Life style reinvention!

[Phaze]

So I'm a 39 yr old woman who's had a couple of kids and let 'erself go, and when i say that what i mean is that i've made the mistake of putting everyone else's priorities before mine. One child has just flown the coop, and it will be another 8 or so years before the last one flies. \:D/

Some people have told me that I'm going through the 'empty nest' syndrome, and maybe i am, but what's really happening here is the perfect timing for a life style revamp - a physical, spiritual and psychological growth spurt and desire for change. \:D/

I'm a full time student with one year left before i complete my degree... i have been working on the spiritual on all other aspects of this transition but the physical transformation intimidates me. Why? Because as a young beautiful woman i escaped several 'rape'.......and carrying a little extra weight has made me feel 'safe' ....if i appear resistible vs irresistible sort of bull shit. f*ck it! im over it and ready to stop living a life of fear. I need to get back in the game, and i will, and i am.....slowly but surely. \:D/

So here i am. I know a healthy body and mind extends ones life and expands opportunities too - just through the very essence of having the endurance to keep going and embrace life's challenges. \:D/

I have done the reading on exercise and diet within this website and will follow those guidelines.......and i have just been out for a shop of all the right foods. \:D/

I am a bit confused tho around the information about eating small meals every two hours and the article about fasting....being a newbie, which advice should i follow? :doh:

Also, any tips or guidance would be taken on board graciously! I guess then I'd best go weigh in now and post a weekly up date on my progress eh? Oh and btw, Im about 5.9, 100 kgs, and body fat at about 35%.....I know, that really is horrible, I've been living under this blanket of cancer for a while now, AND IM DONE.....my goal is 20-22%. \:D/

i'm not really in it for competition, but if i reach my goal and somebody comes along (who knows their stuff) and tells me i should, i might....but at this stage, this change is for personal gain. :^o lol

I turn 40 in January, so that might also be the other nudge im feeling, lol....ok, here goes. Will be posting my results every Sunday evening for yall to follow....oh, and probably wont post the before shot until i have the after shot....i know, i know, ...but may just change my mind along the way.

Thanks for reading! \:D/

[Pseudonym]

Hey Phaze, welcome to the forums! Good on you for taking the plunge.

There's a lot of exotic theories on diet and training out there, and some of them work well. At this stage of your journey, though, I'd just stick to the basics. A simple 4-day workout routine, and 6 meals a day.

If you haven't already ready them, you might find our Bodybuilding for beginners articles a good starting point.

[knock knock]

Hi, sounds like your directing your energy in the right place. Welcome.

[Andy2010]

Hi Phaze, getting started is the hard part once you start seeing some results you will gather momentum which will drive you toward your goals.. Earlier this year i trained a mate of mine (female) for 12 weeks, she started at 95kg and finished on 75kg, so there you go, it can be done and fast if you want it bad enough, what you eat is 90% of your results..

Good luck! :grin:

[Chillicat]

Hi Phaze - welcome!

You've come to the right place, and you'll get lots of advice from the people here. Not everyone here is in it to compete - I'm one of those people (and over 40) - some of us (ok, me) just like the physique of fit women, and aspire to look like that, so this is where I come to get advice and hints on how to achieve that. Since I started posting in here I've got a ton of useful advice on diet and how to exercise, and I'm extremely pleased with the results - so stick with it and you will too.

With regards to the '6 meals a day' advice vs the other thread on fasting - my advice (for what it's worth) at this early stage is to work out what is right for you and what you're able to stick with. You'll never stick with anything if it's not something that easily fits into your life, at least when you're starting out. Personally I've always been a grazer, and I have problems with hypoglycemia if I don't eat often enough, so the 6 meal a day option has always been my natural default. The trick is to make sure that each of those 'meals' is sensible and fits into the overall plan.

Have you joined a gym? Or are you going to exercise in some other way? I'm just wondering about what your initial exercise/eating plan is like and if you've got a PT or some kind of nutritionist to help you out.

Maybe you could start a journal in the journal section of this forum? It's not just about 'today I lifted lots of big heavy weights' - but is a great way of recording your progress and also keeping yourself accountable. You don't need to be accountable to us though - just yourself, so maybe you prefer a personal journal - but it's often useful to have feedback, and sometimes just nice to have a place to have a vent!

