Exercise

Why

It’s raining outside. Admittedly we are experiencing a period of extended drought, so I should be celebrating at seeing those sparse droplets of water that are landing on the dry soil, however I do find myself feeling slightly annoyed. I started an exercise regime to combat the Christmas, birthday, (and any other celebration that has just passed), flab. Third day in, and I am left lounging near the French windows wondering whether I can really be bothered to put on those trainers and very attractive (not) tracksuit trousers and go for another run. OK, let’s be honest here, walk. It is a fast walk and it is for around 7.5 kilometres each day. But when the rain sets in on a gloomy cold day, you quickly find motivation waning and a multitude of distraction techniques to get you out of a routine that is still fairly new. I remember as a child I was doing competitive exercise every day, bar the weekend, without a second glance. But as I am reaching the dreaded 5-0 I find that I have perhaps not looked after my body the way I should have done over the years. But it is not too late, nor is it for any of you who find yourself in the same situation reading this article. So what can I do?

What

What sort of exercise is possible? Obviously check with your doctor first. They might have something to say if you have decided to suddenly participate in a sport that could be detrimental to your health. If you are in my case, the best method is to take baby-steps and congratulate yourself on all the successes, however small. So I won’t dwell on the no show day today, but instead congratulate myself on doing the sport yesterday and the potential of me doing it again tomorrow. I will also keep things simple. I already know that the only way I will do the sport is first thing in the morning, just after waking up. There is no point changing the habit I have already formed and waste the time (and perhaps a greater failure rate) to change this habit. Best to work with it. I also want to keep to my principles of not buying anything new this year and keeping my carbon footprint low. So I will keep doing the fast walking each day, varying the route every so often to keep the exercise interesting, and take away the chance of abandoning the idea due to boredom.

Motivations

Everyone has to have a motivation, an end-game in mind, otherwise once again you will have a higher failure rate than others. For me it is to be able to get into that bikini that, even at 49 I should be able to still wear. Of course I have in mind the healthy lifestyle, and the greater mobility will give me a better quality of life. Perhaps the biggest draw for me would be the greater self-confidence which the fitter and more slender new me will bring and therefore help me in other ways in my life.

How

Once you have chosen your exercise, you need to decide how long, when, where and even small details such as rest days and the types of food you will eat or need to consider. Small steps have always been my motto, and in the first week my only expectation has been a couple of sessions of walking in the morning. That means if I manage to do more, I will be at an advantage and it will boost my self-confidence. I have also found that telling others about your projects, and having exercise and diet “buddies” work really well. My wonderful husband is a great “boot camp” coach but also writing about my journey on this blog will hopefully inspire me to achieve my final goal which I can share with you. Please give me your support and write a message now and then. I would love to hear from you.

When

Exercise obviously should be practised each day, even just for a few minutes. I think a good mix of strength, cardio and flexibility training will be a great start towards a better lifestyle as I reach my 60s and later my 70s. My mother and mother-in-law have always been highly respected by me, as they have even into their later years managed to keep moving, flexible and fit (with relation to their medical problems) which has given them both a better quality of life than others I have had the pleasure to meet over the years. If they don’t give me a great example, who else would?

Mental health

Having a midlife crisis or just even going through menopause places you under full attack by your emotions while you battle hormonal, physical and even psychological problems as your body changes, even though you feel still young. Exercise is well-researched in giving you a burst of endorphins to help you each day to cope with the life around you that is changing. If you practise sport with a sport “buddy” your mood will be boosted and you will be less depressed. You will also develop a support network as you orientate yourself through a difficult period of your life. You may even make lifelong friends who will take you through to your sunset years, which by all accounts can be the best years of your life.

Food and drink

So will those chocolate cakes and fizzy drinks help my new active lifestyle? Unfortunately as we get older we have to take greater care of our bodies as things can start to break, fall out or sag. There are less magic-fix ideas, and that scotch tape can only support sagging flesh to a certain point… So look after your body: not just the outside appearances, but also on the inside. Research again what foods are good for you and remind yourself which ones disagree with you or just have no benefit in your new lifestyle choices. Obviously fruits and vegetables are important but so is drinking plenty of water and making sure that the food choices are the best your budget can buy. You might even find a renewed passion in preparing food and cooking as I have started to nurture, which will make you open to interesting recipes and wider variety of ingredients.

Future

Looking to the future, I know I will always be looking for the easy option or an excuse to eat those fatty and salty foods. But I think if you are like me, we have to congratulate ourselves for taking the first step. Each step in the right direction is a step that doesn’t have to be taken again. Even if you find yourself falling off the wagon (as I have many a time) the “getting back on again” needs to be celebrated. Each small gain in flexibility, kilometres walked or even weight loss is an achievement. Life is difficult and going through a midlife crisis, although joked about, can hit some people hard. The shock that you are no longer a 20 year-something can be soul-destroying, but take heart. You are just entering a new phase, and a different part of the circle of life. It is one full of adventure, mystery and challenge. Make what you want from it and above all, enjoy it!

MidLife Crisis In France