The breakthrough happened. Through a profound understanding, I realized two life-altering truths about my journey to wellness and midlife transformation. Your worth and happiness aren’t reflected by your Weight. It isn’t about attaining the smallest size or achieving an ideal weight. It is about me—how I feel, how I show up in my own life, and how I choose to shine at every stage and every size.

At 264 pounds and  47 years old, I don’t need to wait until I lose another 125 pounds to feel good about myself. The confidence I believed could only be achieved through reaching a certain weight is within me now. I’m ready to live unapologetically, to honor my body as it is today, and to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you find yourself on a path to transformation, please know that you don’t need to wait to become the amazing person you were meant to be. You can begin right away.

This post is about changing the story we’ve been told about health, beauty, and success in midlife. It’s about choosing a flexible,  positive, free, and empowering way of being on a wellness journey.

My journey of weight loss began 2.5 years back, and it was a deliberate effort due to one primary reason: My body hurt. I was breathless even performing basic tasks and had poor sleep with the help of medication just to make it through the day. I was on blood pressure medication, as well as antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. I knew something had to change. So I went all in. I took on my wellness plan with passion and persistence in caloric counting, target achievement, and scale checks daily. But yes, it helped. My medications were no longer needed, and my body started healing. My energy levels are now much better, my sleep is better, and my health markers are better. My blood work is a success story – my cholesterol is down, and my liver functions are normal. But at some point, I understood that I  was still seeking something hard to achieve: perfection.

As midlife women, we’re surrounded by the narrative that our value depends on our physical and mental shrinking. So, there is no need to be a specific size to live life, love life, and live it confidently. Of course, I’m still on my wellness journey, but my goals have evolved. I’m no longer fixated on the number on the scale. My wellness plan is not about restriction or penalty. I’m more concerned with how I feel rather than looking how I used to. I have a new goal now:  to be a size 12-14 (currently a 20), pain-free, and feel good in my own skin.

Now, what does this new chapter of my journey look like?

• Active but Having Fun: I still work out with my trainer and go to the gym, but I have learned to appreciate movement more. I focus on activities that make me feel powerful, lively, and cheerful.

• Nourishing My Body Without Obsession: I still meal plan and eat healthy, but I don’t use extreme measures. It’s about balance, not perfection. I will eat a small slice of cake if I want to. It is about consistency, not guilt.

• Listening to My Body: My body has been through a lot and needs gentle care. I monitor how my body reacts to eating, exercising, or resting. If something feels off, I adjust. My wellness journey today is about how I think– spiritually and physically.

• Staying on Top of My Health: I plan to have regular check-ups, blood work, and functional medicine appointments. Health is a whole thing, and I want to keep everything in check to continue to thrive.

Alongside wellness, I’m also embracing my style and beauty with confidence. This is something that plus-size women over 40 can really relate to. There’s no reason we can’t look and feel great, regardless of our age or size, and hold ourselves back from trying new things. I’ve been trying on plus-size fashion for women over 40, and it has been a total transformation. Finding good-fitting clothes that make me feel great has opened up my love for fashion and all things beauty again. I want women to understand that you can look great regardless of size. Don’t wait for a certain weight or age to permit yourself to show up. Show up now—and show up boldly.

I have learned one of the most important things, and that is community. It is crucial to have people in your life who motivate you. I’m so grateful to my family, friends, coworkers, and this online community of midlife women on their journeys of awakening and reinvention. We’re in this together—sharing, learning, and supporting each other on this journey. Thank you for following along with me. Your encouragement has been such a powerful source of strength.

I’m looking forward to continuing my story and sharing my new and improved wellness plan, which will be revealed soon.

No matter what area of your life you’re currently transforming—health, career, relationships, finances, or personal growth—remember this: You are enough as you are today. We don’t have to wait for some future version of ourselves to start living life to the fullest. Start now by taking care of yourself. You’ve got this, and I am right here to support you. As always, do you,  boo.

Love, Jax

As always, Share and Comment if this blog post resonates with you.