About

Bettina Theresia

is a blog for women over 50, who, like me would like to see 100 candles on their birthday cake one day. I will share what I do to try and reach that goal by writing about health, fitness, and the challenges we encounter as we age. I will also touch on personal experiences, thoughts on living, and anything else that comes to mind. Occasionally, I will simply vent and rant.

How This Goal Came About

The first time I declared that I would live to 100, I was ten years old. In my ten-year-old mind, this seemed straightforward despite my parents and grandma chuckling knowingly. Fast forward about half a century, and I now know that they knew something I didn’t: the path to that three-digit number is littered with stumbling blocks.

Possible Stumbling Blocks

Our environment, relationships, illness, loss, and so many other things all contribute to making this goal hard to reach. Like so many of us, I had to overcome my share of stumbling blocks, some of which I will get into more in future posts. Despite that, over the years, whenever the topic of age arose, I always repeated that I was going to live to be 100. Is there a guarantee? Of course not! But I can guarantee that I am not going down without a fight.

What Gives Me An Edge

I was lucky enough to have been raised in a large family in a tiny town in Germany that was nestled in a valley surrounded by forests. My grandma, who lived across the street from us, grew most of our fruits and veggies. The meat came from local farms. Fast food? Unheard of. When I wasn’t in school, I was playing outside. My transportation to anywhere was my bike. I didn’t realize back then that all this was good for me. It’s just how things were. So, eating real food and being active while growing up gave me a head start.

Years Of Weakness

Eventually, I came to the United States, married, had a family, and moved repeatedly for twenty years as an army wife. Being a full-time working mom – you all know what I am talking about – led me to choose what was fast and convenient. Yes, sigh! I ate fast food (and liked it!), didn’t work out, and did nothing for stress relief.

Finding My Way Back To Healthier Living

Then, after twenty years of marriage, I got divorced. Needless to say, the next few years were stressful. During this time, I realized that to come out stronger on the other side, I needed to take care of myself the best I could. Only if I was healthy would I be able to be there for my two boys the way I needed to be. I changed my diet and started working out.

Moving Forward & Professional Background

But, like many newcomers, I felt intimidated at times, especially at the gym. So, I started reading anything and everything about health and wellness. I enjoyed it so much that I eventually decided to get a degree in health and wellness promotion with a concentration in exercise science. Not long after I graduated, I got certified as a personal trainer. Since then, I have earned a certification in group fitness, and I got certified as a weight management specialist, a fitness nutrition specialist, and a senior fitness specialist.

A Few More Tidbits About Me:

• I have slowly, over the years, replaced products like cleaning supplies and cosmetics with better-for-me and better-for-the-environment options.
• I am a label reader. I try not to eat anything processed, avoid certain ingredients, and eat organic whenever possible.
• I have downsized to a studio, which has made my life much easier.
• I love reading, writing, walking, hiking (one-day record: 23 miles at age 57) working out, and riding my bike.
• Despite knowing the importance of working out, I have days when my workout is just not going to happen. I am human.
• I have two grown sons and a grandson.
• I am a cat mom to a male tabby named Bobbesy and a female tabby kitten named Maja (speak Maya) Bean Purrsnickety.

Now that you know a bit about me, maybe you would like to tag along as I navigate life after 50. You might find something that can help you on your journey to 100.