Training for the Body You Have, Not the One You Chased

Jessica Bento, Physical Therapist (Creator of DVRT Restoration, DVRT Rx Shoulder, Knee, Pelvic Control, & Gait Courses)

This post isn’t my usual content. It’s not about corrective exercise, rehab, or programming. It’s not a discussion about why your glutes aren’t firing or how to stabilize your shoulder. This one is far more personal. An unfiltered reflection as I edge closer to fifty and what I’ve learned about fitness, aging, and honoring the body we actually have.

For nearly three decades, I’ve chased a body I never quite reached. Decades of striving, refining, reevaluating, and starting over. Decades of thinking that if I just found the right training method, diet, or perfect plan, I would finally arrive at a version of myself that felt complete.

But as I get closer to fifty, I’m realizing something important: fitness isn’t about chasing an image it’s about preparing your body to thrive in real life.

That’s where functional fitness and DVRT (Dynamic Variable Resistance Training) come in. Rather than obsessing over aesthetics or “ideal proportions,” DVRT teaches us to train strength, mobility, stability, and resilience in ways that actually matter for daily life. Lifting kids, carrying groceries, standing for long events, or even decorating for the holidays these are the real measures of a body’s worth.

The truth is, the current fitness culture doesn’t always make this easy. Trends have shifted toward extreme aesthetics: leaner, thinner, “ageless.” There’s a pervasive pressure to achieve an almost impossible standard six-pack abs in your fifties, sculpted arms, or a body that defies decades of natural change. While marketed as empowerment, this messaging often feels like another form of pressure, wrapped in a shiny, inspirational package.

And here’s the deeper truth: as we age, there are fewer things we truly control. We can’t stop the years from passing. Skin changes, hormones shift, joints get stiffer. But somehow, the body its size, shape, and the discipline we impose on it becomes the last frontier of control.

Wrinkles? Fillers can mask them. Sagging skin? Treatments promise to tighten. Body composition? There’s no shortage of solutions if you’re willing to invest time, energy, money, or even risk your health.

Caught in this environment, it’s easy to lose track of why we exercise in the first place. Are we moving because it genuinely improves our health and well-being, or because society tells us we should?

This is why functional fitness matters. DVRT emphasizes integrated, whole-body movement, building strength and stability in ways that are transferable to everyday life. It’s not about moving a weight for the sake of a number on a barbell. It’s about training your body to work together, engaging your core, hips, glutes, and upper body in patterns that mimic real-life demands.

Take the shrimp squat, for example. It’s not just a lower-body exercise; it challenges your core, grip, and nervous system simultaneously. Or the Ultimate Sandbag lifts and presses movements that integrate strength, stability, and mobility while reinforcing proper body mechanics. Every exercise teaches you how to move safely, efficiently, and resiliently, preparing your body for life, not a magazine cover.

 

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Movement can and should be a celebration, not a punishment. Strength can and should be measured by what your body can do, not how it looks in a mirror. Functional fitness and DVRT allow us to reclaim our bodies from trends, comparison, and fleeting ideals.

I still have days when I feel behind some invisible standard I never agreed to. Days when I glance at social media and see “fit over 50” trends and wonder if everyone else effortlessly balances work, family, aging physiology, and a sculpted midsection. And yet, the more I practice mindful, functional movement, the more I understand: my body’s worth isn’t in how closely it matches a trend it’s in what it can do.

 

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I love that fitness can be a part of my life and not my whole life.

The real shift happens when we stop chasing an ideal designed to stay out of reach and start honoring the body that has carried us through every phase of our lives. A body that has adapted, endured, healed, strengthened, and persisted for decades. A body that deserves admiration for its capabilities, not criticism for its appearance.

As I approach fifty, I’m focusing on training for the woman I’ve become, not the one I was told to chase. And for anyone else feeling this pressure, here’s the truth: it’s never too late to start training in a way that supports life, resilience, and longevity. Functional fitness isn’t just about physical outcomes it’s about reclaiming confidence, mobility, and a sense of control over your own well-being.

This holiday season, consider giving yourself the gift of movement that honors your body, strengthens your life, and builds resilience for the years ahead. That’s a standard worth striving for and one that will carry you further than any trend ever could.

Don’t miss our last chances to save during this holiday season. Get 25% ALL throughout DVRT and when you invest in ANY of our Ultimate Sandbags get our 80 workout MRT program for FREE! Just use code “gift25” HERE