Body Confidence—5 Steps to Improve It Even if You’re Over 60
When you hear the term body confidence, do feelings of regret and shame start bubbling up inside you? Maybe you feel frustrated every time you look in the mirror, or maybe you’ve been avoiding activities you once loved because you don’t feel strong or capable. If so, don’t worry. You’re not alone!
Google defines the phrase body confidence as “how a person feels about their body’s appearance and capabilities.” But for many people—no matter what your age—feeling positive about your body and your abilities is not easy.
Many people experience these same struggles, especially as we age and our bodies don’t seem to perform the way they used to. Ugh.
But what if I told you that it’s never too late to change how you feel about your body? Yep—feeling confident about your body is absolutely within your control. Here at Impact-X Performance in Huntington Beach, our trainers help people like you overcome this struggle every day!
That’s why we’re so excited to announce our October Superhero of the Month … Kathi Puishys! She’s a shining example of how to build body confidence, even if you’re over 60 or starting from scratch.
So if feeling great about your body is something you’ve been struggling with, this blog is for you. Let’s go ahead and dive into the five ways you can start improving your body confidence today.
1. Start with Baby Steps
About 25 years ago, Kathi ruptured several disks in her lumbar spine and then was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. She was left feeling …
- depressed
- severe sciatica pain
- numbness
But she knew there had to be a better way of living. Kathi’s journey to healing began with baby steps. When she started physical therapy, she gradually built momentum, slowly building strength with the help of personal trainers.
Today Kathi says her consistent baby steps toward becoming healthy and fit have resulted in strength and muscle gains, as well as more body confidence!
When recovering from an injury—or starting fresh after years away from fitness—beginning with small, manageable actions like baby steps helps you build momentum. When you consistently prioritize your health, your body confidence suddenly knows no limits.
2. Incorporate Strength Training for Steady Gains
Once you’ve started your fitness journey, adding strength training is key to seeing consistent results.
Strength training can help you …
- reduce your risk of injury
- improve your heart health
- elevate your mood
- help with weight management
When you incorporate strength training into your routine, you not only build physical strength but also mental resilience and overall self-confidence.
Did you know strength training can be as simple as lifting heavy cans at home or doing push-ups against the wall? You can also do chair squats and climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
3. Focus on Consistency, Not Perfection
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with getting in the perfect workout routine or eating all the right foods. But the key to improving your body confidence isn’t how perfectly you workout or eat healthy. Instead, you’ll find your success in being consistent.
Kathi believes in the importance of consistency over aiming for immediate, drastic changes. She says her results sometimes plateau, but staying the course keeps her confident and healthy. Fitness is about sticking with it, even when progress seems slow.
Kathi says that because she has stayed consistent, she has “ increased energy, and endurance, and [she’s] currently on no prescription meds for blood pressure or cholesterol.”
Way to go, Kathi!
4. Prioritize Fitness for Overall Well-Being
For Kathi, consistent fitness has had many positive impacts on her life, including …
- mood
- sleep
- anti-aging benefits
By making fitness a priority in her life, she experiences more confidence—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
But what if you’re struggling to make fitness a priority in your life? We get it. Life gets busy, and things happen. Here at Impact-X Performance, we help you tailor a fitness routine to your life and your needs—so that building your body confidence is both achievable and sustainable, no matter how hectic your schedule might be.
5. Celebrate Progress with Community Support
Finally, Kathi credits the supportive community at Impact-X Performance with much of her motivation and improvements in her body confidence. Exercising with others, especially in group settings, provides …
- accountability
- encouragement
- a sense of belonging
Having a “tribe” to cheer you on can make all the difference in building long-term confidence.
Let Impact-X Performance Help You Improve Your Body Confidence
Improving body confidence—especially as you get older—can feel like a daunting task. But as Kathi Puishys’ journey shows us, it’s never too late to start.
Let’s recap the five ways Kathi improved her body confidence …
- Start with small, manageable steps.
- Incorporating strength training.
