Wild Seasonal Living | Wellness, Beauty & Seasonal Living for Women 50+

“The number on the scale changed my body. The reason behind it changed my life.”

I have never been a naturally skinny person. I remember looking at pictures of myself in third or fourth grade and feeling like I wasn’t as thin as the other girls. Even at that young age, I became self-conscious about my weight.

By high school and college, I had developed some unhealthy habits in my pursuit of being thinner. I exercised constantly, sometimes drank milk instead of eating a meal, and even remember eating a donut only to spit it out after tasting it so I wouldn’t consume the calories. Looking back, those weren’t healthy behaviors, and they certainly aren’t something I would ever recommend. They were simply the actions of a young woman who believed being thinner meant being better.

In my late twenties, I began teaching fitness classes, and my activity level helped me lose some weight. My eating habits still weren’t ideal, but youth—and a faster metabolism—covered up many of those choices. As I moved into my thirties and forties, my weight fluctuated. I’d lose some, gain some, and eventually find my way back to a comfortable place.

Then my fifties arrived.

Almost without realizing it, I gained nearly 30 pounds.

I didn’t even own a scale, so I wasn’t watching the numbers at home. It was routine doctor’s appointments that finally revealed how much my weight had changed. I was stunned.

In my mind, I exercised regularly and thought I ate fairly healthy. I blamed menopause, getting older, and anything else I could think of. The one thing I wasn’t doing was taking ownership of the habits that had quietly changed over time.

Then came the wake-up call.

During a routine wellness exam, my blood work revealed some health issues that I needed to address immediately. I remember sitting there in complete shock. Suddenly, this wasn’t about fitting into smaller clothes. It wasn’t about a number on the scale.

It was about my health.

My doctor gave me two simple instructions: lose weight and drink more water.

For the first time, I wasn’t motivated by appearance.

I was motivated by the possibility that if I didn’t make changes, my future might look very different than I had imagined.

Why I Decided to Make a Change

As we get older, it’s easy to accept little changes as “just part of aging.”

Feeling tired.

Getting winded walking up stairs.

Avoiding activities because they seem harder than they used to.

I didn’t want that to become my story.

After surviving breast cancer years ago, I have always understood that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Taking care of my health isn’t about chasing youth—it’s about honoring the life I’ve been given.

I wanted to become stronger, not simply smaller.

I Stopped Looking for Quick Fixes

I had tried other quick fixes, including cryotherapy and weight-loss pills. But this time, I knew I needed to take ownership of my health and focus on real, lasting solutions. I met with a nutritionist who taught me how to read food labels, encouraged me to significantly reduce added sugar, and helped me better understand portion sizes. I also made a conscious effort to include more vegetables in my meals. Small changes to my daily habits became the foundation for lasting results.

I didn’t follow a fad diet.

I didn’t eliminate entire food groups.

I didn’t spend hours doing endless cardio.

Instead, I focused on habits I could realistically continue for years.

That became the difference.

Instead of asking, “How can I lose weight as quickly as possible?”

I began asking, “How can I become a healthier person?”

Those two questions lead to very different lifestyles.

The Habits That Made the Biggest Difference

I Moved Every Week

I changed my workouts to include cardio and more strength training. My workouts included:

• Rowing
• Rowing HIIT Bootcamps
• Treadmill HIIT Bootcamps
• Bar Method classes
• Walking or Hiking whenever I could
• Mobility work and stretching

Some days were hard workouts.

Some days were gentle recovery days.

Both mattered.

Consistency will almost always beat intensity over time.

I Focused on Strength, Not Just Calories

One of the biggest mindset shifts was realizing that muscle matters—especially after 50.

Strength training supports:

• Better balance
• Healthier bones
• Improved metabolism
• Easier everyday movement
• Greater independence later in life

Every Bar Method class reminded me that strength isn’t always loud.

Sometimes strength is holding a position for ten more seconds.

Sometimes it’s showing up when you don’t feel like it.

I Learned to Respect Recovery

For years I thought more was always better.

Now I understand that recovery is part of training.

Mobility work, stretching, restorative movement, and quality sleep all help your body adapt and stay healthy.

Recovery isn’t being lazy.

It’s investing in tomorrow’s workout.

Heart Health Became a Strong Motivation

One of my biggest reasons for exercising wasn’t to become thinner.

It was to build a healthier heart.

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading health risks for women, and regular exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce that risk.

Every rowing session.

Every walk.

Every treadmill interval.

Every Bar Method class.

Each workout became another small investment in my future.

What I Learned About Weight Loss

Looking back, I don’t think losing 30 pounds happened because of one magical workout or one perfect nutrition plan.

It happened because of hundreds of ordinary decisions.

Choosing movement.

Choosing consistency.

Choosing to come back after missing a workout.

Choosing progress instead of perfection.

There were weeks the scale barely moved.

There were days I didn’t feel motivated.

But I kept showing up anyway.

That’s where lasting change happens.

Maintaining the Weight Loss

Keeping the weight off hasn’t required perfection either.

I still enjoy vacations.

I still celebrate holidays.

I still have dessert sometimes.

The difference is that healthy habits have become my normal instead of something I “go on.”

Exercise isn’t punishment.  It’s part of who I am.

That mindset has made maintaining my weight far easier than losing it.

My Advice to Women Over 50

If you’re thinking about making a change, don’t start with the number on the scale.

Start with your life. Ask yourself:

• What do I want my body to allow me to do five years from now?
• How do I want to feel when I wake up each morning?
• What kind of future am I building with today’s choices?

Weight loss may be part of your journey.  Or it may not.

Either way, becoming stronger, protecting your heart, improving your mobility, and creating sustainable habits will always be worth the effort.

At 55, I don’t exercise because I’m trying to look 25.

I exercise because I want to enjoy every season of life still ahead of me.

And to me, that’s a goal worth working toward every single day.

My Health Today

At my next round of blood work, my health markers had improved dramatically. I still hope to lose another 8–10 pounds, but healthy living is a lifelong journey, not a finish line. Seeing those improvements confirmed that the work I was doing truly mattered.

Recently, I started taking HIIT treadmill bootcamp classes. Years ago, I never would have believed I’d be running again. Now I find myself sweating, smiling, and appreciating what my body is capable of.

It isn’t about the number on the scale anymore.

It’s about the freedom to move.

It’s about protecting my health.

It’s about creating a life I can fully enjoy for decades to come.