AS SEEN IN

Where dedicated women come to rediscover their strength, their femininity, and their love for fitness. Aging does not define us, we defy aging by defining our bodies. Welcome to your strong, sexy pathway after 40. Here we understand that what you did in your 20s to get fit will not help you after 40 to get fit. Using experience and science we have discovered the fastest and most efficient way to transform your body to look and feel better after 40 then you did in your 20s.

Join 5,000+ getting MOTIVATED every Sunday morning while reading The Becoming You Newsletter (you’ll learn a bit about fitness after 40, nutrition that affects hormones, up-to-date life, and special offers too.)

Hi, I'm Nancy

Hey there! I'm Nancy Di Nino your dedicated Women's Fitness Coach, here to ignite your strength and sex appeal. With my high-energy approach and unwavering belief in your potential, I'll guide you through every step of your transformation journey. Let's turn your dreams into reality and unleash your inner powerhouse. Join me today and let's soar to new heights of success together!

With a contagious enthusiasm and unwavering passion, I am the go-to coach for aspiring and established strong and sexy bodies alike. My high-energy approach and dynamic coaching style empower individuals to unlock their full potential and turn their dream bodies into reality.

Nancy is a former professional Fitness Competitor with 20+ years of experience, a certified Clinical Weight Loss Practitioner and certified in Advanced Nutrition for Fat Loss Strategies and a Personal Trainer for over 30 years.

She has coached thousands of people, including gym novices and professional competitors, and now specializes in helping women of all body types reach their health and fitness goals by focusing on female metabolism, gut, and hormone health.

Recognized by Forbes Magazine, Apple News and one of Canada’s Top Trainers she has also been features in Oxygen, Muscle & Fitness Hers and Iron Man Magazine.

She has also hosted media events, including The Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Weekend.

In my 20s, I was insecure, cared what others thought of me and wanted to look to ‘others’ for approval... In my 30s, I spent years having a bad relationship with food and body dysmorphia. Despite winning fitness competitions, I was miserable on the inside from the calorie restriction, which led to binge eating, depression and isolating myself from social activities.

But when I finally leveled up to return to my lean, strong, confident self, I was hit with another challenge: The perimenopause season got me. How I was eating and training wasn’t working for me - I started to freak out, thinking I was slowly aging...

But this was the “aha” moment I needed to regain control of my life and not give up on myself.

After 40, I became obsessed with learning about female metabolism and hormones and how vital muscle is to keep living. STRONG & SEXY for the rest of my life. Muscle is anti-aging.

And that is why I am on a mission to impact women 40+ (yes, it starts in mid-30s) to look and feel better than they did in their 20s.

Midlife Muscle Makeover

A 21-day progress-proven program that will jump-start your transformation. This is for the women who have the motivation to transform themselves, and just need a plan to follow. We got you covered. Get yourself back into the swing of things with a laid-out fitness routine, nutrition plan, and a community to chat with. This is a self-paced program that you can do on your own.

Strong & Sexy Program

Strong & Sexy is a program designed to help women achieve their ideal body composition, while also improving their strength and overall health.

The program includes a comprehensive nutrition plan, as well as customized workout routines that are tailored to each individual's goals and fitness level.

The Strong & Sexy Experience

The Strong and Sexy Experience is your transformational showcase. This is an in-person weekend with Nancy, her team and a collection of the most dedicated women after completing their strong and sexy programs This weekend includes a luxury stay, hair, make-up, photoshoot, and more.

Don’t just earn your results, show them off in style.

Woman over 40 lifting weights in a gym with focused form, representing strength training during menopause

Should Your Workouts Change After 40?

August 06, 20254 min read

You’re eating clean, showing up to the gym, and following your old routine but something feels off. The scale won’t budge, recovery takes longer, and results that used to come easily now feel like a constant uphill battle.

I remember in my 40s over doing the cardio, no structure with my strength training, and eating under 1200 calories. I was miserable!! And even worse, confused. Every answer I got was, “That’s just how aging works.”

