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Flex Your Age: Defy Stereotypes and Reclaim Empowerment
How did Joan do that? Now you can find out!
As we get older, our bodies go through many changes, especially physical and mental. Most are out of our control. But for those that aren’t, all we need sometimes is advice about how to make specific, sustainable, and successful decisions that can alter the course of how our lives go from that point forward.
This is where Joan MacDonald of Train with Joan comes in. Just a few years ago, this septuagenarian wasn’t happy with how she looked and what she ate. With help from her daughter, Michelle (a certified strength and conditioning specialist), Joan developed exercise and diet goals as well as objectives for how to change her mindset—not just how she saw herself physically but how she felt about herself mentally regardless of her physical fitness or her age.
Change is hard. Doing things differently than you did them before is hard. Making different choices is hard. But in this book that's part self-help and part memoir, you'll learn how Joan made her miraculous transformation as well as how Michelle helped her mother on that journey. But you'll also learn motivation techniques, fitness and nutrition fundamentals, and how to find and contribute to a community of support.
Change is intimidating, but this book will help you learn what you’re capable of—and how to enrich yourself no matter at what stage in life you are. Everything you need to get started—and to stay dedicated to a new path—is inside this book. With Joan and Michelle by your side, you'll discover how to make changes for today, changes for tomorrow, and changes for the remainder of your life—long may you live.
As we get older, our bodies go through many changes, especially physical and mental. Most are out of our control. But for those that aren’t, all we need sometimes is advice about how to make specific, sustainable, and successful decisions that can alter the course of how our lives go from that point forward.
This is where Joan MacDonald of Train with Joan comes in. Just a few years ago, this septuagenarian wasn’t happy with how she looked and what she ate. With help from her daughter, Michelle (a certified strength and conditioning specialist), Joan developed exercise and diet goals as well as objectives for how to change her mindset—not just how she saw herself physically but how she felt about herself mentally regardless of her physical fitness or her age.
Change is hard. Doing things differently than you did them before is hard. Making different choices is hard. But in this book that's part self-help and part memoir, you'll learn how Joan made her miraculous transformation as well as how Michelle helped her mother on that journey. But you'll also learn motivation techniques, fitness and nutrition fundamentals, and how to find and contribute to a community of support.
Change is intimidating, but this book will help you learn what you’re capable of—and how to enrich yourself no matter at what stage in life you are. Everything you need to get started—and to stay dedicated to a new path—is inside this book. With Joan and Michelle by your side, you'll discover how to make changes for today, changes for tomorrow, and changes for the remainder of your life—long may you live.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published December 6, 2022
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 19, 2022
I've followed Joan on IG for years. I was very excited when I received an advanced copy of Flex Your Age to review. The book is full of information from Joan and her daughter, Michelle (@thehealthyhedonista). It was interesting to read about Joan's early life in Canada, her marriage, her career, and her journey to fitness. I've taken her "just try" to heart. Michelle is extremely knowledgeable about fitness and women's fitness specifically. Unless you're brand new to macro counting and weightlifting, you won't gain any additional knowledge, but you will be inspired by these two ladies and the testimonials sprinkled throughout the book. I would have liked to have seen before/after photos instead of just narratives. There is a lot of emphasis on finding a group of like-minded people which is important. Michelle has a program called The Wonder Women which sounds like a dream and is also expensive. Joan has the Train with Joan app which is more affordable and favorably rated. If you're a woman of a certain age who is looking to stop or reverse the aging process, this book is a great start.
(In this advanced copy, there were several typos, but they didn't take away from the reading. Also, early in the book, Joan mentions "turning fat into muscle." This irks me to no end. She explains what she means, but it still doesn't help dispel the myth that turning fat into muscle is possible and that fat weighs more than muscle. Nope, a pound is a pound - fat just takes up less space. <---- that's my own rant...Sorry.)
(In this advanced copy, there were several typos, but they didn't take away from the reading. Also, early in the book, Joan mentions "turning fat into muscle." This irks me to no end. She explains what she means, but it still doesn't help dispel the myth that turning fat into muscle is possible and that fat weighs more than muscle. Nope, a pound is a pound - fat just takes up less space. <---- that's my own rant...Sorry.)
December 6, 2022
This wasn't the book I expected it to be.
As a woman, who's getting older, I was excited at the thought of a program that focused on the changing needs of the older gal. Unfortunately, I found nothing new here.
Every section talked about mindfulness (great, but also without the depth needed to make it practical). There's a big focus on the lived experience of the author and those profiled in the book, which had me feeling like I was reading / reviewing a coffee table book of someone's really healthy, older mom, doing all sorts of active things.
It just didn't speak to me, especially the section about nutrition.
