Strong, Sassy, and Still Here—Building a Body and Life That Can Carry You After 50

Here’s the thing nobody tells you in your 20s: if you’re lucky enough to reach this age, your body will hand you a performance review. 😏

Mine basically slid across the metaphorical desk and said, “We need to discuss these hours, this workload, and whatever the hell you’ve been doing to your joints.”

As women over 50, we’ve spent decades taking care of everyone else—kids, partners, parents, teams. We’ve powered through sickness, stress, and exhaustion more times than we can count. But at this stage, the “suck it up and push through” strategy starts to backfire. Big time.​

When Your Body Stops Quietly Cooperating

For me, it wasn’t one big dramatic moment. It was a slow accumulation of little red flags:

• The jeans that used to fit suddenly… didn’t.

• Aches and pains that whispered, “This could be your life now,” when I stood up from a chair.​

• Brain fog that made me feel like I’d lost 20 IQ points overnight.

• That permanent “tired but wired” feeling from long-term stress and caregiving.

At first, I did what many of us do: blamed age, hormones, or “this season of life.” But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the whole story. I had more agency than that. I just hadn’t been using it for myself.

I’d been writing about thriving after 50, unlocking potential, and living loud and on purpose… but my body was like, “Cool blog, now how about you actually support me?”

Trial-and-Error: How I Stopped Waging War on My Body

Let’s be real. I didn’t wake up one morning with a perfect “health routine” and float off into the sunset. My journey has been full of:

• Trying the trendy thing, hating it, and quitting.

• Thinking I had to overhaul everything at once (instant overwhelm).

• Comparing myself to women who seemed to have it all figured out and thinking, “What’s wrong with me?”

  
  

Here’s what shifted everything: I stopped asking, “How do I fix my body?” and started asking, “How do I support this body that has carried me through so much?”

From that place, I began to build:

• Strength on purpose. Not to chase some ideal, but so I can lift groceries, climb stairs, travel, dive, and show up fully in my life. Strength training became a love letter to my future self.​

• Daily movement as non-negotiable. Even on hard days, especially when the mental load is heavy. A walk, a stretch, a few squats—tiny, consistent actions beat heroic, unsustainable bursts every time. Even opting to stand at my desk is better for my body than sitting all day.

• Food that loves me back. I still enjoy treats (life’s too short not to), but day-to-day I focus on nourishment that supports my energy, bones, and hormones.​

• Real recovery. Rest days, down time, and mental breaks are now part of the plan, not signs I’m slacking.

I gave myself permission to be a beginner at 50+. To prioritize progress over perfection. To fall off track and come back again without the shame spiral.

Living as an Example of What’s Possible

Here’s what keeps me going when it would be easier to give up and blame “getting old”:

• I want my kids to see a mom who doesn’t disappear into martyrdom or resignation.

• I want my clients to work with someone who walks her talk about sustainable change, not just reads about it.

• I want me to feel at home in my own skin—for as long as this beautiful body lets me stick around.

Reclaiming health and vitality after 50 isn’t about chasing who you used to be. It’s about building who you are becoming: wiser, stronger, more intentional, and yes, still a little bit badass.

💬 Your Move:

• Where are you settling for “this is just how it is now”?

• What’s one bold but doable step you can take this week to support your health—more movement, better sleep, one less energy-draining commitment?

Share in the comments—your wins, your frustrations, your “I’m trying, dammit” moments. Your story might be exactly what another woman needs to read today.

And if you’re ready to design your own path—start, restart, or finally commit to your wellbeing and self-care with structure, support, and zero shame—let’s talk. Schedule a no-obligation chat with me at beckisalzman.com/booking and let’s build a plan that fits your real life, your real body, and your real dreams.