Let me introduce myself: I’m Liisa, (almost) 40-year old woman, and I am so looking forward to sharing a journey to fitness with you. I was introduced to Michelle and InspiredBodies.com last month when a childhood friend posted pictures of herself at a fitness competition. She had decided to compete as a 40th birthday gift to herself.
After thinking about it for a few days, I reached out to my friend because I was intrigued by her transformation and ultimately I asked her for a referral to her coach, Michelle. I wouldn’t characterize myself as out-of-shape, but rather as just ordinary. I have had moments in the last five years where I have been quite fit (16% body fat), but these days I am likely somewhere in the 20th percentile.
I am also turning 40 in a couple of months and, like my childhood friend, I feel like I need to be fabulous this year. It’s a cliché, I know. Thirty-nine and holding and all that. But coming to grips with my upcoming birthday has not been easy for me. I now share a bed with a forty year-old man (ewww).
There have been ups and downs over the last few months and a lot of taking stock. Where am I, and more importantly, am I where I want to be? There are some easy answers:
Marriage: In October we will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Today more than ever I know I made a great choice in a life partner.
Family: I love my two boys! I have 2 sons, ages 5 and 7. I love every almost every minute with them. In August we are moving to Costa Rica. Our upcoming move is going to allow us to spend even more time together while they are still young enough to want us around.
Myself: As I told someone yesterday, my current job title is Health & Medical Writer and I find it suits me quite well (if I don’t say so myself). I also have some really fabulous friendships and each one brings me something special and unique.
So what is bothering me today, 60 days out from my 40th birthday? My body. My body hurts. My hip, my foot, my back. Not only does my body hurt, but honestly, it doesn’t look as good as it did in recent years past. Yeah, I still like it better now than I did at 22 (20 pounds heavier), but circuit workouts and strength workouts which were a habit for me three years ago, made it much easier to wear a bikini.
I am not one to sit and lament a situation. No sirreee – I must change a situation I do not like. Enter Project 4-Oh. Today I am beginning to work with Michelle on my own personal transformation. Can I go from a lightly active mom to a buff bikini mom before I hit the Costa Rican beach at the end of August? That’s what we are going to find out. I plan on documenting my journey here with weekly posts. You are NOT going to want to miss a minute of this. We are going to talk:
Goal-setting: Do I want to look good in a picture on a given day, or am I looking for sustainable results?
Travel: How on earth am I going to do this with 21 days of travel and a huge move in these next 60 days?
Diet: Over the last 3 years I have gone from a high-protein vegetarian, to a full-blown vegan, to a carb-loving hibernator, and back. Where is my sweet spot? And how can I incorporate it into our busy life now, and transition it to the available foods when we move to a new country.
Activity: Over these last 3 years I have transitioned from being an inactive mom to a mother of toddlers, to a hyper-active strength-training mom, to an endurance junkie, to a yoga-loving, wish-I-was-running woman. What can I realistically fit into my life over the next few weeks that I can then also incorporate into my new life in Costa Rica?
Healing nagging, stubborn injuries: My quest to find a solution that works and that allows me to move in a way that will support and nurture my body as I age.
Finding workout buddies: This will be important for me in Costa Rica; I love communal energy and the lift it gives to my workouts.
Buying bathing suits: I wore a bathing suit 157 out of 160 days that we were in Costa Rica last year. And unless your suit has strings or some very serious cut-outs, you are just wearing way too much fabric for that culture and climate. I’ll tell you what swimwear worked for me last year and what I’m hoping to wear this time ’round too.
There may even be some pictures. A “transformation” story is not complete without photos, after all. The hardest to post will definitely be the “before”s. I love comments and feedback and will most certainly respond, and so will Michelle if the question is more appropriately answered by her. Go ahead and tell me what you think. I would love to have your support and even have some company along the way. Who wants to get fit with me?
Next post: Preparing for my first meeting with Michelle
