You Say It's My Birthday???
TGIF, Friday, November 13, 2009 - OH NO, Friday the 13th!!!!
OK, NO, it is NOT my birthday!!!! I know, I have been teasing you all with that "Fit at almost 52" crap when I make a comment on your blog! And here I am teasing you again! Well, since many of you don't read blogs over the weekend and my bday is actually Sunday the 15th, I thought I would chat today about what the past year has been like in terms of fitness for me. There have been challenges with my bod & the hormone crap big time BUT I also accomplished some good things too! I also will be putting new pics, Fit at 52 pics, on my site this Sunday.
This pic was when I was 50 so I don't think I am doing too bad. My hair is lighter now to cover all the gray that has been coming in!
So, you all know that I like to change it up in terms of workouts. I have said that many times. AND, regular readers know that I have had to make changes in my food program along the way due to age, hormones & the like. In fact, back when, I wrote this post on What Fit at 51 Eats. I also followed up with this post, Age, Eating & Food Choices. And my most recent rant, Perimenopausal?? Or Not, Read This! PS: Those that read about my workout see I am crazy! I have always been able to "overtrain" & still gain. Even now BUT I have to be careful to get my recovery & stretching/flexibility in! I love the weights! Hard for me to stop! NO, I do NOT advocate overtraining!
So, yes, age brings big challenges in terms of the bod, even for those of us that work out intensely & eat well 97% of the time. As I mentioned in my post links above, I have been going thru "the change" for years now but the past year has been the worst for me. And actually, the past 6 months even more so. AND, the past 3 months even more so!!! I have modified my food again slightly. I changed up the protein/carb ratio a bit & types of carbs although mine in general are less starchy ones anyway. The calories are similar but maybe a tad bit less. Healthy fat, about the same in terms of % of calories from fat per day.
Workouts.. yes, I pushed the intensity! A while back I was up to HIIT at 10 speed on the treadmill at the highest interval speed. BUT, with my very bad feet (flat, wide, bunions & all got worse with age) & running gait getting worse, I had to take that back down to 9-9.3 speed to avoid injury. I can't afford the custom orthotics thru a doctor but I do use store bought ones. To make up for that, I started doing my jogging at the 8 & 8.5/8.8 speeds for a longer period of time than I was before.... so, I tend to jog at higher speeds than before for a bit longer time rather than staying down at 7.5 to 7.8. Now I do the 8-8.5 when I was doing the 7.7ish ones. BUT, it is still a push for me & has worked well.
I also have started to lift a bit heavier. When I was younger, I was one of those few ladies that could put on muscle very easily so when I was done bodybuilding, I went to high rep, lower weight. BUT, in the 50's, the muscles were not staying as tight so I added in some heavier weight days since I don't grow like I used to. My goal is not to get big but to just have muscle. Although, my arms seem to have gotten a bit larger! I still do a circuit training type workout with no rest between moves & that works best for me.
Accomplishments include the clap push-up, a couple body weight reverse grip chins, all kinds of new push-ups & planks, plyometrics, new jogging & Stepmills goals to change it up, still doing my splits (after 15 minutes+++ of warm-up!), heavier weights again & basically just doing what I do for a 50+ woman. AND YES, I made sure to change things if I was not getting a different result or the result I wanted to get. I may be crazy but I am not insane!
In the past 3 months, all hell has broken out with this bod & hormones though!!! I was not looking forward to 52! Last year I spent about 5 days eating a bit higher protein/veggies & just clean eats for my Fit at 51 pic. Nothing major, just tighter eating for 5 days. This year as I approached pic time, the bod, for no reason and NO change in food (in fact, I was doing my clean eats 5 day program) decided to go up 6 pounds in one week!
I have had to get used to this varying of 3-4 pounds that happens at least 2 weeks per month now (and this is my weight first thing in the morn!) at whatever hormone stage cycle is going on with this change but I was PO'd to say the least. As I got to the end of the week before the pic & my 5 days of clean eating (like I don't eat clean anyway!), my weight was back down 6 pounds. It is so weird. This happens every month now & it is just one day I am up the 3-4++ pounds, it stays & then 2 weeks or so later, one day it is gone. Friggin hormones!!!! BUT the body composition was different & has been for the past 3++ months. I would offer up some info but it is way too TMI to share!
