo
Love the shoes! Where’d you find those? Looking good, Beth! Keep it up.
I love those shoes you’re wearing in the cover photo! Are those a pilates shoe? Or a minimalist running shoe? Or just cute shoes?
hi traci! these are called yoga shoes. they are about 15 years old by adidas. xo
Love, love that you’re into this on the blog! I’ve combatted the fat since my teenage years, tried many approaches, excercised my heart out and always remained on the edge-not too fat, but overweight… I studied and reflected on my experiences to get where you seem to be. It’s a life style and science has proven much. Now, retired at 62 and 5’0”, I’m slimmer than ever. I’m a regular at the gym; mainly with Les Mills Body Pump and BodyFlow and I stay active in recreation as well it iTools know it’s 80/20 diet over exercise and eat accordingly. At our age, I can’t share enough of what I’ve learned and it just makes me happy to see you reaching the audience you do, with this message!!
and the good part is it’s never to late to start on a fitness journey! congrats on a healthy lifestyle, donna. xo
I’m so happy you found what works for you! I found Keto&Yoga and have not looked back 🙂
Love this post! If you want to stay healthy, wealthy and wise, you have to exercise. I’m 5 ft tall and 72 years old. I’ve exercised all my life. I go to to the YMCA 4/5 days a week, play golf, and walk my dog every day. My goal is 10,000 steps a day. I don’t always make it, but come close most days. Do I have the occasional aches and pains? I sure do … but I’m loving life and that’s all that matters.
Just one question…Where did you get the white flat shoes in the photo?
You look great.
the shoes are about 15 years old by Adidas. xo
i’m so happy to hear you have embraced a healthy active lifestyle! exercise is important at any age but especially as we age. xo
You look good! You are a beautiful lady. But don’t lose any more weight!
thanks, maria! xo
I love everything about this post! I had so many back and hip problems that doctors told me surgery was my only option. I started Pilates in August. I have private sessions to address my personal issues. It is a game changer! I can walk more than 5 feet without pain and I am getting my life back. I’m heading over to check out the link because this sounds like just what I have been looking for. Thank you!
Hi Beth, thank you for updating on your fitness routine. I do think it’s a lifestyle in which case I think it makes it easier to keep at it whatever your choice. I eat healthily, and I do some Pilates and Yoga, we have places that do Pilates classes here in England but they don’t seem to have any that have the machines, not where I live anyway, so I improvise with the bands. Where there’s a will there’s a way as they say. You are looking great, x 👍
Please tell- what brand are those shoes in pic one? You look great— your hard work really shows!
the shoes are from Adidas but they are about 15 years old. xo
Your post came at a good time for me. We have started to go back and forth between Texas and California residences and it has played havoc with my fitness routine. I just don’t like how I look and I hate the thought of loosing ground as I enter the last year of sixties…..so I signed up. Wish me luck!
I turned 65 in March. I started my fitness journey January 2016. Originally I was attending the YMCA 4 days a week taking mat Pilates and a weight class in addition to walking 2 miles after class. Our wonderful YMCA is 4 years old and faces the river walk so it is easy to walk 2 miles. September 2017, I started Reformer Pilates. I am hooked!! I attend classes 2X a week in addition to attending my classes at the Y. Fortunately an assistant at the Reformer Pilates Studio is now teaching the mat Pilates class at the Y. She is certified so I get a good workout. I can truthfully say if you do Reformer Pilates on a regular basis you will see positive changes to your body.
You look wonderful in glasses! Due to a number of eye issues, I’ve had to give up contacts after 50 years–it was encouraging to see your bespectacled photo.
If you want to lessen or even get rid of your arthritis try a plant based diet. You will loose all the inflamation in your body which come from being too acidic. Our acidity come from eating foods full of toxins and boy are they hard to avoid. Its tough at first but after a couple of weeks things get a whole lot better. I added in a little grass fed/hormone free protein and that helped. I’m 70 and my indigestion is gone, I sleep like a rock and I take NO meds. It sounds a bit radical but… it works! (Watch Forks Over Knives, on Netflix)
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