I get a lot of food/workout questions from older women and since I just hit 30, quite honestly, I don't always have the best answers. I'm just not there yet. I turned to Lithe instructor and Lithe's instructor trainer, Carla Camerieri for advice. Carla is 47 years old, has three children, looks absolutely amazing and ALWAYS makes time for herself. Here's some honest advice from the mouth of a slightly older babe:
Start with a reality check. Women over 35 have to work harder than they ever did to stay fit. Blame it on Peri-menopause. Working out 3-4 times a week will no longer be enough. You're most likely going to need to do something on a daily basis in order to keep things at an even keel. So kick your own butt!
Prioritize and make time for yourself and your fitness goals. Don't allow spouses, partners, children, old injuries and jobs become excuses for not working out.
Don't be afraid to build some muscle. You're metabolism begins to slow down at 34-35 and will continue to on that downward slide as you get older. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn while working out and at rest.
Don't let age hold you back. Never say, "I can't take that class, or run that race, or lift weights because I'm 40." You are capable of a whole lot more than you think because you are older!
Be realistic about eating. If you love to eat (like I do), then you need to allow yourself to do that or you'll be miserable. At the same time, you need to find a way to offset eating the "bad" things that you love by being careful most days of the week.
Know your food offenders. For me, it's salty things like green olives and kettle chips together. Can't have those around all the time or it won't lead to anything good!
Vary up your routine. If you're a cardio queen, add some resistance work. If you love strength training, add some cardio.
Get back on track when you have that splurge of a weekend. It happens to all of us. One binge can lead to weeks of bad eating that can undo all of your hard work. Juicing, cleansing, or just clean eating can help. Find what works for you and get back on the wagon when you fall off.
Don't go it alone. Find a good friend to give you the reassurance you need to know that one cupcake is not the end of the world. Juicing, cleansing, eating clean and working out are much easier to stick with when you're not doing it all by yourself.
Know that your best shape may be the one that is still ahead of you. Get excited about that! I am stronger than I was 10 years ago and I feel a whole lot better too. If it's possible for me, then it's possible for everyone.
Image of beautiful, fit (and over 40) actress, Halle Berry via People magazine.
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