Jason Weitzner, a certified medical exercise specialist and owner of Symmetry, in Naples, and Evie Breedlove-Manapora, an advanced registered nurse practitioner and owner of Inner Essence Health, in Bonita Springs, couldn’t agree more with the perspective of fitness expert Michael Spitzer, author of Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond.

Weitzner’s personal experience with clients has led him to see firsthand that aging is a mindset definitely not carved in stone. “In my personal experience and working with clients, I’ve seen that their history is more important than their number of birthdays. While a client tells me that they are 25, 45 or 75, this might give me a general idea of their maximal potential, but as a medical exercise specialist who will be working with them, it offers me as very little extra help. What best serves the client’s outcome and our working relationship is my practice of letting their answers to my questions guide me in terms of what to do and what to avoid. Such questions that I continue to ask them as we progress together include, ‘What are your capabilities, limitations, and goals? and What are you currently capable of doing?’ Past and current injuries are also important. In other words, the individual’s physical state needs constant consideration,” explains Weitzner.

The fitness goal of gaining and retaining muscle never changes. “Because we lose muscle as we age, we need to add as much as we can in youth and keep as much as we can when we are older. When training to add and/or keep muscle, I ask questions so that I know where to begin, what to include and avoid, and how to progress workouts. This also applies for increasing bone density and improving cardiovascular and respiratory health. Although individuals consider many problems they face during older ages as ‘older-aged problems’, what they really need to recognize is that the seeds of these problems are often sown in their youth,” says Weitzner.

Breedlove specializes in customized wellness plans to deal with chronic fatigue syndrome, weight loss, thyroid disorders, hormone imbalances, digestive disorders and diabetes. Her interest in lifestyle as an instrument to slow down the hands of time is the result of her personal experience. “Before turning 40, I never thought about gaining weight or maintaining muscle, but things changed. Through continuing education for my profession, I was fortunate to learn that the type of foods I ate were more important than counting calories,” she says.

As an educator and a coach who helps individual’s achieve optimal health and wellness, Breedlove checks her clients’ hormone levels, including insulin, cortisol and thyroid, to determine what needs to be rebalanced. “Hormones play a big part in our health, and like dominoes, when one falls, they are all affected. For instance, roller coaster blood sugar increases estrogen and insulin levels, which not only increase the fat in our abdomen and vital organs, but also make it extremely difficult to lose weight. A diet including vegetables, lean, organic, grass-fed protein and healthy fats like avocados and coconut makes us feel fully satisfied, which means that your body won’t be craving sugary snacks and refined carbohydrates for a quick boost of energy. Instead, it will thrive on the whole, real foods consumed during meals. Balancing insulin through a proper diet, self-care and exercise generally allows for the easy shedding of pounds without extra effort,” notes Breedlove.  

Balancing hormones naturally can also be done by reducing stress levels, which lowers blood cortisol, getting enough sleep and eating healthy fats, supplementing with adaptogenic herbs and improving gut health, along with other things such as bioidentical hormones, if needed. “Health doesn’t require rocket science, it requires common sense and a use-it-or-lose-it attitude. Just eat real food,” enthuses Breedlove.

Symmetry is located at 1750 J&C Blvd., Ste. 10, in Naples. For more information, call 239-940-2121 or visit NoFadsAllFitness.com.

Inner Essence Health is located at 9200 Bonita Beach Rd., Ste. 113, in Bonita Springs. For more information, call 239-777-4647 or visit InnerEssenceHealth.com.