Fresh Start Fitness

One of the best things about being a personal trainer is that I get to meet lots of people from various backgrounds. It is fascinating to start noticing trends and similarities between people. Here’s what I mean:

When women start talking about their history with exercise, they start by telling you everything they have not been doing, and then they start explaining why and apologizing for it. They say things like, “I was overwhelmed with being a mom…” or “I was taking care of my sick mother…” and they express shame and regret. They are mortified to talk about the number on the scale.

Men don’t often do that. They talk about the exercise they have been getting in, even if it’s not much. They don’t feel the need to explain themselves or apologize for it. This isn’t a bash on men– this is how it should be. They aren’t losing sleep about what they should have done. They are just ready to work. As a woman, I can’t relate. But I can tell you that without all that unnecessary guilt and remorse for doing the best they could with what they had, it frees up a lot more space and energy for progress now.

And let’s pause here to speak to the women who prioritized raising their children, working, and taking care of their aging parents instead of prioritizing their fitness. Thank you. Can you imagine a world without mothers who sacrifice? We would all go to hell in a handbasket. Of course, in an ideal world, we would all have time for fitness and caring for all the other obligations in our lives. But in the real world, we only have the capacity to do what we can do. No guilt, no remorse. You did well, good and faithful servant. Now let’s talk about you.

This is what brings me to my favorite type of client: the post-menopause woman. She has already raised her family or worked a career. She is here to pursue fitness for herself— not to look hot in a bikini, not to be active for her kids. She’s in it because she has figured out that her health and wellness is hers to claim. Women who are in their fifties have a mental strength and stamina that young, fit women don’t have yet. They are gritty, committed, and strong. I’ve also noticed that when mothers and daughters are in the gym together, the older women will out-lift the younger women.

I love working with women in this category because they are exciting to watch as they grow in strength and reclaim their life for themselves. I want to sit with these women and ask them, “What is the secret to marriage, raising kids, happiness, and longevity?” because they have figured out what matters and what doesn’t. They have been through it, they lived to tell the tale, and they seem to come out stronger in the best way and softer in the best way because of it.

Thanks for inspiring me, my 50+ friends. I hope to be like you when I grow up.

One of my favorite clients, Judy, who I secretly referred to as “My best friend Judy” behind her back.