Maximize the 14 Different Body Positions on Your Total Gym!
Position #1 – Seated Forward
Hello Total Gym Team! It’s Master Trainer JayDee here to show you how to make your workouts more Time-Efficient. The benefit for you is spending less time working out and more time enjoying all that added energy exercise gives you, doing what you love.
This is Part 1 of a 7-Part series that will cover all 14 body positions, so stay tuned.
One of the biggest benefits of the Total Gym is its impressive versatility. You can do hundreds of different exercises utilizing all the body positions. You can easily change the resistance from exercise to exercise by simply changing the level. You can remove the squad stand, which opens additional exercises like lunges, reverse and side lunges, yoga downward dog into a dynamic plank, and the list goes on and on.
And don’t even get me started with all the wonderful accessories you can add to your total gym!
But today’s focus is Time Efficiency. When I certify other personal trainers on the Total Gym, I have them create a client routine that minimizes equipment and body position changes. Here is the most valuable tip I would teach them: Once you get your client into a body position, maximize the number of exercises you can do there!
And this is what you’ll learn in this video series. The benefit is maximizing your results and minimizing your time.
I think you’ll agree, time is life’s most precious resource. Saving time is probably one of the reasons you enjoy working out at home on your Total Gym in the first place. If you add up all the time you saved by not going to the gym, it can add up quickly.
Let’s say you only live 10 minutes away from the gym. Not bad, right? So that’s 20 minutes round-trip. Now had another 15 minutes finding a parking spot and getting in and out of the gym. Then there is check-in and making your way to the locker room to store your stuff. Now, add the time going from machine to machine just to work one body part. Then there’s always the chance that the machine you want to use is already occupied. You’ll have to waste time waiting until they’re done or spend time altering your workout.
This common scenario could he’s there add up to 45 minutes plus, not including any of your actual working out! These 45 minutes of wasted time could give you an awesome Total Gym workout without leaving your comfy house, and your private shower is only 90 seconds away!
Yes, on your Total Gym, you can work out your entire body on one machine. Today I’m going to show you how to be even more Time-Efficient by maximizing each body position.
Here are the 14 Body Positions on Your Total Gym:
Seated Forward – Today’s Highlight
Seated Backward
Kneeling Backward
High-Kneeling Backward
Lying Upright Supine
Lying Upright Prone
Line Inverted Supine
Line Inverted Prone
Seated Sideways Right
Kneeling Sideways Right
High Kneeling Sideways Right
Seated Sideways Left
Kneeling Sideways Left
High Kneeling Sideways Left
This will be a Fun series Team! Check out today’s video and learn all the exercises you can do in the Seated Forward Position.
Stay healthy and keep the questions and comments coming. I love this stuff and I’m here to help!
Are you a woman over 40 feeling like your body is working against you? Do you want to learn how to transform your body and life after 40? Hormonal shifts, stubborn weight gain, and waning energy levels might have you believing fitness is a young woman’s game. But here’s the truth: you can transform your body, boost your confidence, and reclaim your vitality at any age. At Hitch Fit, we’ve empowered countless women over 40 to achieve jaw-dropping transformations through our Strong & Fit Over 40 program. In this blog, we’ll dive into the unique challenges women over 40 face, share inspiring success stories, and provide evidence-based tips to help you thrive. Ready to rewrite your fitness story? Let’s get started!
The Over-40 Challenge: Hormones, Metabolism, and More
As women age, hormonal changes—particularly during perimenopause and menopause—can feel like a roadblock to fitness goals. Declining estrogen levels contribute to increased fat storage, especially around the midsection, and a loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) at a rate of about 3-5% per decade after age 30 (Volpi et al., 2004). Metabolism slows, sleep becomes elusive, and stress can exacerbate cortisol-driven weight gain. According to a 2020 study in Menopause, 60% of women in midlife report weight gain, with many struggling to lose it using old strategies (Karvonen-Gutierrez & Kim, 2020).
