When I retired at 59, I had a question I couldn't shake: now what?
I'd been an athlete my whole life. In high school I ran track, played point guard, and placed first in the long jump at the state trackmeet. In my twenties I got in to competitive bodybuilding. Then I went on to powerlifting and ranked in the top ten in the country in my weight class. In my thirties I played squash, racquetball, and tennis, and then in my 50s I played pickleball.
But somewhere in the busy years of work and raising kids, I'd stopped training the way I used to. Retirement gave me the time to ask what I wanted my next chapter to look like. My answer was simple: I wanted to feel strong again.
So I walked back into the gym and picked up a barbell. It was like riding a bike. The ease of picking it back up was so natural. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.
Here's what I learned: strength doesn't disappear with age. It changes. I'm not training for a podium anymore. I'm training so I can lift my own bags, get up off the floor, enjoy activities with my family, and say yes to whatever comes next.
What surprised me most was how few women my age were talking about this. Where was the guidance, the community, and the gear for women in their second prime?
That question is why I started Second Prime Lifestyle. This blog is where I'll share what I'm learning: strength training that works at any age, honest talk about womens health such as menopause, skin, and hair, travel and leisure, and conversations with specialists who know what women over 50 need.
If you've never lifted before, or if you're coming back like I did, you're in the right place.
A quick note: check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
Welcome. Let's lift.
