Midlife: But Make It Stronger

With Amy Peters

I may have it all together now with my diet and exercise. But it wasn’t always this way.

This journey started 15 years ago when my daughter was an infant, and my son had just turned two. I was working from home while taking care of the kids on my own. I felt isolated, depressed, and alone. My jaw hurt constantly, and my hair was falling out.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I wasn’t handling life well.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

At my annual check-up with my OB/GYN, I decided to share what was going on. My doctor asked me what I was doing for exercise. I told her I was getting out daily for dog walks with my kids.

She told me to go home and have a conversation with my husband to figure out how to make time to get to the gym alone.

And that one conversation changed everything.

The following Sunday, I went to the gym and took an exercise class. I still remember the feeling I had when I walked out of class that day. I felt energized, positive, and relaxed.

I began plotting out how I would fit in a gym class each week. And for the next several months, I went every Sunday.

From Gym Member to Fitness Coach

At one point, the owner of the gym noticed my transformation. I was physically stronger, but also lighter and more at ease. I was making friends and encouraging others.

He pulled me aside one day and asked if I would consider being a coach. I was surprised. I had no prior experience leading exercise classes. But he assured me he would teach me the science. I had the energy and personality for the job – the things he couldn’t teach.

Bravely, I took the leap. I mentored with the gym owner and enrolled in several certification programs to educate myself on the basics.

It was challenging, but I loved every minute of it.

Turning a Challenge Into Shape of Strength

Several years later, the pandemic hit. I couldn’t coach clients in person. Virtual coaching became the only way to interact with clients.

Fortunately, before the pandemic, I had introduced nutrition coaching as part of my services. I discovered this was one way I could continue making an income. It got my wheels spinning… How could I create a solution to help clients continue exercising and eating right, but from a virtual setting?

And that’s how Shape of Strength came about.

Now, four and a half years later, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients who have gone through my 12-week ReShape U program.

What started as a struggle became my biggest opportunity for positive change. I took small steps that accumulated over time.

I learned that discomfort is not something to fear, but rather a sign that bigger opportunities are on their way.

Not only have I helped myself feel better and be a better mom, but I’ve helped hundreds of other women do the same.

I want you to know that you have the power to make that level of impact too. I’m going to share my secrets so you can achieve it!

Creating Your Own Transformation the Easy Way

In the early days of my new gym routine, I wanted my looks to match the time, effort, and energy I was putting into my workouts.

I talked with one of the coaches, and he asked if I was getting enough protein. Protein is a key nutrient for building and maintaining muscle.

It also has a higher thermic effect than fats or carbohydrates. That means your body uses more energy to digest and process protein.

Hmmm. I had no idea!

Small Nutrition Changes That Add Up

I started paying more attention to nutrition labels and the food I was eating. On a typical day, I would have a bowl of granola with milk for breakfast. It was tasty and satisfying, but it was relatively low in protein.

I did a little research and modified my breakfast to Greek yogurt with berries and a small topping of granola. It was still delicious and much more balanced!

Over time, I took the same approach with my other meals and snacks. I slowly changed what I was eating to include more protein.

This small shift made it doable and something I could continue long-term.

To this day, I’ve stuck with many of the changes I made over a decade ago!

This is something you can do too! I’m sharing my homemade granola recipe with you so you can create your own Greek yogurt parfait for breakfast or a snack.

Pumpkin Flax Granola Recipe

Ingredients:

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup maple syrup

4 tablespoons flaxseed meal

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups pumpkin seeds

8 cups whole rolled oats

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix the first five ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add oats and pumpkin seeds. Stir to combine. Line a 13” x 8” sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.

Bake for 45 minutes. Enjoy!

About Coach Amy Peters

Coach Amy Peters is a certified fitness and nutrition coach with over 11 years of experience. Her experience as a coach and a mom has helped her build a coaching program for weight loss that combines science-backed solutions with a practical, real-life approach.