Redha busts the myth that you need extreme diets or daily, gruelling gym sessions to lose weight in midlife. Explaining how metabolism and hormones shift after 40, he advocates for an effortless, sustainable approach centred on intermittent fasting 3 to 4 times a week and listening to your body's true needs. By skipping breakfast and lunch, fuelling with easily digestible carbohydrates and healthy fats at dinner, and treating workouts as a celebration of strength rather than a weight-loss punishment, you can shed excess fat, eliminate fatigue, and regain lasting energy.
5 Key Takeaways
Weight loss after 40 is driven primarily by nutrition and fasting rather than exhausting daily gym workouts.
Fasting 3 to 4 times a week—skipping breakfast and lunch until dinner—allows the body to tap into stored fat reserves and rebalance hormones.
When breaking a fast, prioritise easily digestible, gut-friendly carbohydrates like fresh or dried fruit rather than heavy meals or excessive protein.
Water intake should be dictated by natural thirst rather than rigid, arbitrary rules.
Exercise should be pursued for strength, mobility, and personal enjoyment rather than as a tool to burn off calories.
5 Key Quotes
"You don't need to work out every day to lose weight."
"Your body doesn't cope in the same way like you used to years and years ago or when you were in your twenties, and you have to accept it."
"Give your body what your body needs, not what you want."
"Losing weight has to do straight, is connected with food you eat."
"If you want then to go to the gym or fancy any physical activity, you can do it out of joy."
HOST BIO
Redha Zertal is a strength coach and fitness educator who specialises in helping men over 40 rebuild their strength, energy, and confidence.
With over a decade of coaching experience, Redha has worked with hundreds of busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and fathers who want to lose fat, build muscle, and improve their health without extreme training programmes or restrictive diets.
As the founder of RZ Fitness in Formby, UK, Redha became known for his practical, results-driven approach to strength training and sustainable fitness for men in midlife.
Through The Fitness Confessional podcast, Redha shares the lessons he has learned from years of coaching men navigating the realities of life after 40 — including stress, demanding careers, family responsibilities, and changing metabolism.
His mission is simple:
To help men build stronger bodies, clearer minds, and healthier lives long into their 40s, 50s, and beyond.
Redha’s coaching philosophy focuses on:
• Strength training for longevity
• Sustainable fat loss and nutrition
• Building muscle after 40
• Improving energy, focus, and resilience
His message is clear: fitness after 40 isn’t about extremes — it’s about consistency and smart training.
LINKS:
Website: https://rzfitness.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RZFitnessFormby
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rzfitness_formby/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rzfitness
