stayhealthyfitness

[stayhealthyfitness]

Best tip at 56 - Don’t fear aging because it’s awesome! Aging is a state of mind and how we think about ourselves at every stage in life. And yes, we’re aging but we can change the way that happens. I feel it has taken half my life to live my best life. Seriously, I am happier, healthier, and emotionally stronger than I have ever been. I manage stress better and have a more relaxed attitude about life and relationships. I have gained confidence and the ability to set healthy boundaries. Older-wiser-better is what I like to say. Changing the way I age also includes taking the best care of myself. Regular exercise, eating healthy, plenty of rest, and life balance are so important to maintain my body. My goal is quality health for a quality life. And the physical result of enjoying a healthy lifestyle is looking and feeling younger. I also don’t fall for society opinions of how a person should look or be at a certain age. Ageism is straight up BS. We are who we are at every age and I prefer young at heart, fun, strong, and sexy. Women and men of today are breaking the mold of what it really means to be middle-aged and beyond. So don’t fear getting older but embrace the privilege and opportunity to be your best self at every age. Remember, you’re never too old and it’s never too late to start again. I hope you’re excited and motivated about that. https://www.instagram.com/p/CESZoEnD6xw/?igshid=hgl66tx5fqfw

[stayhealthyfitness]

So there are a few changes I like and dislike about my body in menopause. 🤩Starting with the likes: First, I absolutely love being able to wear these white shorts anytime. No more worry about basing my wardrobe around that time of the month. Not having a period is awesome. May I also mention a huge savings not having to buy sanitary products - yes! No more cramps, period bloat, or just feeling crappy during my cycle. That’s a big positive. No more birth control! It was fabulous to have my IUD removed forever. I swear I could feel that thing. And it’s nice to be worry free and relaxed during sex with hubby. I don’t have to plan vacations or boat trips around my period. Just grab my swim suit and go - love this. 🙄Moving onto dislikes: The worst part for me is vaginal dryness, decreased sensitivity and libido. Although bio identical hormones are helpful, my body just isn’t the same in this area. This is where I really miss my younger body. Increased UTIs because of vaginal atrophy. Taking the supplement D-Mannose has really helped minimize the occurrence. Night sweats and hot flashes were unbearable before I started using bio identical hormones. No problems with that now but I do need to maintain HRT to prevent them from happening. Disturbed sleep can be a struggle. I have started using Magnesium and Melatonin as a natural way to promote better sleep. Some thickness in the abdominal area but not so much that it bothers me. It does bug me that I do have to maintain my body with hormones to feel better. They are expensive and there is a potential increased cancer risk. But I have researched the pros and cons and sticking with it. 🥰I’m glad we are becoming a more transparent society to discuss sensitive topics like menopause, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy, postpartum, and many more. It creates an opportunity for women to support and encourage other women. That said, what do you like and dislike about menopause? https://www.instagram.com/p/CDzY1YMD4Zn/?igshid=1n5weorqrrqov

[stayhealthyfitness]

DIY Sunday Funday!🤗 . The hubs and I finally completed a project we’ve been wanting to do for years. We restored a very weathered wine barrel that now looks beautiful outdoors as part of our decor. Check out my story for some behind the scenes and before and after pics! . I hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend. What did you do? . . . #diyprojects #winebarrel #womenwithpowertools #sundayfunday #me #diyproject #donedidit https://www.instagram.com/p/CDaLknDjf6t/?igshid=1muz1564hlsnc

[stayhealthyfitness]

Lifting heavy planters and shoveling dirt was my weekend workout. And let me tell you my inner thighs are so sore today. Lots of deep squatting to help my husband carry ginormous ceramic pots into the backyard. And staging them in different spots to see what looks best. It felt good though to be outside working together on a project we will enjoy for years to come. Lots of sweat equity. Our backyard has required landscaping for 11 years. Other things were more important so it continued to be put off. So you can imagine how excited we are to finally break ground. But I did want to share - you can get an amazing workout doing vigorous yard work. Especially lifting/carrying heavy bags of potting soil and man size ceramic pots. And good body mechanics are so important to remember outside the gym. Sometimes it can be easy to forget to engage your core, squat, and lift with your legs. And being a fit couple at 56 and 60 made the work easier and fun. We make our health and fitness priority for a quality life that includes being able to do physical projects like this. Among other things like boating, playing with our grandkids, and our very active lifestyle in general. What outdoor projects have you been doing that have been physically challenging? https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4V410DfRf/?igshid=1i3fg53scfwqn

[stayhealthyfitness]

