Women Over 50, It’s YOUR Turn! Fit After 50 SoCal

Feb 20

By John Grossi

Located in Parkview Village at the corner of Bellflower Blvd and Carson St in 90808, Fit After 50 SoCal is a fitness center offering just what the name promises: fitness for women over age 50. This is a fitness concept that in three short years is already changing lives.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself,” says member Betty Menachem, who also acclaims founder Maryann Youssef as “one of the friendliest and most knowledgeable people [I’ve] ever met.”

A Long Beach local and Wilson High School grad, Maryann is a former director of Public Health Programs at UCLA. She sees the strength of Fit After 50 SoCal as its focus on one underserved demographic: women over 50—who tend to share similar goals, interests, health risks, and exercise recommendations.

Here are a few reasons women over 50 should consider joining this specialized fitness facility focused on their unique health agenda.

Because It’s Always Been About Someone Else!

Owner Maryann, herself a busy mother of two young children, says one of the biggest motivations she had in opening this business came after noticing how common it is for women to prioritize others ahead of their own health. “Women are notorious for taking care of the people around them… then suddenly you look back and it’s been 20 or 30 years since you’ve done deliberate exercise,” says Maryann. Whether you have been focusing on the “wrong” types of exercise; have been less steady than you wish; or really haven’t practiced any deliberate form of exercise for years; Fit After 50 SoCal provides a safe space, with highly knowledgeable trainers, who can help you prioritize YOU!

For Strength Training

Perhaps you walk your dog or get some other daily cardio already. That’s great! But intentional strength training is one of the most important things you can do to build muscle and therefore increase longevity. Strength training is necessary for avoiding falls, which are highly correlated with mortality. The risk of death increases five-fold in women 65 and older who fracture a hip.

Strength training also improves bone density which is important for women battling (or hoping to prevent) osteopenia or osteoporosis. Likewise, there are certain exercises that women with osteopenia should avoid, so having specialized trainers with health risk knowledge is imperative.

A Safe Space To Work Out And To Socialize

“It’s increasingly difficult for women to maintain socialization as they age,” says Maryann. It is also difficult to find a workout space tailored to their body’s needs. At Fit After 50 SoCal, members share many similarities when it comes to their health goals and lifestyle. There are no men or young women at these workouts. “It’s nice to be working out with a cohort of women, none of whom are in their 20s and worried about Instagram posts or followers. Everyone is here with the same common goal of wanting to stay active and to get as fit as they can.”

Betty Menachem’s Story

It wasn’t until Betty was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a few years ago, that she decided she was finally going to do something for herself. “I never did anything for myself. So I said, you know what, I’m going to try it.” She had heard about Fit After 50 from a friend and decided to sign up for personal training with Maryann Youssef.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done… I’ve gained some muscles, it has helped my balance, and I can lift things—like plants and pots around the backyard—quite a bit easier,” says Betty.

She credits Maryann for the incredible improvement she’s seen in her health since starting personal training. Betty has now built up enough strength and confidence to participate in the group classes as well. “Maryann approaches everything with a science background. She is so knowledgeable about what exercises work for different parts of the body and she’s able to push me to do things I never thought possible. I recently lifted 65 pounds. If I didn’t have her [pushing me], I wouldn’t be doing this stuff.”