Lessons Learned from a Shortcut Attempt

Puravida Fitness • May 31, 2023

Getting Old is a BS Excuse

A red sign with the word shortcut on it

Have you ever tried taking a shortcut for something? I know I have. 


In high school we'd get Cliff Notes to avoid reading the entire book in English class. The other day I tried taking a shortcut to the store. Turned out a road was closed so it ended up taking me longer. 


The desired outcome is clear but the effort to get there requires a lot of hard work, time and effort. That makes the detour for a shortcut seem like the best option to take.


Well guess what? Shortcuts are not always the way to go. I experienced that firsthand several years ago. 


I chose an independent study program to become a certified personal trainer. Read a chapter, watch a video, do an activity, and take a chapter test. Repeat for 20 chapters within 6 months and take a final exam to acquire certification.


Sound do-able? I thought so. 


At the time I was teaching kindergarten full time and always had just one more thing I wanted to get done for school. No surprise, the first 6 months passed by without completing the chapters. $200 got me an extension and as that exam deadline approached, I knew I wouldn't quite be finished. 


Frustrated with myself, I called the company. The sales guy recommended I take the test no matter how many chapters I had completed. If I passed, great. If I didn't, then I would pay for another extension. 


That felt like a shortcut, but I really didn't want to pay more money. With 5 chapters to go I shifted my focus and prepared for the exam. I thought I was ready - or ready enough - and on the day of the exam I missed it by one point. 


#shortcutfail 


A couple weeks later I passed the exam and got my certification. But I believe God had some lessons for me to learn along the way:


Finish the course. Don't try to cut corners if there is knowledge to be learned. I needed to finish the last 5 chapters. I needed to do more work, find the information I didn't know and learn it before taking the test again. Simply reviewing the content wasn't enough. Do it right. Finish the course.


Go with your gut. Especially when taking a test. The first response is typically right. I went back and changed several answers at the end. Had I left them alone, I would have passed the first time. Don't second guess yourself. You know more than you think.


Rocky roads are part of the journey. They just are - because that is where the best learning occurs. In order to get to the peak, you must cover some rocky ground, maybe even stub your toe while stumbling over some boulders. The lessons that help you grow the most happen along the tough terrain. Be on the lookout for them. They're there for a reason. 


Get back on the bike. Failure is a part of life. When you fall off your bike you get back up and try it again. You don't park it and let it collect dust. This is true with anything. I knew I could pass the test. I just had to get back to the book and do the work. Saving it for later was not an option.


Missing that test by one point was not fun. But having the courage to fail and the resilience to bounce back was well worth the rocky ground along the way. 


Are there areas in your life where you've been trying to cut corners? Where might you be looking for a quick fix? If fitness or nutrition is one of them and you are not currently working with us, just hit the button below to set up a Complimentary Success Session. We'll come up with a plan to help you finish the course and get back on track!


