A year ago, I started working out with a personal trainer and the results were obvious. The reflection in the mirror was fit and strong, with a narrow waist. This month I'll be celebrating my 74th birthday, but I feel more like I'm about to turn 40.In fact, I'm in the best shape of my life. And I'm here to tell you that it's never too late to make changes. If I can do it in my early 70s, then you can do it too.
I haven't always felt so body confident. As a busy working mum I had the same hang-ups as so many other women. In my forties I fell into the trap of trying to do it all. I raised my daughter Laura, now 43, while working as a NHS clinical leader, which left me feeling stressed and exhausted. By 50 I'd reached breaking point. I ended up breaking down in the doctor's surgery. And I was signed off work with stress-related depression.
I began to do a lot of soul searching. My burnout had set me on a completely different path. Around this time, my approach to my health was also shifting. So many women hit 50 thinking that's it and they're done, but for me it felt like a new beginning.
I enrolled in a gym and learned how to use the equipments. Over the next few years, I went to the gym roughly twice a week. Sometimes I didn't want to go-but at the end of every session I always felt better.
I wrote and self-published a book called Journey to Chocolate about my seeking for a more balanced and satisfying life. I started eating "clean" with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, avoiding processed food and not drinking alcohol from Monday to Thursday. The changes to my diet made me feel more energetic and alert. I slept better, and managing my weight was much easier.