But here’s the good news: these challenges are not insurmountable. With the right approach—focusing on strength training, nutrition, sleep, hydration, and expert coaching—you can overcome these hurdles and achieve a stronger, healthier body.
Inspiring Transformations: Women Over 40 Crushing It
At Hitch Fit, we’ve witnessed incredible transformations from women over 40 who refused to let age define them. They wanted to know how to transform their body and life over 40, and we showed them the way!
Take Tiffany, age 49 who joined Hitch Fit feeling sluggish and self-conscious. But with a combination of strength training, balanced nutrition, and personalized coaching, this busy business owner and mom lost nearly 30 pounds, gained lean muscle, and gained strength and confidence.
Or Jackie, age 55 who blew her doctors away when they saw her blood work before and after going through a Hitch Fit transformation. Jackie says, “It changed everything.” She wasn’t sure what was possible, her greatest goal was to lose 30 pounds, but with the combination of strength training, prioritizing protein and the mental and emotional support provided by Hitch Fit, she surpassed that goal losing over 50 pounds and completing changing her life.
These women prove that with dedication and the right guidance, transformation is not just possible—it’s inevitable.
5 Evidence-Based Tips for Women Over 40 to Thrive
To help you kickstart your fitness journey, here are five science-backed strategies tailored for women over 40:
1. Prioritize Strength Training to Build Muscle and Boost Metabolism
Muscle mass declines with age, but strength training can reverse this trend. A 2018 study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that women over 40 who engaged in resistance training 2-3 times per week increased muscle mass and resting metabolic rate (Hunter et al., 2018). Aim for compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and push-ups to maximize results. Our Strong & Fit Over 40 program includes customized strength workouts to help you build lean muscle and burn fat efficiently.
2. Optimize Nutrition with Protein and Balanced Macros
Protein is critical for preserving muscle and supporting recovery, especially as you age. Research suggests women over 40 need 1.6-2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily to maintain muscle mass (Morton et al., 2018). Pair this with complex carbs (like sweet potatoes or quinoa) and healthy fats (like avocados or nuts) to stabilize blood sugar and energy. Our program provides meal plans tailored to your hormonal needs, making nutrition simple and effective.
3. Prioritize Sleep for Hormonal Balance
Poor sleep disrupts hormones like cortisol and growth hormone, making fat loss harder. A 2021 study in Sleep found that women over 40 who slept less than 7 hours per night had higher body fat percentages (Patel et al., 2021). Create a bedtime routine, limit screen time, and aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep. Your Strong & Fit Over 40 coach will guide you on lifestyle tweaks to optimize rest.
4. Stay Hydrated for Energy and Recovery
Dehydration can sap energy and hinder workout performance. Women over 40 are at higher risk for dehydration due to changes in thirst perception (Popkin et al., 2010). Aim for 2.7 liters of water daily, and consider electrolyte-rich drinks for intense workouts. Our program includes hydration tips to keep you feeling your best.
5. Work with a Coach for Accountability and Success
A coach can make all the difference. A 2019 study in Obesity found that participants with personalized coaching were 2.5 times more likely to achieve weight loss goals (Foster et al., 2019). At Hitch Fit, our Strong & Fit Over 40 program offers one-on-one coaching to tailor workouts, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to your unique needs, ensuring lasting results.
Why Strong & Fit Over 40 is Your Solution
The Strong & Fit Over 40 program at Hitch Fit is designed specifically for women navigating the challenges of midlife. With personalized strength training plans, hormone-friendly nutrition guidance, and expert coaching, we take the guesswork out of fitness. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or boost energy, our program empowers you to achieve your goals while feeling supported every step of the way.
Join the Transformation Today
You’re not defined by your age—you’re defined by your actions. Women over 40 are rewriting their stories every day at Hitch Fit, and you can too. Ready to transform your body and life? Join the Strong & Fit Over 40 program today and let us guide you to your strongest, most confident self. Visit Hitch Fit to learn more and start your journey!
References:
Foster, G. D., et al. (2019). Behavioral weight loss interventions: A systematic review. Obesity, 27(10), 1543-1552.
Hunter, G. R., et al. (2018). Resistance training improves metabolic health in women over 40. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(5), 1210-1217.
Karvonen-Gutierrez, C., & Kim, C. (2020). Weight gain during menopause: A review. Menopause, 27(8), 940-947.
Morton, R. W., et al. (2018). Protein supplementation and muscle mass preservation in aging. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 107(2), 172-182.
Patel, S. R., et al. (2021). Sleep duration and body composition in midlife women. Sleep, 44(3), zsaa192.
Popkin, B. M., et al. (2010). Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition Reviews, 68(8), 439-458.
Volpi, E., et al. (2004). Muscle protein anabolism in aging and disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(5), 1154-1164.
How to build a strong lean bikini body over 45. Today’s inspiring Fit over 45 Hitch Fit transformation story is Diane! She realized that if she wanted to live her fullest and healthiest life with her husband, Frank, she needed to make her own health a priority.
As a nurse, she had witnessed far too much death and disease of people her age, and resolved to make a change. Her goals have progressively increased as she started to build muscle, gain strength and confidence, lose body fat and all of this positively impacted her mental health and wellbeing too!
Diane set a goal to get in the best shape of her life for the SoulFIT Mexico retreat in 2024, which she accomplished, and this catapulted her to stepping on stage at the Angel Bikini Fashion Show! Now at 48 and stronger than ever, Diane has set her sights on even bigger goals in 2025.
She has shed a JAW DROPPING 30 pounds and 20% bodyfat!!
Her dedication to the lifestyle, despite her busy nurse schedule, has not only impacted her personally, but she is inspiring and motivating so many others around her to make healthy changes, too!
Amazing job Diane!! The best is yet to come!
Diane’s Before and After Stats:
Starting weight: 158.6
Ending weight: 125
Starting body fat: 36,6%
Ending body fat: 15%
Diane’s Fit over 45 Before and After Photos:
Bikini Body over 45 Before and After
Fit over 45 Before and after
Diane’s Hitch Fit Fit over 45 Transformation Story:
“My journey and decision to live a more fit lifestyle started in May 2021.
I had always been active, and though there had been some years of yo-yoing in my 30’s, the breaking point came one morning on my drive home after a long night shift. I was finishing up a travel nurse contract, and my 45th birthday road trip was just around the corner. I was the heaviest I had ever been, and in the worst mental space, I could ever remember!
Nursing through Covid and seeing people my age dying had taken its toll.My husband and I found each other later in life, and we were empty nesters after 20 years of raising seven kids and finally free to pursue everything we wanted to do, but I was mentally and physically a mess.
We decided to hire coaches and go all in for five months to change our bodies. We went on several fitness retreats, and through those retreats, we met Micah and Diana and discovered Hitch Fit.
Frank and I knew that to take our bodies to another level, and we had to have coaches to get us there. Now, fitness isn’t just a hobby. It’s what we do; transforming our body has become our mission. Teaming up with them has helped us to realize anything is possible no matter your age or where you are in your fitness journey!”
I rode a lot this week including in some rainy weather. With the weather improving, I was planning on doing longer rides Friday and Saturday. But my body went on strike Thursday night- I got some cold symptoms and a really bad case of the chills, including chattering teeth. I had to crank my electric blanket to high, and had a fistful night’s sleep. But sometimes around 4:00 AM the chills got better. I still had symptoms like headache and runny nose so I took yesterday and today off. Tomorrow is scheduled to be a short easy ride which I may do if I’m feeling better by then. This kind of thing has happened before when I got over enthused.You’re 72 Rich, not 27!
I am a Mechanical Engineer born in 1953, Ph. D, Stanford, 1980. I have been active in the mechanical CAE field for decades. I also have a lifelong interest in outdoor activities and fitness. I have had both hips replaced and a heart valve replacement due to a genetic condition. This blog chronicles my adventures in staying active despite these bumps in the road.
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