Aging Vibrantly Isn’t Luck or Genetics – The Secret Formula Ilene Uses at Age 70

When Ilene Skipper told me a few weeks ago that she was going to be 70 years old this month, I was shocked.

But guess what? I love that feeling! Finding out one of my friends is aging vibrantly. In other words, they’re older than they look.

And believe me, Ilene does not look like a typical 70-year-old woman!

I hope that in the future, more 70-year-old women will look, feel, and perform like Ilene. We specialize in this at Mo-Mentum Fitness in Huntington Beach – helping you feel great at any age.

We all know we need to prioritize our health as we age. But unfortunately, way too many women are still waiting until tomorrow. Next Monday. Next month.

And yet nothing will change until you start. The problem is, many women don’t know where to start.

If you’re a woman over the age of 50, this blog is for you. We’re pulling back the curtains and giving you an inside look on the secret to aging vibrantly.

In this blog, we’ll discuss exactly where you need to start as you begin your journey to aging vibrantly. This includes:

• weightlifting
• cardiovascular training
• clean eating
• fostering a supportive community

Each of these are key components to aging vibrantly and gracefully. And they significantly enhance your quality of life as you age. Let’s explore how these work together to empower us to create and live our best lives.

First Things First: Don’t Try to Do it All By Yourself

Here’s the most important thing I want you to remember – you don’t have to do it alone. In fact, for most women, I implore you, please don’t start on your own. Usually, that ends up just being a recipe for quitting.

At Mo-Mentum Fitness, we know how hard it is to try to do it alone. Which is why we promote a strong community for all our clients to be a part of.

Aging vibrantly is so much easier and more enjoyable when you find your tribe.  A community who

• calls you when you don’t come to class.
• makes coming to the gym fun so you actually make room for it in your schedule.
• cheers you on instead of beating you up.

For most women 50+, a boot camp is not the place to start. It’s also not a great idea to go the cheaper route and join a big box gym. You won’t find the personal attention and guidance tailored to your needs.

Okay, let’s go ahead and dive into where to start on your path to aging vibrantly.

The Power of Weightlifting

Weightlifting isn’t just for the young and athletic. It’s the most powerful tool for women over 50 to look, feel, and perform better in life.

By adding quality resistance training to your routine, you’ll build muscle mass and bone density, counteracting the natural loss that occurs with age.

Strength training exercises like

• squats
• lunges
• deadlifts

are especially beneficial for maintaining functional strength and independence as we age.

However, I’ve found that most people don’t start lifting weights because they are already hurting.

But I can guarantee, it’s not the squat or lunge that causes injury. Instead, it’s how you perform these activities that causes injury.

You’ll continue to need to squat for the rest of your life. Examples of everyday squats include:

• sitting in a chair
• getting in and out of your car
• sitting on the pot
• Picking up your pet 
• Picking something up off the floor (without beating up your back!)
• Picking up a grandchild instead of bending over (using your back) and picking them up

You may not realize it, but you’ll also be lunging for the rest of your life:

• getting off the floor
• getting off the floor with a box, child, or pet
• picking something up
• taking the stairs
• Stepping up on a tall ledge

Investing in some coaching to learn to perform these movements for life is essential. When you’re moving correctly, weightlifting won’t hurt anymore!

Cardiovascular Training for Heart Health

Incorporating cardiovascular exercise into our routine is vital for two things:

• maintaining a healthy heart
• improving overall cardiovascular health

Activities like walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling help to increase endurance, boost energy levels, and support weight management.

Cardiovascular training enhances circulation, delivers oxygen and nutrients to our cells, and promotes vitality and longevity.

What are the things you want to be able to do when you’re 70, 80 and 90 years old?  Do you want to be able to get on an airplane without a wheelchair? Do you want to be able to carry your own suitcase so you can travel? Do you want to be able to make it up a few flights of stairs?

Europeans don’t build elevators like Americans. They’re healthier for it too! If you get winded taking the stairs now, what do you think will happen for you at age 80 and 90 if you do nothing about that now?

