Now that I’m getting into that part of my life I’ve found it harder to keep my waistline as trim as it used to be. I’ve always been somewhat of a gym rat and have eaten fairly well. Yes, I do have a sweet tooth and a fondness for wine. But I’ve never been an over eater. My challenge now revolves around my career as a flight attendant. In general, flight crew members find themselves not always eating well. Frequently time doesn’t allow for much more than a quick stop at a fast food place or eating junk food on the plane. Also, hotels don’t always have the best gym equipment available for use.
In my quest to get my girlish figure back and keep it looking good I’ve begun incorporating new strategies and resurrecting some old ones. For starters, I’m returned to doing BeachBody workouts. For years I did Turbo Jam workouts as well as ChaLEAN Extreme workouts. I tinkered with P90X and Insanity as well. Once I started in the industry I found myself not working out with videos anymore and just relying on whatever gym was available to me. My home workouts have been weights at the gym and I’ve been doing cardio workouts as well. But on the road sometimes I’d find myself not able to work out sufficiently, if at all. Then I discovered BeachBody On Demand. All my favorite workouts and a bunch of new ones I’ve discovered are available to be streamed on my iPad.
I’ve learned that to keep strong bones and fend off osteoporosis I need to continue lifting weights. Strength training, though, also has upped my metabolism. The increased muscle mass has increased my body’s fat burning potential. And a toned body is a sexy body! Also to combat osteoporosis I need to include some more foot pounding cardio. I love hiking and if I’m able to get in a long walk on an overnight I’ll do that. If not, BeachBody’s Turbo Fire has been a long favorite of mine. I can do this in my hotel room with no weights required. There are times when I don’t have quite as much time or maybe my energy just isn’t there after a long day of flying. Those are the times I’ll turn to one of my new favorites, Piyo.
Eating healthy has created its own challenges. Now I pack my food and am still working on strategies to keep everything I bring fresh and cold. Most crew members know of the trick of bringing a refillable ice pack. This is the kind you’d fill with ice and maybe place on a sprained ankle or other minor injury. The good part is I don’t need a freezer, just access to more ice to refill my pack as it melts. The bad part can come overnight if the hotel doesn’t provide a refrigerator in my room. I also have returned to Shakeology for a healthy nutritious option. My favorites are chocolate, strawberry and vanilla but also love the coffee flavor. I bring a shaker with me and also a few containers of Greek yogurt. Just about a cup or less of cold water, a yogurt and a Shakeology envelope mixed together in my shaker cup and I have a super healthy delicious shake that’s loaded with vitamins and nutrients as well as super high in protein (something essential for increasing muscle).
While I continue my journey toward getting back into the shape I was before and maintaining a healthy and toned physique I will be blogging here about my experiences, what has worked for me and what hasn’t. I also hope to work together with other women who find themselves also in the same boat in their fitness and health goals. In September I will be starting a challenge group for women over 40. The link along with all information will be provided shortly. So if you’re looking for some partners in getting in shape and keeping that good looking booty join the challenge group. You’ll do the workout program you choose for yourself, including whatever you’re doing now if you’d like. You’re sure to make new friends along the way and find people to hold you accountable and keep you on track and working towards your journey. It’s so easy to get discouraged and give up. But having workout buddies is one way to avoid that and stay focused. More info coming soon!
