Unlock the Surprising Secrets I Swear By at 60 to Stay Vibrant, Strong, and Absolutely Ageless!

Turning 60 doesn’t come with a handbook—heck, most days, it feels like you’re just winging it with a bunch of new aches and a sprinkle of wisdom tossed in. After decades coaching women in fitness and seeing the journey up close, I’ve realized that aging well isn’t about following strict rules—it’s about carving out your own path, picking up lessons (and yes, the occasional sore muscle), and owning every moment. From lifting heavier weights at 60 than I did at 40, to learning the art of saying “no” without guilt, these aren’t just tips—they’re battle-tested truths I live every day. Ready to take control and redefine what aging looks like for you? Let’s dive into the rules that can change the game.

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Nobody gives you a rulebook when you turn 60. You write your own, one lesson (and one sore muscle) at a time.

I’ve been teaching group fitness since 1989. That’s a lot of years of standing in front of a room full of women, watching them get stronger, laugh through the hard parts, and show up for each other. Add 10 years post-menopause, a husband of 37+ years, three grown kids, and a granddaughter who calls me Coco, and I’ve collected a few truths along the way.

After 40+ years of training women, here’s what I’ve learned about how to age well. These are the rules I actually live by, so steal the ones you love.

Take Care of the Body That Carried You

1. Lift something heavy.

Strength training is healthcare, not a hobby. I lift heavier at 60 than I did at 40, because muscle is what gets you up off the floor, carries the groceries, and scoops up a granddaughter without a second thought. And no, it won’t make you bulky.

2. Go to bed (or at least try).

If I could go back, I’d shake my 40-year-old self and say, “GO TO BED.” I’ll be honest, I’m not a 7-to-9-hours girl yet. I’m working toward averaging seven hours a night, and my Oura Ring is a huge part of that. It shows me what helps my sleep (and what wrecks it), so I can keep adjusting.

3. Wear shoes you can actually walk in.

I love to shop, and I refuse to believe comfortable shoes have to be ugly shoes. Find the pair that works with jeans, a dress, and a two-mile walk, and buy it in two colors.

These are my favorite comfortable walking shoes, and the four shoes I’ve walked over 20,000 steps in without pain!

4. Drink your water (and salt it).

In my 50s I was dragging every afternoon until I realized my body needed more sodium (yes, really!). A little salt in my water and my energy came back. Your body changes, so listen to it.

Learn more about the benefits of electrolytes, and why LMNT is my brand of choice!

5. Be kind to the body you have.

At 40, I cared how my body looked. At 60, I care how it functions. Do whatever makes you feel good in your skin, whether that’s a great haircut or a new serum. Enhance, never erase. Aging gracefully, to me, means feeling good in your skin.

I love getting older, and I also get botox. Both can be true!

Protect Your Time Like It’s Precious (Because It Is)

6. “No” is a complete answer.

Brené Brown says clear is kind, and I’ve taken that to heart. Every half-hearted yes steals time from something you actually care about.

7. Clear the clutter.

Tossing things has always come easy to me. I know that’s not true for a lot of women, and that’s okay. But the older I get, the more I believe less baggage makes life lighter, whether it’s the closet, the calendar, or the mental to-do list running at 2 a.m. If letting go is hard for you, start with one drawer.

8. Buy the plane ticket.

“Someday” has a sneaky way of never showing up. Book the trip, the concert, the weekend away. I’ve never once looked back and wished I’d bought more things instead of making more memories.

While you’re booking, check out my travel essentials that make travel days enjoyable.

9. Keep learning new tricks.

Try the new class format, the new recipe, the app your grandkid has to explain to you twice. A curious brain is a young brain.

Choose Your People on Purpose

10. Find your crew.

Group fitness changed my life, and it’s not only because of the workouts. It’s the friendships. The women who notice when you miss class and text to check on you. And then there are the friendships that go even deeper.

I have girlfriends who’ve been by my side for 30+ years. They’re my tribe, the women I can tell absolutely everything to. Friendships like that don’t happen by accident, so make the call, plan the dinner, and keep showing up.

11. Put family first.

Family is the most important thing in my life, period. I’ll rearrange just about anything to spend time with my kids and grandkids. The work and the to-do list will be there tomorrow, but these moments won’t wait.

12. Tend your relationships.

After 37+ years of marriage, I can tell you love takes work (the good kind). Invest in the relationships that lift you, and give yourself permission to step back from the ones that only drain you.

13. Drop the grudge.

Carrying resentment is like doing farmer’s carries all day with nowhere to set the weights down. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you have to keep them in your life. It means you stop carrying the anger around, and that feels so much lighter. Forgive others, and forgive yourself even faster.

Own Every Single Year

14. Say what you think.

Two decades of live TV and home shopping taught me that your voice only matters if you use it. You’ve earned your opinions. Share them.

