My First Epic Fitness Fail (And Why It Led Me to Help Women 50+ Start Strong—Not Scared)
If you’ve ever walked into a gym, looked around, and thought,
“Oh wow… everyone here seems to know what they’re doing but me,”
you are absolutely in the right place.
Because the truth?
My very first attempt at fitness was an epic fail—the kind that sends a 14-year-old girl straight back to her mom’s station wagon and into a long phase of “maybe fitness just isn’t for me.”
Yep. Even I started there.
Let Me Take You Back...
It was the late 70s/early 80s.
The era of feathered bangs, Pepsi Light, and the unspoken rule that “skinny is in” (thanks, 80s diet culture).
There was a shiny, intimidating Nautilus gym one town over from my high school. I somehow convinced my mom to sign me up. The problem?
I was 14. Not driving. And the only way to get there was:
Bus from school → bus to gym → bus home → half-mile walk.
Honestly… the commute alone should’ve earned me a Girl Scout badge.
But that wasn’t the real problem.
The real problem was this:
Every time I walked in, it looked like everyone else belonged there.
They knew the machines.
They knew the moves.
They weren’t wearing an army-green sweatsuit from The Gap.
Meanwhile, I was anxiously scanning the room trying to “fake it.”
I’d watch someone do something on a machine… then wait until they walked away… and copy them.
(Horribly, I’m sure.)
Between the intimidation and the logistical nightmare of buses, my dream of being the next Jane Fonda fizzled fast. I lasted maybe—maybe—a few weeks.
Fast Forward to My 20s… and the Spark That Changed My Life
In my mid to late 20s, I was a tired mom of young boys going to a local exercise class with my mom and sister. I loved going… but after a while, I realized something:
I wasn’t progressing.
So even though money was tight, I hired the instructor (who was also a trainer) to teach me proper form and a real plan.
And that’s the moment everything changed.
She told me how much to lift, how many reps to do, and suddenly my body responded.
For the first time,
I felt stronger,
I felt capable,
and honestly…
I felt proud.
Something lit up inside me.
My very average autoimmune body was getting stronger.
My clothes were fitting better.
And I realized…
Women don’t need perfection — they just need someone to show them what to do.
From that moment on, I couldn’t stop learning.
And learning turned into teaching…
…which turned into twenty-five years in the health, fitness, and coaching world.
What I Know Now (And What I Want You to Know)
Women in their 50s and 60s are smart.
We’re patient.
We give ourselves grace we never had in our 30s.
But we also want—and deserve—to feel:
✨ Strong
✨ Stable
✨ Confident
✨ Energized
✨ Proud of ourselves again
And most importantly?
We want to feel like our body is on our team.
But here’s the real truth…
Strength training after 50 is completely different from strength training at 25.
You can’t just jump into random workouts and hope for the best.
Your midlife body deserves a thoughtful, safe, simple foundation.
The kind of foundation I wish that scared 14-year-old girl had.
Why I Created Strong After 50™
I created this program for the woman I used to be:
The woman who wants to get strong…
but feels intimidated.
Or unsure.
Or like she’s already “behind.”
The woman who wants someone she can trust—
someone who understands this season of life.
Someone who says,
“Let me show you exactly what to do. You’re not too late. You're just early in your strongest chapter.”
Strong After 50™ gives you:
✔️ Safe, functional strength training you can do at home
✔️ Breathwork to help you build a strong and stable core
✔️ Shoulder, hip, and core stability training
✔️ Clear, beginner-friendly instruction so you feel confident
✔️ My Rule of 25—nutrition that fuels rather than restricts
✔️ A simple, step-by-step plan you can trust
No bootcamps.
No confusion.
No overwhelm.
Just the right foundation for your midlife body.
And the whole course?
Three hours of total viewing time.
Because you don’t need fluff.
You need clarity.
👉 If you’re nodding along thinking, “THIS is what I’ve been looking for…”
you can start Strong After 50™ right here.
Want to Start Slower? Watch the Free Masterclass
If you want to dip your toe in first, watch my FREE class:
3 Shifts to Get Strong After 50
I explain exactly:
Why exercise feels different now
What your muscles actually need
How to start safely
How to rebuild a strong, vibrant second half
