Susan's story: getting past the fear of injury to lift again
Susan, a Mavy Wellness client and lifelong athlete, got back to regular strength training after years of setbacks had left her afraid of getting hurt. With her Mavy Wellness coach, she moved past lifting very light weights, began training on tennis days, and built simple plant based meals around calorie and protein targets.
Where she started: Susan had lifted weights since she was 12 and played competitive tennis, but four years of setbacks made her afraid of injury. She was new to plant based eating and not a cook.
What changed:
Talking through the fear. Her coach asked, "What's the worst that can happen?" and she started lifting after tennis.
Targets instead of recipes. Simple meals that hit her calorie and protein goals.
A personal reset. When she drifted, she wrote down what was getting in her way and recommitted.
Breaking a habit. Cutting back a nightly popcorn routine that was more habit than hunger.
Asking for help. Letting her coach support her instead of figuring it out alone.
Life now: Susan feels strong on the tennis court again, and her husband says, "You're like you used to be." She shared her story on the Forever Fit Podcast, episode 386.
What the research says. A 2011 meta-analysis of 49 studies of adults over 50 found that resistance training increased lean body mass, with bigger gains from higher training volume. [1] The World Health Organization recommends muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days a week for adults, including adults over 65. [2]
"What's best about Maxime's approach is that he emphasizes the fundamentals first. This book lays a solid foundation, guiding readers through core principles of sustainable weight loss on a plant-based diet."
Dr. Matthew Nagra, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, on Forever Fit
If fear of getting hurt is holding you back, book a call with our team at mavywellness.com.
Sources
Peterson MD, Sen A, Gordon PM (2011). Influence of resistance exercise on lean body mass in aging adults: a meta-analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 43(2):249-258. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20543750/
World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020); summary in Bull FC et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine 54:1451-1462. https://www.who.int/initiatives/behealthy/physical-activity
About the author. Maxime Sigouin is the founder of Mavy Wellness (formerly FitVegan Coaching) and the author of Forever Fit, a book endorsed by physicians including Neal D. Barnard, MD, Laurie Marbas, MD, and James F. Loomis, MD. He has coached for more than six and a half years and, with his team, has coached nearly 1,300 adults over 50 on a whole food plant based diet. He hosts the Forever Fit Podcast, with more than 450 episodes.
Last updated: October 26, 2026. Results vary from person to person. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise or nutrition program.