15. Make joy non-negotiable.

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. I schedule my workouts like appointments, because I’m a better wife, mom, boss, and Coco when I show up for me first.

16. Stop apologizing for your age.

Turning 60 isn’t something to hide. Say the number out loud. This stage of life is not the consolation prize. It’s the main event.

Rules are great, but I’m a practical girl. People ask me all the time what I actually use to keep up with this list, so here’s my real, everyday lineup. None of it is magic. It just makes the good habits a whole lot easier to stick with.

My Oura Ring.

This is the one that finally got me serious about Rule #2. I check my sleep score every morning, and it’s taught me that a late glass of wine and a late-night scroll both cost me. I wrote a whole Oura Ring 5 review if you want the full scoop.

LMNT electrolytes.

One packet of LMNT electrolytes in my morning or afternoon water bottle, almost every day. It’s what fixed my 3 p.m. slump in my 50s, and I still reach for it after every sweaty class.

Creatine.

I fought this one for years because I thought it was for bodybuilders. Wrong! It supports muscle and strength as we age, and I take my Create Creatine gummies every day! Here’s why I finally started taking creatine (and why I’m not stopping).

Protein powder.

I aim for about 30 grams of protein at every meal, and a healthy smoothie makes breakfast easy on busy days. These are the best protein powders I’ve tested, including my personal favorites!

A real set of dumbbells.

Not the cute 2-pound pair. You want a light, medium, and heavy set so you can keep progressing. These are my picks for at-home gym equipment.

Walking shoes I can wear all day.

My feet are happy and my outfits still look cute. Here are my favorite affordable walking shoes if you’re shopping.

My walking pad.

It sits under my desk and I walk at about 1 mph while I answer emails. Those steps add up fast. Here’s why I use a walking pad every day.

Womaness skincare.

Midlife skin is drier and thinner than it used to be (hello, menopause), and Womaness is made for exactly that. It’s a big part of how I feel good in my skin. See more of my favorite skin care for women over 50.

Where to Start If You’re New to Lifting

If Rule #1 made you a little nervous, I get it. Walking into the weight room for the first time at 55 or 65 can feel intimidating. But as a trainer who has started hundreds of women from zero, I can tell you this: you don’t need a gym, a plan from a bodybuilding magazine, or a single fancy move.

You need five basic exercises and two days a week. That’s it!

These moves cover your legs, chest, back, glutes, and grip, which is basically everything you use to live your life. Do them on two non-consecutive days (Monday and Thursday works great), and rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Sit-to-stand squat. Sit down on a sturdy chair, then stand back up without using your hands. Keep your weight in your heels and your chest proud. When that gets easy, hold a dumbbell at your chest. This is the move that keeps you getting up off the toilet and out of the car on your own, so don’t skip it.

Here’s how to do a proper squat. 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 12.

2. Incline push-up. Put your hands on a kitchen counter or sturdy table and walk your feet back until your body is one long line. Lower your chest toward the edge, then press away. The lower the surface, the harder it gets.

See my step-by-step incline push-up guide. 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12.

3. Single-arm dumbbell row. Put one hand and knee on a bench or chair, hold a dumbbell in the other hand, and pull your elbow up toward your back pocket. This one is so good for posture (bye-bye, desk hunch).

Here’s how to do a single-arm row. 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 12 per side.

4. Glute bridge. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat. Squeeze your glutes and lift your hips until you’re in a straight line from knees to shoulders, then lower slowly. Strong glutes protect your lower back and your knees.

Learn the glute bridge. 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 15.

5. Farmer’s carry. Pick up a heavy dumbbell in each hand, stand tall, and walk. That’s the whole exercise! It builds your grip, your core, and the strength to carry every bag of groceries in one trip.

Your grip says a lot about how you’re aging, too, so read up on grip strength and longevity. 3 rounds of 30 to 40 seconds.

How heavy should you go? Pick a weight where the last two reps of every set feel hard but doable with good form. When the whole set starts to feel easy, it’s time to go up.

Here’s exactly when to increase your weights.

Start where you are. If that means doing the squat with no weight and the push-up on the wall, wonderful. Give it six weeks of showing up twice a week, and you’ll feel the difference climbing stairs, lifting your suitcase, and getting down on the floor to play.

When you’re ready for more, my beginner strength training guide and these 11 best strength moves for women over 50 are great next steps.

Which Rule Would You Add?

These are the lessons learned in life that I’d hand every woman over 60. I’m still adding to this list every year, and I’d love to hear yours. Which rule would you add? Tell me in the comments.

PS. If Rule #1 is the one you need most, come lift with me on Get Healthy U TV. I’ll save you a spot.

Your Questions About Aging Well, Answered

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