- At 61, Christine Cernera inspires nearly 350,000 followers with balance, mobility and strength tips.
- The personal trainer stresses moderation, as healthy routines should spark joy.
- Cernera’s motto? “It’s never too late until you’re dead,” embracing resilience and lifelong growth.
Right before this interview, Christine Cernera deadlifted 105 pounds—a new personal record.
“I’m going to go heavier,” the 61-year-old tells me, eager to share the news. Her life motto: “It’s never too late until you’re dead.”
Cernera became a certified personal trainer at 50, then a nutritional therapy practitioner at 54. And now, at 61, she’s inspiring nearly 350,000 followers across social media platforms to “reclaim their health” with healthy recipes as well as strength, balance and mobility training.
“I’m all about balance,” she shares, a double entendre worth noting. Last year, her social platforms on Instagram and Facebook took off after she posted a 7-day series centered on maintaining and improving your physical balance as you age. Her messages quickly became flooded with appreciation and questions from those needing the tips, and just as quickly, her focus shifted.
What makes Cernera’s content stand out is the approachable nature of each tip. She emphasizes simple movements that help train reactive balance, core strength and mobility. “It doesn’t have to be big,” Cernera notes as her top tip for including more movement in a daily routine. “Pick something that appeals to you, and do it each day. It’ll become a regular habit like brushing your teeth. Actually, I’ll do balance training while I’m brushing my teeth!”
Cernera’s morning routine incorporates several healthy habits to get her motivated to start the day. To stay energized, she doesn’t wake up and immediately rush to the coffee pot. “I am not a huge coffee drinker as far as drinking it all day, but I find pleasure in it,” Cernera explains, noting that she gravitates to a mug for the smell and taste over the pick-me-up.
Instead, she prefers a glass of water with electrolyte powder for hydration. As we age, the amount of water stored in our bodies decreases, and maintaining electrolytes can be more challenging, making this habit all the more healthy for Cernera.
Outside time is also important to her mornings, from giving her dogs treats and adding seeds to the bird feeders, to relaxing on her porch with a cup of coffee (when she’s ready for it). She dashes some protein powder into her coffee for a satisfying boost.
Protein is another nutrient that Cernera prioritizes, for all the right reasons. It’s important to get enough protein into your daily eating pattern, especially as you age, considering protein can help build muscle mass and strengthen your bones. Some other protein-packed foods that Cernera swears by are her homemade Cinnamon Flaxseed Muffins and eggs with seasonal veggies. She also loves including gut-healthy ingredients in her routine, showcased through her flaxseed muffin recipe as well as making homemade sourdough bread on the regular.
While she has a healthy routine now, it took a while for Cernera to fully understand the importance of moderation and “balance” in her diet.
“When I first got started, especially as a functional nutritional therapy practitioner, I was so dogmatic,” she remembers. “I was not eating any piece of gluten for two years, and then it just got to be too much. I thought, ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’ I really want this balance where I enjoy eating healthy most of the time, but I allow myself to have a slice of pizza or a doughnut.”
When Cernera turned 60, she noticed a spark in herself glimmer brighter when she allowed herself to enjoy her favorite foods and embraced what made her unique. And with that, her confidence boosted. And that’s the true message she wants to share, especially to those that may be hesitant to start a healthier lifestyle.
“It’s worth it,” Cernera says. “Anything that’s hard to get started doing, like working out, it’s worth it. If you’ve developed that resilience to do something difficult, it’s going to be worth it.”