Now, I am not saying I look bad in the pics, BUT I am just not as "tight" & that has to do with this hormone stuff. It is that middle-aged middle like I will be reviewing this Monday for my book review & giveaway. For those at my age, they will understand. That middle is "squishier" for lack of a better term & the lower tummy is well, whatever. I have always had a lower tummy prob! I know, you say I am crazy but do you notice how I stand in my pics so you really can't see it!!! Anyway, all this at the same weight as last year AND with as an intense workout if not more so than last year.....
BUT, I am proud of my accomplishments & even that I look like this at 52. It may not be the same but it is still damn good for 52!
OK, NO, it is NOT my birthday!!!! I know, I have been teasing you all with that "Fit at almost 52" crap when I make a comment on your blog! And here I am teasing you again! Well, since many of you don't read blogs over the weekend and my bday is actually Sunday the 15th, I thought I would chat today about what the past year has been like in terms of fitness for me. There have been challenges with my bod & the hormone crap big time BUT I also accomplished some good things too! I also will be putting new pics, Fit at 52 pics, on my site this Sunday. This pic was when I was 50 so I don't think I am doing too bad. My hair is lighter now to cover all the gray that has been coming in!
So, you all know that I like to change it up in terms of workouts. I have said that many times. AND, regular readers know that I have had to make changes in my food program along the way due to age, hormones & the like. In fact, back when, I wrote this post on What Fit at 51 Eats. I also followed up with this post, Age, Eating & Food Choices. And my most recent rant, Perimenopausal?? Or Not, Read This! PS: Those that read about my workout see I am crazy! I have always been able to "overtrain" & still gain. Even now BUT I have to be careful to get my recovery & stretching/flexibility in! I love the weights! Hard for me to stop! NO, I do NOT advocate overtraining!
So, yes, age brings big challenges in terms of the bod, even for those of us that work out intensely & eat well 97% of the time. As I mentioned in my post links above, I have been going thru "the change" for years now but the past year has been the worst for me. And actually, the past 6 months even more so. AND, the past 3 months even more so!!! I have modified my food again slightly. I changed up the protein/carb ratio a bit & types of carbs although mine in general are less starchy ones anyway. The calories are similar but maybe a tad bit less. Healthy fat, about the same in terms of % of calories from fat per day.
Workouts.. yes, I pushed the intensity! A while back I was up to HIIT at 10 speed on the treadmill at the highest interval speed. BUT, with my very bad feet (flat, wide, bunions & all got worse with age) & running gait getting worse, I had to take that back down to 9-9.3 speed to avoid injury. I can't afford the custom orthotics thru a doctor but I do use store bought ones. To make up for that, I started doing my jogging at the 8 & 8.5/8.8 speeds for a longer period of time than I was before.... so, I tend to jog at higher speeds than before for a bit longer time rather than staying down at 7.5 to 7.8. Now I do the 8-8.5 when I was doing the 7.7ish ones. BUT, it is still a push for me & has worked well.
I also have started to lift a bit heavier. When I was younger, I was one of those few ladies that could put on muscle very easily so when I was done bodybuilding, I went to high rep, lower weight. BUT, in the 50's, the muscles were not staying as tight so I added in some heavier weight days since I don't grow like I used to. My goal is not to get big but to just have muscle. Although, my arms seem to have gotten a bit larger! I still do a circuit training type workout with no rest between moves & that works best for me.
Accomplishments include the clap push-up, a couple body weight reverse grip chins, all kinds of new push-ups & planks, plyometrics, new jogging & Stepmills goals to change it up, still doing my splits (after 15 minutes+++ of warm-up!), heavier weights again & basically just doing what I do for a 50+ woman. AND YES, I made sure to change things if I was not getting a different result or the result I wanted to get. I may be crazy but I am not insane!
