how i'm reevaluating my life at 42: fitness edition (pt 3)

i learned to structure my workouts in a different way

Jul 11, 2025

She was probably in her mid-70s, wearing leggings and a kind smile. We were both gathering our mats after hot yoga when she looked at me, gestured toward my body, and said, “Now that’s a yoga body.” I smiled politely, unsure of what to say, as she went on about her own body and how hard it’s been to lose weight. I offered some encouragement — told her she was doing the right thing by showing up, staying active, taking care of herself.

What I didn’t say — but maybe should have — was this:

I’ve been fighting for this body for most of my adult life.

I was a skinny kid with a booty (which, to be honest, I’ve always loved about myself). In grade eight, I remember someone saying, “You can eat whatever you want and never gain weight.” At the time, I didn’t even know how to respond because I had never really thought about my body that way. My body was just my body. I didn’t know it was “skinny” or “not skinny” until high school, when I hit puberty and started gaining weight, developing hips, getting cellulite and stretch marks.

Meanwhile, my girlfriends were size zero. It was the ‘90s, and we all know what that meant: low-rise jeans, thin eyebrows, and even thinner bodies. I suddenly had thighs, hips, a butt. I didn’t feel like I fit in. I didn’t feel good about myself.

That’s when I started exercising. At first it was a kickboxing gym. Later, when my parents got a treadmill, I’d sneak in workouts after school. Always in secret. Because back then, unless you were a jock, no one worked out — and if I told anyone I was exercising, I worried it would be like admitting there was something wrong with my body.

That secretive attitude toward fitness followed me into university and beyond. Even when I studied abroad in Italy, I’d sneak into the dorm gym regularly. Yes, I was eating pasta, but I was also working out religiously — always aware of what I was consuming, always trying to stay ahead of the curve (and the curves).

Looking back now, I can see it clearly: I had body dysmorphia. I likely had disordered eating. And I know some of that stemmed from the culture and time I grew up in, but it also came from deep inside me. Somewhere, I had learned that who I was — as I was — wasn’t enough. That’s a theme I’ve seen pop up in more than just fitness, but that’s another essay for another time.

So let’s talk about fitness. Because it’s been a long, winding journey.

When I was 34, I had what I thought was my “dream body”: 5’8”, 116 pounds. I was boxing three to four times a week, up to two hours a day. I was training for 10K runs, doing home workouts, working out daily for hours on end. My body looked “great.” But what does that even mean? Mostly, it meant I was thin.

But I was also exhausted. I was running my body into the ground. And that level of exercise? It wasn’t sustainable.

When COVID hit, like most of us, I had to reevaluate a lot, including my relationship with exercise. I knew I couldn’t keep going at that pace, and more importantly, I didn’t want to. So I shifted to lower-impact workouts. I even got my barre certification. I started moving my body in ways that felt less like punishment and more like self-respect.

And then came the pizza era.

In 2023, I took a waitressing job to supplement my income at a pizza and pasta restaurant (I’ll talk about this job a bit more when I get to the financial part of my restructuring). Anyway. Naturally, I ate the pizza. (When you’re broke and hungry, pasta is a friend.) It felt like an Eat Pray Love moment — I let myself enjoy food for once, without obsessing.

Not surprisingly, I gained 10 to 15 pounds. I didn’t panic. In fact, I thought it was healthy for me. A kind of reclamation. But eventually, I realized something didn’t feel quite like me anymore. My clothes didn’t fit. I didn’t feel strong. I missed my tone, my shape — not because I wanted to be skinny, but because I wanted to feel connected to my body again.

Even while I was working at the restaurant, I was doing DanceBody, Tracy Anderson, Pilates — all the workouts I loved. But I wasn’t seeing results. And I knew that if I wanted real change, I needed to change my approach.

So, earlier this year, I did something different. I got serious about structure and I went back to my personal training roots. (Fun fact: I got certified in my 30s when I was in my boxing era and even had clients for a while.) I stopped being sporadic and started following an actual plan. I brought strength training back into the mix — in a way that felt smart and sustainable.

This wasn’t about punishment. It wasn’t about obsession. It was about consistency, clarity, and challenge — all with compassion.

So, let’s get into the actual how. How I created a plan that supports my hormones, respects my limits, and actually gives me results. Because yes — you can want sculpted legs and a toned butt and still love your body. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.

Structure Is Not a Dirty Word

One of the first things I did? I put myself on a regimented plan and got serious about structure.The very thing I used to push against. But here’s the deal: even if you resist it, structure is essential when it comes to changing your body or building consistency.

You need routine. You need repetition. And yes, you need to do the same workouts over and over again — for at least six to eight weeks — if you actually want to see results. I was doing too many varied workouts, and I wasn’t prioritizing strength training. No wonder I wasn’t seeing changes.

Don’t Buy the Trend — Buy Into You

Let’s talk about trends for a second. There’s been a lot of buzz (especially for women over 40) about eating more protein and lifting heavy weights. And listen, I’m not here to knock that. Protein is important. Strength training is important. But you know what’s more important? Doing what works for you.