But that didn’t sit right with me...

There just wasn’t enough information or real resources out there for women in midlife at that time. I had to dig. I had to research, experiment, and connect the dots myself. Because no one was talking about how to actually train and support a woman’s body through perimenopause and beyond.


Why What Worked Before Isn’t Working Now

In your 20s and 30s, you could push through just about anything: double cardio days, fasted training, endless HIIT, random workouts on the fly. Your hormones were in balance, recovery was fast, and your metabolism hadn’t yet slowed from years of stress, dieting, or hormonal decline.

But once you enter perimenopause or menopause, your internal chemistry shifts:

  • Estrogen declines, impacting insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, and joint stability

  • Testosterone drops, reducing muscle-building capacity and strength

  • Cortisol rises, especially from chronic stress or overtraining

  • Recovery slows, making rest just as important as your workouts

As Dr. Vonda Wright, a renowned menopause health expert, puts it:
🗣️ “We can’t use our 25-year-old playbook for our 45-year-old body.”

If you’ve been stuck in the "eat less, move more" loop… it’s time to flip the script!


Mistake #1: Doing More Instead of Doing Better

The most common trap women fall into after 40 is doubling down on what worked in their 20s. So more cardio, fewer calories, stricter rules. Yikes!! 😱

The problem? That approach stresses your system even more, increasing cortisol and breaking down lean muscle tissue—the exact opposite of what your body needs.

What to do instead:

  • Focus on quality over quantity

  • Lift with intent (progressive overload, proper form, split training)

  • Keep cardio moderate and purposeful—not excessive

  • Prioritize fueling your body, not starving it


Mistake #2: Ignoring Hormonal Shifts

It’s not just about fat loss anymore—it’s about supporting your body’s changing needs.

  • Estrogen plays a role in glucose metabolism and muscle recovery

  • Testosterone helps build and preserve muscle mass

  • Progesterone supports sleep, mood, and inflammation control

As these hormones fluctuate or decline, your workout and nutrition strategies need to adjust too. Training like you're still 25 won’t get you far—it’ll just lead to frustration or burnout.


Mistake #3: Skipping Strength Training

This is where many women go wrong.

Cardio has its place, but muscle is the magic.
It improves insulin sensitivity, boosts metabolism, balances hormones, and supports bone health.

And yet… so many women are afraid to lift heavy.

They fear getting “bulky,” when in reality, lifting weights is the most powerful anti-aging tool you have.
According to Dr. Mary Claire Haver, “muscle is medicine”—especially during and after menopause.


How Should Your Workouts Change After 40?

Here’s what to focus on:

1. Progressive Strength Training

  • Lift 3–5x/week, depending on your experience level

  • Use split routines to target different muscle groups

  • Increase weight or reps weekly (progressive overload)

  • Focus on compound lifts (squats, rows, presses, hip thrusts)

2. Mobility and Recovery

  • Incorporate daily stretching and mobility work

  • Take 1–2 full rest days per week

  • Use recovery tools: foam rolling, red light therapy, walking, sauna, etc.

  • Sleep 7–9 hours (this is when hormones rebalance!)

3. Smarter Cardio

  • Avoid chronic, long-duration cardio

  • Use interval training strategically 1–2x/week

  • Walking is your underrated secret weapon for recovery and fat loss


The Real Goal: Longevity, Not Just Leanness

At this stage in life, it’s not just about looking good in your clothes (though we’re all here for that, too).

It’s about:

  • Having the energy to keep up with life

  • Preventing injury and joint pain

  • Supporting your bones, heart, and brain

  • Feeling strong, capable, and confident every single day

So yes, your workouts should change after 40.
Not because you’re less capable—because you're wiser now.

