Redefining My Body and Life at 39

Wow where do I even BEGIN…

I’m here actually laying in my bed after a shower, and a morning workout…

On a Saturday.

My mind brimming and boiling over with ideas.

There’s so much NEW going on in my life right now. Starting with my site and my blog.

You know, what’s put me on the map is sharing my story. And for a while, I got away from that. Sometimes you get to a point where you feel you have nothing more to say…

Or that you’re not interesting enough to SAY anything. Anything folks want to hear. But, let’s just say that I’ve gotten over that.

So here I am ready to open up again.

Tell and SHARE my story, and hope to inspire you along the way.

The New First Day of Everything

So, let’s just start off with being REAL.

I’ve been off, off, OFF…

OFF.

The wagon, so to speak. I mean not really OFF, but just not as dedicated as I used to be when I was competing.

5 to 6 days a week in the gym have turned to 3 to 4, sometimes 2.

A lot of it had to do with me not making time, or finding an excuse to over commit to work. Things on that front have their own story that I’ll get into in a later post.

But we’ve all been there, allowing your fitness, eating, good habits and more take a backseat to whatever else you’ve decided was more deserving of your attention.

However, there comes a point where you HAVE TO say not anymore.

Where a new page and do-over is due.

And for me, today was THAT day.

Turning 39 Has Got Me Freaking Out

When I was a kid, I remember saying things like, in 10 years, I’ll be 21…

Or in 20 years, I’ll be 31.

Well, in 1 month… I’ll be 39.

I look back on my life and see so much adventure and chances taken. And really, I’m overall PROUD of the things I’ve done.

But with the more settled phase in life that I’ve found myself in… I need a new fire.

I’ve noticed the toll of being less active is already having on me. My body. My mind.

My endurance took a while to get back when I started running again. I was moving slow and wanted to drop kick every bastard that ran past me on my trails.

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I have this interesting accumulation of body fat that you can only see in certain light, or when I do certain moves at the gym… Sit a certain way.

And hey, you might roll your eyes, but it’s a change in my body that I noticed as I’ve gotten older. But seems to go away when I’m in better shape…

And if I can be quite honest… It really shows up when I need to get “dat azz” and “deez thighs” tight and right.

There comes a point for all of us where we have to ask… Well, what are you going to do about it?

So this my doing something. And starting now – not tomorrow, not Monday.

What’s freaking me out at 38 going on 39?

Well, I guess it’s like wow… I’m an ADULT adult.

Like approaching middle age adult, and where the Hell did all my youth and time go because I am not done doing whatever I’m doing yet!

You realize how fast life passes in a blink of the eye.

For me, it’s led to tremendous growth and change. A change and evolution I’m STILL working through.

In the context of what I wanted to share today… I’m learning how to maintain, appreciate and LOVE this aging body, and skin I’m in. And to do so in a new, more mature way than ever before.

We All Take Baby Steps…

First of all, can we acknowledge that I’m down about 4 pounds!

I started cleaning up my diet and stopped drinking way too much wine, sangria, and margaritas began drinking more water a few days ago.

I don’t care who you are, seeing those numbers go down feels amazing. So my 4 pounds has me feeling focused and on point.

Today, I hit up my 3rd gym workout this week and really focused on pounding legs.

Honestly, I’m not about lifting super heavy right now.

My joints can’t really take it.

But if I may be really frank… My main goal right now is streamlining my body. Shaving off just a little bit of muscle, and sculpting a sleeker physique overall.

Getting leaner in my legs, particularly thighs (quads) and butt.

I’ve taken up a lot of outdoor running because that always leans me out – QUICKLY.

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In the gym, it’s a lot of functional work, big ranges of motion, getting the body to move as one unit.

This in addition to my regular strength stuff.

Overall, when it comes to training, my focus is on moving better, faster, and with improved stability and balance.

It’s the kind of work that makes you really go DEEP. Firing every muscle and connecting that mind-muscle synergy that really takes your training to the next level.

Here’s what I did in the gym for legs today…

Leg Workout of the Week

Always begin with a good warm up and some foam rolling of any tight areas.

Keep this in mind, even though this workout mixes in high rep training… Nothing is super light. Don’t go to your MAX weight. Instead use enough weight to challenge you so you reach near failure for the final 3 to 4 reps.

Leg Press

S1 20r

S2 15r

S3 12r

S4 10r

1 min rest btw sets. 2/1/3 tempo. Increase your weight for each set.

Walking Lunges

2 sets of 100 reps

2 mins rest between sets.

Super Set – Kettlebell Swing + Alternating DB Curtsey Lunges

S1 20r (both exercises)

S2 20r (increase weight if you can)

S3 25r

No rest between the 2 exercises, but do take a 60 sec rest after the curtsey lunge.

Cable Glute Kickback

S1 15r

S2 12r

S3 10r

Increase weight for each set. 45 to 60 mins rest btw sets. 2/1/4 tempo.

Sooo… Yeah. What’s next?

Well.

I’m on my way. My foot is the door again. And I feel ready for this new adventure.

One of self-exploration and getting back to me again. But improved. Mature.

Oh! I forgot to mention that in 2 weeks, I will be going in for fibroid removal surgery.

That’s bringing it’s own set of challenges that will find me OUT of the gym for 4 to 6 weeks.

But hey, who says you need a gym to train, right?

Especially when you can rock out a kick ass workout at home…

Stay tuned.

XOXO

Rox.

 

 

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