EPISODE 42: EXERCISE IN MIDLIFE - BREAKING OLD NORMS | Hot Flashes & Cool Topics Podcast

EPISODE SUMMARY:

When learning about fitness, wellness and exercise, women are often told the same thing: the more you work out, the better you’ll look and feel. But what if that’s not always the case? This is the question midlife fitness instructor and midlife expert Debra Atkinson was forced to asked herself when she reached midlife. Having been a fitness instructor and an active person her entire life, Debra had assumed midlife exercise routines would be no different than the rigorous ones she’d been doing for years. However, once she turned 49 and became a podcaster full time, Debra noticed that she was losing more weight sitting down than she had been when working out a lot. After doing more research on fitness and its connection to menopause, perimenopause and midlife exercise, Debra found that as we get older, eating more of the right things and exercising less is can actually better for our bodies. She now uses this knowledge to educate other midlife women on proper fitness, and today, shares with us her tips and tricks to staying healthy as we age. In today’s episode, Debra talks about how she got into fitness, women’s fitness, how cortisol and insulin can affect body fat, and how she built the community surrounding her podcast Flipping 50.

Debra Atkinson:

Debra Atkinson is a fitness professional whose personal expertise with aging and exercise changed the way she views and teaches fitness. She is a graduate from Iowa State University where she earned both a B.S. and M.S. in Exercise Science and Exercise Sports & Psychology. For most of her life, Debra has been extremely active, spending her time working as a fitness instructor, running, and training for triathlons. However, at age 49, Debra began spending more time sitting behind a desk and was shocked to find that her body responded better to less physical activity. She lost more weight when she worked out less, and this discovery has helped shape how she crafts her own exercise schedule as well as how she advises others to create their own work out routines. Debra is also a certified CoachU graduate, a podcaster with her own show called Flipping 50, co-author of multiple projects including the DVD How to Grow Your Personal Training Business Today, and has been a speaker at church groups, women’s groups, and professional fitness associations sharing her knowledge on fitness

Flipping 50

Exercise Videos and Books
- Safe, sane and simple exercises you can do from the comfort of your own home
- Tips and tricks for women who are perimenopausal and older
VIP & Group Programs
- Coaching in both individual and group settings
  - Accelerates progress
  - Filters best information for you
  - Eliminates confusion on working out
Virtual Gym Membership
- The Flipping 50 Café
  - A safe online space for women who seek community when working towards exercise goals
    - Allows women to share tips, goals, and tricks with one another in a non-competitive environment
Other Resources
- Blog
- Podcast
- Coaching
- Flipping 50 Membership
- Recipes
- Debra’s Favorite Thing
- Flipping 50 TV