This post was inspired and sponsored by Domain.ME, the provider of the personal domains that end in .ME. As a company, they aim to promote thought leadership to the tech world. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wellness in Midlife

Remember when we were twenty and could eat whatever we wanted, never exercise, and still look amazing? Those days are gone, honey. While my husband can skip beer for a week and be back in his college jeans, I have to count carbs or risk going up a dress size overnight.

When you are over forty or fifty, you simply must focus on those personal fitness and wellness goals to maintain your health for a long, active life, no matter what your dress size.

When we are in our child-raising and/or career-starting years, there may not be enough time and money to spend on ourselves. Now, there are so many ways to get great wellness info for free that there’s no excuse for not doing something.

Here are some tips and resources for fitness in midlife.

Research It

What diet or exercise plan is right for you? Anything you stick with has to be maintainable, not a quick fix or a fad. Remember our moms doing the grapefruit diet? Where can you get information on wellness?

Start with your doctor.

I’m not your doctor, and neither is WebMD or your friends on Facebook. Start with an actual trip to your physician for a check-up that includes blood work. I was stunned to discover how low my vitamin D levels were and how much that was contributing to my exhaustion. And combined with my low levels of thyroid hormones, it was obvious why I was struggling to have the energy to work out.

Eliminate or treat any underlying health problems and make sure you are healthy enough for any wellness plans you make.

Research. 

I knew that any eating plan I could maintain needed to be varied and not too strict. I don’t see me doing a juice diet or a super-low-carb diet. My doctor recommended the DASH diet to me, which I like because nobody’s selling me pills or a plan or a system. It’s just regular groceries.

The book store (in person or online,) wellness and fitness magazines, and blogs (caveat emptor with  blogs,) are all potential sources of info as you plan out your next moves.

Find Support

Whether you pay for Weight Watchers, join a local fitness center, or start a neighborhood walking group, research indicates having accountability is a top indicator for maintaining a successful wellness plan over the long haul.

I see private Facebook groups as a valuable resource for support or accountability, whether you join an existing group, or form your own with friends. I’ve recently joined a group on Facebook run by a professional trainer. I wish I lived in her area so she could train me at the gym in real life!

Get Help from a Pro

As I said, I’m connected to a trainer, but the time may have come to find a local trainer. I find I work harder and am more consistent when I am paying for training services. Check if your job or local YMCA or JCC provides training services. It may be what gets you in the gym for a workout.

If you prefer working out at home, there’s never been a better time for quality in-home classes or equipment. I’ve been researching Grokker.com, a site with an on-line library of video yoga and fitness workouts. I can choose a new routine whether I’m at home or traveling.

You can also find video workouts through Gaia.com, on YouTube, and as part of an Amazon Prime subscription. Videos online is a good way to mix up your routine and try something new.

Track Your Success

Another secret to wellness is tracking every activity and every calorie. I used to write these down in a notebook, then I recorded them on diet websites, but now there are so many great apps that you have access to whatever you need on the go.

Whether you have an Android or Apple device, there are apps for weight loss, like MyFitnessPal and Diet Point, and fitness apps like Daily Burn and 7 Minute Workout.

Now you don’t even need a tv or computer screen to workout. Tracking, inspiration, and workouts are all available on your phone.

Document Your Journey

Whether your journey is to improve your heart health, train for a marathon, or to get ready for a wedding or beach vacation, tracking your results helps get you through the inevitable bad days.

Take pictures of yourself at the start of you plan and follow up regularly to monitor your successes. Whether you just keep them on your phone, post your #WOD #GymSelfie on Instagram, or start a website to share your routines with the world, visual proof can be the most inspiring part of health and wellness.

If you have a big wellness goal, consider starting a website just to track your journey. From start to finish line, post your activities to create a like-minded community, inspire yourself and others, and to preserve your memories of marathons, Tough Mudders, yoga retreats, or dramatic weight loss.

Document your journey of self-discovery and change on a Domain.me site. Domain.ME provides domain names with the .ME extension, giving you a personal and memorable website. Learn more on Domain.ME.