I was bad yesterday because of what I ate...🤦🏼‍♀️ . I have heard this phrase more times than I can count over the years. I have also helped many people shed these inaccurate beliefs that stem from diet culture. Food has never been the problem but our diet based society has changed our dialogue and relationship with food. . How can eating something make you bad? Or how are you being naughty because you’re enjoying a serving of your favorite Mac and cheese? . I’m certainly not bad for eating this hotdog at Costco yesterday. I was hungry and they serve up a great all beef hotdog. I enjoyed every last bite. This is life, balance, and being realistic with food intake. I’m not freaking out or feeling guilty believing I need to exercise more to burn it off tomorrow. And it was a tasty fun meal with hubby outside of Costco having quality conversation. Life at its simple best. . So let me clarify for those in the back - you’re not bad, naughty, or failing at nutrition for eating ANY food. And we shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for eating what we want. . Now I’m not saying to eat unhealthy. Because its important to eat nutrient rich foods most of the time. But it’s also okay to eat a hotdog or ice cream once in awhile. When food rules are no longer part of your life, it makes room for guilt free balance. A sustainable lifestyle of healthy eating and happiness. . I would love to hear your thoughts.✌🏻😉 https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBxcn0Dkxa/?igshid=1r4hl9th4i00t

[stayhealthyfitness]

Happy •60• Birthday to my Husband.🎉 • It seems like yesterday we were celebrating your 50th and here we are still living our best life ten years later. • When I first met you, I felt an instant connection. Years later I feel it still. You are an amazing man and husband. I am unbelievably happy that I met such a sexy, generous, and humble man. You have given me more love and support than I could ever hope for. Thank you for always making me feel like a beautiful, confident, and supremely loved woman. • So cheers to you my silver fox - you are the best husband a woman could wish for. I hope your 60th birthday is filled with everything your heart desires. • I love you Don forever and a day.♥️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5qYcfjVVI/?igshid=1v86wxpk8prln

[stayhealthyfitness]

Fitness would suck if I didn’t keep it realistic and sustainable. . I know because I didn’t always follow healthy methods years ago. I lived a restrictive competitive lifestyle where food controlled my life. I was never relaxed about food and always on guard with everything I ate.🤦🏼‍♀️ . And it eventually caused so much stress and anxiety to keep up this lifestyle. I struggled with body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and obsessive exercise to deal with the guilt of eating off track. This was not healthy living or thinking. And a big reason I am now a strong advocate against restrictive diets that do nothing but promote food guilt and negative body image. . Adopting a REAL healthy lifestyle was one of the best gifts to myself. It eliminated all the unhealthy diet mentality, food guilt, and unsustainable methods to maintaining a fit body. . The truth that diet culture doesn’t want you to know is that you CAN achieve a healthy fit body without drastic methods. I chose to skip all the restrictive diets and just eat healthy. This created a well balanced, happy life for me. . I have been able to maintain a fit body with realistic methods that work (no diets). But more than that, I am living a life that makes sense. One that promotes health, happiness, and self love. https://www.instagram.com/p/CB1a2FWjHzw/?igshid=4k4ft17bqs7v

[stayhealthyfitness]

Come on in and let’s talk about food guilt. I took a poll last week asking if you feel bad about yourself when you eat a treat or meal not considered healthy. A high percentage of you are struggling with this and feeling guilty about the food you eat. I want to help you break this cycle because feeling guilty about food comes straight from unhealthy sources - diet culture. We are devaluing ourselves based on unrealistic and unreliable diet opinions claiming that fit bodies can only happen with a perfect clean diet. This is a load of💩. That said, I know it’s difficult to turn off the negative diet noise because it’s in our face all the time through diet advertising, commercials, and social media. This includes false claims of achieving the perfect body with crazy food restrictions and unregulated supplements.The social pressure to believe this hype is overwhelming.🤦🏼‍♀️ What is scientifically proven about restrictive diets is that they are unsustainable and can lead to nutrient deficiencies. The human body needs all major food groups and a wide variety of nutrients and antioxidants.🙌🏻💯 But the struggle of food guilt is real because decades of diet culture has been ingrained into society. So it will take a mental shift of breaking the food guilt cycle. A healthy relationship with food putting diet ideology aside will be needed to create a positive mindset about food intake and living a truly healthy life. I would love to start a support forum on overcoming food guilt in the comments below. What have been your struggles with food and what has helped you? https://www.instagram.com/p/CBwbSxuD6bQ/?igshid=m5gbj6ndfy1q

[stayhealthyfitness]