What I thought I was getting was a program tailored to an older woman - fitness plans, ways to deal with the inner grumbles, tactics to help with aging and changing hormones, solid dietary advice specifically geared to the older woman. But, what I found was the same old suggestions, based on data compiled more than 100 years ago, on young men. So… ectomorphs eat this way, endo's this way, here's a new word called 'macros', and you'd better just grin and bear it if you're not feeling like exercise today, because it's good for you.
I gave it three stars because the layout's beautiful, the photos unique to the topic, and it's a decent read, if predictable. There's nothing inherently 'bad' about the book, but I don't feel it serves the market it's trying to connect with.
As a woman, who's getting older, I was excited at the thought of a program that focused on the changing needs of the older gal. Unfortunately, I found nothing new here.
Every section talked about mindfulness (great, but also without the depth needed to make it practical). There's a big focus on the lived experience of the author and those profiled in the book, which had me feeling like I was reading / reviewing a coffee table book of someone's really healthy, older mom, doing all sorts of active things.
It just didn't speak to me, especially the section about nutrition.
What I thought I was getting was a program tailored to an older woman - fitness plans, ways to deal with the inner grumbles, tactics to help with aging and changing hormones, solid dietary advice specifically geared to the older woman. But, what I found was the same old suggestions, based on data compiled more than 100 years ago, on young men. So… ectomorphs eat this way, endo's this way, here's a new word called 'macros', and you'd better just grin and bear it if you're not feeling like exercise today, because it's good for you.
I gave it three stars because the layout's beautiful, the photos unique to the topic, and it's a decent read, if predictable. There's nothing inherently 'bad' about the book, but I don't feel it serves the market it's trying to connect with.
August 1, 2023
I enjoyed this book about Joan and her transformation which is phenomenal! Great information about making life changes and she is a role model in her own right:)
December 6, 2022
Very disappointed, I’m glad a bought a Kindle edition first. I downloaded it this morning on its release date and within a couple of hours returned it. I was so looking forward to this book and had hoped for a section on specific exercises and routines, but there was none of that. The basic information on nutrition and exercise is good if you are new to those important topics, but there was absolutely no new information for me. I suspect the omission of any exercises and workout routines is intentional so that people will purchase the app, but I tried the app earlier this year and found it glitchy and tedious to use. I wanted a workout book, if that’s what you are looking for, this isn’t it.
September 28, 2023
I was expecting more depth.
November 3, 2022
As someone with a lifelong commitment to exercise and fitness, it was hard for me to adapt to my new reality when I was diagnosed with a serious disease a few years back. Uncurable is a hard word to accept, but fortunately my “affliction” is treatable, so after having treatment, I was kind of a mess and in need of help and a place to exercise. Coincidentally, between my illness and the pandemic, I was suddenly gymless! Lucky me, I received a copy of Flex Your Age by Joan Macdonald who, along with her daughter Michelle (a certified strength and conditioning specialist), wrote this book to help others achieve the good health the authors enjoy.
Bottom line: Joan made a miraculous transformation (helped by Michelle). The book includes motivation techniques, fitness and nutrition fundamentals, and tips on how to “find and contribute to a community of support.”
It’s filled with good solid advice Four stars. Just in time for New Years! Thanks to DK Alpha and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review.
Bottom line: Joan made a miraculous transformation (helped by Michelle). The book includes motivation techniques, fitness and nutrition fundamentals, and tips on how to “find and contribute to a community of support.”
It’s filled with good solid advice Four stars. Just in time for New Years! Thanks to DK Alpha and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review.
January 31, 2023
I read this book to see if it is something I would give to a friend who perhaps needed encouragement that she could improve her fitness and create a healthy lifestyle. I would. It is not really a “how to” book, more of a “you can do it!” There is some good advice in the book and no purported miracle cures, just old fashioned hard work and tenacity. Women over 50 have not typically been encouraged to lift weights and build muscle, but it is so important for healthy aging. It’s nice to see Joan and other women taking charge of their health and not accepting decline as normal aging.
December 31, 2022
If you’re on Instagram, you’ve probably seen Joan in your feed at some point. Such an inspiration, right? I didn’t know her daughter is her coach so it’s a family affair - very cool! I was assuming Joan wrote the book but that didn’t appear to be the case (I would have liked hearing more about her backstory). Thanks so much to NetGalley and DK for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
December 10, 2024
75yo gets fitter following her daughter's plan. Focus on macro eating (lots protein), and weight lifting - following a body building approach. Inspiring at times - if she can do it, I should be able to too!
July 23, 2023
Got me kick-started back into healthier living. Inspiring and with enough tips to set a new foundation for moving forward.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews