Peta Gillian is the founder of Strong Healthy Women and helps women 50+ remain active, healthy and mobile throughout their lives. She’s been featured in Prevention Magazine, a regular on the Fit N Fifty Plus Podcast Show, Guest Blogger and a Finalist in the Australian Fitness Industry Awards. After a health issue in her 40’s she developed strategies and created the Strong & Healthy Wellness programs that transformed her life and thousands of other women. Peta’s now on a mission to give back to the community and help women “believe they can, no matter what their age” through her Ageless Confidence Events.
Peta Gillian is the founder of Strong Healthy Women and helps women 50+ remain active, healthy and mobile throughout their lives. She’s been featured in Prevention Magazine, a regular on the Fit N Fifty Plus Podcast Show, Guest Blogger and a Finalist in the Australian Fitness Industry Awards. After a health issue in her 40’s she developed strategies and created the Strong & Healthy Wellness programs that transformed her life and thousands of other women. Peta’s now on a mission to give back to the community and help women “believe they can, no matter what their age” through her Ageless Confidence Events.
Find inspiration as we talk to Peta Gillian in our #StrongHealthyWomen interview.
Hi Peta! Thank you for being part of the Health and Fitness Travel, Strong, Healthy Women Interview Series, where we are shining a light on the importance of self-care, not as an indulgence but a necessity to reduce stress and general health issues.
Is there such a thing as a typical day for you and what does that look like?
I get up around 5.00am and seeing Sunrise each morning reminds me that every day is unique. It’s dark, still and silent, I take a deep breath and think about how thankful I am.
I don’t really have a typical day, some mornings I’m working with my lovelies from the Strong Healthy Women community. Other days I’m with my team or looking after grand-kids, or my favourite day is helping with our horses and cows which is generally the weekend.
Although each day is different, I have 3 morning constants in my life and that’s how I start every day. To move, stretch and reflect. I love variety, so every day is different, varying from a hike up my local mountain to weight and body weight training, yoga or a skipping session. It all depends on the time I have available. Then the day starts, whatever that brings.
I believe the end of the day is as important and so the wind-down routine begins. So, my mind is clear, I write down my thoughts and actions for the next day, turn off the electronic devices, light a meditation candle and turn on delta wave sleep music. Then move through a series of yoga poses and let go of my thoughts and off to dream land I go.
Can you share a time when you felt your well-being was challenged in the past and what did you do to overcome it?
I’ve not always been a health and fitness enthusiast, this came much later in life, in fact, in my 40’s. My life as a Fitness and Lifestyle professional started after a health issue of my own and the sudden realisation that if I didn’t do something now, I would end up with all the same health diseases as the women in my family.
Then menopause hit me, and I felt like a walking zombie. I told myself I wasn’t going to be that woman who had the menopause belly and put on those extra kilos, but I was. My beloved walking wasn’t enough, I discovered strength training and a new way of eating and embraced being an “ageing” woman.
Taking steps towards improving my well-being took a one-step-at-a-time approach. I started with increasing water, changed my exercise program and did this consistently. Once I felt I was becoming comfortable, it was time to get uncomfortable again, so the next step was to change the way I ate.
It’s not easy to break a life-time of habits and create new ones and that is why my WHY is front and centre and having it as my screen saver on my phone works so well for me.
Equally as important was to make sure that I got out of my head and didn’t spend time on the negative self-talk and that is why having an accountability and support buddy is so important to me.
What does being healthy mean to you and how do you keep this at the forefront when life gets unavoidably busy?
Being healthy is understanding my numbers, including regular check-ups with my doctor and knowing how my body is handling the ageing process. Good health starts inside the body and mind and radiates outwards.
I understand that each day will have ups, downs, wins and challenges and the best made plans will go astray so having non-negotiables and drawing a line in the sand about ‘will do’s’ and ‘won’t do’s’ is really important. Knowing this helps me stay on track when I need to and allows me the freedom to “go with flow” when that’s what’s required.
I think age is a wonderful thing because I’ve got to know myself better and am more willing to take a deep breath and count 5 before I react and start feeling the pressure of busy’ness.
Have you ever taken a holiday specifically for your well-being? Can you share what the experience was like?
Every time I plan a holiday or time-out no matter how big or small it’s always about my well-being. I look for something that will evoke a child-hood memory, something I love or something I think I might enjoy. I took up skiing in my 40’s and absolutely loved it and who would have thought that a Queensland girl would love the cold so much.
One of my favourite holidays was the Walls of Jerusalem in Tasmania with Women’s Fitness Adventures. I didn’t get to the Walls of Jerusalem because of fires, but instead had the opportunity to explore trails that were unique. It was my time to disconnect from life’s fast pace and feel connected with nature.
I could hike in silence and spend time in reflection or get involved in a variety of conversations with women around my age who I’d never met before. It was the best of both worlds really.
I believe that connecting with self, others and nature is one of the foundations of well-being.
Every woman’s idea of self-care is different, tell us about yours?
For me, self-care is doing what’s right for my health and well-being first and foremost. If I’m feeling tired and rundown and say yes to something that I don’t really want to do, then I’m not caring about myself. Saying no, is easier said than done, but once you’ve done it a few times it does get easier. It’s not selfish, because when I take care of myself, I have more energy, greater focus and positivity and that means that everyone else in my life gets the very best of me, not the rest of me.
Want to tell your story? Reach out to us via info@healthandfitnesstravel.com.au and be featured as our next strong, healthy woman.