- Stay consistent.
- Prioritize fitness.
- Embrace community support.
With these five steps in your fitness toolbelt, you can gradually build the body confidence you’ve always wanted, no matter your age or fitness level.
Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or looking to reignite your routine in your sixties, remember that body confidence is within your control and achievable at any age.
At Impact-X Performance, we understand that life gets busy, and fitness can sometimes take a backseat. That’s why we’re here to help you create a fitness routine that fits your life, your goals, and your schedule.
Thank you, Kathi, for being such an inspiring light here at Impact-X Performance. We love you and are honored to celebrate your achievements with you!
Are you ready to feel confident in your body? Call or stop by Impact-X Performance in Huntington Beach today, and let us help you get started on your journey to becoming the strongest, most confident version of yourself.
QUESTIONS:
1. Describe what your life (and your health) was like before fitness.
I’ve been into fitness and exercise since my early teens…I was always a bit “chubby” and “big boned”, so when I decided to slim down; bike riding, hiking, and running became a part of my regime. The weight came off, my body changed, and I was hooked. !! (Little did I know then of the importance of strength training)
2. Was there ever a low point or an experience that made your priorities change?
I’d have to say the low point was about 25+ years ago when I ruptured several disks in my lumbar spine, and was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, resulting in severe pain, numbness, and sciatica. Unable to do much except lie on my back taking increasing doses of pain meds, really brought me to depression. I vowed not to undergo the risky surgery, and thought there had to be a better way.
3. How did fitness come into your life (or back into your life)?
Like any trauma, fitness came back into my life in the form of PT. Baby steps, slowly gaining strength.
4. What kind of results have you seen since starting a regular fitness program?
After recovering, over the course of many many years, and working with multiple different trainers, I’ve built up to my current state. The results have been steady gains in strength and muscle, not to mention body confidence.
5. Please talk more about the actual changes in your life? (weight loss, confidence, more endurance, less medications, increased energy, better relationships etc.)
The physical changes seem to come in plateaus. I will have a good Inbody reading one month, only to be staying the same in muscle mass, body fat, and weight with another reading. But the key (I think) at this point is consistency with no massive fluctuations. I do have increased energy, and endurance, and am currently on no prescription meds for blood pressure or cholesterol.
6. Let’s focus in on the blood work. What kind of changes have you seen there? What do these changes mean for your lifestyle, longevity, finances, etc?
Blood work is great… no meds necessary… And my blood pressure readings are low.. anywhere from 100/55 to 102/63.
7. Why do you make fitness a priority in your life?
I prioritize fitness, because plainly said..I just feel better !! My mood, my physicality, quality of life, better sleep, not to mention anti aging benefits.
8. These days, what makes you truly happy and feel at peace?
My family makes me truly happy, and I’m at peace knowing that I’ve raised good solid citizens of the world.
9. How do you feel compared to 1 year ago?
I feel 1 year older.. lol. And stronger.
10. What is your favorite thing about Mo-Mentum Fitness?
My favorite thing about Momentum/ Impact X is my assistant trainer Makoa…paws down she’s the best !! Seriously it’s the people and the vibe from the tribe…
11. What would you say to the person who know they need to start exercising but is afraid to start?
Just do it !! Don’t let fear hold you back. No matter where you start, you will gain strength, mobility, and FRIENDS…
12. Specifics: your age? job title? children? spouse?
I just celebrated my milestone 65th birthday. Retired…but my new job title is now “world traveler” which is why fitness is so important. Married to my husband Joe for 43 years, 2 children, Katelyn, a professional equestrian in Thousand Oaks, and Lt. Commander Joseph lll, the newly appointed XO (executive officer) on the soon-to-be-commissioned USS Iowa fast attack nuclear submarine. 2 granddaughters, Holly and Roxy.
- What is your favorite quote? (We will be including this on the graphic we post in the Mo-Mentum newsletter and social media posts.)
You can be really old at 60, or really young at 85. —– Jane Fonda.