In her 40s, Anne Marie Chaker found herself in one of the hardest chapters of her life—grappling with postpartum depression, a deepening dependence on alcohol, and the collapse of her marriage.
Then, during a hockey tournament trip with her daughter, a chance meeting at a hotel gym with another mom changed everything. That fellow gym-goer handed her the number of a coach, setting Chaker on a path into strength training that would help her reclaim not just her body, but her sense of self.
“Strength training gave me something concrete I could latch onto—and build upon—at a time when so much felt outside my control,” Chaker said. “Lifting weights was a physical way to move through pain, and it demanded presence, discipline, and effort. Over time, I realized that every rep wasn’t just building muscle, it was rebuilding me. I began to feel strong in my body again, and that strength carried into every part of my life.”
It’s a journey she shares in her new book, “LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives.”
At 50, as she prepares to step into her first professional bodybuilding competition, Chaker spoke with Know Your Value about her book and her unexpected midlife transformation.
Below is the conversation, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Know Your Value: What inspired you to write LIFT at this moment in your life?
Anne Marie Chaker: I wanted to share a story that I felt wasn’t being told: That a woman in life didn’t have to wind down, but could actually push harder and discover new strength. And how through this weird sport that celebrated muscles, fake tans, big hair and sparkly bikinis, I had come home to myself. For me, LIFT is about reframing what this season of life can look like. We don’t have to accept the narrative of decline. I wanted to tell the truth about how hard it is, but also how freeing and powerful it can be to rebuild yourself from the inside out. And my book shows you how–and why it’s so important.
Know Your Value: How is strength training changing the way women think about aging?
Anne Marie Chaker: I think it’s helping women reclaim their power. All the research points to this: That women, historically, were never meant to be ‘thin.’ Thinness is a fairly modern construct that has caused women–and society–so much harm. Science shows that women’s bodies were historically meant to be strong and capable. Our natural state is to be strong. Our bodies perform best when we are strong and well fed. Strength training is about expansion. It helps women build muscle, preserve bone, and walk through the world with more power. There’s a growing recognition that we don’t have to fade away—we can actually get stronger with age, not weaker.
Know Your Value: What do you hope readers—especially women in their 40s, 50s and beyond—take away from LIFT? Anne Marie Chaker: That it’s never too late to start. That your body can surprise you with what it’s capable of. And that strength is about so much more than muscles—it’s about resilience, confidence, and rewriting your own story. If one woman reads this book and feels permission to chase something new, even when the world tells her it’s too late, I’ll feel I’ve done my job. Know Your Value: What’s your advice to women who are considering a career pivot of their own? Anne Marie Chaker: Don’t wait until you feel “ready”—because you may never feel ready. I certainly didn’t. Every pivot I’ve made has started with a leap into the unknown. If there’s something tugging at you, trust that it’s there for a reason. Begin where you are, with what you have. The next step often reveals itself only once you’re in motion. Know Your Value: At age 50, you are about to compete in your first bodybuilding competition as a pro. Tell us how you are feeling about it! And what does success look like to you? Anne Marie Chaker: It’s a new challenge. My body performs and behaves differently now that I’m in the menopausal transition. I was 48 the last time I competed, and it felt easier that time. But mostly, I feel grateful—grateful that I get to stand on that stage as proof that reinvention is possible at any age. Unlike earlier competitions, success for me isn’t about a medal or a placing. It’s about walking out there with courage, showing my daughters and other women what strength looks like, and knowing I gave it everything I had.Recommended
