That Morning In The Gym

It was insanely early that morning when I went down to the gym at the hotel I was staying at, while I was in California a month or so ago. In order to get my workout in, I had to do it BEFORE the crack of dawn! I unlocked the door and went in to a dark fitness room. I could hear that there was someone in there, and it startled me because it was SO dark!!! There was this woman over in the corner lifting weights. WHY was she there SO EARLY? Surely there wasn’t anyone crazier than myself, working out THAT EARLY!!!!!! We immediately started chatting.

I learned that she lived close by and used the gym at the hotel for her workouts. Not only was she beautiful (even in her workout gear and no makeup), but it was her ARMS! She had those arms that I dream of having. So cut and toned…AMAZING!

I asked her before she left, if she’d be willing to meet later that afternoon for some pictures, so I could do a blog post on her fitness and health routine. She agreed, and so here she is! Her name is Susan………isn’t she BEAUTIFUL???

This is her ideas on FITNESS in her own words…

Fitness has always been a part of my life. I’m 58 and I’m passionate, enthusiastic and committed to strive for a healthy and balanced lifestyle with exercise and healthy nutrition at the forefront. I workout 5 to 6 days a week each morning. I dedicate an hour and a half each day. I’m competitive so I push myself with my workouts, I make it fun and mix it up each day. My morning routine includes 30 minutes of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) I sprint for 40 seconds then jog for 60 seconds repetitively for 30 minutes. I have burned a lot of calories by the time I’m finished! After the cardio portion I do strength training…..it builds muscle strength and tones muscles because as we get older we lose muscle fibers. I’ll pick 2 muscle groups (Biceps/Back) per day and train them 2 x a week. I like to incorporate functional training which uses multiple muscle groups, so for instance I will sit on the stability ball when doing bicep and back exercises. The ball moves and in order to stay on it your activating muscles deep in your stomach, back, and hips. Nutrition goes hand and hand with fitness. I eat a lean diet, which consist of proteins like egg whites, chicken, lean meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains in moderation. I also enjoy yoga, soul cycle and love to hike!!! Another passion of mine is I love to bake. I get creative, rustic and focus on creating healthy sweets without feeling guilty. My favorite snack that I make is cookies and cream protein coconut balls. I add to that almond butter, hemp seeds, chia seeds and almond milk……so simple and yummy!!!! I like to look and feel my best so comfortable and fashionable styles are my go to!!!! Fitness, Fashion, Food, Fun and Family are my favorite “F” words!!!

One of the greatest thrills of blogging, is getting the opportunity to meet all of these incredible people. Susan is one of them! She is one of the sweetest, most gorgeous women I’ve ever known. It was fun talking to her about her ideas on health! As women at this age, (I’m 57) it becomes more and more important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our bodies slow down and it’s so easy to put on extra weight doing the same things we’ve always done. It can be so depressing! But Susan is proof that if we are committed to exercise and a healthy diet, WE CAN BE FIT! I believe that our meeting in the gym that very early morning, wasn’t coincidental at all……I believe it was meant to be!!!!!!!

xo