About
Prime Fitness is for women over 40 who want to
- achieve permanent weight loss
- slow down the aging process
- feel comfortable, strong, and sexy in their own bodies
- ramp up their energy level
- eat better
- start or stick to a fitness program
- and cut through the crap and confusion on these topics that the guru of the month tries to sell us.
I started this site because those are the things that interest me, and I love sharing my knowledge with other women.
I’ve discovered what I know not just through research but also good old trial and error. Like many people, I’ve tried a ton of popular diets and lost and regained weight several times. At my fattest, I weighed about 35 pounds more than I do now.
That’s embarrassing to admit to you because I thought I knew better.
What I’ve found is that it’s one thing to know what to do and another to actually do it—to really make the modifications necessary for a lifestyle change that sticks.
I’d like to share what I’ve learned along the way and some essential strategies for permanent weight loss.
Now, at 55, I’m in so much better shape than I was 10 years ago, when I hit my all-time heaviest weight.
And if you’re 40, 50, 60, or more, I want you to know it’s not too late to transform your body and your health.
Who am I?
I’m an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a fitness fanatic with a lifelong interest in the human body. For almost 30 years I worked fulltime as a writer and editor who happened to train some clients on the side. In 2012 I left my day job so I could focus on individual and group coaching for you, the woman over 40.
My passion is continuous learning about the body. My mission is sharing what I learn with others and serving as a catalyst, an encourager, and a motivator. My dream is to be part of the solution to the obesity crisis.
But enough about me!
I’d love to know what’s on your mind and what fascinates, confuses, motivates, and frustrates you about getting in shape. I want to hear about your fitness goals and successes and dreams.
Let’s talk.
You can contact me through the contact form at right, the comment box below, or my Facebook page.

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Mary – Your site looks amazing. I'll be happy to pass your site along to women in your target demographic who might be interested.
Twitter: themusclediva
May 28, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Kate, thank you!
This is a great site! found it in 'spry' passed it on to my wwatcher friends and Steppin Out Freinds(walk/run women's program). KEEP SHARING!
Thank you! I'm happy you found me! I need to look up that Spry article. Haven't read it yet!
hi mary. i would like to know more on losing weight after 40. I lost 10lbs already but I still have quite a bit more to go. Please Help
Tanya–thank you for visiting and commenting. What is your greatest challenge? What do you do for exercise, and do you have a food plan you are comfortable with?
Hey Mary! I am soo excited about your site. You are the positive attitude and kick in the butt I need to get back on the wagon. I am in my mid 40's and have regained 45 pounds after a 130 pound weight loss, which I started at age 37. A major life stress had hit me like a ton of bricks and I have fallen off of my healthy eating and exercise routine due to stress and time constraints. Now I am playing the head game with myself that I will never be able to lose the weight I have gained becasue I am now in my 40s. (Many people keep telling me it is impossible to do.) I just don't want to roll over and believe that. Send any and all encouragement my way, please?!?!
I will be spending time a little later on reviewing your archived articles. Thanks again, your an inspiration!
Hey, Susan–thanks so much for commenting! I'm going to e-mail you privately . . . but in the meantime, please do not let negative people tell you you can't achieve the shape you want. You CAN, and if you believe you can, you absolutely WILL. I am absolutely convinced that goal-setting, positive attitude, visualizing the desired outcome, and other mental and emotional work are at least as important to this process as our nutrition and exercise. Maybe more important because the mental/emotional work makes it much easier for us to stick with and even enjoy the improved nutrition and fitness activity necessary to burn fat. So glad you commented!
Hey Mary- HELP!!!!! I have been naturally thin my whole life- That is until NOW- I am 53 & starting to gain weight ONLY in the MIDDLE- Very attractive I might add!
Anyway- any tips on loosing in this area-
Hey, Reen–
Thanks for commenting! One of the interesting hormonal changes of mid-life is that we start depositing fat around the middle instead of on our butts and thighs. There is no specific cure for waist fat–the cure is to burn fat, period, through exercise, healthy diet, and portion control. I've recently written a free e-report on fat loss. To get a copy, just sign up for my e-mail newsletter in the blue box in the right sidebar.
Please let me know how you're doing!
Mary
Hi Mary, I have been looking for a site with information like this, targeted at women in our age bracket.., I am 44 and have never really committed to eating well and exercising. As you can guess, I am at my wit's end and know I must change my life. I also saw the Spry article and that's how I found you. I have lots of bad habits to break and have time constraints so I also need lots of encouragement. Looking forward to checking out your site and signing up for the newsletter. Thanks!
Hi, Lisa–
thank you! We all have plenty of bad habits, so please don't beat yourself up. But we can change them! Start with one thing (healthier eating, getting more exercise, whatever), and gradually add to your repertoire.
Let me know if I can help!
Mary
I saw your article posted at my local health club and was intrigued by your after 45 game plan for weight loss. Would like to read about the ZZ. I love to exercise but bad eating habits are my issues!
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting!
If you love to work out, you're way ahead of the game!
Have you done any "thought work" on the eating habits? In other words, identifying the thoughts that are going through your head when you eat the wrong stuff, how you feel before, during, and after you eat it, that sort of thing?
you might look at the books of Dr. Judith Beck. She's very good, I think, at helping us identify our thoughts and behaviors about food–and changing them. You can learn more about her here:
http://www.beckdietsolution.com/Library/InfoManag…
I'm convinced that the "inner game"–the head stuff–is critical to making permanent changes in our behavior.
Thanks again, and please stay in touch!
Mary
Twitter: tlbflowllc
April 2, 2012 at 10:14 am
Hey Mary,
Over the last few days I’ve been searching health and fitness blogs just to see what the public has access to and why I get so many strange fitness questions from people. I’ve been scanning through your posts the last hour or so, and I absolutely love it! Thanks for taking the time to get certified through the NSCA and to share quality information.
Also, as I’ve been reading through your content, I thought you might like an article I wrote about my take on our culture’s view of feminine strength. It was sparked by a comment from a guy at my gym who told me that my wife who had previously struggled with an eating disorder should stop lifting weights.
http://tlbflowllc.com/2012/03/08/a-husbands-view-on-feminine-strength/
Anyway, thanks for the great blog!
-Tyler
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