Training hard is for EVERY age.🏋🏼‍♀️ • I read a post yesterday by @trainwithjoan and felt inspired to write a follow up. Since I am a personal trainer for 30 years now, I was enlightened that older people may not be challenged to their potential. What?! • First, shame on any trainer who doesn’t feel comfortable with all age groups. This would be a red flag to their qualifications as a personal trainer. And it’s equally important as the client to recognize you may not be receiving the best training. • The truth is all people regardless of age are strong and capable. Speaking personally as a 56 year old woman, I appreciate a workout that challenges my physical potential. I’m certainly not going to waste my time and body in the gym doing nothing and neither should that be acceptable to you. • If you’re getting more talk time with your trainer than effort, there’s a problem. Being coddled because a client is older is not what is supposed to happen during a workout. Ageism has no place in the gym or anywhere. • Gym time is work time. A time to work toward health and fitness improvement. This is not time for idle chitchat that burns up your hour training session along with your money. • And to be pacified at the gym just because you’re older is straight up wrong. We are all deserving of quality personal training that pushes us to our potential. If that’s not happening for you, it’s probably time for a change. • And I encourage you to read the current post on this topic by @trainwithjoan. It’s awesome! • Remember you’re never too old to change your life!🙌🏻💯 https://www.instagram.com/p/CBRnynhD4ej/?igshid=ciuuvo52x7f2

[stayhealthyfitness]

I maintain my body more with how I eat rather than exercise. • Don’t get me wrong both are important for a healthy body and life. But nutrition plays the primary role in health improvement and maintaining a healthy weight. • The truth is you can’t out exercise a crappy diet. The only thing occurring here is working off some food guilt for something you ate. Not a healthy mindset or relationship with food.🤦🏼‍♀️ • I can get by without a few days of exercise and feel okay with that. But I can’t just eat unhealthy for a few days/weeks and not feel the difference in my body & well being. Eating crap makes me feel like 💩. • Sadly, most Americans, do not eat a healthful diet and are not physically active at levels needed to maintain proper health. • I can’t emphasize enough the importance of healthy food intake. This doesn’t mean a diet but simply including a wide variety of plant-based foods, appropriate amounts of protein, and healthy fats in your daily nutrition. • Together, a healthful diet and regular physical activity can help people: ✅Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. ✅Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke ✅Reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer ✅Strengthen muscles, bones, and joints ✅Improve mood and energy level https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0iTBEDKlX/?igshid=94cnzhb9xmw2

[stayhealthyfitness]

Why not grow older and stronger? I read this comment the other day and was immediately like - hell yes! • We absolutely can change the way we age. Aging is nothing but a state of mind. Stay positive through the years, take care of yourself, and believe me - you CAN be your best self at every age. • I also read that some Nanas knit and other Nanas iron💪🏻🏋🏼‍♀️ I refuse to fit into some negative stereotype placed on aging. Pass me the weights, jean shorts, and sassy attitude because it’s time to redefine what aging looks like. Because it’s nothing but a number. With me?! https://www.instagram.com/p/CAp6Wi5Dph9/?igshid=1cas2zi9k0tjt

[stayhealthyfitness]

I have plenty of muscle but also cellulite. I don’t have flat abs either, especially if I’m bloated. • You know what that’s called - NORMAL. • So cheers to real bodies with perfect imperfections. • And in case you needed to hear this today - you’re beautiful!♥️ . . . #bodypositivity #selflove #lovetheskinyourein #loveyourself #bodypositive #cellulite #real #me #bodyimage #reallife #nofilter #inspiration #fitover50 #fitness #fitnessmotivation #embraceyourbody #thisisme #realbodies #beautifulyou https://www.instagram.com/p/CAflarsDa--/?igshid=1hllle4omsvg6

[stayhealthyfitness]

Aging gracefully has taught me the grass is always greener where you water it.✌🏻 • That grass on the other side of the fence doesn’t matter. It’s not greener and it may be fake. • What does matter is what’s happening in your own yard. Is it being loved, nourished, and tended? Or are weeds and garbage allowed to be planted and tossed there? • I have learned over the years to water my own grass. That comparison is not healthy, and mental clutter is negative noise. Through this process of self care and love the most amazing green grass has sprouted and remains a joy to maintain. • Kinda deep metaphorically but as a writer I can sometimes be an open book. Especially when it comes to self love and what really matters in life. . . . #thegrassisgreenerwhereyouwaterit #selflove #fitspiration #aginggracefully #fitnessmotivation #fitover55 #outdoorphotography #happiness #positivity #me #over50women #wateryourowngrass #healthylife #takecareofyourself #selfcare #nocomparison #youdoyou #freelancewriter #blogger #thisisme #healthylifestyle #healthyaging #beautiful https://www.instagram.com/p/CAawI9hDFSY/?igshid=1p9pgkuyghdpx

[stayhealthyfitness]

