Fit Model Over 50: 9 Weeks Out, Posing Practice & the Power of Vulnerability [Ep 53]

This week on Midlife Mojo, Lisa gets real about what it means to show up body, mind, nerves and all, as she prepares for her very first Fit Model competition at 50+. 

With just 9 weeks to go, she opens up about stepping onto a public stage in five-inch heels and a tiny posing suit, and the emotional edge that came with it.

From hiring a coach to learning the ins and outs of posing, Lisa shares the mindset shifts and vulnerable moments that are shaping her journey. If you’ve ever bumped up against a growth edge or wondered whether it’s too late to try something bold, this episode is a must-listen.

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Hello. Hello. Welcome back to Midlife Mojo. I'm Lisa, and today's episode is about growth edges, accountability in showing up even when you're tempted to back out. As of this week, I'm nine weeks away from my first bodybuilding competition. I'm competing in the fit model division, which is brand new this year and this week I had a major moment that pushed me way, way outside of my comfort zone.

And it involved stage lights, five inch heels in a tiny two piece, and a very public gem. [00:01:00] 

So let's talk about what it means to bump into your growth edges and how this experience has helped me rewrite an old story I didn't even realize I was carrying. Now, as a coach myself and someone who's been in the fitness, health, and exercise science world for decades, you might wonder why I'd hire a coach

and here's the thing, just 'cause I know a lot. About health and fitness and weight loss doesn't mean I know everything. And this is especially true when it comes to something like this brand new fit model division in a physique competition. It's a whole different world.

Then health and fitness, you know, it has its own language. There are specific judging criteria, there are specific expectations on how you look, when you're on stage. And I didn't wanna have to figure it out the hard way. You know, it's a lot of in investment in time and money and energy and, and so I wanted to set [00:02:00] myself up for success and also.

This is a big one too, is I needed accountability. I wish that I was that person that would always show up for myself with the same consistency and energy that I show up for others. But the truth is, I don't, I just don't, um, I'm just as tempted as anyone else to take the easier route to skip doing the hard thing, and I'm really, really good at convincing myself that good enough is good enough.

Right. And so having a coach has really helped keep me focused. It helps keep me honest and, , it makes it way harder to back out when something feels tough or when I'm just not feeling like doing it. You know, I've committed, there's somebody holding me accountable, and it, it's honestly one of the very best investments that I've made in myself.

And [00:03:00] so. Part of getting prepared is practicing posing. And so I have to associate that with like choreography 'cause I've danced for so many years. Um, so I'm kind of put the posing routine down in my mind is choreography, and so I needed to practice and so let me set the scene for you.

I had my first one-on-one posing session this week with a professional posing coach, and it was on an actual stage in the middle of a full gym. Full on daylight, in the tiniest posing suit that I can imagine wearing in public and five inch platform heels. You know, it was, um, yeah, it was a lot.

 I knew I was going to be nervous going into this. I knew that I was gonna be hesitant and I just was. Not feeling confident at all about it. I asked my daughter to come with [00:04:00] me for moral support and of course she did because she's amazing and grounded and like always in my corner.

And so I knew I need someone there who is supportive and who gets me, and she totally does because she's awesome. Um, and this is even when I've spent most of my life performing, like I have been dancing in some form or fashion since I was four years old. I've taught in front of large lecture halls full of students, and I've spoken to rooms full of professionals at conferences.

So I'm no stranger to a stage or an audience, but this is different. It was vulnerable. You know, really, really vulnerable. This wasn't about performing choreography with a group or giving a well prepared lecture. This was about me being fully seen, my [00:05:00] body, flaws and all in a space where I did not feel like an expert.

 And that's when I realized I could still pull on my strengths. I could lean into that performance energy, take a deep breath, and just show up. Anyway. And in coaching we talk about something called a growth edge. Your growth edge is a place where discomfort meets potential, and it's that scary but thrilling place in your comfort zone where growth change in real transformation happen.

The stage. The gym, you know, with people working out after work. The tiny two piece, all of that was my growth edge this week. And at the start of the session, I was self-conscious. I was stiff, and honestly I was just trying not to run and go hide back in the bathroom stall. But by the end, you know, I was moving with more ease, way more confidence.

Ah, dare I say, even a little swagger. My coach was very supportive. He was, [00:06:00] giving me great prompts, cheering me on. My daughter was there smiling, encouraging, and I was learning. I was growing in that moment. I am growing. And you know, at some point I just didn't even think about my full butt being on display anymore.

And so, you know, something else that was really cool was, at the end of the session, the posing coach invited my daughter to hop up on stage and try a few poses herself, and she absolutely killed it. She is so strong, so beautiful. And now she's seriously thinking about doing a competition.

Like it just gives me chills, because here's what I realized, this is what it's about. This is where my learning really amped up is, you know, one of the biggest reasons I'm doing this is because I wanna be a kick-ass role model for her. You know, for every woman watching, to show that it's not too late to try something new, [00:07:00] that we don't have to shrink or slow down a midlife.

And at the same time, I'm rewriting my own internal script, the old one that says, don't draw too much attention to yourself. You know, it's bad to draw attention to yourself. The old one that says, Ooh, you better tone it down. Right? Kind of fly under the radar. You know the old one that says, you're too old to be doing this.

This is not something that people in their fifties do. And. Not anymore, right? That script, those thoughts don't serve me. Those beliefs don't serve me. And so maybe you have a version of that too. One that it is time to either edit or toss out completely. And so my question for you is, where might you be bumping up against some of your growth edges?

Is there something that you've been avoiding because it feels uncomfortable, but deep [00:08:00] down, you know, it could lead to growth. So maybe this week, take a moment to take one small step toward it, and I'll be back next week for more behind the scenes mindset shifts and probably more sparkle heels until then.

Here's to showing up, pushing limits and keeping your mojo rising.