You’re no longer chasing skinny. You’re building a body that can carry you through the next 40 years—with strength, power, and pride.

strength training after 40should women change workouts after 40hormone friendly workoutslifting weights during menopausehow to train over 40progressive overload for womenanti-aging fitness tipswomen’s fitness over 40midlife muscle trainingworkout routine for perimenopause
Back to Blog
Woman over 40 lifting weights in a gym with focused form, representing strength training during menopause

Should Your Workouts Change After 40?

August 06, 20254 min read

You’re eating clean, showing up to the gym, and following your old routine but something feels off. The scale won’t budge, recovery takes longer, and results that used to come easily now feel like a constant uphill battle.

I remember in my 40s over doing the cardio, no structure with my strength training, and eating under 1200 calories. I was miserable!! And even worse, confused. Every answer I got was, “That’s just how aging works.”

But that didn’t sit right with me...

There just wasn’t enough information or real resources out there for women in midlife at that time. I had to dig. I had to research, experiment, and connect the dots myself. Because no one was talking about how to actually train and support a woman’s body through perimenopause and beyond.


Why What Worked Before Isn’t Working Now

In your 20s and 30s, you could push through just about anything: double cardio days, fasted training, endless HIIT, random workouts on the fly. Your hormones were in balance, recovery was fast, and your metabolism hadn’t yet slowed from years of stress, dieting, or hormonal decline.

But once you enter perimenopause or menopause, your internal chemistry shifts:

  • Estrogen declines, impacting insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, and joint stability

  • Testosterone drops, reducing muscle-building capacity and strength

  • Cortisol rises, especially from chronic stress or overtraining

  • Recovery slows, making rest just as important as your workouts

As Dr. Vonda Wright, a renowned menopause health expert, puts it:
🗣️ “We can’t use our 25-year-old playbook for our 45-year-old body.”

If you’ve been stuck in the "eat less, move more" loop… it’s time to flip the script!


Mistake #1: Doing More Instead of Doing Better

The most common trap women fall into after 40 is doubling down on what worked in their 20s. So more cardio, fewer calories, stricter rules. Yikes!! 😱

The problem? That approach stresses your system even more, increasing cortisol and breaking down lean muscle tissue—the exact opposite of what your body needs.

What to do instead:

  • Focus on quality over quantity

  • Lift with intent (progressive overload, proper form, split training)

  • Keep cardio moderate and purposeful—not excessive

  • Prioritize fueling your body, not starving it


Mistake #2: Ignoring Hormonal Shifts

It’s not just about fat loss anymore—it’s about supporting your body’s changing needs.

  • Estrogen plays a role in glucose metabolism and muscle recovery

  • Testosterone helps build and preserve muscle mass

  • Progesterone supports sleep, mood, and inflammation control

As these hormones fluctuate or decline, your workout and nutrition strategies need to adjust too. Training like you're still 25 won’t get you far—it’ll just lead to frustration or burnout.


Mistake #3: Skipping Strength Training

This is where many women go wrong.

Cardio has its place, but muscle is the magic.
It improves insulin sensitivity, boosts metabolism, balances hormones, and supports bone health.

And yet… so many women are afraid to lift heavy.

They fear getting “bulky,” when in reality, lifting weights is the most powerful anti-aging tool you have.
According to Dr. Mary Claire Haver, “muscle is medicine”—especially during and after menopause.


How Should Your Workouts Change After 40?

Here’s what to focus on:

1. Progressive Strength Training

  • Lift 3–5x/week, depending on your experience level

  • Use split routines to target different muscle groups

  • Increase weight or reps weekly (progressive overload)

  • Focus on compound lifts (squats, rows, presses, hip thrusts)

2. Mobility and Recovery

  • Incorporate daily stretching and mobility work

  • Take 1–2 full rest days per week

  • Use recovery tools: foam rolling, red light therapy, walking, sauna, etc.

  • Sleep 7–9 hours (this is when hormones rebalance!)

3. Smarter Cardio

  • Avoid chronic, long-duration cardio

  • Use interval training strategically 1–2x/week

  • Walking is your underrated secret weapon for recovery and fat loss


The Real Goal: Longevity, Not Just Leanness

At this stage in life, it’s not just about looking good in your clothes (though we’re all here for that, too).

