Fit by 40: Another Woman's Inspiring Journey

I always say age is just a number, and you are only as old as you feel.  I have always been young at heart, and have accepted the passing of each year gracefully.  Something about turning 40 earlier this year was a bit tough though, as I took stock of my life and realized in many areas I simply was not where I expected to be by middle age.

One of those issues was my ballooning weight and declining fitness.  I have been overweight for most of my adult life due to my preference for sedentary jobs and hobbies.   Last year this time, this really didn’t bother me.  I certainly had heard all the facts and statistics that were supposed to scare me into eating better and getting fit, but I totally accepted who I was and how I looked.  Losing weight was something to do “later”, “when I was ready”, “when I had the time” . . .  I can easily conjure up dozens of such excuses.

There was something about turning 40 that changed me, and it happened rather quickly.  To this day, I can’t quite put a finger on it, but I went from not really caring one day to waking up with the sudden urgency telling me that I had to do something.  I just knew I had to change my ways before it was too late.  I had been feeling increasingly tired, sluggish, and physically incapable of doing some things that I never used to give a second though to.  Buying clothes that fit was had become a real challenge, as did fitting into some restaurant tables and amusement park rides.  I did miss being outside and enjoying fresh air and sunshine.  I was sick of that nagging voice that filled me with guilt every time I savored an ice cream sundae or a bowl of cheese-covered nachos.  Once I listened to my inner voice, there really were 1,000 compelling reasons to change, and they all came screaming in my face at once.

Because I reached this turning point, an article I found while browsing the news last night really jumped out at me.  It is titled “Why You Should Really ‘Get Fit by 40’”, and it describes the fitness journey of 39-year old Michelle Jackson.  http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/31/health/fitness-before-forty-weight-loss/index.html?iref=allsearch

Michelle’s story is one that most of us middle-aged women can relate to:  a sedentary job, too many demands on our time, a lack of interest in sports, and the dread of being embarrassed at the gym.  Michelle goes on to explain that at the age of 40, our hormones start to turn against us and muscle loss accelerates.  Beyond this age, weight loss becomes increasingly difficult.  This encouraged her to take charge of her life at the age of 38 in hopes of being fit before her 40^th birthday.  Although she may fall slightly short of that goal, she has already lost an impressive 100 pounds and has reaped other rewards; she stopped storing, has decreased knee pain and has gotten off of her asthma and acid reflux medications.

As I read Michelle’s story, I began to realize it may have been my women’s intuition that kicked in at 40, as it felt my body’s changes beginning.  I do wish I had been aware of this pending change sooner, as it may have kicked me into gear a few years earlier.  Still, it is never too late to change and I am glad that I have made fitness and health my priority this year.  In 6 months, I have lost 43 pounds and have more energy and enthusiasm than I’ve had since my early 20’s.  Like Michelle, I have added strength training to my routine and have learned about the rewards of building muscle.  Until recently I thought strength training was only for athletes and body builders, but I now realize that building muscle boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat, even when you are enjoying a sedentary pursuit such as I am doing now as I write this.

I love reading success stories such as Michelle.  It helps me know that I am not alone in the challenges I face, and it motivates me to keep working towards my goals even when the going gets tough.  If Michelle is reading this, I wish her all the best in achieving her goals.  As for me, I about halfway to where I want to be, and if I maintain my current pace I will have a true cause to celebrate on my 41^st birthday.

If you find yourself nearing 40, you should really take stock of your situation and start taking action before it becomes significantly more difficult.  If you’re past that mark, take heart knowing it is never too late, as the right amount of determination can overcome any challenge.  If you have an inspiring story, please share it with us, as it helps everyone to know we are not fighting our battles alone.