We speak to women in their 30s, 40s & 50s about their fitness journeys & how they found the workouts that work for them
Feeling fit and healthy is something we all deserve. But everyone’s journey and experiences are different, which is why, for some of us, finding fitness comes a little later in life.
At times, the workout world doesn’t feel like it’s the most age-inclusive of spaces and so we wanted to talk to the women embracing fitness as a habit in their 30s and beyond to find out how their relationships with exercise evolved over the years, as well as get their top tips for others looking to get fit later in life. Where once exercise wasn’t a part of their daily routines, each of these women have now formed a fitness habit and, ultimately, found a passion. Meet Kate, Isabel, Minreet and Wenda.
Kate Randall, 39
Nervous? Don’t be – people only ever focus on themselves"
Say hello to Kate. She’s a news and entertainment editor for various magazines and lives in north London. It wasn’t until she turned 30 that she began to take her fitness more seriously.
"I used to do bits of exercise when I was in my teens and 20s, such as going to the odd aerobics class or doing fitness DVDs at home. But something switched when I turned 30," she says. "I joined a gym and did more weight-focussed classes, which changed my outlook on working out. I then did my first Barry’s Bootcamp class, which was the toughest thing I’d ever done. It’s a mixture of treadmill work and weights and is a very intense hour. But afterwards, I felt amazing and I’ve been hooked ever since."
While she champions intense workouts, for Kate, variation is key.
"I’ll also do two at-home workouts a week and I try to walk 10,000 steps a day – although this is proving harder now that I’m going back into the office," she says.
And if you’d like to join a class, but don’t know where to start?
"Don’t be afraid to mix and match," says Kate. "It’s important to find out what you enjoy and what suits you. After nearly a decade, I know what I love and what I don’t. For example, I know I work out a lot better when I’ve got an instructor watching me and telling me what to do – it stops me cheating. And also, don’t be intimidated by classes – I made a friend go with me to my first Barry’s class as I was too scared to go by myself and thought everyone would be watching me. It turns out, nobody cared what I was doing and everyone was just focused on themselves. Just go for it – you won’t regret it!"
Isabel Mohan, 41
It was a revelation to me that exercise makes you feel good"
Isabel is a content consultant and co-founder of Discoco.co.uk. She lives in south-east London with her husband and two children. Her relationship with exercise has changed drastically over the past few years.
"I'd always hated exercise, but during lockdown I felt so cooped up and needed to find a reason to leave the house. Out of sheer desperation, I downloaded the Couch to 5K app and, slowly but surely, a habit was formed," says Isabel. "A few months later, I joined a local gym and got into strength training. I’ve since run two half marathons and completed a Tough Mudder 10K challenge. I also swim in the local lake and cycle quite a bit. It’s a lot, but I absolutely love it."
It turns out that this new habit has been nothing short of transformative for Isabel.
"It was a revelation to me that exercise makes you feel good – I didn’t really believe it," she says. "I went into premature menopause at 39, which hit me hard emotionally. Staying active massively helped and I notice now that my wellbeing dips if I don’t fit in enough exercise."
Exercise has also provided Isabel with a new appreciation of her own body and of others.
"I used to believe that fitness wasn’t for people who looked like me. How wrong could I be? I love that there are people of all shapes and sizes making the decision to prioritise their fitness," she says. "I’ll admit I enjoy checking out my muscly thighs in the mirror and the fact that, thanks to the bench press, my boobs are way less saggy than they used to be. It goes much deeper than aesthetics. It’s about feeling strong and capable."
Sometimes, focusing on ourselves can be tricky. For Isabel, this has been a learning curve.
"If you’re a busy person, with a demanding job and/or caring responsibilities, you can feel guilty when you focus on yourself. I told myself that it’s crucial to remember that I can’t pour from an empty cup," she says. "I find that if I start the day with a run or gym session, I’m much more productive and enthusiastic at work, and feeling like I’ve taken care of my wellbeing makes me a happier, more fun mum."
Minreet Kaur, 41
If you need motivation, then finding a community could be key"
Minreet is an award-winning journalist who pursued a very different side project, becoming a swimming teacher after lockdown.
"I didn’t get into fitness until my 40s. It was my parents who inspired me – they’re both in their 70s and super fit," says Minreet. "In fact, you may remember my father, the ‘Skipping Sikh’, who was awarded an MBE for his inspiring exercise videos during lockdown! It’s safe to say I had great inspiration around me. My mum has always loved swimming, so I began joining her as a way for us to relax and bond. Then, all of a sudden, I found myself upping the ante. I knew there was a need for more South Asians to start swimming, so my call to become a teacher wasn’t initially because I felt passionate about the sport itself, but because I wanted to help people in my community. Now, I’ve gone a step further – I’ve gone from the pool to open-water swimming! It’s a totally new experience and it’s absolutely amazing."
But for Minreet, balance is a must.
"Nowadays, I love to swim up to four times a week," she says. "It feels like the perfect balance, because rest days are important, too. It’s this blend of rest days and workout days that helps me mentally and physically. I feel energised and good in myself."
But what is it about keeping fit that means so much to Minreet?
"Community is a massive part of my love of keeping active. I’m part of a South Asian group. We walk, run and swim together as a big group of friends and I’ve become more confident as a result," she explains. "When you’re working out as part of a community, you feel the motivation that others give you. It can be electric. There are also so many other changes in my body, which act as a bonus! My clothes fit me better and my skin is glowing."
Her top tip for getting fit later in life?
"I'd say start doing a Parkrun (community events that take place all around the world in parks and open spaces) every week," she recommends. "It’s free and you can walk and meet others who are also working out. Walking is the best exercise for everyone. If you don’t do the Parkrun, start with 30 minutes a day brisk walking and then try to jog and walk. Or, I’ll obviously recommend you take up swimming! There’s no other community quite like it."
Wenda Pollock, 51
The hardest part is stepping out the door"
Wenda is 51 years old and lives in Down, Northern Ireland. She’s wife to Chris and mum to Beth, Lucy, and Harry, and works full time. She used to struggle to make fitness a priority, until the pandemic changed things.
"I suppose I’ve been doing bits and pieces of fitness all my life, but when the children were younger there was such little time, so it really took a back seat," says Wenda. "Like so many others, it was during the pandemic that everything changed. I was stuck in a rut and really wanted to challenge myself to get fitter."
Now? Wenda’s a keen runner and it’s become a key part of her weekly routine.
"I love to run or jog two or three times a week and I do my 10k steps on the days I’m not running," she says. "I’ve realised my reason for running is to keep mentally and physically strong, especially as I get older. The biggest difference isn’t body related – it’s all been mental. I’m so much sharper. I’m able to do everything I want to in a day without having to nap."
Like everyone, there are times when she just doesn’t feel like working out. But Wenda advises that it’s all about hyping yourself up.
"The hardest thing at the beginning – and still to this day if I’m being honest – is stepping out the door," she reveals. "But once you’ve done it, you’ll never regret it. It may sound whacky, but you need to make a point of congratulating yourself, especially if you exercise on your own. At the end of the day, just getting out there is a great achievement that should be celebrated!"
