Hi everyone… it’s me Beth!!!
A little late getting on the blog, I have been thinking about so many things to chat about! I was fortunate to be born with the gift of gab and my thinking never slows down. Most of the time I have more energy than most can handle, but … that is what makes me fun. Well, in my head anyway😊
Let me start by sharing a little about my fitness journey.
One day I woke up and realized time had flown by. My children were grown, and I was beginning to face health issues I could no longer ignore.
As a self-proclaimed workaholic and lifelong learner, I was spending 40 hours a week at my day job and another 30+ hours as a full-time student. For four years, I barely had time to breathe.
What I didn’t realize was how far I had pushed myself. The weight crept on. The headaches became constant. My blood pressure climbed higher than it should have.
Somewhere along the way, I had put everything — and everyone — ahead of my own health.
I started researching the best way for a woman in her 40s to lose weight — not a quick fix, not a fad, but something sustainable.
Over and over, one word kept coming up: cortisol. Stress had quietly become my biggest enemy. Between work, school, and life, my body had been living in fight-or-flight mode for years.
What surprised me most? One of the most effective ways to lower cortisol wasn’t intense cardio or punishing workouts — it was walking.
So I made a plan.
On May 1st, I committed to walking 5,000 steps a day for one week. The next week, I increased it to 10,000. Then 15,000. Then 20,000.
By the end of the month, I was walking 25,000 steps a day.
Yes — nearly 10 miles. Every single day.
It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t fast. But it was consistent. And consistency changed everything.
I also knew one thing for certain — I didn’t want to follow a strict, miserable diet. I wasn’t interested in losing weight just to gain it back. I wanted something I could maintain for the rest of my life.
So instead of restriction, I focused on replacement.
I traded soda for water and green tea — no sweeteners, no shortcuts. I reduced my sugar intake to almost nothing. I eliminated gluten. Not because it was trendy, but because I wanted to see how my body responded when I removed inflammation triggers.
It wasn’t about perfection. It was about intention.
Small changes. Sustainable habits. Long-term results.
By July, I had lost 25 pounds — and then I hit my first plateau.
For nearly a month, the scale refused to move. I started to worry that I had done all this work just to get stuck.
That’s when a friend invited me to the gym.
We did an hour-long ab workout followed by 30 minutes on the rowing machine.
Can I just say… ouch.
I felt muscles I didn’t even know existed. For the next few days, every laugh, every step, every movement reminded me of that workout.
But here’s the good news — it worked.
The scale started moving again. More importantly, I realized my body was ready for the next level. Walking had built my foundation. Strength training was going to shape the rest.
So… obviously, I joined the gym. 😉
I decided to do it the right way.
For the first two weeks, I hired a trainer to make sure I understood how to use the machines properly and safely. I didn’t want to guess. I wanted to build strength the smart way.
He had me doing an hour of cardio three times a week — and it pushed me. But by then, I was used to pushing myself.
And here’s the part that surprises people…
I didn’t replace my 10-mile walks with the gym. I added the gym to them.
By September, I had lost 55 pounds.
What started as a simple decision to walk 5,000 steps a day had turned into a complete lifestyle transformation.
Now, at 50, I was in the best shape of my life — and I was ready to see the world.
That summer, my family took a 10-day trip through South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. It was an incredible vacation — but this time, it felt different.
I wasn’t tired.
I wasn’t sitting on the sidelines.
I had energy.
I hiked through Glacier National Park and explored the beauty of Yellowstone National Park without feeling winded or worn out.
I have always been an outdoor country girl at heart. But now?
Now I was strong enough to fully live it.
What started as a mission to improve my health had turned into something bigger — a mission to travel, to explore, and to experience nature with strength and confidence.
I wasn’t just losing weight anymore.
I was gaining life.
So here we are.
Stronger. Healthier. And ready for whatever comes next.
Butch and I are looking forward to living our best life — traveling, exploring, and finding adventure wherever we can. We plan to share the fun, the lessons, the challenges, and everything in between.
This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about progress.
It’s about staying active, staying curious, and keeping life real.
We’re here to have fun, to push ourselves, and to prove that your best chapters don’t have to be behind you.
In fact… they might just be getting started.