Next, we’ll talk about why it’s so important to incorporate clean eating into our routine.

The Importance of Clean Eating

Fueling our bodies with nutritious, whole foods is essential for optimal health and vitality. Clean eating involves consuming a balanced diet rich in

• fruits
• vegetables
• lean proteins

and minimizing processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats.

At Mo-Mentum, we encourage our clients to focus on eating clean 80 to 90% of the time. And then saving 10 to 20% of their food intake for treats.

This approach provides your body with the necessary nutrients to support muscle repair, bone strength, brain health, and overall well-being. All of these things combine to enhance the aging process from the inside out.

The last piece to the puzzle for the secret to aging vibrantly is having a community to support you.

In this next section, we’ll dive into what community and connection do for your overall health.

Community and Connection

Building a strong support network and fostering meaningful connections in a community has profound effects on both your mental and emotional well-being.

Have you ever heard this saying? We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.

In other words, if none of your friends exercise, it’s essential to find friends who do exercise!

Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who share your goals and values provides a host of benefits on your wellness journey, including:

• encouragement
• accountability
• Motivation

Finding a tribe that supports and uplifts you is important. Especially in terms of strength training, exercise in general, and eating clean. Your support group is invaluable for aging vibrantly.

It’s easier to tell yourself, “I’ll start Monday,” than it is to show up when you’re busy or just don’t feel like it. Don’t worry, this is pretty much every day for most people.

That is, until you make exercise and eating clean a part of your daily habits. And once those are habits, showing up won’t be so hard!

Improving Joint Health

As we age, joint health becomes more important for staying mobile and independent.

Strength training, cardiovascular exercise yoga, and pilates help to improve your flexibility, mobility, and joint stability. And did you know that cardiovascular training can be done without pounding on your joints?

At Mo-Mentum Fitness in Huntington Beach, we offer Cycle Circuit Training. This is where you’re on a spin bike for a few songs and then on the floor to lift weights. This class gets your heart rate up without requiring running and pounding on your joints. It’s one of our most popular classes!

Learning the healthiest form and technique during weightlifting and cardiovascular training will reduce your risk of injury and preserve joint health for years to come.

Boosting Metabolic Rate

Maintaining a healthy metabolic rate is a must for managing weight, energy levels, and overall health. Studies have found that our metabolism doesn’t actually slow down until after our 60’s.

However, these studies were done on men, not women. Hormonal changes associated with perimenopause and menopause most definitely mess with your metabolism. As well as with all of the other systems in your body.

Regular exercise – particularly weightlifting and cardiovascular training – helps increase muscle mass. Which in turn boosts metabolism.

Combined with clean eating habits, staying active supports metabolic function.  Which helps to prevent age-related weight gain and metabolic decline. Woohoo!

Positive Effects on Mental Health

Physical activity and nutritious eating habits not only benefit your body but also boost your mental health and emotional well-being. Exercise releases endorphins, which promote feelings of happiness and reduce stress.

Eating a balanced diet supports brain health and cognitive function, which improves mood and mental clarity.  Engaging with a supportive community provides social connection and emotional support, which reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Let Mo-Mentum Fitness Help You on Your Way

Aging vibrantly is within reach for women over 50. It’s within reach for you.

And by now I hope you can see that the formula is actually super simple. Incorporate these four activities into our lifestyle to feel your best:

• weightlifting
• cardiovascular training
• clean eating
• find a supportive community

They work hand-in-hand to enhance the quality of your aging process, which promotes:

• muscle mass and bone density
• improved joint health
• boosted metabolic rate
• improved mental health

Embrace these practices to unlock the full potential of your golden years and live life to the fullest!

Whether you’re 50, 60, or beyond, it’s never too late to make a change for the better. If Ilene’s story has inspired you, consider taking that first step towards a healthier, happier future today.

Ilene, you inspire so many people at Mo-Mentum Fitness and I’m absolutely sure, outside of Mo-Tribe as well.  Thank you for showing up on the hard days.  Thank you for being unapologetically you!  I’m not sure how many pictures I’ve posted of you putting your lip gloss on in the middle of class, but I know I have posted many, many pictures of you on social media because you exemplify who we are at Mo-Mentum and you are an INSPIRATION for women at every age. 

