A funny thing happens on the way to 50 and beyond: Your body doesn’t respond to exercise as it did earlier in your life. Fatigue, muscle and joint aches and increased injuries seem to happen with greater frequency. At least, that's what happened to me and, if you're reading this, I'm guessing it sounds pretty familiar.

By the time I was 50, I had to quit running long distances because my knees ached and my body could no longer take that kind of pounding. I then successive surgeries on both feet for bunions and hammer toes. A couple of years later I had a skiing accident that fractured the head of my fibula and sprained the medial collateral ligament in my left knee. About two years later, I walked out of a yoga class and suddenly had a shooting pain down my right leg. Several X-Rays and an MRI later, I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis - a really long word for a slipped disc and its resulting pinched nerve. 

But I thought all that hard-driving exercise was good for me!  Well, it is...to a point. Take out the "hard-driving" and there's no question but that an active lifestyle is one of the most important ingredients in aging well (you're right - genes, diet, companionship, and managing stress count for a lot too!). 

I've been going to the gym for more than 20 years. But, I started working with a personal trainer in 2010 - in my 50's - and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. I learned how to get more fit and stay injury free. 

I quickly became curious about how these amazing bodies of ours work. I learned things   like how does the psoas muscle, deep in our abdomen, plays a role in back pain.  I discovered the wonders of self myo-facial release. I learned more and more about how to use my body correctly to achieve superior results. I began to feel healthier and more fit than when I was running marathons in my 20's and 30's. And, I made the decision that when I "grew up", I would become a personal trainer and massage therapist dedicated to helping those of us who are 50 plus to get fit, stay fit and remain injury free. 

This site provides resources for older adults seeking to add years to their life and life to their years through fitness and wellness. Contact me if you'd like to learn more about my online personal training services. 

Weekend warrior? Couch potato? Hiker? Skier? Sports enthusiast? Gardner?

Fifty Plus Fit DC is your go-to source to learn more about getting active, staying active and remaining injury-free. 

In her fifties, Betsy decided to turn her liflelong love of fitness and wellness into a career. 

Betsy is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has  specialties in Women’s Core Fitness, Corrective Exercise and Functional Training.  She is a personal trainer at a local country club where she works with many individuals who are fity plus years old. In addition, she meets with clients online to deliver individualized personal training sessions.

Betsy is a Maryland State Licensed Massage Therapist and is skilled in Swedish, Deep Tissue and Hot Stone techniques.  She sees massage clients at the Potomac Massage Training Institute. 

Betsy is a life-long athlete and fitness enthusiast. She has completed numerous marathons and  triathlons; coached downhill skiing, lacrosse, squash and tennis; played Division I Lacrosse in college, played first singles on her championship high school tennis team and started playing golf when she was ten years old.  Betsy continues to play recreational tennis and is an avid skier and bicyclist. 

In Betsy’s spare time you can find her hiking in Rock Creek Park with her dog Rosie, cycling throughout the D.C. area or skiing her favorite runs in Sun Valley, Idaho.