To your health,


Tracy Farrell

Sumo wrestler eating rice beside a huge plated meal in a Japanese-style room
September 8, 2026
Struggling with weight loss after 40? Learn why skipping meals and overeating at night can work against your goals. Get practical nutrition advice from a Lakeville personal trainer serving Burnsville, Apple Valley, Savage, Farmington, Prior Lake, New Market and Elko.
Side-by-side before-and-after photo of a man standing indoors, shirtless in the first and leaner in the second.
August 10, 2026
Throughout August, we’re covering the top reasons many middle-aged adults struggle with unwanted weight gain.
July 27, 2026
I do not usually post shirtless photos like many fitness influencers. In fact, I typically only do it about once a year—and I do it for one reason: To prove a point. At 54 years old, I am still lean, strong, and active. It is not because I have perfect genetics, unlimited time, or a magical metabolism. It is because I have taken the time to discover what works for my body and consistently followed a realistic plan. As a longtime Personal Trainer serving Lakeville, Farmington, Savage, New Market, Elko, Apple Valley, Prior Lake, and Burnsville, I constantly hear people blame their age for unwanted weight gain. They say things like: “My metabolism is too slow.” “My hormones are working against me.” “It is impossible to lose weight after 40.” “This is just part of getting older.” Are metabolism changes and hormone imbalances real? Absolutely. But they should not automatically become excuses for staying overweight, losing strength, or giving up on your health. You Are Not Too Old to Lose Weight Many adults begin noticing changes in their bodies during their 40s and 50s. They may gain fat around the midsection, lose muscle, feel more tired, or struggle to get the same results from the workouts and diets they followed when they were younger. The solution is not to quit. The solution is to adjust your approach. Too many people continue using random diets, extreme workout programs, and outdated weight loss strategies that do not fit their current lifestyle. When those plans fail, they assume their age or metabolism is the problem. In reality, they simply have not discovered the right strategy for their body. I Have Done It—and Maintained It I have had people who have never successfully gotten lean try to tell me how to lose body fat. That has always been interesting to me. There is a big difference between repeating fitness information found online and actually applying a plan successfully for years. I have gotten lean, and more importantly, I have learned how to maintain it while running a business, raising a family, dealing with stress, traveling, enjoying life, and getting older. I did not achieve this by following an extreme diet or living in the Gym. I did not get lean by doing: Keto Carnivore Hours of daily cardio Endless high-intensity workouts Eating “clean” 100% of the time Giving up every food I enjoy I got here by cracking my personal nutrition code and consistently following a strategy that fits my real life. What Does It Mean to Crack Your Nutrition Code? Your nutrition code is the combination of eating habits, meal structure, portion control, food choices, routines, and accountability strategies that work for your individual body and lifestyle. There is no single nutrition plan that works perfectly for everyone. Some people do better with a larger breakfast. Others prefer a lighter morning meal and a bigger dinner. Some people struggle with weekend eating, while others have difficulty staying consistent during busy workdays. A personalized plan considers factors such as: Your age Your activity level Your schedule Your current eating habits Your food preferences Your stress levels Your sleep quality Your hormones Your weight loss history Your ability to remain consistent A successful Wellness strategy must be realistic enough to follow for months and years—not just for a few uncomfortable weeks. Why Most Weight Loss Programs Fail Most weight loss programs fail because they rely on restriction instead of creating sustainable habits. People are often told to track every calorie, weigh every piece of food, eliminate entire food groups, or follow a complicated list of rules. That approach may work temporarily, but it becomes exhausting for many busy adults. Eventually, life gets busy, motivation drops, and the person returns to their previous habits. At Puravida Fitness, we believe a great nutrition plan should simplify your life rather than make it more stressful. You should not need to carry a food scale everywhere you go or feel guilty every time you eat at a restaurant. You need clear guardrails, consistent habits, and a plan that works in the real world. The Crack the Code Nutrition Program That is exactly why we created the Crack the Code Nutrition Program . This program is designed for adults over 40 who are frustrated with stubborn body fat and tired of starting over. Instead of handing everyone the same generic meal plan, we help you identify what is keeping you stuck and build a personalized strategy around your needs. The program does not require: Food journals Counting macros Impossible food rules Cutting out every carbohydrate Eating chicken and broccoli at every meal Spending hours exercising at a Health Club Instead, we focus on practical habits and a personalized plan that can help you lose weight, improve your energy, protect muscle, and maintain your results. Exercise Still Matters After 40 Nutrition is a major piece of the weight loss equation, but exercise is also extremely important—especially as we get older. A well-designed Fitness program helps preserve muscle, improve insulin sensitivity, support hormone health, increase strength, and keep your metabolism functioning efficiently. This is why working with an experienced Personal Trainer can make such a significant difference. Random workouts may burn calories, but structured strength training changes your body. At our Lakeville Gym, we help clients from Farmington, Savage, New Market, Elko, Apple Valley, Prior Lake, and Burnsville develop safe and effective training programs based on their age, experience, goals, and physical limitations. You do not need to train like a professional athlete. You need to train strategically and consistently. Your Age Is a Factor—Not a Life Sentence Getting older may require you to adjust your training, nutrition, recovery, and lifestyle habits. That does not mean you are destined to gain weight, become weak, or feel exhausted. You may need more structure than you did in your 20s. You may need to prioritize sleep, strength training, stress management, and balanced meals. You may also need professional support and accountability. But you can still become leaner, stronger, healthier, and more confident after 40 or 50. Your best years do not have to be behind you. Stop Looking for the Perfect Diet The goal is not to find the most extreme diet. The goal is to find the nutrition strategy you can consistently follow. That may not look exciting on social media, but consistency is what creates lasting Weight Loss. You do not need another 30-day challenge, detox, or restrictive meal plan. You need to crack your code. Schedule Your Free Nutrition Diagnostic Call If you are over 40 and frustrated with stubborn body fat, we would love to help you discover what works for your body. The Crack the Code Nutrition Program provides the strategy, coaching, accountability, and support you need to stop guessing and start making measurable progress. Whether you live in Lakeville, Farmington, Savage, New Market, Elko, Apple Valley, Prior Lake, or Burnsville, our team at Puravida Fitness can help you build a practical Wellness, Nutrition, and Fitness plan that fits your lifestyle. Comment “CRACK MY CODE” or contact Puravida Fitness to schedule your free Nutrition Diagnostic Call . Your breakthrough may be much closer than you think.