Physically fit and active: The beautiful way I hope to age

By Catherine Bongiorno

Special to the Herald

I recently taught a body conditioning class in which two young women (late teens, maybe 20s — hard to tell when you are decades ahead of them) attended. They seemed delighted that the workout was challenging and invigorating. With youth on their side, they huffed and puffed through class, never slowing down.

At the end of the session, I overheard one of them say to her boyfriend in the hallway, “Class was great. The instructor was an older lady, but she’s super fit.”

OUCH. Older lady? When did I cross that line? Did she mean older compared to her? I don’t think so; I think she meant older, period. I realize 45 years old is no spring chicken, but gads … older is now a word for me? I’m not ready for that.

After showering in the locker room, I stood in front of the mirror and really scrutinized my face. Oog. Fine lines around the eyes. Has that odd little crease between my eyebrows always been there?

Leaning in closer to the mirror: Eyelids looking a bit heavy, and why are my cheeks so flat? What’s with the tiny little skin-colored bumps under my eyes?

Good grief! I’m ancient!

As I lurched to my laptop to Google dermal fillers, blepharoplasty, rhytidectomy — hell, why not a full-blown facelift — I stopped and ordered myself to calm down.

Yes, I am 45. My face is showing signs of aging, and I can’t say I’m fond of it. But I find aging skin acceptable in others, so why not in myself? And if I start freaking out now, what deranged mental state will I be in when I hit 50 or 65?

I spent years of my young adult life beating myself up for being overweight. Was I now going to repeat that process, only subbing wrinkles in for fat? I refuse.

Upon contemplation, I figured out what healthy aging means to me: It means being at peace with the aging process while living the healthiest lifestyle I can. It means not giving up my passions because my body is slowing down, and not ever being apologetic for loose skin and wrinkles.

It entails healthy and hearty eating, strength training, cardio, stretching, nature, family, love, and laughter.

All of this pondering made me think of a woman — we’ll call her Betty — who has attended my conditioning class for seven years. Despite being up there in years, she keeps on moving. Betty is lean, lifts weight and does Pilates with me. She is sharp as a tack and has a keen sense of humor.

The past two years, she’s slowed down a lot due to various physical ailments. Although she dislikes being limited by her aging body, she makes a point to stay active. She continues to take my classes and moves at a slow pace while other younger participants race about. She accepts her limitations but doesn’t let them stop her from living.

Betty just turned 91. This woman is the embodiment of graceful aging, and if I am fortunate enough to live to be her age, I hope to be just like her. She is a role model, and I am honored to be her exercise instructor. She is fit, feisty and fierce — everything I aim to be, both now and later in life.

Back to my own aging dilemma: Did I make an appointment with the next available plastic surgeon for a brow lift? No.

I think right now, I’ll tolerate my 45-year-old face without dissecting it. Mind you, I have no judgment whatsoever against anyone getting a nip and tuck, and I know women who have done so with very nice results. But healthy aging is not just skin deep. I intend to embrace aging from the inside out, attitude first.

And thumbs up to that young woman who called me an older, super fit lady. You’re damn right I am.

Catherine Bongiorno, info@lifttolose.com, is a Mukilteo personal trainer and nutritional therapist who owns Lift To LoseFitness &Nutrition, www.lifttolose.com.

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