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Sunday, August 5, 2012

50 is the new......me!

Today is my 50th birthday, and I'm okay with that.  :) For some reason I thought turning 30 was hard, but now, looking back, it wasn't. Life changed for me at 30, I had my first child. My husband and I were "late" bloomers. When others already had two or three children, we were just starting our family. So, that has kept me "young", at least, young-at-heart. :)

However unintentionally, I've given myself a birthday present today. My birthday present started over the last year and four months- since April of 2011. My husband and I began a fitness program called P90X (and went on to complete P90X2, just 'cause we are crazy like that!). We both have changed, in a good way! And this change will help us hopefully be stronger as we grow older. This isn't a "plug" for any specific program, just a story about our journey.

Our son, Ethan, introduced us to P90X. His developmental therapist had showed it to us and had Ethan using it....as much as he could. So, we thought we would support Ethan with his new fitness routine and he could join us. He did for a few weeks, and then he had his accident.
 (It is a long post.  If you click to read it, just scroll down to the "Blessing" part!).

Although we had a billion excuses to stop, we didn't. We continued....without Ethan. (He started a new program this past month). We started for Ethan, but we continued for us. And, if you think about it, we really continued for both of our boys as well.

It was time we carved out of our day to spend together, it was good for our bodies and good for us mentally and emotionally too. And, honestly, I think we really just needed to relieve stress from our lives, and the physical changes were a bonus. So, in the evening, after dinner we workout. Not the best time, we are already tired from our day, but that is the only time we can be together. And, with only one night off a week, we push on.

It wasn't easy however. Lots of interruptions, until the boys understood that this was our time to workout. And, lots of soreness! Working out at our age after years of a sedentary (or semi-sedentary)  lifestyle wasn't easy. Plus, the things that crazy Tony Horton makes you do on those DVDs seemed completely impossible, but after a few weeks of trying,  it's not as impossible as you originally thought.

We've completed P90X three times and since January 2012 we've completed P90X2 twice. We are now doing a hybrid of both. Next, my husband wants to try another program called Insanity....and now, after a year and four months of working out beside him, I don't think he is that crazy to suggest it! :)

50 is just a number and I can do that in push-ups! :)








 If you would like to learn more about the programs we've done you can visit Michelle Sylvia (you may also know her from The Black Berry Briar-link on my sidebar).

10 comments:

bayrayschild said...

Happy Birthday Suzanne!
You're looking GREAT!

Audrey

village folk art said...

Have a Happpy B'day and many more. Looks like you are doing very well and on the right track.

Peace & Blessings always,
Barb

Lana Manis said...

Happy {belated} birthday!!!
You and Jeff look wonderful!!!

/sewprimitive said...

I am really impressed, Suzanne! Great results, you should both be so proud! I do have to tell you that the chickens in the "after" photos did crack me up.I assume they are on the same fitness regime that you are, right?

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

First Happy Belated Birthday!
You should be very proud of yourselves having stuck to the fitness program... you look fantastic.(even the chickens!)
Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Susan x

Suzanne said...

Thanks everyone! Haha Jan, yes, the chickens were very "helpful" while we were trying to take pictures! :)

Julie said...

HI Suzanne,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You are right 50 is only anumber and you look GREAT!!!
Julie

Caitlin said...

You could be on the cover of
Fitness Now! Congratulations
to the two of you.

Happy Birthday with many more
to follow!

Caitlin said...

I love the chickens in the
"after" photo.

Patti said...

A Very Happy Birthday to you!
WoW! Congratulations on all your hard work! It is certainly paying off! And so inspiring! Maybe I will consider rejoining the gym...
Blessings, Patti