What if the secret to feeling better in your 40s, 50s, and beyond isn't about getting smaller—but getting stronger?
For years, women have been told to focus on the number on the scale. Lose the weight. Eat less. Exercise more. Get smaller.
But what happens when the weight comes off and you don't feel as strong as you'd hoped? Or when you're doing everything you think you should be doing, but your body just isn't responding the way it used to?
According to Coach Christi, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the strength-training coach behind VIP's Strong & Fit Foundations program, the answer isn't necessarily more cardio or another restrictive diet.
It's learning how to build and protect your strength.
At 43, Christi knows firsthand what it feels like to struggle with weight changes, even when you have years of fitness education and experience.
And today, she's helping women shift their focus from simply losing weight to building bodies that will support them for decades to come.
Meet Coach Christi: The Personal Trainer Who Struggled With Her Own Weight
Christi has been a personal trainer for 10 years.
She's a NASM-certified personal trainer with additional specializations in weight loss and nutrition coaching.
She's also a mother and military spouse who has experienced many different seasons of life.
Moves.
Family responsibilities.
Changing routines.
And the weight fluctuations that can come with them.
Despite her extensive fitness education, Christi found herself struggling with approximately 20 pounds of weight gain in recent years.
And it was frustrating.
She knew what to do.
She had the certifications.
She understood exercise.
And she'd even worked with other trainers.
But the weight wasn't coming off.
"I have the education, I have the knowledge."
She began feeling embarrassed and discouraged.
How could she help other women when she was struggling herself?
Eventually, Christi enrolled in the VIP Weight Loss System.
And through the program, she discovered pieces that had been missing from her own approach.
She lost the weight she'd been struggling with.
And her experience inspired her to bring her strength-training expertise to the VIP team.
Today, Christi helps women combine nutrition education with progressive strength training so they can work toward losing body fat while maintaining and building strength.
Why Strength Training Matters More After 40
As women age, maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important.
Muscle isn't just about appearance.
It helps us move.
Maintain balance.
Carry groceries.
Climb stairs.
Get up from the floor.
And continue doing the everyday activities that allow us to live independently.
For Christi, that's the real purpose of strength training.
She doesn't want women chasing a smaller number on the scale at the expense of their physical capabilities.
She wants them thinking about the future.
What will their bodies need to do in five years?
Ten years?
Twenty years?
And what can they start doing today to prepare?
Christi describes muscle as an insurance policy for a long, strong life.
Because building strength now can help support the activities women want to continue enjoying as they get older.
Strong Is the New Skinny
During her interview with Coach Katie, Christi was asked to finish one sentence:
Strong is the new skinny because...
Her answer captured the heart of her coaching philosophy.
"Strong will carry a woman through the next 10, 20, 30 years of her life, helping her to feel confident, capable, and independent."
That's the goal.
Not simply fitting into smaller jeans.
Not chasing a certain number.
And not trying to look like someone else.
It's about feeling capable in your own body.
Confident in your movements.
And prepared for the life ahead.
The Six Movement Patterns Every Woman Needs
When Christi created VIP's Strong & Fit Foundations program, she built it around six foundational movement patterns.
These are movements women use throughout everyday life.
1. Squatting
Think about getting out of a chair.
Standing up from the toilet.
Or getting in and out of a car.
These activities require lower-body strength.
Training the squat pattern helps women practice the strength and control needed for these movements.
2. Pushing
Pushing a door.
Moving an object away from your body.
Or pressing something overhead.
These movements involve the upper body and require strength through the shoulders, chest, and arms.
3. Pulling
Pulling an object toward you.
Moving something across a room.
Or performing everyday tasks that require your back and arm muscles.
Pulling movements help build upper-body strength.
4. Lunging
Walking upstairs.
Stepping over an obstacle.
Or moving from one position to another.
These activities involve elements of the lunge pattern.
Training this movement can help improve lower-body strength and control.
5. Carrying
Carrying groceries.
Lifting bags.
Or transporting everyday items.
