AI in Fitness: Still Showing Up - Real Life at 40 - Smarter Fueling

Lisa Jackson
Apr 25
3 min read

Blog Series: Smarter Fitness, Real Life Edition – Entry 3

📅 April 4–25, 2025

This entry’s theme? Grace and grit. Life hit hard over the past couple of weeks—but I kept showing up. Not perfectly, not without struggle, but with persistence and purpose. Fitness at 40 is no walk in the park even with the best tools and the best resources.

Conference Week Chaos

I spent April 7–9 at a conference in Atlanta. The travel, long sessions, and unpredictable schedule could’ve wrecked my momentum, but it didn’t. Surprisingly, the food options were solid—plenty of lean proteins and veggies—and I managed to stay close to plan. I didn’t hit every macro, but I didn’t spiral either. That felt like a quiet win.

Momentum Rebuilt (April 14–17)

The following week, I locked in. Four full workouts (DLB Daily), food tracked, and macros hit. I focused hard on protein first, every day. Honestly, that’s been the difference-maker in recovery, energy, and keeping my head in the game.

Biopsy, Grief, and Rest

April 18 brought a breast biopsy. The emotional and mental fog that followed was heavy. I rested on the 18th, 19th, and again on the 20th—Easter Sunday—after learning that my Great Aunt Wilma had passed. She was one of the kindest people in my world. I’m still carrying that loss.

Some comfort food made its way in (hello, pizza), but even on the harder days, I kept water high and protein consistent. I've experienced the amazing benefit of satiating protein source. It's amazing to not be craving things between meals because my previous ones were not high enough in protein! #revelation

Grace and grit through real-life chaos—conferences, biopsy, grief, and allergies. Still here. Still showing up. One rep, one meal, one choice at a time.

Allergies & Fatigue (April 22–25)

I managed a solid shoulder workout on the 22nd but allergies have been brutal. Sleep’s taken a hit, my sinuses are a mess, and my energy is tanked. Even with that, I’ve stayed on plan nutritionally. I'm still tracking, still eating with intention—just doing it while exhausted. At the level I'm at with energy, next to none. I don't want to risk injury from fatigue and bad form.

Today, I’m resting again. I may do some light indoor movement like yoga or barre if energy allows, but honestly? I’d rather be outside. That’s where I feel the most alive and motivated—but I have to work with what I’ve got.

Body Check-In

My weight has crept up 1–2 lbs. Could be inflammation, stress, water retention, or maybe just muscle. I’m not overly concerned. I’m showing up for my body, and I’m paying attention. The scale will tell part of the story over time—but not the whole thing.

Final Thoughts

These last two weeks weren’t easy. But I didn’t quit. I listened. I adjusted. I kept my foundation solid: protein, water, and movement where I could.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to give your efforts grace. Stress elevates cortisol, and that alone can slow your progress more than missing a workout or eating off-plan. Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up with patience, even when life’s messy.

Next post, I’ll share how I’m adapting my plan for where I'm at and how I’m tweaking macros for recovery.

Until then—keep showing up.