Since I just turned the big 40, I'm starting to relate more to why Madonna starting REALLY weight training about this age.
Ok, I'll admit I'm having a little mini mid life crisis (so much for 40 being the new 30, or maybe it is if you workout and fell young, I don't know). I've always identified a bit with Madonna as I've done things purposefully the opposite of the standard - traveled the world, waited to marry, been strong at a young age on. But I don't want my youth to just end, so here I am again, on a mission not for eternal youth, but to just feel good about myself, my looks and NOT become some frumpy 40 something on.
Let's face it Madonna changed the way we think of women after 40, she lead the way - other women have been role models too, but she stands out. She's shown us that a gym body doesn't end at 30 or 35, that it's possible to achieve at 40 on. Her ARMS! They are everywhere, in all of the magazines. Sure I think they are a bit "much" for me, but it's the point. And I like her point. I read that it really steams her when someone calls her maam, it irks me too. At 40 and it will at 50 too.
So if one is going to be a *****, a strong independent woman going a bit against the norm in this flabby world, what is one to do? Sure it can be about business and expanding, which I've been doing. But there's more to it. One has to be physically fit - and that includes weight training and muscle to really "do it right" I'm thinking. Well I've thought this before and I've gone in spurts... but this time I MEAN IT. I really do. I'm on a mission to get fit, ultra fit.
Already in the Body for Life program I just starting I'm seeing some fat melt, I'm building some muscle quickly and I'm feeling GOOD. I'm a researcher, obsessive by nature, so I have the latest weight training books and read about nutrition/fitness. Now it's time to put what I've learned and "played" with to work here. Is it possible? Not with working out hours a day like I hear Madonna does, but by really PUSHING it during workouts, hard cardio with intervals and serious heavy weights... not the little 8 pounders either but barbells, and squat machines.
I realize the secret to happiness isn't in having the perfect figure BUT ok I used to have that skinny bikini figure without trying for many years and at the least I miss my figure. This hiding flab thing doesn't work for me, it's upsetting on a daily basis. I come from a family of serious athletes, top athletes and was one myself way back when. I don't know where this came from but we were somehow the best. Now I'm far from an athlete. I took pictures of myself in a bikini to start the Body for Life challenge and YIKES. IS this what former athletes at 40 look like without working out? It could be worse, much worse as I still have long legs and there's other body parts that can be fine tuned with a little work - but the belly flab, like a man's beer belly. So not good for vanity or health.
I read in a book about those who've lost weight and maintained for life that it took most of the winners and maintainers 4-6 times to gain and lose before they REALLY did it, for LIFE. Well I'm in the league of 3 times now, gaining and losing, hitting missions then quitting. So if this is my fourth, and I'm not counting really, the fourth ought to be a charm if their stats are right. It's when you lose perhaps that you gain the most, you learn through failure more then success don't you think? I mean you try hard, succeed just to fail and gain it back? Makes one feel pretty BAD.
I'm thinking this getting in shape thing needs to become a serious habit, second nature and already it's starting to become that way - I would in NO WAY eat what I used to before I began hanging out here or learning about dieting/nutrition. Sometimes I mess up but at least I KNOW IT (in my old skinny days I could eat anything without fat, girls on diets, well pass along your leftovers, I'll eat them!). So there's obvious progress, and if it starts in the HEAD and so much is mental, then I'm getting THERE. This Body For Life plan seems like a great way to jump start a program, I've lacked discipline in the past, dabbled with different fads, became a bit obsessed actually - so serious planning is something I need for now at least. To practice new recipes and ultra clean ways of eating. And hopefully see some serious results, my goals come true.
Anyone else relate to Madonna even on a small scale? Maybe more of us will become fit in our 40s and 50s so that it becomes more the norm then just a small percentage. Maybe one day 50 will be the new 30! Let's go girls, we are now weight training, running companies, marrying later... things have changed for us. We have all the opportunities in the world. Let's get fit physically and apply those skills to other parts of our lives!