I’ve got 42 years of history with exercise and few of them are good.
I’ve tried everything, excelled at nothing, and usually found any sort of exercise too boring and too depressing to continue. Every year I was a bit more out of shape than the year before. It’s a familiar story.
When I signed up for the eclasses at become-stylish.com, I didn’t think it would change how I felt about exercise. I was going to learn to dress for the body I have, learn to make the best of how I look NOW, rather than waiting for that magical day when I’m slimmer and trimmer.
So I was really surprised that week after week, as I’ve gone through my classes, I’ve become increasingly motivated to work out like never before. I’ve pretty much given up on the idea of ever being a size 2, that’s still true. But I’ve learned about reasons for working out that have nothing to do with the size of my hips or my waist. I’ve learned about how exercise calms the mind — and yet stimulates creativity. I’ve learned about how being flexible and strong makes every action you take — just walking across the room, or lifting some books from the floor – more stylish and sexy.
My husband keeps asking if I’ve lost weight — I have lost a couple of pounds. But the real difference is that I’ve improved my posture and I’m moving with more grace and elegance. (I’m also dressing better for the shape I’ve got.)
Suddenly, I’ve begun noticing fit older women all around me. I noticed the woman in her 80s who runs an antique store near my home and is always lifting items over her head for the high shelves. I noticed the elderly neighbor bending over in her garden with the flexibility of a yoga veteran! I noticed a woman in my office who strides across the room with a strength and confidence that I know I did not have even when I was younger and thinner. When she gracefully climbed a ladder to shut off a malfunctioning smoke alarm, I was impressed!
Strong body
Think about how much better all of these women look than the women of similar size and age, who groan just a bit when they stand suddenly and have to grab onto handrails with white-knuckle determination to go up a flight of stairs. I have stopped thinking about how I might have looked at 20 and have become to concentrate on how I’ll look at 50, 60, and 70. For the first time, I’m confident that I’ll look great.
Yes, there have been set backs — a busy week, a bad case of shin splints — but it’s been easy to keep getting back on track, because my goal is attainable. I want to be healthy, flexible and strong. And I know I can!