I tried weight training. Heavy lifting. The whole thing. And…I hated it. Not because I thought I’d get bulky — I know that’s a myth — but because I just didn’t enjoy it. And I truly believe that if you don’t like your workouts, you’re not going to stick with them.

I’m one of those weirdos who actually likes exercising. And because I’m a Capricorn stellium (read: naturally disciplined and stubborn), I can push myself on my own. I don’t need a class. I don’t need a trainer. But I do need to enjoy the process. If I’m bored? It’s over.

Calisthenics: The Strength Training That Stuck

So instead of forcing myself into a lifting routine I dreaded, I found a middle ground: calisthenics. Bodyweight strength training. It challenged me and I actually liked doing it. I could modify when needed, progress at my own pace, and still build strength.

I started using blocks, ankle weights, and resistance bands to gradually build intensity. I added in Pilates leg work (always a fave), and incorporated the styles I loved — like Tracy Anderson and DanceBody — using ankle weights to keep it challenging.

Find the Fun — And Stick With It

This was the game-changer: I didn’t just choose what was trendy. I chose what felt good for me. I still do strength training, but in ways that align with my body, my hormones, my mindset — and most importantly, my joy.

So if you’re restructuring your own routine, my advice is this:
Don’t copy what your favourite influencer is doing.
Don’t chase what’s hot on TikTok.
Find what works for you — and make it sustainable.

After years of trial and error, burnout, and bouncing between programs, I realized that if I wanted to feel good in my body — not just look good — I needed a plan that was structured, consistent, but still kind to my body. So that’s what I built.

Here’s exactly how I structured my weekly routine.

The Weekly Breakdown

Day One: Full Body + HIIT
I start the week with a calisthenics-focused full-body workout. This means bodyweight strength training — squats, push-ups, lunges, core — no equipment necessary (except maybe a mat and some motivation). I finish the workout with about 10 minutes of HIIT: jump squats, jump lunges — that’s it. Just enough to spike my heart rate, not fry my nervous system.

Day Two: DanceBody + Arms
I love DanceBody. It’s fun, it’s sweaty, and it makes me feel like I’m starring in my own pop video. On this day, I get my cardio in and then focus on arms with light weights. I love that sculpted dancer-arm look, and since I don’t do much upper body on Day One, I use this day to target that.

Day Three: Active Recovery
Hot yoga and a long stretch. Sometimes I’ll add a short Pilates core session if I feel up to it. This is a lower-intensity day and all about mobility, breath, and body awareness.

Day Four: Run + Glute Activation
This is my only run day. I no longer run like I used to — pounding pavement daily or chasing mileage. Instead, I stick to one steady-state treadmill run per week (about 30–45 minutes) for cardiovascular health and fat burning. Afterward, I’ll do some light glute activation and maybe core, but only if my body’s up for it.

Day Five: Strength + Sculpt
This is another full-body strength day, but with equipment. I’ll use ankle weights for leg work, a resistance band for glutes, and light weights for arms. I usually finish off with some HIIT or energizing cardio bursts to round it out.

Day Six: Pilates or Yoga (or Both)
Depending on how I feel, I’ll either go to another hot yoga class, do a Pilates session beforehand, or keep it simple and slow. I use this day to listen to my body.

Day Seven: Rest or Tracy Anderson
This day is all about checking in with my body and menstrual cycle. If I need rest, I take it. If I’m feeling good, I’ll do a Tracy Anderson workout. I try to incorporate at least one TA class each week because I love how it makes my body feel and look, especially when paired with ankle weights. I’ll sometimes swap it in place of another workout, depending on my mood.

For six to eight weeks, I repeat the same format. I might switch out a different DanceBody routine, a new TA sculpt, or rotate Pilates sessions, but I stay within the same structure. That’s what gets results. Not jumping around. Not trying every trendy workout on Instagram. But sticking with something long enough to let it work.

I think the biggest shift in how I trained this time around was listening to my body. I structured my routine around what felt supportive — not punishing. I still use progressive overload and track my results, but I also prioritize joy and consistency. That’s the only way I’ll stick with it.

And no, I don’t do hardcore cardio every day, but I do walk every single day. At least 30 to 60 minutes outside. That walk is just as important as any strength training because it keeps me connected to my body and helps regulate my nervous system.

Because here’s what I finally learned. Fitness doesn’t have to be punishing. It shouldn’t be. It can be challenging — which it should be — but not to the point where you hate yourself, what you’re doing, and ultimately your body.

Another important point: You can change your body at any age — yes, even in your 40s — and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. In fact, it shouldn’t.

My biggest advice?

Stay consistent.
Find workouts you like.
Honour your body — as it is now.
And don’t chase someone else’s version of what “fit” looks like.

Your joy is what is going to keep you active. When you love what you’re doing, when you feel empowered while doing it, that’s when the real transformation happens — not just in your body, but in how you show up for your life.

Tell me:

Thanks for being here!

Love, Brie xoxo

P.S. have any questions about fitness or my routine? Drop in the comments below!