Success beyond the scale: my journey to health & wellbeing

I am a brand new 50-year old (birthday last month), single mom of a 20-year old son, who is on the most important journey of her life! This morning I was reflecting on the past 9 months and decided it was time to share…

I have been on MFP, in earnest, since September 2013 when I started a journey of personal transformation. A series of events over the summer of 2013 helped me realize that I could not live the way I was living anymore, and I set out to make some major changes in my life. My broad goal was to feel fabulous when I turned 50...whatever that might mean. What I did not consciously realize, at the time, was there would be all sorts of consequences (intended and unintended) of these life changes.

What changes did I make? Started kettlebell classes 3 times per week, yoga class weekly, and participated in a local weight loss challenge group for 8 weeks (I won $125 for 3rd place in % of total body weight lost over the 8 weeks). Each class was/is a commitment scheduled into my calendar as a meeting with myself…I informed my family, friends, and colleagues that these “meetings with myself” were non-negotiable. I started weighing and logging everything I ate; changed what I was eating; eliminated diet soda. I also began practicing positive thinking and self-talk…grounded in acceptance and gratitude...which was really fostered by surrounding myself with some new people.

So...here I am 9 months later. I am now 50 years old and have achieved things beyond my wildest dreams.



The consequences: I shed 40 pounds and 50 total inches, lost my chronic back pain, migraines, unmanageable stress, and insomnia. In this same time, I gained strength, flexibility, balance, fitness, health & wellbeing. A few examples: from 0 to 40 regular pushups; from 20 seconds to 5 minutes continuous forearm plank; from 15 pound kettlebells to 12-14 kg (26-31 pound) bells; from inability to touch toes to hands flat on the floor; can now do Eagle Pose.

The unexpected: Unexpected benefits on this personal journey also include new friendships, a strong appreciation for the power of social support (both in person and virtual), growing self-awareness, renewed confidence, boundaries, and a sense of hope, optimism, & serenity that I have never before experienced. All of this has also contributed to me resigning a good job (after 2.5 years) with a great opportunity looming but no official job offer in hand. The offer is coming, and I likely will start my new potential dream opportunity on June 30, which aligns my personal and my professional. AND, I am now in an intimate relationship (still relatively new…only 4 months) after 18 years of remaining single by choice.

There is much uncertainty with so much change and newness, but I believe that everything will unfold as it is intended. With my new habits/lifestyle, new tools for taking care of myself, my sense of purpose and wellbeing, and support of new friends in the real world AND on MFP...I can handle anything this next phase of my journey reveals. I am still a work in progress, but I feel better than I have in decades...if ever.

Cheers to all of you on your journey’s to health & wellbeing.