My fitness journey hasn’t been a rapid transformation—it’s been a decades-long evolution. Growing up in the ‘60s, girls weren’t encouraged to play sports, but that never stopped me; I participated in every activity I could, from neighborhood street games, to tennis. In high school, I learned how to strength train with weight machines, despite being the only woman in the gym. In college, I also started running regularly. It felt empowering to be strong, and I loved the discipline that came from working out. But after starting my career and having kids, life got busy and my priorities shifted. With limited time, exercise gradually took more of a back seat, but I still tried my best to do aerobic step workouts and other exercise videos before work.
As my kids got older, I got back into regular exercise in my mid-40s with some cardio, like boxing and Tae Kwon Do classes. Although I enjoyed these workouts, I missed feeling my muscles work and seeing measurable progress. I decided to get back into strength training to gain muscle and feel that sense of empowerment again, so I hired a personal trainer and we began working together once a week.
While I had previous experience with weight machines, he taught me how to lift with free weights. I also learned the importance of fueling my body versus restricting what I ate to chase a number on the scale. As I grew more comfortable with free weights, my passion for strength training reignited, and I started adding extra at-home strength training workouts I found online to complement our sessions.
Two years later, I wanted a change, as well as more variety with my workouts. I was raising two children while working a very demanding job and I loved the convenience, disciplined approach, and variety offered with workout videos. So, I stopped working with my coach, invested in at-home workout equipment, and committed to P90X (now BODi by Beachbody), a rigorous 90-day program that combined strength training, cardio, plyometrics, yoga, and stretching. I loved the intensity of the program, and the fact that it was accessible from home. Plus, it encouraged me to track every workout, which became incredibly motivating. I thrived on the structure, discipline, and weekly progressions that helped me grow stronger.
Week after week, I saw real progress—my rest times between exercises became shorter, I could crank out more reps with heavier weights, and I even gained noticeable muscle tone. More than anything, though, I felt strong and powerful, and had fallen in love with my workout routine.
Today, at 63, I am stronger and more confident—not because I transformed overnight, but because I have evolved over decades.
After several years of P90X and other Beachbody programs, I was ready to get back to one-on-one training and focus on heavier lifts. So, I began working out three days a week at Rye Health and Fitness (RHF), a local boutique personal training studio, where I’ve now trained for more than 12 years. The staff supports and understands my cautious nature and desire to progress; they always push me and never let my age be a limiting factor.
I train for an hour three days a week, with one upper-body day, one lower-body day, and one full-body day. I do a comprehensive warmup to activate my muscles, then my workouts focus on heavy compound lifts like bench presses, squats, and deadlifts, primarily using free weights and cables. I’m particularly proud of my progress with deadlifts—at first, I could barely lift 80 pounds. But after three years of building strength through progressive overload (consistently increasing my reps, sets, or weight to become stronger), I recently pulled 200 pounds off of the floor. Additionally, after years of training and practice, I’ve worked my way up to doing 10 unassisted pull-ups.
On the days when I’m not training at RHF, I work out at home in pursuit of other goals and skills that push my limits, like holding a handstand without a wall. Kicking up to a handstand is a skill that I learned at 60 even though I was intimidated by it, but I can now comfortably hold a handstand against a wall.
I also want to master a ring muscle-up—an advanced calisthenics bodyweight exercise where you pull yourself from a dead hang up and push to a straight-arm support on gymnastics rings. To get there, I’m following a program I found on Instagram and taking advice from a few calisthenics experts I also met on the platform. I’m currently trying to master the foundational move to build strength, improve coordination, and learn proper muscle activation.
My workouts now have the added intention of remaining independent as I age, which means continuing to build muscle, strengthening my bones (especially since I was recently diagnosed with osteopenia), and keeping my mind sharp. I have added jump training to my home workouts to improve my bone health and salsa and shuffle dancing, which I’ve noticed has really improved my memory. Plus, dance classes are incredibly fun and energizing and get me moving in ways that lifting doesn’t. I’m not the best in the room, but dancing challenges my mind, coordination, and agility. More than anything, though, it’s a fun social way to let loose and unwind while still staying active.
Products I Can’t Train Without
Investing in high-quality workout equipment was a game-changer for my home gym, and my favorite piece is my Rogue Fitness Bella Bar. Its smaller diameter and versatility allow me to lift comfortably.
I prefer flat sneakers in the gym for enhanced stability while lifting, and I swear by this pair.
In addition to my INVO8s, I love this pair of New Balance sneakers because they mimic being barefoot, which allows me to feel the force through the floor when I lift.
These three factors are key to my strength training success:
Over the years, I’ve learned that strength isn’t just built in the gym—it’s built with patience, in community, and by setting goals that scare you a little.
1. I understand that progress is not linear.
Although I love setting fitness goals, I also understand (and appreciate) that progress takes time and patience. Some weeks I need to lower the weight I use or reduce my reps in the gym if I’m distracted or my body is tired or sore, and that’s okay. Not every workout is perfect, and some days are harder than others, but progress isn’t about perfection. Sometimes I also still struggle to get enough sleep, maintain proper nutrition, and drink enough water. But this journey is about daily resolve, and a lifestyle that includes showing up, staying consistent, and putting in the work no matter what. Every small effort adds up because consistency creates real, lasting progress.
2. I find inspiration and joy within my community.
Throughout this journey, I’ve built an amazing network of friends at my gym, dance studio, and on social media who inspire me daily. I’m so fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive and motivating community; we celebrate each other’s wins, share training tips, and cheer one another on every step of the way. My husband is also my biggest cheerleader; he encourages me to keep going on days when motivation runs low. I’ve found so much value and joy within my community, and my strength journey would not be nearly as fun or rewarding without the support of others.
3. I set ambitious long-term goals.
I’m extremely goal-oriented and thrive on safely chasing new challenges because they keep me motivated and help direct my workouts. Whether it’s working toward a deadlifting or pull-up PR, or mastering a muscle-up or learning a new dance style, I’m always aiming for my next big feat. My goals are never easy, and they sometimes take years to accomplish, but they push me to get better, grow stronger, and improve every day. I’m also fiercely competitive with myself, so there’s nothing more satisfying than relishing in the accomplishment of my hard-earned wins.
It took me three years to crush a 200-pound deadlift, and mastering a muscle-up might take just as long. But whether it’s adding an extra rep, a bit more weight, or improving my form, I’ve learned to celebrate the small victories along the way because they build momentum and confidence. I didn’t transform overnight—I built strength rep by rep, year by year. And, at 63, I’m still building.
Andi Breitowich is a freelance writer who covers health, fitness, relationships, beauty, and smart living. She is a graduate of Emory University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in Women's Health, POPSUGAR, Food & Wine, What To Expect, Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, and elsewhere. As a former collegiate pole vaulter, she loves all things fitness and has yet to meet a group workout class she doesn't like.