These activities require more than arm strength.
They also involve your legs, grip, and core.
6. Rotation and Anti-Rotation
Your core helps stabilize your body as you turn, reach, and carry objects.
Training rotational control and stability can help you move with better balance and coordination.
Together, these six movement patterns form the foundation of Christi's approach.
Because strength training should prepare women for real life.
Not just for the gym.
Why Losing Weight Without Protecting Muscle Can Be a Problem
Many women come to VIP with weight loss as their primary goal.
And that's understandable.
But Christi encourages women to think about what they're losing.
When weight comes off, it may include a combination of body fat, water, and lean tissue.
If a woman loses muscle along the way, she may notice changes in strength, balance, or physical capability.
That's why strength training is an important part of a well-rounded weight management approach.
Christi wants women to focus on body composition, not simply body weight.
Because two women can weigh the same amount and have very different levels of strength and muscle.
The goal isn't just to be lighter.
It's to build a body that feels strong and capable.
Will Lifting Weights Make Women Bulky?
This is one of the most common concerns Christi hears.
Women want to feel toned.
But they're afraid lifting weights will make them look bulky.
Christi encourages women to understand what they're really asking for when they say they want to be toned.
They want visible muscle definition.
And building muscle requires resistance training.
Developing very large muscles generally requires substantial, sustained training and nutrition support. Ordinary progressive strength training doesn't automatically produce a bulky physique.
For most women starting a strength-training routine, the more practical goal is to build strength, improve body composition, and feel confident in their movements.
Christi also encourages women not to be afraid of choosing weights that challenge them.
If you're completing 10 repetitions and the final repetitions feel extremely easy, it may be time to consider increasing the resistance.
"What doesn't challenge you won't change you."
The important thing is progressing safely, using proper technique, and selecting resistance appropriate to your current abilities.
What About Pilates?
Pilates has become increasingly popular among women looking to improve strength, mobility, and flexibility.
And Christi believes it can be a valuable part of a fitness routine.
She appreciates its focus on core strength, flexibility, and controlled movement.
But she also explains that women who want to progressively build strength and muscle may benefit from adding resistance training.
Pilates and weight training don't have to compete.
They can complement each other.
You can enjoy Pilates.
Practice yoga.
Walk.
And still incorporate strength training into your weekly routine.
The key is understanding what each activity helps you accomplish.
The Two Biggest Mistakes Women Make When Starting Strength Training
According to Christi, women commonly make two mistakes when they begin exercising on their own.
Mistake #1: Doing Too Much Too Soon
A woman decides she's ready to make a change.
So she starts exercising five or six days a week.
Adds running.
Tries multiple workout classes.
And attempts to change everything at once.
But the routine quickly becomes overwhelming.
She's exhausted.
Sore.
And struggling to keep up.
Eventually, consistency becomes difficult.
Christi encourages women to start with a manageable schedule instead.
Something they can realistically maintain.
Mistake #2: Following Random Workouts Without a Plan
The second mistake is what Christi calls cherry-picking.
A workout from Pinterest.
A video from YouTube.
An exercise a friend recommended.
A routine from social media.
And another workout from somewhere else.
While individual workouts can be useful, constantly switching between unrelated routines may make it difficult to track progress and build consistency.
Christi prefers a structured program.
One that builds foundational skills.
Tracks progress.
And gradually increases the challenge.
Because consistency and progression are important parts of strength development.
What Should a Beginner's First Week Look Like?
One of the best parts of Christi's approach is that women don't have to start with an overwhelming schedule.
For beginners, she recommends starting with two to three strength-training sessions per week.
Women who are completely new may begin with two sessions.
The goal is to build confidence and establish a routine.
Within VIP, Christi also encourages women to continue walking as part of their daily movement goals.
Her beginner approach focuses on the six foundational movement patterns.
She describes starting with two sets of approximately 15–20 repetitions using lighter resistance.
As clients become more comfortable and capable, the program progresses.
Christi reviews their training through the app and helps them adjust as needed.