So many women are afraid of aging, it’s women like you who are helping to turn that fear into an understanding that our lives as we age are the accumulation of our consistent choices and actions. 

You are a bright light at Mo-Mentum and I’m so grateful we’ve been friends all these years.  You are an incredible woman and I’m looking forward to spending many more years together!

 

At Mo-Mentum Fitness in Huntington Beach, our focus is on you and your specific goals. If you’re ready to start living your best life, call us at (714) 756-1501 or click here to schedule your free strategy session today. Who knows? Maybe a year from now, you’ll have your own transformation story to share!

 

ILENE’S ANSWERS: 

1. Describe what your life (and your health) was like before fitness. 

Life before fitness, I was a younger mom busy on PTA and I worked part-time at a school. Tried lots of times to go to the gym but I always had a hard time sticking with it.

2.  Was there ever a low point or an experience that made your priorities change? 

When I moved to Huntington Beach, my daughter was in college and I decided to create a schedule that prioritized fitness.

3.  How did fitness come into your life (or back into your life)? 

Fitness came back into my life when I was at a big gym (25 years ago) and a personal trainer came up to me and wanted to train me. I thought about it for a while and decided to try it out. I needed the guidance and that is when it started clicking more. I would come home after work, put my gym clothes right on, and go to the gym.  I made it a non-negotiable part of my week…

 

4.  What kind of results have you seen since starting a regular fitness program? 

Regular fitness makes you feel so much better about yourself. I started to develop muscles from lifting weights and I felt stronger. At that time I was running on the treadmill and I just hated it…it was so monotonous.

 

5.  Please talk more about the actual changes in your life.  (weight loss, confidence, more endurance, less medications, increased energy, better relationships etc.) 

Changes just came by doing. I just do not miss many days of working out because I just feel better.

 

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?  

I have an annual checkup and my health stays good. Bloodwork and blood pressure are all good for my age where I am now in life…I know if I did not exercise the outcome would not be as good. Bone health is good as well.

 

7.  Why do you make fitness a priority in your life?

I make fitness a big priority now to keep in shape and keep my weight down as best I can. Eating right does help which seems a little harder for me than exercising. My weight would be worse if I was not as active.

 

8.  These days, what makes you truly happy and feel at peace?

Truly happy things in my life are simple. I love a low-key day, not a lot of running around. Cooking for family, visiting shopping and traveling. Love line dancing as well. When I was in Europe last year there were a lot of people my age that were not keeping up with our group. They could not go up the stairs and had to sit and rest. I was proud that was not my story!

 

9.  How do you feel compared to 1 year ago? 

Well, compared to a year ago I feel a little older of course…This year marks my 70^th birthday. I feel like I keep up pretty good at the gym. Some things can be a little harder to do. Step class is very challenging for sure. I make sure I show up and do it because I know it’s great for my agility, balance, and my mind.

10.  What is your favorite thing about Mo-Mentum Fitness? 

Exercising at Mo-Mentum Fitness is fun. I get inspired by the people, the instructors, and the fun music we get to hear. The instructors make it fun and if I am tired they motivate me to keep going. You never see a tired instructor at Mo-Mentum, and I am sure they are but I cannot ever tell!!! They care, and over time I have experienced many friendships.

 

11.  What would you say to the person who knows they need to start exercising but is afraid to start?   

I would say to a person who is afraid to start exercising, “Just start, you will not regret it. Take it one day at a time. There is no time like the present!!!”

12.  Specifics: your age? job title? children?  spouse?

I am retired from a school district where I worked part-time for 30 years. I have not worked since I was 62 years old. I will be 70 in March. I have a daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter (9), and husband.

Quote:

My quote is a fun one that I just love, “A GIRL CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY SHOES!” Maybe not the most inspiring quote but a true feeling I find true of most ladies and even little girls!!!  We all love a new pair of shoes!!!