It’s about:

  • Having the energy to keep up with life

  • Preventing injury and joint pain

  • Supporting your bones, heart, and brain

  • Feeling strong, capable, and confident every single day

So yes, your workouts should change after 40.
Not because you’re less capable—because you're wiser now.

You’re no longer chasing skinny. You’re building a body that can carry you through the next 40 years—with strength, power, and pride.

strength training after 40should women change workouts after 40hormone friendly workoutslifting weights during menopausehow to train over 40progressive overload for womenanti-aging fitness tipswomen’s fitness over 40midlife muscle trainingworkout routine for perimenopause
Back to Blog

With over 25 years’ experience as a Personal Trainer her forte is teaching proper form and the anatomy of lifting using her own tried and true T3 Training Methods.

Being in her 50s she understands the needs of women’s health, hormones, nutrition and training in the over 40 years and the formula to age in reverse.

She is certified in Menopause Nutrition and Advanced Clinical Fat loss. Using a strong holistic approach to optimize healthy aging, her motto is “muscle is your prescription” to longevity. Muscle is medicine.Now she is on mission to impact women over 40 to look and feel their best by getting leaner and stronger with age and redefine societal perceptions around midlife and aging.

As a lifelong athlete she has graced the fitness stages as a National Level Figure Competitor and former world-class professional salsa dancer.

Her passion for fitness has led to an incredibly rewarding and diverse career in the international fitness, media and modeling industry; landing me features and covers for top publications like Forbes, Apple News, Oxygen, Muscle & Fitness Hers, and Iron Man Magazine.

Lauren Lane is a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Registered Nurse, Mom and Bikini Competitor. Her academic background is primarily in Molecular Biology and Nursing, but her passion is in incorporating whole body health into the different seasons of life for herself and others.

She believes the proper knowledge, habits and a phenomenal team support system can change and save lives while helping women confidently get to the pinnacle of their fitness.

Everyone's journey and reasons are as unique as they are and she's looking forward to getting to know clients and being a part of the fit and confident years of their lives!

Lauren is a lifelong athlete of various sports and has been doing NPC Bikini Shows on and off since 2015 as a way to create goals in the gym and kitchen. Competitions were her personal gateway into functional health and weightlifting and she loves to share what she's learned.

Most recently she lived in Germany where she competed in NPC Worldwide Pro-Qualifiers and the Olympia Amateur Circuit. She's your go-to-gal for all things show day and posing. But, also your hype-squad and motivator for any body goals you're trying to accomplish!

Lee Ann Buttery is a distinguished Licensed Esthetician for over 13 years and a Health Coach/Holistic Nutritionist for nearly 5 years.

She integrates her expertise in both skincare and nutrition to help her clients achieve optimal skin health and wellness.

With a strong holistic approach, she has addressed a gamut of issues such as aging skin to helping clients lose weight and manage autoimmune disease.

She obtained a certificate in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University and is currently a PhD candidate in Holistic Nutrition. As her knowledge in this field expanded, Lee Ann has now shifted her approach to more Primal/Animal-based

Nutrition.

Her brand has been featured in three issues of British VOGUE magazine Conde Nast Traveller and Glamour UK. Lee Ann was also interviewed on FOX Sports discussing weight loss and inflammation.

Jennifer, a seasoned business owner with over 32 years of experience, brings her expertise in operations to NDF. Her background spans information technology, sales, nutrition, and fitness.

As a Certified Personal Trainer since 2004, specializing in Women's Health and Fitness, Jennifer owned and operated a successful prenatal and postpartum boot camp in Arizona, earning national recognition in 2010. She later opened a women's Crossfit studio, and at 50, competed in the NPC Bikini Masters Division, winning accolades.

