FIT at FIFTY (something)

I am so excited to share the journey of this AMAZING woman.  She found me online; from London (England) to London (Ontario) we immediately clicked and I was in awe of her dedication, passion and sensitivity to her family, self and others.  She kept me on my toes, questioning all of plans and suggestions.  She is definitely a people-pleaser (as I am), and helping her overcome the notion of “giving in” to please others is something that I myself had to get over when going through my own transformation.  FIT at FIFTY (something) came to me with a relatively fit body, but we definitely changed many bits and parts.  Let her tell you the rest! Take it away!

Lost and found-with Rita

 ”Coming back from a family trip to Africa after New Years, it was time for some truths. I was bloated and cellulites were starting to show over legs and knees. My back was aching. Jogging had become tough. I was easily out of breath. My once slender waist was starting to disappear.  Fact was I was getting out of shape. Energy levels were all over the place. Taking in this picture was hard. Turning 53-was this how the rest of my life would be? Deep within me I felt there was something else waiting. But I knew I needed help.

After inspecting my local gym in London(England), I could not find quite what I felt I needed. I wanted a personal trainer with cutting edge knowledge, a track record of transformation, with empathy, intelligence and some spark. Who could guide and inspire, through my demanding schedule of travel, work, large family, book writing. I found Rita on the internet. Her blue eyes beamed. When I read what she wrote, and saw the stunning transformation she had put herself through, I felt a jolt of positive energy. This was her. But would this fitness star accept a somewhat wobbly 50+ mother of four?  Well, if you don’t try you will never know, I thought, and wrote her an email out of the blue. She couldn’t have been more friendly and easy to get in touch with.

So we started working together. When her instructions came it was like opening a very special Christmas gift-something just for me. The first gym sessions were wonderful, I liked the foods.  But  let me be frank. The program was tough, as the first novelty wore off. It was demanding to eat much fewer carbs than I had before. I could not quite understand the logic of the foods combined with the training. The first month I was thinking about quitting about once every week. But something urged me on. I asked a lot of questions, and had Rita’s constant emails, keeping me accountable with photos and measurements. And always those fun, warm and smart comments. I started hearing her comments in my head, like an inner coach urging me on and up. She gave me endless small tips.

I had to plan travelling according to where I could train, and eat healthily. Eating went from acting according to the whim of the day, to something much more structured and planned. I made protein/veg combos in mornings, which I packed in small containers. My handbag was forever full of eggs, tomatoes, almonds. I packed the car full of hard boiled eggs, apples, spinach.  I had endless green drinks, and protein shakes.  I found new friends: hello L-Glutamine, coconut flour pancakes and pumpkin/protein muffins!!

I trained 5 times a week. And since no trainer was waiting for me in the gym, I had to go there prepared, making Rita’s program my own. Hence, when I walked into the gym, I “owned” my own training. This was empowering. And slowly the body was starting to change. It became leaner, more sculpted. I was starting to work like a horse in the gym. Grunting, sweating, loving it, lifting the once forbidden darker weights. But something deeper was happening.

Through an emotional crisis about halfway in the program I learnt a lot about myself. Rita helped me see that I was sometimes overeating, or eating hurtful stuff, just to please others. Yet no one was demanding this of me. It was all in my head. This was liberating.

I am now in the best shape I have been since about the age of 32. Back pain has gone down some 80%. I am starting to run again. I train 6 days a week-and it is a joy. I eat super well some 90% of the time, and allow myself a treat, enjoying it and then getting right back to the program.

People from all over the place are asking what I have done´, since I  look younger, firmer and healthier.

So to sum up:

Lost:

I lost my capacity for just playing around in the gym-now I work with focus. It’s fun!

I lost my mindless and please-others eating. Now I eat to fuel this body with healthy and tasty foods-this sets a positive example for my family, who are enjoying the foods as well as I do.

And in hard-core numbers-here is the proof.

Found:

I found a waist, some nice shoulders, a posture and a firmer butt. But it went deeper than that.

I found that I have the capacity for transformation, and taking myself to a new level. This feeling of empowerment is contagious. Knowing that I can change my physique is inspiring me to change other things in my life where I know that new and better is waiting.

I have less fear, fewer limits, more love and more joy. I feel that life is fun , and this is only the beginning.”