The goal isn't to do everything immediately.
It's to build a foundation that can grow stronger over time.
A Client Who Lost 100 Pounds—and Found a New Goal
One of Christi's favorite client stories involves a woman who had already lost 100 pounds.
That achievement was significant.
But what Christi loved most was what happened next.
When the client began participating in the strength-training program, her mindset changed.
She wasn't only focused on losing more weight.
She started celebrating how much she could lift.
Her personal records.
And the strength she was developing.
She became incredibly consistent.
And began sharing photos of her progress with the group.
Christi noticed visible changes in her muscle definition.
But what excited her most was the woman's pride.
She was no longer measuring every victory by the scale.
She was celebrating what her body could do.
The Woman Who Could Finally Get Up From the Floor
Another client story is especially meaningful to Christi.
This woman was over 50.
She'd spent years caring for others and navigating difficult life experiences.
She'd also struggled with her weight.
Through VIP, she lost approximately 25 pounds, according to Christi's recollection.
But her most exciting achievement came through strength training.
She became strong enough to get on and off the floor without using her hands.
And she was so proud of that accomplishment that she shared a video with the group.
For Christi, that moment represented everything she wants women to experience.
Confidence.
Capability.
And the excitement of discovering what their bodies can do.
It wasn't about a number.
It was about independence.
Why the Scale Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
One of Christi's most important reminders is that weight is only one measure of progress.
"The scale tells you what you weigh, right? It doesn't tell the whole story and it doesn't tell you how you function."
A scale can't tell you how confidently you climb stairs.
How much stronger you've become.
Whether you're lifting heavier weights.
Or how much easier everyday activities feel.
That's why Christi encourages women to celebrate more than weight loss.
Celebrate the first time you lift a heavier dumbbell.
The day you can get up from the floor more easily.
The moment carrying groceries feels less difficult.
Or the confidence you feel when you realize you're stronger than you were a month ago.
Those victories matter.
And they can help build motivation that lasts.
Building Strength for the Next 10, 20, and 30 Years
Christi wants women to look beyond the next weigh-in.
Beyond the next clothing size.
And beyond the next short-term goal.
She wants them to imagine their future.
Traveling.
Playing with grandchildren.
Walking independently.
Carrying their own bags.
Getting up from the floor.
And continuing to participate in the activities they love.
Strength training is one way to prepare for those experiences.
And women don't have to wait until they feel completely confident to begin.
They can start small.
Learn the movements.
Build consistency.
And gradually become stronger.
Strong & Fit Foundations: A Smarter Way to Begin
Through VIP's Strong & Fit Foundations program, Christi helps women develop a structured approach to strength training.
The program emphasizes:
Functional movement patterns that support everyday activities.
Beginner-friendly routines with opportunities to progress.
Strength training alongside regular walking and movement.
Education about muscle, body composition, and long-term health.
Coaching support to help women train with confidence.
Consistency over extreme workouts or quick fixes.
Christi's goal is to help women build strength they can use in everyday life.
Not just for the next few months.
But for the years ahead.
It's Time to Redefine What Success Looks Like
For years, women have been encouraged to focus on becoming smaller.
But Coach Christi wants to change that conversation.
She wants women to focus on becoming stronger.
More confident.
More capable.
And more independent.
Because the greatest transformation isn't always the number on the scale.
Sometimes, it's being able to get up from the floor without assistance.
Carry your own luggage.
Walk up the stairs with confidence.
Or simply feel proud of what your body can do.
Strong is the new skinny because strength is about the life you get to live.
Learn More About VIP Fit
Ready to build strength with a structured program and supportive coaching?
Discover how The VIP Collective helps women combine sustainable nutrition habits with functional strength training.
Visit https://www.thevipcollective.com to learn more about VIP Fit, Strong & Fit Foundations, and the programs available through The VIP Collective.
Your future self deserves a body that's strong enough to carry you through everything life has ahead. 💛
Curious if the VIP Weight Loss System is right for you?