At 60, Jennifer, a wife of 36 years, mother of three, and grandmother of two, understands the challenges women face with aging. Having personally overcome menopausal issues through tailored training, she now uses her knowledge to support other women in similar journeys at NDF.

Shana is a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach and Mother of 2 boys. Her love of fitness and nutrition brought her to competing in in both Figure and Bikini, which led to competing at a national level.

She believes proper nutrition is transformative and healing and loves to see her clients succeed in creating a healthy relationship with food and fitness.

Shana’s passion for growth and learning is what keeps her tuned into her clients as well as her insight gained over 15 years being certified. Shana is ready to support you with all your goals and will be your biggest cheerleader and advocate along your journey.

Andrea Belasco has over 16 years in customer service. She brings invaluable expertise to our operations.

Her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship fuels her passion for supporting businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Andrea's dedication, reliability, and hustle ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. She runs the behind-the-scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly for our members' success.

At NDF, Andrea is dedicated to helping you achieve your health and fitness goals with her exceptional organizational skills and commitment to excellence.

With over 25 years’ experience as a Personal Trainer her forte is teaching proper form and the anatomy of lifting using her own tried and true T3 Training Methods.

Being in her 50s she understands the needs of women’s health, hormones, nutrition and training in the over 40 years and the formula to age in reverse.

She is certified in Menopause Nutrition and Advanced Clinical Fat loss. Using a strong holistic approach to optimize healthy aging, her motto is “muscle is your prescription” to longevity.

Muscle is medicine. Now she is on mission to impact women over 40 to look and feel their best by getting leaner and stronger with age and redefine societal perceptions around midlife and aging.

As a lifelong athlete she has graced the fitness stages as a National Level Figure Competitor and former world-class professional salsa dancer.

Her passion for fitness has led to an incredibly rewarding and diverse career in the international fitness, media and modeling industry; landing me features and covers for top publications like Forbes, Apple News, Oxygen, Muscle & Fitness Hers, and Iron Man Magazine.

Jennifer, a seasoned business owner with over 32 years of experience, brings her expertise in operations to NDF. Her background spans information technology, sales, nutrition, and fitness.

As a Certified Personal Trainer since 2004, specializing in Women's Health and Fitness, Jennifer owned and operated a successful prenatal and postpartum boot camp in Arizona, earning national recognition in 2010. She later opened a women's Crossfit studio, and at 50, competed in the NPC Bikini Masters Division, winning accolades.

At 60, Jennifer, a wife of 36 years, mother of three, and grandmother of two, understands the challenges women face with aging. Having personally overcome menopausal issues through tailored training, she now uses her knowledge to support other women in similar journeys at NDF.

Image

Am I too Old?

I am in my 50s! Are you kidding me. I know women and clients who are stronger and fitter than me now in their 60s and beyond. If you are approaching the 40 years or beyond and are a regular exerciser this may be EXACTLY what you need. After 35 we start to lose muscle mass and bones become weak so resistance training is crucial to maintain health and longevity. Muscle is medicine.

Image

What does it Mean to be Future Proof?

It is the process where we teach your body to build LEAN MUSCLE AND HAVE A METABOLISM that never has to depend on a diet, restrictive plans or damn cardio! Age Proof is buidling a body that works for you for the rest of your life, having good joints, bones, skin and being able to carry groceries up the stairs beyond 65!

Image

Are Nancy’s Program For Me?

Nancy’s programs are for women over 40 ( or approaching 40), approaching midlife and want to lose the final 10-15lbs (yes peri-menopause years!). This is for women who want to build lean strong feminine muscle, sexy curves and future proof your body. You must have some experience lifting weights, must be familiar with the gym, and have some knowledge of meal planning.

Image

How do I Get Started?

Click the button below that says “Apply to work with Nancy.” Fill out the application and then book a call to speak with one of Nancy’s team members. The call will go over all the details and determine if you and Nancy & and her team are a good fit to work together,

PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS | COPYRIGHT 2024 NANCY DININO FITNESS