Fabulous, Fit and Forty!
By Sarah
There is something about turning 40 that makes one suddenly get really clear on what is needed to life a healthy, full life. For me, it’s all about getting fabulously fit for forty. I have the next six months (my birthday is July 12th) to work towards my goal, and a lifetime to enjoy and keep it up!
Now yes, I do live a full and beautiful life now as a size 16-18. But I’m tired a lot of the time, the arthritis in my knees is only getting worse, and I want my family to enjoy a healthy, vibrant me who enjoys long hikes rather than dreads them. My goal is to have a toned, healthy body weight that supports my desired active lifestyle rather than limits it.
After seven plus years of baby making and feeding I am finally ready to come back into my body. This is not the first time I’ve tried to get in shape. My husband is tired of new years resolutions, and I don’t blame him. I have experienced some wonderful changes in life balance through my Mama Renew group, but exercise is an essential self-care practice I have managed to resist over and over again.
What is different this time? More than anything I simply feel like the time is Now. No more excuses. No more procrastination. I am done with putting so much mental energy into feeling out of shape, and ready to simply Be In Shape.
I am inviting all of you to join me on this journey. I will continue to post my musings on my quest to be fabulously fit at forty, including my challenges and discoveries along the way.
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Care to join me?
How to get my kids to eat vegetables…
[...]Fabulous, Fit and Forty! | Mama Renew[...]…
[...] this year I announced my quest to be Fabulous, Fit and Forty. With my 40th birthday only 5 weeks away, it is time for an [...]
Realizing that I was modeling health for my children was a huge shift for me with the exercise. I also realize that now that my children are older, I can use exercise time as a time for connection. A solo walk with my 11 year old daughter gives us both the air and exercise we need, plus a bite of time to talk openly without sibling ears listening in. We have to remember that if our cups aren’t full, we can’t possibly fill all the cups we are required to fill throughout the day. Good luck! And enjoy the journey.
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Yay Sarah!
I’m joining you in the 60km walk to end Breast Cancer and everyday exercise as a new part of my life. My doctor said “Exercise, exercise, exercise is the most important thing you can do for yourself”. Ok I think I got it now.
We love ourselves and our lives too much not to be healthy right!?
Keep moving and writing about it.
Love
Charmaine
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You go, girl! So important that we take care of ourselves and show our kids that exercise can be FUN! While my job allows me to be active, I don’t get to ‘work out’ since I am usually wrangling babies, passing out equipment and correcting form for my participants. I finally said ENOUGH(!) and now after each of my classes, I get my babysitter to stay a 1/2hr extra. It’s not a ton of time, but it allows me to crank the tunes on my iPod and hit the track for a quick run, swim a bunch of laps, or go for a quick core workout on the ball before I go home. It’s not just exercise time – it’s ME time!
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Beautiful blog, beautiful thoughts. Although I am 34 I feel the need to prepare for “40″…I exercise and then stop and start again…I find it hard to make a constant thing over the years…my life is so much better when I eat healthy food, take care of my body and soul…I wonder why I do it with ease for my kids, but often have hard time doing it for myself?
Good luck on your journey
With love,
Hana
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Sarah, Shining Sarah,
This is wonderful! I feel like you’ve taken the words right out of my mouth… I, too, turn “4-0″ this year, and want it to be the start of a stunning rest of my life… have been walking and eating healthy and trying to cut down on the “in between eats” that seem so easy to do when I am constantly fixing food and snacks for my daughters. Keep me/us all posted on your successes… it will help fuel the fires.
with love, mary.
m.
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Thank you, Michelle! The modeling for our children is such a huge part of this – I love it when they join in my sit-up routine. They see us radiant and reap the benefits in so many ways. I’m a better parent when I’m exercising – more patient, compassionate, giving. Because I’m giving to myself…
Team sports? blech…. Give me some free weights and a birth ball and I’m a happy girl.
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Yeah for you Sarah! Almost 2.5 years after my babe was born, I’m now with the program. My 41st bday was in early January and since then I’ve been going to yoga 3x week, including a least 1 power class and a fab cardio workout (wwww.zumbavancouver.ca) once a week. I don’t think I’ve ever exercised this much before. I could use more cardio but this feel super. In my whole being. I also LOVE the fact that my daughter knows Mama goes to exercise and when she asks me why I tell her b/c “I love it – it makes my feel happy – exercise makes Mama’s body feel strong and flexible – exercise makes Mama feel good – exercise if fun” None of these were messages I received from my upbringing and I credit their absence for at least some of my lifetime of lame ass exercise. Give me a team sport and I’m there but if I don’t have that I’ve never much been into regular exercise.
Yeah for sweaty Mamas!
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