Before you can even begin to consider what’s needed to create an amazing strong and fit body after 50, you must WANT it. And…
you must BELIEVE it is possible. I know that sounds crazy, but if having a strong and fit body is not truly important to you it will NEVER happen.
So, let me get super real with you.
Building a phenomenal strong and fit body at 50 is hard…
And quite possibly one of the most rewarding accomplishments you’ll ever achieve.
New here? Thanks for stopping by or welcome back. After you read this blog, be sure to check out some of my other articles for women over 50 who want to lose body fat, build muscle, create phenomenal bodies they love.
How is creating a strong fit body rewarding?
Why? Because it is hard. From my experience, the harder something is to accomplish the more rewarding it feels. Most women (even while on the journey toward the body they want) have shared
- They feel incredibly proud
- Their confidence skyrocketed
- They stand taller, have more energy
And much of this is because they know they accomplished something most women over 50 will never even try!
Scared by the word "hard"?
Don’t let “hard” scare you.
Yes, it’s hard work. You’ve done hard things before, right?
- Graduated from high school/college?
- Raised children?
- Have/had a career in Corporate America?
- Been married, divorced or lived a single life?
Life in general can be hard, but we don’t give up when life is hard. We keep going. So, hard shouldn’t stop us from creating an amazing strong and fit body after 50.
…If you really want it.
A strong and fit body requires...
There are two critical pieces to the puzzle when you are creating your amazing body.
I bet you already know what they are too.
Before you dive into another diet or pick up your dumbbells, I want to go back to the beginning. Remember when I said you must really WANT it and BELIEVE it is possible?
Do you really want a strong and fit body?
I truly hope your answer is yes, but it honestly might not be.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Why is having an amazing strong and fit body important to you?
- Is it important enough that you’ll follow through on your commitment even when you don’t feel like it?
- What are you willing to give up to reach your goals? That might be junk food, TV time, etc.
A strong and fit body over 50 needs a goal
Assuming you are feeling confident that you really do want to create an amazing strong and fit body, next you’ll need a goal. It’s great to have a long-term goal, but you also need a shorter term goal to keep you focused.
I’d recommend creating a 10-12 week goal.
Take some time and get clear on exactly what it is you’d like to accomplish. What does an amazing strong and fit body look like for YOU? We all have a different vision of strong and fit.
There is no right or wrong answer. It’s your body. You get to decide. What actions could you take to move in that direction?
Make sure your goal is realistic. Wanting to lose 50 pounds and have your high school bikini body back in 2 months will only lead to disappointment. If you’re wanting to lose body fat, remember, 1 – 2 pounds per week is realistic. The closer you get to your goal weight, the slower you’ll lose body fat.
If you’re wanting to gain muscle, which I highly encourage all women over 50 to consider, I like goals that are action based. Such as, “I will lift weights 5 times a week for 45 minutes”.
Turn your goals into a plan
You have a goal. You have action steps that will get you moving toward your goal.
Now it’s time to create a detailed plan so you can create your amazing strong and fit body. Let’s use the action goal “I will lift weights 5 times a week for 45 minutes.” Please note: This is only an example, if you have not been doing any strength training, you may want to start with 2 or 3 days a week for 30 minutes.
Also, make sure you check with your doctor before starting a fitness program.
Here are some things to consider:
- What days will you workout? Will you take weekends off?
- What time of day?
- What other commitments do you have that may get in the way of your workouts?
- How will you adjust if you miss a workout?
Strength training is non-negotiable
In order to create an amazing strong and fit body after 50, strength training must be a non-negotiable. We began losing muscle naturally around age 30.
Without strength training, you will continue to lose 3 – 5% every decade. We need muscle for everyday living. You know those things that we take for granted now, like, lifting the groceries out of the car, standing up from a seated position, and carrying the laundry basket.
And let’s not forget, tight, firm muscles look better on us than flabby excess fat. Just because we are over 50 is no reason to stop caring about how we look.
Get started creating a strong and fit body over 50
If you need a strength training program to get you started, check out one of my free workout plans or for even more support, join Strong Start, which is my 8-week starter program.
To learn more, click on one or more of the photos below.
Pin it now. Read it later.