In the past 3 months, all hell has broken out with this bod & hormones though!!! I was not looking forward to 52! Last year I spent about 5 days eating a bit higher protein/veggies & just clean eats for my Fit at 51 pic. Nothing major, just tighter eating for 5 days. This year as I approached pic time, the bod, for no reason and NO change in food (in fact, I was doing my clean eats 5 day program) decided to go up 6 pounds in one week!
I have had to get used to this varying of 3-4 pounds that happens at least 2 weeks per month now (and this is my weight first thing in the morn!) at whatever hormone stage cycle is going on with this change but I was PO'd to say the least. As I got to the end of the week before the pic & my 5 days of clean eating (like I don't eat clean anyway!), my weight was back down 6 pounds. It is so weird. This happens every month now & it is just one day I am up the 3-4++ pounds, it stays & then 2 weeks or so later, one day it is gone. Friggin hormones!!!! BUT the body composition was different & has been for the past 3++ months. I would offer up some info but it is way too TMI to share!
Now, I am not saying I look bad in the pics, BUT I am just not as "tight" & that has to do with this hormone stuff. It is that middle-aged middle like I will be reviewing this Monday for my book review & giveaway. For those at my age, they will understand. That middle is "squishier" for lack of a better term & the lower tummy is well, whatever. I have always had a lower tummy prob! I know, you say I am crazy but do you notice how I stand in my pics so you really can't see it!!! Anyway, all this at the same weight as last year AND with as an intense workout if not more so than last year.....
BUT, I am proud of my accomplishments & even that I look like this at 52. It may not be the same but it is still damn good for 52!
OK, I have blabbed enough!!!!! Check out my new pics Sunday or Monday if you don't get on this weekend. And don't forget my book Giveaway Monday for The 6 Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle!
If you want to ask me any questions, fire away & I will do a separate post on those questions. Thx for all your support this past year. You guys are wonderful!!!!
If you want to ask me any questions, fire away & I will do a separate post on those questions. Thx for all your support this past year. You guys are wonderful!!!!
Posted by truth2beingfit at 11/13/2009 1:00 AM 
Categories: Fun Stuff, Motivation/Support, Weight Loss
Categories: Fun Stuff, Motivation/Support, Weight Loss
Wishing you a very happy birthday!!! I hope you have a great, fun-filled weekend and celebrate! *hugs* love you!
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you look DAMN GREAT, Woman.
Have a fantastic birthday weekend!!
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Jody, all I can say is wow! You are one intense woman! While I don't track my food composition like you do, I admire your dedication to do that.
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Up until about 2 years ago, I used to instruct fitness classes, so could (almost) keep up with Jody's fitness level. Since I quit instructing, I still work out a lot, but don't do as much strength training as I did when I taught, so Jody's the queen now!! Her staying in such great shape pushes me to, as well. Thanks!! (or should I say thanks, but no thanks! --NOT!) I love to work out, too, but . . . I not as single minded about it as Jody. She's one dedicated woman!
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Woman, you look frickin' amazing! I want to look like that now AND later. Geesh. I'll keep trying. Better stop being greedy first, huh?
Have a wonderful birthday weekend!
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Looking great, Jody!! Rock solid as the wonderful shoreline behind you!
Happy Birthday!!!
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I was wondering when the birthday would actually be here! Lol! You are a rockstar, girl! I'm one of the ones who's not usually on (much) on the weekends, but I will make it a point to see what you post on Sunday. There are countless women who would love to have your body at 30 much less 52! You are an inspiration to me, for sure!
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You are one HOT babe! I'm sure there are plenty of 20 y/o would love to have your body...hormones and all! Can't wait to see the new PIX's and have a fab birthday!
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Jody, you look phenomenal and I just hope that in 10 years when I am 52 that I look like you! (Heck, I don't even look like that now).
You should be proud of all you have done
Have a great birthday weekend!
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Happy Birthday - you look wonderful! I love the message of keeping changing your diet and exercise because your body is constantly changing too. Looking foroward to pics at 52.
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