About Fitness Four

There wasn’t a lot of talk of “gyms” or “organic” or “mindfulness” while growing up in an Irish Catholic family outside of Boston in the 1950s. In fact, I think I didn’t even see a gym until the 1980s. And the food my mother made was either boiled cabbage, pot roast, or the leftovers of each.

And that’s OK when you’re 10 years old.

But when you hit your late 40s and beyond, you have to re-think some of the things you do. Everyone deals with things as they get older and I was no different. After getting diagnosed with thyroiditis, pernicious anemia, and IBS, I started to experiment with everything from exercise to food, as well as the mind+body connection to help alleviate the things my doctors were trying to fix with traditional prescriptions.

And that’s what brings us to Fitness Four.

Why I started Fitness Four

My name is Marti Jones. I’m 76 years old and currently reside in Eastern North Carolina (although I’ve lived in 35 different zip codes during my life). But for the last 30 years, I’ve been dealing with a handful of the things I mentioned above.

IBS was the first issue the arose. At first it was manageable…until it wasn’t. I realized I needed to do something different when it started to affect whether I was going to leave the house that day. The last three decades has been filled with more doctors than I can count, and way more diets than I can remember. It’s an ongoing battle, but I have learned a lot along the way.

Then it was Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which makes it difficult to lose weight. And if that wasn’t enough, I also have pernicious anemia.

But enough kvetching! To make a long story short I have learned a lot about how diet, exercise and mindfulness can have both positive and negative impacts on literally everything going on in your body.

Whether it’s trying the low-FODMAP diet, starting to lift weights for the first time in your life or just getting out and walking, little things can have big impacts.

Everyone is different, but for me my garden is one of my zen places. It’s where I go to be at peace, while also working up a sweat. (Anyone who’s started and maintained a garden will surely agree!)

And I love sharing my journey (with the help of some of our writers!) Hopefully what you can learn here will help you with your own.

Everything on Fitness Four will fit into four words.

Move

This isn’t about becoming Mr. (or Ms.) Universe. At our age, this is about moving, keeping your strength as well as mobility. You don’t need to go crazy with the dumbbells at the gym to stay healthy. Sometimes you can do things in your own chair.

Nourish

In my opinion food should serve two purposes. First, it should provide you with all the nutrients you need to stay healthy and keep your body a well-oiled machine. Second, it should do all that without being a chore. Eating well does not mean eating less or eating only things that feel like work!

Flourish

The little decisions you make each day to live healthily and cleanly add up to help keeping you fit and “with it” for decades to come.

Flow

This is where my mindfulness comes in. Sleep is so important, as is managing stress (mindful gardening for the win!). Finding where your zen places can be can help manage all the stresses life throws at us.

Pick a pillar and start anywhere. We’re glad you’re here.

The people behind Fitness Four

Every article on Fitness Four is written by a named person. Click any name below to see their background, their LinkedIn, and everything they’ve written for us.

Medically reviewed by

Some Fitness Four articles are reviewed by a licensed clinician for clinical accuracy. Where that has happened, the reviewer’s name appears at the top of the article, and every article she has reviewed is listed on her page.

How we report and review

• We link the actual study. When we cite research, the link goes to the journal, PubMed, or the government dataset itself — not to another article about it.
• We say when evidence is thin. Early research, small sample sizes, and animal studies get labeled as such instead of being dressed up as settled science.
• Nothing here replaces your doctor. We write for general audiences. Anything involving medication, a diagnosis, or a health condition is a conversation for you and your clinician.
• We fix what we get wrong. Corrections are made on the article itself, and material ones are noted at the bottom of the page with the date.
• Recommendations are not for sale. Nobody can pay to be recommended on Fitness Four, and no brand sees an article before it publishes.
• We disclose affiliate links. Some links here earn Fitness Four a commission at no extra cost to you. Whether a product earns us anything never affects whether we recommend it.

Get in touch