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July 20th, 2026

Fitness That Actually Lasts: Building Strength and Energy in Midlife

  1. Fitness That Actually Lasts: Building Strength and Energy in Midlife Dr. Supatra Tovar 28:32

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Fitness over 50 does not have to mean pushing harder, exercising longer, or forcing your body to follow routines that no longer feel right. In this episode of the ANEW Insight Podcast, we explore how women can build strength, energy, confidence, and resilience through realistic, sustainable movement during perimenopause, Menopause, and beyond.

Dr. Supatra Tovar is joined by Heike Yates, an award-winning author, midlife fitness and consistency expert, and founder of Hey Life Training. With more than 35 years of experience in Health and fitness, Heike helps women stop repeatedly starting over and create movement habits that support their changing bodies and lives.

In Part One of this conversation, Dr. Tovar and Heike discuss why restrictive diets and punishing workouts often backfire, especially during midlife. They explore the importance of listening to your body, choosing movement that brings you joy, starting with small and achievable habits, and building strength without adding more Stress or Burnout.

You will also learn how Pilates, strength training, walking, dancing, and even five-minute movement breaks can support bone health, posture, energy, confidence, and long-term wellness. The goal is not to become younger. It is to become stronger, healthier, wiser, and more connected to yourself.


In This Episode

• Fitness over 50
 • Healthy Aging and Longevity
 • Sustainable Exercise habits
 • Perimenopause and menopause
 • Strength training for women
 • Pilates and bone health
 • Diet culture and restrictive eating
 • Exercise burnout

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introduction
 02:45 Redefining when midlife begins
 04:20 Why restrictive diets often backfire
 05:30 Finding community and joy through movement
 07:00 From bodybuilding to ultramarathons and Pilates
 09:00 Why movement should feel enjoyable
 10:40 Why so many midlife women feel exhausted
 12:00 Replacing dieting and restriction with balance
 13:00 When exercise creates more stress
 15:00 Diet culture, extreme weight loss, and midlife health
 16:40 Viewing midlife as a turning point
 17:00 Why more fitness information is not always the answer
 19:00 Learning to listen to your body
 20:30 Finding movement that lights you up
 21:40 Why smaller workouts are more sustainable
 22:20 Five-minute movement habits that add up
 23:20 Strength training for long-term health
 24:00 Pilates, posture, muscle, and bone density
 26:40 Final thoughts and Part Two preview


Connect With Heike Yates

Website: https://heikeyates.com


YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/heikeyates


Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/heikeyates/


LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heike-yates


Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pursue-your-spark-midlife-fitness-mindset-for-women/id1231586317


Connect With Dr. Supatra Tovar

Continue Your Journey
 📘 Book: Deprogram Diet Culture: Rethink Your Relationship with Food, Heal Your Mind, and Live a Diet-Free Life

🎓 Course: Deprogram Diet Culture
 https://anew-insight.com

🌐 Visit the Website
 https://drsupatratovar.com

🎥 Watch More Episodes
 ANEW Insight Podcast

🎤 Watch the TEDx Talk
 Rethinking Your Relationship with Food in the GLP-1 Era


Support the show

Thank you for joining us on this journey to wellness. Remember, the insights and advice shared on the ANEW Body Insight Podcast are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine. To learn more about the podcast and stay updated on new episodes, visit ANEW Body Insight Podcast at anew-insight.com. To watch this episode on YouTube, visit @my.anew.insight. Follow us on social media at @my.anew.insight on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads for more updates and insights. Thank you for tuning in! Stay connected with us for more empowering stories and expert guidance. Until next time, stay well and keep evolving with ANEW Body Insight!

Dr. Supatra Tovar ANEW Body Insight Podcast

Dr. Supatra Tovar is one of the only licensed psychologists in the world who is also a registered dietitian and accredited fitness expert. Dr. Tovar's unique background and integrated specializations allow her to provide holistic mind-body treatment for trauma, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety for children and adults. Dr. Tovar has numerous scholarly and professional presentations at several national conferences on a variety of health topics, including the detection and treatment of disordered eating, dissociation, weightism, and mindfulness interventions for eating disorders. Dr. Tovar earned her doctorate in psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and has two master's degrees, a Master of Science in Nutrition and a Master of Arts in Psychology. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Psychological Association. Since founding her first Pilates studio almost twenty years ago, she has been designing exercise and nutrition programs as well as helping clients emotionally and mentally heal.

She created ANEW (Advanced Nutrition and Emotional Wellness) to inspire and guide a client's journey to improving their relationships with their mind, body, and spirit.

Dr. Supatra Tovar authored "Deprogram Diet Culture: Rethink Your Relationship with Food, Heal Your Mind, and Live a Diet-Free Life" and developed an accompanying online course to address the pervasive and harmful effects of diet culture. Both the book and the course aim to empower individuals by helping them reject unrealistic body standards and restrictive eating practices promoted by society. They provide readers and participants with tools to foster a compassionate, mindful relationship with food and themselves, promoting sustainable health and wellness. Through these resources, Dr. Tovar offers a holistic approach that integrates psychological insights and nutritional education, guiding individuals toward a liberated, informed, and healthful life, free from the cycles of dieting and body dissatisfaction.