I used to love cardio but now - not so much. • Feels weird for me to say that coming from a running background. I was all into that runner’s high and pounding the pavement years ago. • On the negative side, some of my excessive running surrounded the misconception I had to do hours of cardio to stay fit or make up for something I ate. And it was an escape from an unhappy reality. • And then injuries happened that forced me to modify high impact workouts. So running for cardio was out. But I can honestly say it was a blessing in disguise. • Now I perform a balanced exercise program and cardio I enjoy. Not out of food guilt or to deal with problems. I workout because it makes me feel good and healthy. • And that’s what fitness should be - an enjoyable part of your life. Not stressful or a burden. A happy healthy habit for a lifetime. • Does it feel that way for you? https://www.instagram.com/p/CAV_NdKjYYC/?igshid=xp85d2alnet

[stayhealthyfitness]

All dressed up and nowhere to go.😜 • Confession-I felt a little depressed on the days leading up to Mother’s Day & my Birthday last week. I was having a COVID boo hoo moment because well - quarantine. I missed everything about being able to celebrate like normal. • I could have just sat around in my leggings & T-shirt but after some deep thought, had a positive mental shift. Was I really going to allow myself not to be happy about this incredible gift of another year traveled around the sun? How about the beautiful gift of Motherhood? • I also have a very positive husband who can uplift my spirits. Why not get dressed up, take pictures, grab gourmet takeout, and dance in the living room, he said. I was still kinda blah but could feel myself climbing out of my slump. • We can all have down moments even in the midst of celebration. It’s called real life and being willing to be transparent about it. Just because things are different doesn’t mean they can’t be wonderful. All it took was being open minded enough to see things in a new perspective. • And as it turned out, I had a surprise visit from 2 of my kids, flower deliveries, kid calls, and lots of love sent from friends & my big Sis. It was the best! • So today I reflect on last weekend with a grateful spirit and so much appreciation. Because no matter what life looks like, it is the event to get dressed up for. . . . #alldressedupandnowheretogo #happybirthday #confessions #thisisme #reallife #thisislife #positivethinking #inspiration #womenover50 #fashion #nofilter #me #lovelife #selflove #fitover50 #happy #happinessisachoice #gratefulheart #thankful #healthyme #healthyhappylife #bestself https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQeMyNDTOt/?igshid=1fh0ugr2p8ll8

[stayhealthyfitness]

I’m still the same girl just with a better more realistic mindset about fitness. • And the right amount of body fat to sustain a healthy body. Restrictive eating may provide a certain look but screws up optimal body function. It took forever for me to get my hormones back in balance. • And no more food guilt & excessive exercise! It feels good to just relax & have a balanced life. If I want a brownie or burger, I don’t stress that it’s going to ruin my body. Or feel like I have to exercise for hours to burn it off. What a relief...😀 • I found restrictive eating leads to binging. Back then I couldn’t stop at just one cookie if I had been deprived for months. This was ridiculous. And chronic restriction can also lead to negative body image/body dysmorphia. Not feeling good enough is no way to live. • Being realistic about health means not dieting, not feeling guilty, and not being extreme. It is simply eating right to maintain a healthy body & optimal body function. It also includes being physically active & regular exercise that promotes health & fitness. Getting plenty of rest is also important along with drinking lots of water to stay properly hydrated. • Being healthy promotes self love and happiness. You KNOW you’re happy about your body and life. • It’s not stressful or a burden. Being truly healthy feels natural, good, and the way life was meant to be. • These images are 15 years apart. . . . #me #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #blackandwhite #tbt #healthylifestyle #fitlife #thenandnow #realme #fitover50 #healthybody #livingmybestlife #bodypositive #loveyourself #selflove #stayhealthyfitness #happiness #positivity #fitover55 #healthyandhappy https://www.instagram.com/p/CALBV22DJAO/?igshid=dwxx2stiaf2l

[stayhealthyfitness]

Celebrating Birthday 56 today! • Played dress up over the weekend, picked up gourmet takeout, special flower deliveries, and surprise visit from my kids. • This morning started with gifts from Hubby. He cooking dinner for me at home is in the plans. • Let’s just say I’m feeling so special and just want to say thanks for all the love. I truly appreciate absolutely everything. Blessed beyond measure.🎉♥️ . . . #thisis56 #happybirthdaytome #thisisme #fitover50 #birthdaygirl #celebrate #feelingloved #fitover50women #ageisjustanumber #alldressedupandnowheretogo #me #over50andfabulous #bestoftheday #instabirthday #aginggracefully #foreveryoung https://www.instagram.com/p/CADW3EHDmLy/?igshid=i4to6172juk1