fitness journey update

it’s round two for FASTer Way to Fat Loss, and i’m beginning to get the hang of my new lifestyle. many of you might remember that i embarked on a fitness and wellness journey at the beginning of 2018. yes, it’s easy to fall into bad habits when it comes to nutrition and exercise, and it was time to reach out for help with FASTer Way to Fat Loss. because the best gift i can give myself is the gift of health. and that’s my goal as i inch my way to my sixtieth birthday in august. after two months under my belt, it was time to share my progress with you.

let me begin this post by saying that FASTer Way to Fat Loss isn’t a diet – it’s a lifestyle although you will lose weight. this program has helped me tweak my nutrition and exercise goals because the two go hand-in-hand. there is no way you can out-exercise poor nutrition. and even if you are making proper food choices, you will lose muscle mass if you don’t incorporate a balanced exercise program. you see, as we age, we tend to gain weight. some studies claim it is three to four pounds per year. but since we also begin to lose muscle that extra weight turns to fat. ugh!

everyone knows exercise is good for us.that’s a no-brainer. it helps manage weight, improves muscle and bone strength, and even improves your mood. but studies have found that physically active older adults have a lower risk of chronic diseases like arthritis. it’s also suggested that exercise helps delay cognitive impairment. and it’s never too late – or too soon – to make exercise part of your routine.

so how does FASTer Way to Fat Loss work? first, it is a six-week online program that will empower you to transform your life through simple, effective, cutting-edge fitness and nutrition strategies. second, FASTer Way to Fat Loss incorporates carb cycling, intermittent fasting, and tracking macros. this has been the big game-changer for me. and let me tell you i am still learning how to track those macros – carbs, proteins, and fats. life gets busy with travel, celebrations, a jam-packed schedule and it’s easy to get side-tracked. but i think that’s why i love this program as they emphasize progress, not perfection. and i hit a snag last week when i unwittingly bought the wrong coffee creamer that contained sugar. yikes! intermittent fasting incorporates an eight-hour window of eating, and i typically break my fast after my morning exercise around eleven or twelve. but i also love to drink one cup of coffee in the morning with cream, please. but a coffee creamer with sugar breaks my fast too early, and i wasn’t burning fat as efficiently. lesson learned! the devil is in the details, ladies, whether it’s with our daily outfits or life in general! 

what is carb cycling? this is where we tweak our macros – proteins, carbs, and fats. carb cycling is an alteration of carbohydrate intake to prevent fat loss plateaus and keep your metabolism working efficiently. basically, you cycle between low carb days and regular carb days to ensure that your body burns fat effectively without causing significant hormonal damage or dips in energy. as part of the FASTer Way to Fat Loss, they pair workouts with carb intake strategically. this again turns your body into a fat burner as opposed to a sugar burner and provides you with enough fuel to keep your energy levels up for tough strength training workouts. they manipulate carbs to ensure optimal energy levels, while effectively using our glycogen stores to stabilize hormone levels.

even with a snag with intermittent fasting. and a few celebrations as of late i’m sharing my progress with you. here is a photo from my first day with FASTer Way to Fat Loss. 

here’s where i am two months later. yes, i still have a ways to go, but this is a fitness journey, not a sprint. it’s all about changing my lifestyle to meet my nutrition and fitness goals. and i’m loving my new workout gear. there’s a whole new world of fashion choices when i include activewear. athleta is my new go-to brand. i’d been meaning to check out their sports bras – very comfortable, and they keep the girls in place. i  paired the striped high-neck bra with high-waisted chaturanga pants and splurged on a new pair of new balance tennies. not pictured is a criss-cross sweatshirt that’s on back order.

what i love about FASTer Way to Fat Loss is that it’s flexible. it doesn’t matter if you’re a travel bug, have a demanding job, work the night shift, have an injury (like my knee injury from college), have no cooking skills, or no gym membership. don’t even think about claiming you’re too old. as i mentioned, the most important thing we can do as we age is to take care of our bodies. the amount of muscle mass we lose each year is astonishing. if we don’t use them, we will lose them. but the great thing about FASTer Way To Fat Loss is you can make it work with your lifestyle! and there’s an amazing online community with coaches who are educational and motivating and answer any and all questions.

okay, i guess it’s safe to say i’m hooked on Amanda’s program. which is why i am sharing it with you again. and most likely again and again because fitness and wellness are high priorities of mine these days. and many of you have asked how i’m tweaking my fitness routine because you noticed a change. if you are interested, you can change your lifestyle too. because it is a lifestyle change, not a diet. 

• A comprehensive program guide with resources to help you thrive including sample meal plans, a detailed program overview, and video interviews.
• Prep week with training to set you up for success.
• Weekly workout plans which can be completed at the gym or at home.
• Accountability and a supportive approach that keeps you on track to accomplish your goals.
• Affordable package option that is among the lowest cost option you’ll find (only $199 total).
• The focus, quality, intensity, and commitment you’d expect from Amanda, a trainer with 10+ years of success.

 

Beth Djalali

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 63, 5’8, and size 8.

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