Welcome to Women’s Health
Can you be fit at any age? Hell yes. I’m 43 years old; I’m fit, healthy and strong. And while my confidence in my appearance fluctuates from one day to the next, my logical brain tells me I look pretty good. It would be dishonest to claim that I look the best I ever have (that was around the age of 30, not that I appreciated it at the time). But my life has changed immeasurably since then. I have a demanding job, two young children and a lively cockapoo called Derek to contend with. And all things considered, I am fit for my age.
No, sod that. I’m fit. Full stop.
Much like you lot, in fact. I know from speaking with so many of you – both in person at events and on social media – that you fully embrace all aspects of wellness. And while you may be at different stages on your wellbeing journeys, you all share a common goal: being the best version of your healthy selves. But there’s no denying there are different challenges to overcome as we move through the decades. From being more vulnerable to anxiety-based mental health disorders in your thirties to the gamut of mental and physical symptoms that come with being post-menopausal in your fifties, optimising your wellbeing is neither straightforward nor linear as you make your laps around the sun.
I speak from experience, too. As I approach my mid-forties, yo-yoing hormones make managing my energy levels nigh on impossible. One day I feel like I’m flying; the next it’s a struggle to motivate myself to walk my dog. It’s a scenario that makes exercise – particularly the kind of structured training I’ve been doing ahead of competing at the National Fitness Games – an unpredictable minefield. Weight maintenance is another battle. I’ve always been someone who gains weight easily – I’m all boobs, hips and bum – but lately those curves have become even more voluptuous.
And yet, perhaps the biggest difference this decade has delivered is in my self-belief. I’ve discovered a confidence that eluded me for much of my adult life. I may be perimenopausal – for which I take HRT to help deal with the side effects – but I’m more self-assured now than I ever was in my twenties and thirties. It could be an age thing, but I don’t discount the fact that, as editor-inchief of this brand, I get a front-row seat to our much-lauded confidence campaign, Project Body Love, in partnership with Philips. Whatever decade you’re enjoying right now, you’ll find a wealth of information on looking and feeling your best in this Fit At Any Age Issue.
Finally, I urge you to turn to page 104, where you’ll find an emotional account of one woman’s struggle to care for her elderly mother while looking out for her own needs, too. Caring for a parent is a situation many of us find ourselves in. It’s a subject close to me and, finding familiarity in the words, I shed a tear as I read it. There’s so much in this issue to enjoy. So, as autumn approaches and the nights draw in, get cosy – and soak up every page.