Written well but I didn't get into it. Realized I never got back to it and figured I should submit a review for what I read. Love the idea just not my cup of tea right now.

This is a lovely story about how Joan came to health and fitness later in life -- but it doesn't have workout plans or specific dietary recommendations. It's inspirational but reads more as an advertorial for the authors' app than offering specific suggestions to readers who want to "flex their age."

If you’re on Instagram, you’ve probably seen Joan in your feed at some point. Such an inspiration, right? I didn’t know her daughter is her coach so it’s a family affair - very cool! I was assuming Joan wrote the book but that didn’t appear to be the case (I would have liked hearing more about her backstory). Thanks so much to NetGalley and DK for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I have follow Joan's journey on Instagram, so I immediately wanted to read this when I saw it come up! She is so inspirational. But also, so is her daughter, Michelle, who is also her trainer. Their story is amazing. I appreciate that while the people who recognize Joan also get the backstory of her daughter as well. It is a book by both of them. Of course I am far younger than Joan, but I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn the importance of taking care of their body and learn how. It's more than just for looks. It's more than just for the outward appearance. It's also health and mental and mentality. The book breaks up with the myth of a diet and promotes health being a lifestyle. It also discusses motivation and how motivation cannot be the accountability one needs for the healthy lifestyle. There are practical methods discussed for ways to keep on track. And of course, there are testimonials of other people besides just Joan's story that have been impacted in their health.

SO MANY PRACTICALS that you don't typically find in health books. It's just workouts and recipes. It's how to find a routine that works for you, understanding and practicing mindfulness, the science behind eating and nutrition.
It really covers everything!

Article to be published by Next Avenue.org
An inspiring and helpful read. Joan and Michelle show that it is never to late to change your physical health and your mindset.

This wasn't the book I expected it to be.

As a woman, who's getting older, I was excited at the thought of a program that focused on the changing needs of the older gal. Unfortunately, I found nothing new here.

Every section talked about mindfulness (great, but also without the depth needed to make it practical). There's a big focus on the lived experience of the author and those profiled in the book, which had me feeling like I was reading / reviewing a coffee table book of someone's really healthy, older mom, doing all sorts of active things.

It just didn't speak to me, especially the section about nutrition.

What I thought I was getting was a program tailored to an older woman - fitness plans, ways to deal with the inner grumbles, tactics to help with aging and changing hormones, solid dietary advice specifically geared to the older woman. But, what I found was the same old suggestions, based on data compiled more than 100 years ago, on young men. So… ectomorphs eat this way, endo's this way, here's a new word called 'macros', and you'd better just grin and bear it if you're not feeling like exercise today, because it's good for you.

I gave it three stars because the layout's beautiful, the photos unique to the topic, and it's a decent read, if predictable. There's nothing inherently 'bad' about the book, but I don't feel it serves the market it's trying to connect with.

Hooray for more motivation from Joan! While nothing presented is new or groundbreaking, Joan’s story is inspiring and fun, and the tips provided encourage healthy living and positive change.

I follow Joan on the gram and was thrilled to get an sneak peek of her book and was not disappointed. Joan is a force to be reckoned with and this book was very inspiring. I will make a purchase recommendation to my library.

Honestly, I don't think that I found the motivation from this book to attempt the program that it specified. It's not to say that I wouldn't like to build muscle and be more fit at 69, I would. This program just didn't appeal to me. It seemed a bit complicated, and the motivational aspects are nothing new. It seemed to be to be a just grit and bear it no matter how miserable you feel while doing it.

I am not posting this to Goodreads because I don't think that I am a fair reviewer of this book as I have not actually tried to follow the program. If at some point in time, I buy the book and try the program -- truly try it, then I would feel that I could adequately evaluate the book.

As someone with a lifelong commitment to exercise and fitness, it was hard for me to adapt to my new reality when I was diagnosed with a serious disease a few years back. Uncurable is a hard word to accept, but fortunately my “affliction” is treatable, so after having treatment, I was kind of a mess and in need of help and a place to exercise. Coincidentally, between my illness and the pandemic, I was suddenly gymless! Lucky me, I received a copy of Flex Your Age by Joan Macdonald who, along with her daughter Michelle (a certified strength and conditioning specialist), wrote this book to help others achieve the good health the authors enjoy.

Bottom line: Joan made a miraculous transformation (helped by Michelle). The book includes motivation techniques, fitness and nutrition fundamentals, and tips on how to “find and contribute to a community of support.”

It’s filled with good solid advice Four stars. Just in time for New Years! Thanks to DK Alpha and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review.

I follow Joan on Instagram, so I was excited to see this book and have a chance to read it. This book is less of a "how to" guide with ground-breaking information, and more of a motivational tool. Joan and the other women profiled are such an inspiration for those of us who need reminding that it's never too late to make changes to increase your quality of life. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flex Your Age is a useful guide for people who have never really given much thought to their physical health and find that, as they age, they're losing their ability to move with ease. It contains friendly and helpful advice about how to start exercising, and the importance of building muscle mass to help make it easier to stand, sit, and move without pain. The diet advice is pretty standard fare available in any diet or wellness book, but explained in clear terms for those who haven't previously encountered certain nutritional concepts. Throughout the book, the warm and friendly tone and the anecdotal stories from Joan and Michelle's own lives help the reader connect to the information without feeling judged.

"Flex Your Age" is the story of Joan MacDonald's journey to becoming fit and becoming stronger and healthier for her age. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for inspiration in mid-life or older to getting more fit. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've followed Joan on IG for years. I was very excited when I received an advanced copy of Flex Your Age to review. The book is full of information from Joan and her daughter, Michelle (@thehealthyhedonista). It was interesting to read about Joan's early life in Canada, her marriage, her career, and her journey to fitness. I've taken her "just try" to heart. Michelle is extremely knowledgeable about fitness and women's fitness specifically. Unless you're brand new to macro counting and weightlifting, you won't gain any additional knowledge, but you will be inspired by these two ladies and the testimonials sprinkled throughout the book. I would have liked to have seen before/after photos instead of just narratives. There is a lot of emphasis on finding a group of like-minded people which is important. Michelle has a program called The Wonder Women which sounds like a dream and is also expensive. Joan has the Train with Joan app which is more affordable and favorably rated. If you're a woman of a certain age who is looking to stop or reverse the aging process, this book is a great start.

(In this advanced copy, there were several typos, but they didn't take away from the reading. Also, early in the book, Joan mentions "turning fat into muscle." This irks me to no end. She explains what she means, but it still doesn't help dispel the myth that turning fat into muscle is possible and that fat weighs more than muscle. Nope, a pound is a pound - fat just takes up less space. <---- that's my own rant...Sorry.)