[musclenz]

The spiritual bodies are the hard ones to master. Once you have done this & know Who You Are & Where You are Going in this life, the physical body will come into balance & harmony with the others. It would seem that your awakening is about to occur. Allow all those past negatives to be turned around into positive energy to enable you to connect with your physical self & grow to become the Body & Soul you desire to be.

[bar-belle]

Im training 2 powerlifters who are women and both over 40...both have 5 kids! This as it turns out is not a hinderence or a disability as they both train very hard, compete and do very well in the respective classes.

Loose the demons of the past and set your mind to your goals.

Good luck! :clap:

[Big john]

Loose the demons of the past and set your mind to your goals.

now....that was, deep!

[Optimass]

The spiritual bodies are the hard ones to master. Once you have done this & know Who You Are & Where You are Going in this life, the physical body will come into balance & harmony with the others. It would seem that your awakening is about to occur. Allow all those past negatives to be turned around into positive energy to enable you to connect with your physical self & grow to become the Body & Soul you desire to be.

Is there something going in the water down there -- first NS and now you MNz.

[teamfatboy]

Welcome, Phaze... like the others have said, there's plenty of good advice on here, including some very strong men and women, some a lot younger, others quite a bit older.

The one thing they have in common is the belief that they can achieve their goals - strength, shape, appearance - and many of them have.

Have a good read, because it sounds like the time is right to make the changes for good :clap:

[Phaze]

If i knew how to reply to each post individually i would (if that's even possible?) Hey, i feel like 'i'm home'!! The advice and support was quite inspirational, just what i need really, so again thank you.

I wanted to respond to a couple of comments and questions, ok all because i wouldn't want anyone to feel they weren't heard 8) ...is that ok?

Pseudonym:

i hear ya, will do, 6 small meals per day and 4 workouts it is! Yes i will following the body building for beginners guidelines - cheers!

Knock Knock:

You rock! - cheers!

Andy 2010:

Yes i have heard starting is the hardest part, but like you said, when i begin to see the results it will make me work harder to meet my goals. Thanks for sharing your story about training your mate, if she can do it, so can i! - cheers!

Chillicat:

It feels like i have come to the right place! I have not joined a gym, well i had last year...and only made the registration/never went back :oops: I guess the time wasn't right. BUT now it is, and to answer your question, I live on Waiheke so am working will the few flat plains, many mountains and ocean for exercise. No, i do not have a nutritionist and the only information on diet i have has either come from this site, or other websites on raw diets and the 70%/30% ratio diets ....so at this stage my meals pretty much go like this:

Protein shake w/frozen berries & banana - for breakfast

A cup of oatmeal with flax seed/pineapple/coconut for snack

Large green salad with a can of tuna for lunch

A handful of nuts for snack

Chicken breast and broccoli for dinner

Kiwi fruit 2 hours before bed

I do try to switch it up with with healthy complex carbs, whole grains, salmon or avocado to get omega 3...i don't eat anything processed or fat...and all meats are lean...all dairy is skim.

Yes i will start a journal too. - cheers!

Musclenz:

Are you sure you're not a spiritual healer? :wink: Yes life is 360 degrees...not 42 below....only on special occasions. You are a wise soul and yes she has awaken and ready to rise! - cheers!

Bar-belle:

I am here because i slayed the demons...my armour against them from ever finding me again has been found in self love, commitment to my goals and determination. I will need the luck you have shared ....to remember that armour on a daily basis- cheers!

Big john:

Yes that WAS deep ....and the universe knows i need it aaahahahahaaa! - cheers!

Optimass:

If there is something going down in the water I NEED TO TO drink it...because i too want to be rollen and (slightly) swollen...just not with adema - cheers!

Teamfatboy:

Amen brother! ....and that quote was classic! - cheers!

I am one week before end of semester exams, usually an exhausting time, but....exercising has given stamina, and here i thought i'd just be more buggered!

[Andy2010]

No problem! the fitter you get, the more you can do... its takes a while for it to start swinging back your way energy wise prob 3 weeks from starting.... :grin: