Like many women before her, Lyndsay Hansen found her footing in fitness through online communities, beginning first with the Bikini Body Guide app by Australian fitness influencer Kayla Itsines before moving on to in-person work with a trainer. The choice to get moving was sparked by the unfortunate passing of her mother, when Lyndsay says she “really hit a low period” in her life.
“Losing her changed the way I see health and my life,” she says. “It made everything feel more real—how important it is to take care of myself, to not take time for granted, and to show up for my life in a meaningful way. When I don’t feel like showing up, I think of her and the strength she had, and it reminds me that I’m capable of more than I think.”
The magic of movement helped her through the grieving process, and eventually she took the bull by the horns and signed up to be a Beachbody/BODi coach, which provided her with the tools and audience she needed to succeed. This in turn led to her becoming an ambassador for women online through the Facebook motivation and accountability group that she has run for the past nine years.
Still, even though she was entrenched in the fitness world, as the years went on, something just wasn’t right. “I turned 40 in March 2023 and started getting fed up with everything I was doing in the health and fitness space,” she explains. “Nothing was working; I felt so off. For almost two years I was in a funk.”
“I want to show women that fitness in their forties can feel different.”
Coach Jac Phillips and her personal brand of encouragement and accountability. “The rest is history,” Lyndsay shares. “Literally one of the best decisions of my life.”
From her home in Saint John, New Brunswick, Lyndsay continues to show up for those around her, including the women who look to her for the same support she has received from her own coach. That post-40 feeling that things just aren’t the same, physicality-wise? She’s been there and understands the struggle.
“I want to show women that fitness in their forties can feel different. Their bodies change; life gets fuller. Recovery, hormones, stress, and responsibilities can make progress feel harder than it used to—but harder does not mean impossible.”
Keep an eye out for Lyndsay as she tackles more certifications, including the NPTA/NASM Certified Nutrition Coach course, and as she moves toward her goal of someday competing in a fitness competition. In the meantime, you can find her on page 64 demonstrating the very type of workout that helped her get those arms—they’re living proof that strength doesn’t have an age limit.
Written by Rachel Debling, Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Paul Buceta
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