Welcome! I am a 67-year-old woman who made major weight loss, fitness and style changes after the age of 65, I hope to be a source of inspiration that major transformation is possible even after midlife.
It is also my belief that the cultural power of mature women in America has been diminished by ageist and sexist stereotype. These outdated beliefs work to diminish women’s value in society at a time of life when they have so much life experience and insight to share. It is such a waste of talent and energy that so many women internalize these beliefs as they get older. They become depressed and defeated at midlife, succumbing to the cultural expectations that if they are not young pretty sex objects, or no longer of childbearing age or not fully “productive” in the workforce then they are irrelevant and should just fade away. Over one-half of all women believe that depression is a normal part of aging
I personally refuse to be dismissed and made invisible in my PRIME. We midlife women must insist on being visible and heard at this stage of life.One of the first steps we must take to begin to change the ageism, in my opinion, is renewing our physical vitality that has been lost after a lifetime of caring for others before ourselves.
Getting stronger brings vitality, vitality exudes power, with power comes visibility.
How many women have bought into the ageist belief that life after 50 is inevitable weight gain, loss of attractiveness and ultimately loss of health? Virtually every midlife woman has at least one if not more friends who have checked out of society, given up on the weight battle allowed their energy and appearance to decline. Hopefully many are still involved helping family or grandkids or working with charities, happy to be out of the “rat race”. But good luck trying to find a job if you are over fifty.
I am a living example that physical renewal and revitalization at midlife is possible. I am almost embarrassed to say that I feel thirty years younger most days (of course I was in horrible health in my late 20’s so what do I have to compare it too?).
Midlife (and 67 in my case) is a wonderful time of life to double down on recapturing our vitality and to fight the curse of ageism. If we stand against it now there is hope that the vitality and power of our younger women friends and our daughters will not be diminished at midlife as ours has.
It is my sincerest hope that this blog and the associated Facebook Group will provide a rallying place for inspiration, support, reasoned discussion, education, inspiration, and actionable ideas to positively influence the way midlife women are perceived in the United States.
In future posts I will be sharing reader provided personal stories of bias and success, providing interviews with experts and thought leaders to help us be change-agents at this crucial point in history where women are finding their voices, acting en mass, and reclaiming their influence and visibioity for our generation and those in the future.