DailyOM: When it comes to aging and fitness, what do you think women over 40 struggle with most?
Tristan: I think the biggest hurdle to overcome is denial and not acting soon enough. We grow up thinking people who are in their 40s and beyond are "old," and before you realize it, you find yourself at that age. Then, you think to yourself, "Wait, I don't feel old," but your story depends on your lifestyle and how you've treated your body.
As we age, multiple factors impact our health and fitness including a natural decline in muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia. This can make it more challenging to maintain or build muscle and may affect everyday physical activity.
Metabolism also tends to slow down with age, which can lead to unwanted weight gain, particularly around the midsection, under the arms or bra line, and thighs. Because of this, women over 40 may find it more difficult to lose weight.
Additionally, aging can contribute to joint pain, stiffness, and a higher risk of conditions like osteoarthritis. These issues can impact your ability to perform certain exercise regimens and can require modifications to your training programs. I always stress to people who are new to working out or haven't done so in a while to hire a qualified trainer, fitness coach, or physical therapist to create a program that is appropriate and ensures proper form and execution to avoid injury.
Flexibility and mobility also tend to decline as women age, often leading to a reduced range of motion. This can make everyday activities like bending, lifting, and twisting more challenging and increase the risk of injuries to the lower back, hips, and knees. Unless you have a very active job where you're moving regularly, chances are you're sitting six to eight hours a day. This results in increased muscle tightness and stiffness.
DailyOM: Why is it so important for women to build muscle after 40?
Tristan: Building and maintaining muscle can help preserve a woman's metabolic rate and aid in weight management. Not to mention, it reduces the risk of diabetes and heart disease — both high risk factors for women over 40 with heart disease being the No. 1 killer.
Bone density decreases with age, making you more susceptible to osteoporosis and fractures. Resistance training not only builds muscle. It also stimulates bone growth and increases bone density. When you place healthy stress on the muscles, this creates a healthy force on your bones, which signals your body to produce more bone growth cells thus strengthening your bones.
A mountain of research shows that building muscle and exercising increases and balances testosterone and estrogen levels, which decline with age. Hormone levels impact women's overall health, including muscle growth, energy levels, libido, and mood. Building muscle also improves endorphin, dopamine, and serotonin levels, which are crucial for mental and emotional well-being.
DailyOM: In your course, you also teach about the macro diet and include meal plans and shopping lists. What is this diet, and how does it work?
Tristan: The macro diet, also known as flexible dieting or IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros), focuses on tracking and manipulating macronutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — to achieve specific health or fitness goals. Instead of concentrating solely on calorie intake, the macro diet emphasizes the distribution of macronutrients in a person's daily diet.
In this course you'll learn the key components of how the macro diet typically works: setting macronutrient targets, tracking macronutrient intake, flexibility in food choices, adjusting intake for progress, and monitoring overall calorie intake. I've included a 48-page ebook called, Macros Made Simple for Women Over 40. This guide gives you everything you need to easily calculate, set, and track your macros. I've included a sample meal plan as well as shopping lists and food ideas that fit within each macro. I also provided a list of my top muscle-building and maintenance supplements to help support your recovery and progress.
DailyOM: What can students expect from your course? Is it for all levels, and will students need any equipment?
Tristan: The person I had in mind for this course is someone who hasn't had much history of working out or exercising. They know it's time to act, but they don't know where to start. The program also is designed for the person who used to workout but fell off the wagon. These are my people. It's not to say someone who is working out regularly couldn't benefit from this course. I want to help the women who are struggling with feeling blah every day, are tired all the time, and think they are stuck – but also want to do something about it and finally break the cycle.
The course is built for beginning to intermediate fitness levels. It builds in intensity with enough rest days for recovery. When you start a new program, your body goes through a period of adjustment, and you're sore all over! The recovery aspect is essential when you are building and toning muscles, and I've packed the course with tons of tips and techniques to keep you safe while improving week after week.
The workouts are a blend of body-weight strength training, mobility, and resistance band training. I wanted a program you can do anywhere with minimal equipment because everyone doesn't have access to a gym. However, students will need to purchase a set of resistance bands, resistance loops (aka "booty bands"), a foam roller, a yoga mat, and two yoga blocks. All of these can be purchased inexpensively online or at a local store. Students can start the program before the equipment arrives because no equipment is needed for the first lesson.
DailyOM: Lastly, what advice or coaching tips could you provide to someone who wants to take this course?
Tristan: This is a journey, not a destination. It's also a lifestyle shift. There is going to be a period of adjustment as you learn or relearn how to move your body and how to eat differently. You may not be able to perform every exercise perfectly or complete every set and repetition. You may not get your macros perfect right away, but it will come in time.
Be kind and patient with yourself. There is a learning curve with the movements as well as calculating, setting, and tracking your macros. This is an investment in your future to help you live your next decades strong, pain-free, and in control of your health.
DailyOM: Thank you, Tristen for this course that will empower us to take charge of our body — both with movement and diet. The hands-on instruction and resources will give you the options and motivation to help you find success on your journey to a healthier you. Until next time, be well.
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