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Cover Girls and Bicep Curls

There I was …standing innocently in the grocery store line…waiting to get home after a long day… when suddenly, there they were rising up around me….

joy boutique, midlife women, midlife, lifestyle, change

Christie Brinkley on the cover of People in a bathing suit at 60!

Oprah on the cover of OPRAH in a tight little cocktail dress at 60!

Marie Osmond on the cover of some unknown magazine holding her first grandson looking like she did when she was a little bit country!

Diane Sawyer on the cover of Ladies Home Journal, still with no wrinkles, at 68!

They jumped at me off the racks swirling around my cart in horror-show fashion and screaming as they spotted a box of cookies traveling down the belt toward the checker…will she never learn?

Mark Twain had something to say about comparisons: “Comparison is the death of joy.”  Pretty strong word….death…but I believe it to be true.  In the flash of one magazine, my joy was shelved.

Last week, I left the gym really discouraged.  The three ladies I work out with are all slightly younger and definitely thinner than this 60-year-old.  I was feeling a little cocky about my progress going in, but on that day, I could not lift near what they were lifting and I was panting much harder.  I felt a little inflated and humbled.  Then I stopped at the grocery store…mistake.

How do I get out of a comparison-funk?  I go back to where I was just seven months ago:

  1. My exercise routine at that time consisted of getting up from my desk four times a day and shopping.
  2. I could not do one pull up, sit up, push up, or any up….and I secretly scoffed at people who went to the gym more than twice a week.
  3. It took a lot of patience for my trainer, BZ, to get me to lift ten pounds.
  4. I could not do a squat, lunge, or bicep curl.
  5. For the first month, I almost passed out at least once a week.  Also, for the first month, when BZ would tell me what I was going to do that day, I would look at him as if he said I was to go outside and jump off the building…it seemed the same.

I wish I could tell you I have lost a lot of weight….I have not.  (I guess it’s the cookies!) But, what I can tell you is:

  1. At this writing, I can deadlift 145 pounds.
  2. I can do modified push-ups, pull ups and I can sit up with a ten pound medicine ball.
  3. I can squat, lunge, bicep curl, bench press…ok…I cannot do burpees…but hopefully that is in my future….I do hate them, though.
  4. I am officially a gym rat…I know the employees, I go 5-7 times a week, and I know more than one of the trainers.  I have been in the saunas and on the machines.
  5. My body is stronger and getting more toned all the time.
  6. My knees do not creak like they did and my back has not hurt in a long time.  I no longer avoid stairs.

Hopefully, the weight will go faster at some point…it is still slow progress…but at least there is progress.  Focusing on the positives, helps me so much on days when it is hard.  The difficult part about weight training is just when you think you have mastered something, the trainer gradually takes you to another level and it feels like you accomplished nothing.

However, there has got to be a COVER SHOT in my future somewhere!  Look out Christie, Oprah, Marie, and Diane…you are going to know who I am!

Thanks for stopping by the Joy Boutique. What we take away today is AVOID COMPARISONS OR YOU LOSE YOUR JOY!

See you next week, ladies.

midlife boulevard, columnist, midlife women, middle-age, midlife crisis

Pamela Lutrell

Pamela Lutrell began her blog, over50feeling40, July 2010 with a desire to encourage women over 50 to walk in strength, confidence and joy. Of course, head turning style makes each day fun!

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SISSY

Wednesday 5th of February 2014

CONGRATULATIONS !! YOU ARE QUIET AN INSPERATION ! NOW ,TO THOSE UNREALISTIC PHOTOS ? IF WE HAD THEIR MONEY , TIME , SUPPORT TEAM, WORLDS BEST PLASTIC SURGEONS AND YES, VANITY !!!! AND LETS ALSO NOT FORGET ,MAJOR, MAJOR PHOTO-SHOP WE ALSO WOULD LOOK TRIM & FIT WITH FEW WRINKLES ! WE NEED TO ACCEPT THAT WHO AND HOW WE ARE ` IS ENOUGH ` AND ENJOY LIFE

jamie@southmainmuse

Wednesday 5th of February 2014

And did you see 62 yo Jane Seymour in a bikini? Such great points. Comparisons are a no win game. No matter if you are comparing yourself to someone older, younger -- or the you 10 years ago. I admit this is a daily struggle for me. Not that I'm proud of it.

Catherine

Wednesday 5th of February 2014

Congratulations Pam...a fabulous start to 2014 and a great post! I love the Mark Twain quote and so true...I really try not to do that but every now and then it creeps in doesn't it? Let's live in JOY :) Have a good week xx

Barbara @ www.allmylivesnow.com

Tuesday 4th of February 2014

Oh Pam, this is a battle that I think most women go through. What I tell myself is that I don't have the luxuries that these gals have had. I also don't have a professional photographer taking my picture, nor the ability to photo-shop or do whatever they do to these photos. Now, of course these women do look fantastic, but I invite them to walk a day in my shoes and see what happens. I do admire these women, but I also put their lives into perspective with mine. Great post Pam. You are progressing quite a bit at the gym. I'm sure the weight will begin to fall of if you continue on this healthy path. You are an inspiration to me. Barbara @ www.allmylivesnow.com

Betty

Tuesday 4th of February 2014

Pam,

You should be very proud. How could you lose weight, when you are gaining so much muscle? I know you know that muscle weights more than fat. Too, muscle looks much leaner than fat.

When I am faithful to work out, I generally weight more not less. Yet, I will be a smaller size and look so much better.

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