Welcome to RenewHer, a podcast for women over 50 ready to reignite their energy and explore what's next. I'm Genell Lemley, brain fitness coach. Here, you'll hear real stories from women taking on new challenges after 50, along with brain health tips to boost focus, energy, and the mindset to move forward with confidence.
Let's dive into today's episode.
Hello, and welcome to another RenewHer Reflection. These episodes are a little different from my interviews and Brain Notes. They're simply conversations about things I've been noticing, experiences I've had, questions I've been thinking about, and lessons life has been teaching me. My hope is that something I share resonates with you, too.
Today, I wanna talk about discipline, or maybe more accurately, what I've learned about discipline and myself. Over the years, people have commented on how disciplined I am when it comes to exercise. And I do think discipline is one of my strengths, but discipline alone isn't the whole story.
Over the years, I've discovered what helps me stay engaged, what helps me keep showing up, and what helps me get back on track when life interrupts my routine. After my husband died, I remember looking in the mirror one day. During the six and a half years that John battled cancer, taking care of myself had slowly slipped further and further down my priority list. I had gained weight. I had lost strength. And honestly, I just didn't feel like myself anymore.
A girlfriend introduced me to a local gym just a few minutes from my house, so I joined. I'm someone who, once I make a commitment, I'm committed. I started going five or six days a week. The classes were only 40 minutes long, so it was perfect. Three days focused on strength training, two days focused on cardio and core. Everything was planned. I didn't have to decide what workout to do. I simply showed up. And I loved it.
For years, I had spent my exercise time doing aerobics, step classes, or running, but strength training was different. For the first time, I could actually see changes in my body. And let's be honest, when you see results, it's encouraging. It makes you want to keep going. I stayed with that routine for about 10 years, five or six days a week.
It became part of who I was. And because it was a smaller gym, people noticed if you weren't there. That accountability mattered more than I realized.
Then COVID happened. The gym temporarily closed. Like so many of us, my routine was suddenly disrupted. They offered online classes, and I did those for a while, but it just wasn't the same.
Once I got out of my routine, I found it surprisingly difficult to get back into it when the gym reopened. Then my hip started giving me trouble. Eventually, I needed two hip replacements. Again, life interrupted my routine. By that point, I hadn't really been exercising consistently for quite a while.
Between COVID, my deteriorating hips and surgeries, I had lost a lot of strength in my legs. My endurance wasn't what it had been. Honestly, starting over felt intimidating, but I knew I needed to do something to get moving again and build up my strength.
I also knew I needed something meaningful to work toward. So instead of easing my way back into exercise, I signed up for the 29029 Everesting Challenge. If you're not familiar with it, it's an endurance challenge where participants climb the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest by ascending the same mountain multiple times within a specified timeframe.
When I signed up, I hadn't been doing much of anything beyond walking my dog. So it wasn't exactly the next logical step. But I knew it would require me to train . And I knew it would give me something meaningful to work toward. So, I hired a coach.
Looking back, I realized it wasn't just the challenge that kept me going, it was the plan. Every workout was already laid out for me. I knew exactly what I needed to do. And I had someone expecting me to do it. I didn't wanna let my coach down.
After successfully completing the challenge, I needed another surgery. For six to eight weeks, I had to limit my activity again. And once again, my routine disappeared.
I remember thinking, "Why is it so hard to start over?" Maybe you've felt that way, too. You know what you wanna do, you know it's good for you, but taking that first step somehow feels harder than it should.
Eventually, I discovered Pilates. I tried it. Loved it. And yes, I bought the 100-class package. That's my way of making sure I stick with it. Now, I go three times a week. What I love is that, again, I don't have to decide what workout I'm doing. I simply show up. The instructor has already planned the routine, I just follow along. And there's accountability built in. If I don't cancel within the required time, I lose the class. That little bit of accountability is exactly what I need on those mornings when I'd rather stay in bed. It's nothing like training for 29029, but it's a step in the right direction.
Recently, I realized something else. I miss strength training. So I hired an online trainer. Right now, we meet once a week on Zoom. Eventually, I plan to increase that to twice a week. Once again, I love that it's structured. She tells me exactly what we're doing. She watches my form. She knows whether I'm actually doing the workout. And once again, it's only 30 minutes.
Somewhere along this journey, I realized there was a pattern. Every time I was really engaged with my workouts, every time I was consistently showing up, the same three things were there: a plan, accountability, and something meaningful to work toward. That's when I do my best. That's when my discipline shows up.
Looking back after John died, what I was working toward was getting healthy and fit again. When I trained for 29029, I was working toward standing on that mountain and proving to myself that I could do it.
Today, what I'm working toward looks a little different. Stay healthy, keep building my strength, and figure out what my next challenge might be.
I've also learned something else about myself. Actually getting started again, that's the hardest part for me. Once I start, I'm good. I'm committed.
So these days, I've been thinking about what's next. Not because I have something to prove, but because I've realized I enjoy having something challenging and meaningful to work toward. Maybe it's another hiking challenge. Maybe it's a biking event. Maybe it's a half-marathon or a whole one. Maybe it's something I haven't even thought of yet. I honestly don't know, but I know I'll find it.
Maybe your system looks completely different than mine. Maybe you love working out on your own. Maybe you thrive in a big gym. Maybe you need a class, a coach, or a walking partner. None of those are right or wrong. The point isn't that we all need the same system. The point is that we need to know ourselves well enough to build the system that brings out our best.
So let me leave you with one question. What helps you keep showing up? Maybe it's accountability. Maybe it's a plan. Maybe it's signing up for something you've been thinking about for years, or maybe it's something completely different. Whatever it is, pay attention to it because when we understand what works for us, it's a whole lot easier to keep moving forward.
I'll keep you posted on what my next challenge turns out to be. Thanks for joining me for this RenewHer Reflection. Until next time, keep showing up for yourself, keep moving toward what matters, and keep discovering what helps you thrive.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of RenewHer. If today's conversation sparked something in you, don't let it fade. Take even a small step toward what's next. If you found value in what you heard, please subscribe, leave a review, or share this podcast with a woman who's ready to take her next bold step.
Together, we're building a community of strong, resilient women, navigating what's next with courage and purpose. Until next time, stay energized and keep embracing what's possible